The Star Wars universe isn’t exactly lacking in fight scenes. From pilot chases to fleet shootouts to lightsaber duels to planet decimations – there are many scenes to choose from. There are also famous battles like the Battle of Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back, or massive battles like the Battle of Exegol in The Rise of Skywalker. Still, when SO many Star Wars battles are grand and inherently impressive, it can be difficult to determine the best one.
The visual spectacle of the scenes is important, but almost more so is how the battle is portrayed. Whether the runtime is tight enough to keep the audience engaged, the storyline is well-written, and the way characters interact in satisfying battle roles to inevitably impact the galaxy. Scenes also need to be logical, based on pre-existing lore and general battle tactics. All of these, and more, are factors that are considered when ranking the best Star Wars battle scenes.
The Liberation of Mandalore Deserves More Credit
Image via DIsney
One of the newest large battles in the Star Wars universe, the liberation of Mandalore is an underrated battle because it took place in the least-liked third season of The Mandalorian. It also suffered from the reality that it will always be in the shadow of the Siege of Mandalore.
But this doesn’t mean that the Liberation of Mandalore shouldn’t be treated with the respect it rightfully deserves. This is the culmination of all the previous infighting among Mandalorians and the past battles involving Mandalore, seen across multiple shows and movies. This is the battle where every faction of the scattered Mandalorians comes together to fight for their planet.
Viewers know that one Mandalorian on their own can do quite a bit of damage. All of them together? That’s something truly spectacular to see. There are cinematic fights in the air, on the ground, shootouts, blades, fun Mandalorian weaponry, fists, the Force (courtesy of Grogu), and more utilized in the effort to defeat Moff Gideon and take control of their homeland.
The Battle of Umbara Is Utterly Heartbreaking
Anakin Skywalker holds his lightsaber and a Clone Trooper holds a blaster.Image via Lucasfilm
Another underrated battle in the Star Wars universe, this skirmish takes place in season 4 of The Clone Wars. It is one of the most heartbreaking battles of the bunch, where nothing is truly solved or won, and what remains is mainly death and pain. It follows the Rebel clone army as they go into Umbara in an attempt to take the capital after the Umbarans leave the Rebel Alliance for the Separatists.
After Anakin Skywalker has to leave the planet, the Jedi Pong Krell is put in control, and he turns the clone army against each other through trickery, as he is secretly working for the Empire. The feeling of betrayal runs deep within these episodes. Viewers are given insight into the clone army in a way few other episodes or movies do, and they empathize with their struggles before the treachery begins.
CBR Exclusive · Quiz WHICH STAR WARS CHARACTER ARE YOU? The Force Will Reveal All In a galaxy far, far away, every person carries the essence of a legendary hero — or villain. Twenty questions stand between you and the truth. Answer honestly. The Force doesn’t lie.
Luke Skywalker
Han Solo
Leia Organa
Darth Vader
Yoda
01
You’re given an impossible mission with a 20% chance of success. What’s your first instinct? A critical moment defines who you truly are.
02
Your closest friend has betrayed you for money. How do you respond? Loyalty is tested in the darkest moments.
03
You discover a powerful secret that could change everything. What do you do? Knowledge is power — and responsibility.
04
How do you typically make big decisions? Decision-making reveals your deepest nature.
05
Someone disrespects you in front of others. Your reaction? How we handle disrespect reveals our character.
06
What’s your approach to rules and authority? Every hero has their own relationship with order.
07
When facing an enemy, your strategy is: Combat reveals a warrior’s true philosophy.
08
Your biggest personal flaw is: The wisest know their own shadow.
09
Someone comes to you for guidance during a crisis. You: Leadership is defined by how we show up for others.
10
What drives you more than anything else? Your core motivation shapes every choice.
11
How do you handle failure? Resilience is the mark of a true character.
12
You’re offered enormous power at a moral cost. You: The hardest choices reveal your deepest values.
13
Your relationship with fear is: Fear is the path to the dark side — or the light?
14
People who just met you would describe you as: First impressions carry a grain of truth.
15
What’s your ideal home base? Where we feel most alive says everything.
16
How do you feel about hope? A new hope, or a dangerous illusion?
17
Your legacy — what do you want to leave behind? The ending shapes the meaning of the journey.
18
When someone you care about is in danger, you: Crisis reveals the deepest loyalties.
19
The Force — or fate, or the universe — what is it to you? Your metaphysics reveal your deepest character.
20
In the final battle — the moment of ultimate choice — you: This is the question that decides everything.
