Lightsaber duels are often the core of Star Wars fight scenes, or at least they’re the most popular part of the movies and shows. With visually striking colors, nostalgic sound effects, and fan-favorite characters wielding the blades, it’s hard not to be obsessed with these moments. But as the Star Wars universe has gradually expanded, there’s been an increase in lightsaber battles, and it has become almost commonplace to see such scenes.
So, how does one differentiate just another duel from a truly incredible one? There are many factors to consider: the emotional weight of the scene, the choreography, the battle tactics, the staying power, the way the scene is filmed or animated, the skill level of those involved, etc. The best lightsaber duels are ones that have a mixture of all of these factors, and some fans might have even missed out on a few of them given the sometimes overwhelming selection of stories in the Star Wars universe.
Ahsoka Faces Maul During the Siege of Mandalore in The Clone Wars
Ahsoka smirks at Maul in a lightsaber battle.Image via Lucasfilm
This placement is likely to upset many fans, as the duel between Ahsoka Tano and her former master (Anakin, then Vader) is often consideredone of the best duels in all of Star Wars. But, as emotionally charged as that battle is, in terms of an actual fight, Ahsoka’s duel with Maul is superior in showcasing their skills and in engaging the audience. Taking place during the Siege of Mandalore, this is the first, but not the last, time that Maul and Ahsoka cross blades.
Although this fight is animated, motion-capture suits were worn by stunt performers who were well-trained in martial arts, allowing for a battle that looked both real and HIGHLY impressive. The camera moves between angles that beautifully highlight the ferocity of two of Star Wars’ best lightsaber duelists. The battle itself shifts between locations that challenge them in new ways, making for an extremely engaging watch.
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.
However, it is important to note that although the obvious emotional weight of Ahsoka vs. Anakin might not be present, there is a subtler emotional tether. Both Maul and Ahsoka were apprentices to people who abandoned them. They fight for different sides, but they are more closely linked than each other would ever know, and share some of the same vulnerabilities and fears.
Qimir Kills Multiple Jedi in The Acolyte
Image via Disney+/Lucasfilm / Courtesy Everett Collection
There are multiple battles and duels in 2024’s surprisingly dark The Acolyte series, each more impressive than the other. All of them showcase some of the best fight choreography the Star Wars universe has seen in a long time.
While the duel between Qimir and Sol is also highly regarded, it cannot be denied that the fight between Qimir as The Stranger and the multiple Jedi who confront him is one of the best lightsaber battles in the entire franchise. Taking place in the Khofar Forest at night, the duel is more of a massacre, as Qimir surprises the Jedi and takes them out one by one. His fighting style is unique to the audience at this point, a seamless mix of blade techniques, hand-to-hand combat, and Force manipulation.
It is clearly also unique to the Jedi as well, as many of them are brutally murdered in quick succession. As the camera weaves through the darkened forest and follows the battle using the glow of the lightsabers, the audience is also introduced to cortosis, which renders lightsabers useless and forces the Jedi to use other skills, which, as seen, doesn’t work well for them.
Maul, Obi-Wan, and Qui-Gon Face Off in the Duel of the Fates
Although other Star Wars movie lightsaber battles might be more famous (Luke facing his father multiple times is usually highly regarded), this scene is also well known among fans and is certainly one of the most impressive duels in the franchise.
Darth Maul faces Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi on Naboo in this scene, with the two Jedi trying to overpower the fearsome-looking apprentice of Sidious. Moving throughout the palace and into a plasma generator complex, the three showcase impressive skills both with blades and the Force. However, it cannot be denied that the audience can’t help but look at Maul during this scene. Wielding a double-bladed lightsaber, Maul performs incredible acrobatic feats to maneuver his way around the two Jedi.
He holds his own until he finds a way to separate the Jedi by using their surroundings against them. Once he does so, there is a tense waiting scene where Maul and Qui-Gon anticipate their fight, in which Maul kills him. Obi-Wan becomes fueled by his grief and comes at Maul with a fervor, cutting him in half to signal the end of the battle.
Asajj Ventress and Anakin Battle Through the Forest in Clone Wars
Asajj Ventress armed with two lightsabers with a blaze in the background in Star Wars: Clone WarsImage via Lucasfilm/Cartoon Network
The battle between Anakin Skywalker and Asajj Ventress is by far the most underrated duel in the Star Wars universe. It takes place on Yavin 4 during The Battle of Muunilinst in the 2003 Clone Wars series.
The duel is long and hard-fought, with both parties engaging over multiple terrains (leaping through the trees is a particular highlight) and during different types of weather (the rain causing the lightsabers to sizzle was a wonderful visual moment). However impressive the fight is, it is most significant as a battle between a Jedi and a Sith. Or is it?
From the outside, it would appear that way, with the lightsabers’ colors reflecting allegiance. But this was a battle that showcased Anakin’s early attraction to the dark side, with his strikes and methods becoming more brutal and savage as the battle goes on and his frustration grows. Eventually, he does harness the dark side in order to beat her, and his power and rage shocked the audience.
Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Finally Face Each Other Again in Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi Wan and Vader battle it out with lightsabers.Image via Lucasfilm
The rematch fans had been waiting for; this duel had quite a bit riding on it. High expectations can sometimes be a killer for a scene, but this confrontation between Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi was everything fans had been hoping for, and more. Obi-Wan Kenobi was met with middling reactions, with some praising the return of Ewan McGregor and the addition of little Leia, and others criticizing the sluggish pacing and overall quality. However, the one factor that unified fans was how incredible the Episode 6 duel was.
Meeting on a barren moon, the setting was ominous and dark, allowing the glow of the red and blue lightsabers to cast dramatic light across the opponents’ faces and masks. The users’ skill was flawless and exciting, which wasn’t a surprise to fans, as Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor were both applauded for their swordsmanship even in the prequel trilogy. But it was their skills and the choreography of the battle itself that made it so stunning, as both Force users used their surroundings to shape the fight and add extra layers of drama.
Then, of course, there’s the emotional factor of it all. Obi-Wan apologizes to Anakin, and Anakin continues to show he is now Darth Vader. However, in the brief glimpse viewers get when his mask is damaged, the layers of emotion in this confrontation are reflected in Anakin’s yellow eye. There’s anger, a bit of fear, and a surprising amount of sadness.
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
