“Below you’ll find a sample of the many ‘Saber Smiths’ available to purchase from,” Reddit user SlamSlayer1 begins.

SlamSlayer1 has penned a lightsaber purchasing guide for aspiring Star Wars collectors. And it’s serious.

“These are among the most popular out there and ALL of them are duel worthy, designed for full force combat,” SlamSlayer1 continues. “These three saber smiths are the current main contenders for the custom market.”

Oh, it’s complicated. And it only can get more complicated (…okay, and expensive) from here. Luckily, SlamSlayer1 is here to help.

Blades and Hilts are Interchangeable!

The blades are 1 inch outer diameter. Meaning you can use a blade from one brand on another brands hilt with zero problems. Some people prefer blades from one place and hilts from another. The light comes from the HILT not the blade. This is one reason these are duel capable. If the LEDs were in the blade, which are known as string blades (a string of LEDs in the blade), its possible to pop them. Like the Black Series and Force FX. But you lose the “scolling” effect. Of the saber turning on and off by “extending” and “retracting”. If you’re familiar with the Force FX or black series, you know what I mean. Instead the light kind of fades in and out. Providing a similar, but different affect.

What the Hell is an Ultrasaber?

Ultrasabers is considered the gateway drug into the saber community. They offer a variety of hilts, from basic original designs to more detailed character based (Obi-Wan from Episode 1 for example) hilts. The accuracy of the character hilts vary. Some are very accurate while others work at a passing glance. They offer empty (no electronics), Stunt Sabers (Sabers without sound, just lights) and full featured sabers with sound. Their customer service can be spotty sometimes. You’ll find conflicting stories where one group of people praise their service while others share their frustration. Ultrasabers has the fastest turn around time. Roughly two weeks from when you order your saber.

Sounds Are Also Customizable (And Called Saber Fonts!)

They all have the option of adding new or different “saber fonts” or sound effects. Some companies like SaberForge let you choose between 3 options for them to load onto your saber that can’t be changed afterwards. Others like Vaders Vault let you load 6 different fonts to switch between on the fly after you download them from Saberfonts.com. Ultrasabers offers you a bunch for free to switch between as you please.

Say Hello to Vader’s Vault