THE FORCE HAS SPOKEN YOUR GALACTIC ALIGNMENT
Your scores are shown below. The character with the highest number is your match. Read their description to discover why the Force chose you.
Luke Skywalker
Han Solo
Leia Organa
Darth Vader
Yoda
Idealistic, determined, and driven by love and justice. You believe in people even when they don’t believe in themselves, and you’d sacrifice everything for what’s right. You lead with your heart, trust your instincts, and refuse to give up on anyone — including your enemies.
Independent, charming, and fiercely loyal beneath a tough exterior. You live on your own terms and show up when it matters most, even if you’d never admit you care. You don’t follow rules — you make calculated bets on your own judgment, and you have an uncanny knack for finding a way through.
A natural leader with iron resolve. Strategic, outspoken, and utterly unintimidated by power — you fight not for glory but for lasting justice. You carry responsibility with grace, but there is iron beneath it. You inspire others not through speeches alone, but through the example of your own unwavering resolve.
Disciplined, intense, and deeply complex. You believe in order and commit absolutely to your path. You have high standards — for yourself first, then others — and little patience for weakness. Beneath the formidable exterior burns something deeply human: old loyalties, buried wounds, a past that still shapes every decision.
Wise, patient, and perceptive. You lead with stillness and insight, seeing clearly where others panic. You are the voice of reason in a chaotic room — you don’t need to be the loudest because when you speak, people listen. Your greatest power is not what you can do alone, but what you awaken in others.
Hearts break as they are ordered to fire on their own troops, told that they aren’t what they appear to be, but only the audience knows otherwise. Throughout this, the planet’s lack of light and jungle-like atmosphere create a visual that reflects the dark, foreboding feel permeating the whole battle.
The Battle of Scarif Is a Fan-Favorite for a Reason
One of the most beloved movie battles in the franchise, The Battle of Scarif takes place during the events of Rogue One, and the consequences of the battle are what kick off the original trilogy. The fight begins with the rebels sneaking into an Imperial base on Scarif to retrieve the Death Star plans.
Once obtained, they have to fight their way out and attempt to transmit the plans to the waiting space fleet. They do so, marking the mission as a success. However, the consequences are dire, as Moff Tarkin orders the Death Star to strike Scarif and destroy the city in an attempt to stop the plans from escaping, annihilating everything on site.
The Battle of Scarif is one of the best-executed battles because of what it’s able to accomplish within a trim runtime (at around thirty to forty minutes), its high emotional stakes, the tie-in with the original trilogy, and the heavy weight of reality that hits fans once they see their heroes (Cassian Andor and Jyn Erso) murdered by the Death Star.
The Battle of Endor Is a Nostalgic Powerhouse
Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader cross lightsabers.Image via 20th Century Fox
As the final battle of the original trilogy, this is the battle that fans remember with the most fond nostalgia. The Battle of Endor takes up almost an hour of the always-incredible Return of the Jedi.
The battle has three distinct parts: Luke versus Vader (featuring Sidious), the space battle between the Rebels and the Empire, and the battle on Endor involving the Ewoks. Really, there’s a bit of something for everyone with a space shootout, a lightsaber duel, and a bit of comedy as the teddy bear-like Ewoks mess around with the Imperial Soldiers alongside Leia and Han Solo.
Plus, the lightsaber duel between Luke and Vader and the confrontation with Sidious bring the redemption of Anakin that fans had eagerly been waiting for, in addition to the defeat of the Emperor and the Empire.
The Siege of Mandalore Is a Masterclass in Storytelling
Darth Maul ignites his double-bladed lightsaber in Star Wars: The Clone WarsImage via Lucasfilm/Everett Collection
This battle has it all. Set during The Clone Wars but interwoven with events from Revenge of the Sith, the conflict follows Ahsoka Tano as she attempts to dismantle Maul’s rule over Mandalore. During these episodes, Tano and Maul fight multiple times (one of which is a famously stunning lightsaber duel) in which Maul drops information on Sidious and his plans for Anakin (which she refuses to believe).
Anakin also falls to the dark side, Order 66 is enacted, the Clone Army turns on Ahsoka, and both Maul and Ahsoka (separately) barely escape alive. The Siege of Mandalore is long and intense, with an enormous amount of well-crafted storytelling that does the hard job of weaving together previously existing and new plot lines.
The animation is top-notch, making the duels and fights visually stunning and engaging. The character development is immense due to the emotional shock of the many actions that take place during the battle, and the future of fan-favorite Ahsoka becomes both nerve-wracking and inherently interesting to ponder.
Comic
Star Wars: Revelations
Cast
Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Ian McDiarmid, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Rosario Dawson, Pedro Pascal
