You’ve seen it. If you’ve cracked open any LEGO Star Wars set from the sequel era—maybe the 75105 Millennium Falcon or that little Jakku scavenger pack—you’ve seen that black, notched lightsaber hilt piece. It’s simple. It’s iconic. But honestly, the LEGO Star Wars Rey staff is one of those tiny pieces of plastic engineering that sparks more debate among collectors than you’d expect for something that’s basically two pieces of plastic snapped together. It's a weirdly perfect example of how LEGO balances "good enough" for play with the obsessive accuracy fans crave.
She’s a scavenger. That’s her whole vibe. When we first meet Rey on Jakku, her staff isn't just a walking stick; it’s a tool, a weapon, and a piece of junk she’s cobbled together from the graveyard of the Empire. Capturing that "scrap-heap" aesthetic in a system built on uniform bricks is harder than it looks.
The Evolution of a Scavenger’s Tool
LEGO didn't overthink it at first. In the early Force Awakens sets released back in 2015, the LEGO Star Wars Rey staff was just a standard black 4L bar (the long stick piece) with two black lightsaber hilts attached to the ends. That’s it. It’s functional. It’s durable. You can’t break it unless you’re trying. But if you look at the actual movie prop—the one Daisy Ridley carried—it’s covered in wraps, canisters, and mechanical greebles. The LEGO version is... smooth. Too smooth? Maybe.
Some fans hated it. They wanted a custom mold. You know, like the specialized blasters or the unique helmets they make for characters like Captain Rex or Din Djarin. But LEGO stuck to their guns. They used "purist" parts. There’s a certain charm to that. It feels like the old days when a camera was just a space-gun turned backwards.
Why the "Hilt and Bar" Combo Actually Works
Look, custom molds are cool, but they’re rigid. The beauty of the LEGO Star Wars Rey staff being made of three distinct pieces (the bar and two hilts) is the customization. You can slide the hilts up and down. You can swap them for metallic silver ones if you think the black is too boring. You can even add those tiny 1x1 round plates with holes in them to simulate the power cells.
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If LEGO had made a single, solid plastic mold for her staff, you couldn't do any of that. It would be one static piece. Boring. By using the modular hilt system, they kept the "DNA" of LEGO alive. It’s about building, even at the smallest scale. Plus, those lightsaber hilts give the minifigure two different grip points, which is essential if you’re trying to pose her in a dynamic mid-swing stance on your shelf.
The Transition to the Yellow Lightsaber
We have to talk about the end of The Rise of Skywalker. The staff changes. Well, it doesn't change so much as it gets "upcycled." Rey takes part of her staff and turns it into the handle for her new yellow lightsaber. This created a bit of a headache for LEGO designers.
In the 75284 Knights of Ren Transport Ship, we finally got a version of Rey that reflected the end of the saga. But wait—the staff was still the same old design. Some collectors were hoping for a tan version or maybe a mix of colors to show the leather wraps. Nope. Still black. Honestly, it’s a bit of a missed opportunity, but it highlights the reality of toy production: sometimes "standard" is the only way to keep sets affordable.
- Pro Tip for Collectors: If you want a more "screen-accurate" staff, swap the black bar for a reddish-brown one but keep the black hilts. It immediately looks more like the wrapped wood and metal from the film.
- The "Illegal" Build: Some builders use a thin string piece to wrap around the middle of the staff. It looks incredible, but it's a nightmare to keep from unravelling.
- Scale Issues: In the movies, the staff is taller than Rey. In LEGO form, the 4L bar is almost double her height. It’s massive. If you want a "scaled" version, you actually have to cut a plastic bar—which is a sin in some LEGO circles—or use a 3L bar, which usually looks too short.
What the Fans Are Doing Better
The "MOC" (My Own Creation) community hasn't sat still. If you browse through forums or Instagram, you’ll see some wild iterations of the LEGO Star Wars Rey staff. Some people use "mechanical claws" (part 48729b) to create the jagged ends of the staff. It looks way more aggressive and accurate to the junk-tech look of Jakku.
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Then there are the third-party customizers. Companies like BrickArms or FireStar Toys have occasionally played with custom-molded staffs. They look great, sure. They have the texture. They have the strap. But they don't feel like "LEGO." There’s a texture mismatch when you put a hyper-realistic weapon in the hand of a blocky, yellow-skinned (or flesh-toned) figure.
The LEGO Star Wars Rey Staff in Video Games
If you’ve played LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, you’ve seen the staff in action in a way physical bricks can't manage. In the game, the staff is a literal Swiss Army knife. It’s a glider. It’s a vaulting pole. It’s a puzzle-solving tool.
The game developers at TT Games did something the set designers couldn't: they gave the staff personality. When Rey runs, she holds it at a specific angle. When she fights, the animations reflect the weight of the staff. It makes that simple black bar feel like a legendary artifact. It’s funny how a few pixels can change your perception of a piece of plastic you’ve had in a bin for ten years.
How to Upgrade Your Rey Minifigure
If you’re looking to make your LEGO Star Wars Rey staff stand out, you don't need to buy expensive custom parts. You just need to look at your spare parts bin.
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Try using a "Technic Pin Joiner Round" in light bluish gray for the center of the staff. It adds bulk. It makes it look like there’s a mechanical heart to the weapon. Or, take a page out of the Star Wars Rebels handbook and use the "shorthand" method—a single hilt with a 3L bar. It’s less "staff" and more "baton," but it fits better in cramped dioramas like a Millennium Falcon interior.
Actually, the best mod I've seen involves using a small piece of tan "Rigid Hose." You can cut it to the exact length you want. It has that matte texture that looks exactly like desert-worn fabric. It’s a game-changer for toy photography.
The Reality of LEGO Star Wars Design
At the end of the day, LEGO is a toy company first and a model kit company second. The LEGO Star Wars Rey staff has to survive being stepped on by a parent in the middle of the night. It has to be easy for a seven-year-old to assemble without looking at a manual. That’s why we get the "bar and hilt" combo. It’s indestructible.
Could it be better? Sure. Will LEGO ever change it? Probably not for the standard sets. They’ve found a part usage that works across multiple themes—those same hilts are used for everything from plumbing in City sets to ornate pillars in Ninjago. Efficiency is king in Billund.
Actionable Steps for Enhancing Your Collection
- Audit your hilts: Check if you have any "Chrome Silver" hilts from older sets. Swapping the dull black hilts for chrome ones instantly gives Rey’s staff a "high-end" look that mimics the metal ends of the prop.
- Color swap the bar: Replace the standard 6.6L or 4L black bar with a "Flat Silver" or "Pearl Dark Gray" bar. It breaks up the silhouette and makes the weapon look like it's made of multiple materials.
- The Clip Trick: Use a "Plate, Modified 1 x 1 with Clip" on the back of Rey’s torso. You can then clip the staff to her back. It’s how she carries it 90% of the time in the movies, and it frees up her hands for holding maps or lightsabers.
- Height adjustment: If you find the staff too tall, look for the "3L Bar" (part 87994). It’s slightly shorter and makes the staff look more proportionate to the 1.5-inch height of a minifigure.
The LEGO Star Wars Rey staff might seem like a minor detail, but it’s a microcosm of the entire LEGO Star Wars line. It’s a mix of compromise, creativity, and classic design. Whether you love the simplicity or hate the lack of detail, it’s a piece that has defined an entire era of the galaxy far, far away in brick form.