Kylo Ren Story, Powers & Lightsaber. The Complete Explanation.
Kylo Ren: The Complete Story, His Powers, and His Connection to Rey
Who is Kylo Ren?
Kylo Ren , born Ben Solo, is the son of Leia Organa and Han Solo and the grandson of Darth Vader. He was trained as a Jedi by Luke Skywalker, but turned against him and chose the Dark Side. In The Force Awakens , The Last Jedi , and The Rise of Skywalker, we see his intense inner struggle between light and darkness. Although not officially Sith, he is among the most powerful Dark Side wielders of his generation. His unique crossguard lightsaber and his mysterious Force bond with Rey make him one of the most complex characters in the Star Wars saga.
From Ben Solo to Kylo Ren
Kylo Ren was born Ben Solo , the son of Leia Organa and Han Solo . This makes him the grandson of Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker). The Force runs exceptionally strong in his bloodline.
Because of that power, he was entrusted at a young age to his uncle Luke Skywalker , who trained him as a Jedi. Luke saw enormous potential in Ben, but also sensed a growing darkness within him. In a crucial moment, Luke had a vision of the destruction Ben could cause. In a moment of hesitation, he activated his lightsaber above the sleeping Ben. Not to actually kill him, but out of fear.
That single second changed everything. Ben felt betrayed, turned against Luke, and destroyed the new Jedi Temple. Thus began his fall to the Dark Side.
Is Kylo Ren a Sith?
Although he uses the Dark Side and carries a red lightsaber, he is not officially a Sith Lord under the traditional "Rule of Two." Instead, he became an apprentice to Supreme Leader Snoke and joined the Knights of Ren. His ideology is less traditional than that of classic Sith like Darth Vader or Palpatine.
His fall was not a simple choice for evil, but a slow process of manipulation, doubt, and obsession with his grandfather.
Kylo Ren in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens introduces Kylo Ren as a fearsome commander of the First Order. In his first scene, he stops a fired blaster beam in mid-air, a display of unparalleled Force power.
Yet we quickly see his inner conflict. He prays, as it were, to Darth Vader's burnt helmet, asking for guidance. His most tragic moment comes when he kills his father, Han Solo, in an attempt to sever his last connection to the light. Instead of making him stronger, this act breaks him from within.
His duel with Rey reveals just how powerful he is, but also how unstable.
Kylo Ren in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
In Star Wars: The Last Jedi , his character is further developed. He develops a mysterious Force connection with Rey , allowing them to see and sense each other across vast distances.
When he kills his master, Snoke, he seems to definitively choose power. Yet, he deviates from the traditional Sith ambition. He wants to destroy the old system, both Jedi and Sith, and build something new together with Rey.
In this film he also destroys his own helmet, a symbolic act of distancing himself from copying Darth Vader.
Kylo Ren in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
In Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Kylo discovers that Emperor Palpatine is still alive and that Snoke was merely a pawn.
His inner struggle reaches its climax here. After an emotional moment where he relives a memory of his father, he abandons the name Kylo Ren and returns to his true identity: Ben Solo.
In the final scene, he sacrifices himself to save Rey, an act of redemption that completes his story.
What powers does Kylo Ren have?
Kylo Ren is one of the most powerful Force users of his generation. His powers are extraordinary, but often uncontrolled.
He can:
-
Blaster beams stop with the Force
-
Reading and manipulating minds
-
Temporarily paralyzing people
-
Perform Extreme Force Push and Pull attacks
-
Forming a unique Force Dyad with Rey
His lightsaber fighting style is aggressive and powerful. Unlike the elegant Jedi style, he uses raw energy and emotion.
Kylo Ren and Rey: The Force Dyad
The connection between Kylo Ren and Rey is ultimately revealed as a Force Dyad : two individuals united in the Force. Their bond is rare and incredibly powerful.
They mirror each other. Where Rey represents discipline and hope, Kylo embodies doubt and temptation. Together, they create balance.
Kylo Ren's Crossguard Lightsaber
Kylo Ren's crossguard lightsaber is unique in the Star Wars saga. A cracked kyber crystal makes its energy unstable, requiring two sideways plasma valves to drain excess energy. The result is a crackling, raw red blade that perfectly reflects his inner chaos.
👉 Check out our Kylo Ren Crossguard Lightsaber here
Like his grandfather, he used a red lightsaber, but with a style all his own.
👉 Also check out our Darth Vader lightsaber .
👉 Discover the Luke Skywalker lightsaber here.
👉 Check out the Rey lightsaber here.
The Kylo Ren Helmet
Kylo's helmet is strongly inspired by Darth Vader. Yet, it primarily symbolizes his insecurity and need for identity. In The Last Jedi, he destroys the helmet in a rage. In The Rise of Skywalker, it is repaired with red lines that remain visible as scars.
👉 Check out the Kylo Ren Helmet here
Conclusion
Kylo Ren is no ordinary villain. His story, told in The Force Awakens , The Last Jedi , and The Rise of Skywalker, revolves around identity, temptation, loss, and redemption.
He's the heir to the Skywalker lineage, but also a tragic figure struggling with his place in the universe. It's precisely this inner struggle that makes him one of the most fascinating figures in the modern Star Wars saga.
Are you a fan of character sabers from the movies? Then discover our complete collection of character lightsabers and bring your favorite story to life.
