Top 20 Star Wars Lightsaber Battles in Movies and TV

“Star Wars: Clone Wars” (2003-05)
Though it’s often treated as the forgotten child of Star Wars media, this 2003 micro-series is a favorite of many fans. Developed and animated by Samurai Jack’s Genndy Tartakovsky, “Star Wars: Clone Wars” pushed the boundaries of what the franchise could be. One of the greatest gifts that it gave to fans was its treatment of General Grievous. The Jedi-killer, while impressive on paper, often feels quite silly in the way he’s depicted - both in “Revenge of the Sith” and the computer-animated “Clone Wars” series. Here, however, he’s a formidable hunter and terrifying villain. Count ‘em; he’s facing off against six Jedi. He tears them apart like a horror movie monster, inspiring shock and fear in his victims despite their training.

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (2008-12; 2014; 2020)
“The Clone Wars” gave us plenty of thrilling duels across it’s seven seasons, but 2-on-2 battles always feel special. Plus, there’s just a certain novelty in watching Obi-Wan Kenobi wield a red lightsaber. Rarely have we seen quite so many crimson blades in the same space! Facing a formidable pair of foes in brothers Darth Maul and Savage Opress, Obi-Wan is forced to team up with adversary-turned-occasional-ally Asajj Ventress. The ensuing battle is brutal and lightning quick to the point that it’s sometimes hard to keep track of whose lightsaber is whose. It was a duel worthy of a season finale, and Darth Maul’s trash talk adds an extra emotional punch. It’s not everyday you see Kenobi run from a fight!

“Star Wars Rebels” (2014-18)
“Star Wars Rebels” was quite a departure from “The Clone Wars”, but it soon won the fanbase over with strong writing and scenes like this one. Taking place in a generator complex, it’s reminiscent of “The Phantom Menace’s” confrontation between Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Darth Maul. Kanan kicks the duel off by using Ezra’s prototype lightsaber in unexpected ways. From that point on, the action doesn’t let up. When Ezra gets his hands on a lightsaber to make it a 2-on-1, you’d expect the Inquisitor to be rattled - but he’s totally unfazed, quickly taking Ezra out of the fight. Climactic, full of neat lightsaber work, and ending in dramatic fashion, this duel helped solidify “Rebels’” place in Star Wars history.

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” (2005)
As any serious Star Wars fan will tell you, Mace Windu is a master of melee combat, one of the most talented Jedi to ever wield a lightsaber. In fact, he developed and perfected his own unique and aggressive style, known as Vaapad. We see his skills on display on Geonosis, where we got to see his amethyst blade. But it’s during his confrontation with Darth Sidious that he really shows off his formidable abilities. The battle begins with Sidious cutting down three Jedi in record time, but the unflappable Windu uses his unpredictable style to disarm his foe. If only Anakin hadn’t intervened!

“Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens” (2015)
Fans had been waiting a decade for another live-action duel when “The Force Awakens” came out. The first time Finn wields a lightsaber, he struggles to hold his own against a riot trooper. In the finale, he does a little better against Kylo Ren - but fights with more grit than skill. This means it’s up to Rey to face off against Darth Vader’s grandson. It’s a truly awesome moment when she Force-pulls Anakin’s lightsaber into her hands. Fans WERE a bit sceptical that Rey managed to defeat Kylo, but hey, Kylo HAD just been shot! All in all, it was a thrilling duel that introduced fans to the lightsaber combat of the sequel trilogy - more choreographed than the originals, but less stylized than the prequels.

“Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” (1977)
Sure, in terms of choreography, this duel can’t hold a candle to those that followed. It’s stage fighting - plain and simple. What it lacks in wow factor, however, it makes up for in terms of emotional charge and nostalgia. This was the first time that we ever saw a lightsaber duel and that makes it historic. It’s also a reminder of the fact that lightsaber duels are about more than flips and fancy spins; the stakes here are high and Obi-Wan’s sacrifice is incredibly powerful. In the years since, the time we’ve spent with Obi-Wan in other media has only added to the significance of the moment.

“Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker” (2019)
While Rey and Kylo trade blows several times throughout the sequel trilogy, this is arguably their most satisfying duel. Rey is actually fighting like a Jedi this time around, and Kylo isn’t hampered by a blaster wound. The atmosphere is all kinds of ominous and there’s a good balance of Force abilities and straightforward lightsaber combat. By this point, Rey and Kylo have a rather complicated relationship, giving the exchange an emotional intensity. Plus, there’s just something epic about these characters duking it out on the wreckage of the Death Star - especially considering their respective legacies.

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (2008-12; 2014; 2020)
After having his potential cut short in the prequel films, Darth Maul got a new lease on life in “The Clone Wars” animated series. When Maul challenges Mandalorian warrior Pre Vizla to single combat, the ensuing battle is all kinds of badass. We’ve seen Mandalorians fight Jedi and Sith alike, and their prowess in combat is often enough to make up for a lack of Force abilities. What makes the duel such a pleasure to watch, however, is Pre Vizsla’s use of the darksaber in conjunction with his more typical Mandalorian arsenal. Maul and Pre Vizsla have fundamentally different fighting styles, making it so that we never know what'll happen next.

“Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones” (2002)
It’s a treat for viewers pretty much anytime Dooku pulls out a lightsaber - though not always for him. For years, fans had salivated at the idea of finally seeing the great Jedi master Yoda in battle. But we didn’t think we’d ever get to see it until this epic matchup. Few fans predicted the acrobatics Master Yoda would employ to gain an advantage over his much larger opponent. Struggling in with a walking stick and looking small and weak, he instead shows great strength, and his outmatched adversary ultimately flees.

“Star Wars: Clone Wars” (2003-05)
Asajj Ventress was initially designed by the art department for Episode 2. But she didn’t actually make her debut until the first animated “Clone Wars” series. Sidious instructs her to kill Anakin, hoping to use her to test Anakin’s skills. Their duel takes them through the jungles of Yavin IV and into the ruins of Massassi temples. With fast-paced mid-air combat, as well as more deliberate face-to-face moments, this altercation has it all - including a dramatic ending. Once Asajj Ventress is defeated, an enraged Anakin stands on the edge of a dark abyss, holding a red-bladed lightsaber - a chilling foreshadowing of events to come.

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (2008-12; 2014; 2020)
What do you get when you combine two Sith and two Jedi? Well, one dead Jedi, apparently. When this bout begins, things seem relatively evenly matched. But before long, it becomes clear that that is not at all the case. When Maul’s older brother and Adi Gallia separate and face off, it’s one of the quickest and most one-sided affairs in lightsaber history. Managing to hold her own with him for mere moments after an ineffective kick, she meets her end when she is literally stabbed in the back.

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (2008-12; 2014; 2020)
The Dathomirian brothers make our list again, this time when they team up against Darth Sidious. Now that Maul has his own army, his former master sees him as a potential rival. Maul pretends that he’s still loyal, but really he’s out for blood, and Sidious knows it! This was arguably Maul’s best chance for revenge against Sidious, but despite the aid of his brother, Sidious remains in control throughout. The Dark Lord kills Savage - and laughs about it! Maul throws himself into the fight, but to no avail. The duel shows off the extent of the Emperor’s true strength, and you can’t help but feel for Maul as he grieves his brother.

“Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” (2005)
We know what you’re thinking: how isn’t a duel featuring a four-armed cyborg with lightsabers in each hand higher up in the list? That just goes to show how many kickass saber contests there’ve been. Each weapon the general possesses signifies a Jedi he defeated, so the deck is definitely stacked against our hero Obi-Wan – especially with Grievous’ propeller-like blade action keeping him at bay. But, once he begins to “disarm” the general of his weapons – and, well, literally – the tide starts to turn. Mind you, he does have to resort to a blaster to end the fight.

“Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” (2005)
When the Empire struck back in 1980 and we met Yoda for the first time, it became clear to fans that he was the Light Side counterpart to the evil Emperor. However, the idea of seeing the two come to blows never seemed possible. But when episode three came out 25 years later, we finally got a face-to-face showdown. Yes, it’s a CGI bonanza, and having Yoda and Sidious resort to lightsabers at all divided fans. But it’s still an epic confrontation to decide the fate of the galaxy. We got to see them duel again in the season six finale of “The Clone Wars”, although sadly this was just a vision. Still, it was an amazing battle that featured Yoda having to make some momentous choices.

“Star Wars Rebels” (2014-18)
Watching a newly blinded Kanan tangle with Darth Maul in the “Rebels” season two finale was definitely satisfying. But this episode also gave us arguably Rebels’ most powerful moment - the reunion between an apprentice and her fallen master. Seeing Ahsoka realize Anakin’s fate is truly heartbreaking. As they cross sabers, Vader’s sheer power is awe-inspiring, but so too is Ahsoka’s mastery over her weapons. There may be no Jedis here, as Ahsoka makes clear, but their incredible skills, different styles, and long personal history make this duel standout.

“Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi” (1983)
The fastest paced exchange from the original trilogy, this fight was punctuated by the calm conversation that takes place between the combatants and their lone spectator. However, the scene was never about the action – though there are some great examples of that. No, what we love most about this battle is the palpable tension and emotion that’s been building over the course of three movies finally coming to an end. The reveal that Vader’s hand is also cybernetic is perhaps the simplest yet most compelling and symbolic part of the entire sequence.

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (2008-12; 2014; 2020)
The seventh and final season of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” delivered the sort of ending that the series deserved. It also gave us arguably the best lightsaber duel in the history of the show. As she confronts Maul, Ahsoka clings onto her faith in Anakin, unwilling to believe that he could turn to the Dark Side. If this fight felt even more gritty and visceral than usual, you can thank stuntwoman Lauren Mary Kim and Darth Maul actor Ray Park, who provided the motion capture performances. The choreography is beautiful, the scoring is cinematic and the banter is on-point. It’s a two-part duel that would’ve been worthy of the big screen; this is The Clone Wars at its best and most polished.

“Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back” (1980)
This duel saw Luke test out his newfound skills against Vader AND find out the truth about his father. The stakes couldn’t be higher, with Han kidnapped and the Rebellion on its backfoot. As hero and villain face off, the visuals of them shrouded in smoke and shadow, the glow of their lightsabers swinging back and forth, is exhilarating and frightening all at once. Slow paced and methodical, Vader seems to be toying with his younger and less trained foe. It culminates in a stunning reveal and defeat for the good guys. But we wouldn’t change a single thing about it.

“Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace” (1999)
When episode one was released, many “Star Wars” fans left theaters feeling … dissatisfied. But there was one new addition that most loved: Darth Maul. Athletic, agile, and just downright cool-looking, Maul was a Sith lord unlike anything we’d seen before. We first glimpsed his battle prowess as he dueled Qui-Gon on Tatooine. But this was just a taste of what was to come. His fight against Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan showed us what a lightsaber duel could look like in the heyday of the Jedi. The choreography is incredible, and Qui-Gon’s fate is burned into our memories. Not to mention, Obi-Wan’s final move … The duel would lead to a long-lasting rivalry that only ended in “Star Wars: Rebels”.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Sabine vs. Gar Saxon
“Star Wars Rebels” (2014-18)

Anakin vs. Count Dooku
“Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones” (2002)

Ahsoka & Luminara vs. Ventress
“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (2008-12; 2014; 2020)

Anakin vs. Barriss Offee
“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (2008-12; 2014; 2020)

Obi-Wan & Anakin vs. Count Dooku
“Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” (2005)

“Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” (2005)
It doesn’t get better than this. Epic and emotionally charged, this contest between a teacher and his pupil is by far the largest in scope of the entire series. The whole prequel trilogy was building to this moment, when these two former friends turn on one another. Between strikes, Obi-Wan pleads for Anakin to see the error of his ways – despite knowing deep down that it’s too late for that. In the end, Anakin’s hubris is his ultimate undoing. Unable to overcome Kenobi, he ends up crippled and badly burned - filled with hate and pain. It’s the making of an iconic villain.