The Top 15 'Star Wars' Lightsaber Duels, Ranked

Get ready for the 'Force Awakens' by revisiting some of the best lightsaber duels in 'Star Wars' history.

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When Disney and Lucasfilm released the first 88-second teaser for The Force Awakens last year, all everyone could talk about was that crossguard lightsaber. “How is this practical?” the internet asked. That’s because the lightsaber has become a really important part of the series and remains one of the Jedi’s most powerful weapons. Countless fanboys have injured themselves trying to recreate the fictional weapon, and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse even theorized how it could exist in the real world.

 

But no matter how many explanations arise and how many schoolyard kids recreate their own battles with sticks, nothing compares to the action and the drama of a Jedi and a Sith wielding color beams at each other to perfectly choreographed sequences. Take a look at the most epic lightsaber duels fights we’ve seen so far. 

15. Ben Solo and Rey vs. The Knights of Ren and The Sovereign Protectors

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From Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

What’s a Jedi to do when faced with a Separatist cyborg wielding four lightsabers—two of them like helicopter blades? Obi-Wan’s bold challenge to General Grievous turns into a lengthy battle in the middle of a larger-scale fight between the Jedi’s battalion of clones and the Supreme Commander of the Droid Army’s minions. What was potentially a great one-on-one duel becomes a car chase and then a gun fight, making it difficult to focus. While it was fun to watch, it just didn’t have the drama or the heart. 

14. Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. Count Dooku

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From Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones

In this battle, it took three Jedi to almost take down one Sith—hence its place near the bottom of the list. When Obi-Wan is the first to be bested by Count Dooku, Anakin quickly takes his place and we see someone wielding two lightsabers for the first time in the series. However, that moment is short-lived and what transpires next feels like an ‘80s montage of flashing lights and Anakin’s long, singular braid. But the battle’s highlight occurs when Yoda steps in and Dooku literally tries to bring the house down on him. The lackluster ending in which Palpatine’s apprentice escapes sets up the potential for another, more satisfactory fight between the recognizable figures.

13. Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, Agen Kolar and Saesee Tiin vs. Chancellor Palpatine

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From Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

If only this fight were longer. It had been a few years or decades since they last saw each other, but Darth Vader emerged as a master and Ben Kenobi recently came out of hiding. The scene’s effects might not have been as advanced as the ones seen in the prequels, but what’s not to love about former friends turned enemies reuniting for a final fight to the death? The short spar ends with Kenobi sacrificing himself, but this memorable encounter remains one of the iconic moments in the franchise.

12. Qui-Gon Jinn vs. Darth Maul

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From Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

New hair. New hand for Anakin. New outlook. What was supposed to be a rescue mission for Chancellor Palpatine turns into Anakin’s first step as the next Sith apprentice. Once again, Obi-Wan is disposed of and Anakin has to take over. The budding Jedi is much stronger than before and is able to overpower Count Dooku. However, he just couldn’t resist the allure of the Dark Side and caves in to Palpatine’s urging to kill him. Like a sensible date, this was nicely paced and provided enough action to keep us interested in seeing Anakin fully cross over.

11. Luke Skywalker vs. Kylo Ren

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From Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith​

This scene introduces us to a super cool moment—the purple lightsaber in action against the Emperor​. Mace arrives with an arrest party for Palpatine, who quickly disposes of them. We are then met with an excellent one-on-one battle of the blades in which Mace and Palpatine literally shatter windows. This would have ranked higher had Anakin not distracted Mace long enough for Palpatine to shock him to death with the force lightning, but such is life. Anakin ruins everything.

10. Yoda vs Emperor Palpatine

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From Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi

It’s the final battle between father and son, so the stakes are pretty high. Luke has finally mastered the force and his feelings, and battles Darth Vader in a dramatic duel that also shows off his newly-acquired acrobatic skills. However, it’s not a Skywalker fight until someone’s hand gets cut off, and that’s exactly what happens to Vader. While the drama is there and the ending does resolve the problems presented in the original trilogy, the actual lightsaber fight just doesn’t match the gravitas of other battles.

9. Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. Darth Vader

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From Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

This bout is almost everything you could want in a duel: it’s fast-paced, elaborate, and even features a double-edged lightsaber. It also lacks a cheesy exchange of words thanks to the red and black-faced Sith, who rarely speaks. Even with all of that and the drama of watching a Jedi die (RIP Qui-Gon), however, the well-executed fight just doesn’t resonate as much as the top three. It was a cool battle to watch and featured interesting elements but that’s about it.

8. Kylo Ren and Rey vs. The Praetorian Guard

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7. Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Yoda vs. Count Dooku

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From Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

Backed by the teasing of the “Imperial March” score, this was a battle between two powerful and recognizable figures on opposing sides of the Force. It also mirrored the events between Anakin and Obi-Wan (keep reading), occurring simultaneously on an entirely different planet. Set in the empty senate chambers, the gravitas of it all felt like the final act of a Shakespearean play. There’s pod-throwing, long jumping, and Yoda even turns one of the senate pods into a Frisbee. Not much could top this.

6. Rey vs. Kylo Ren

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From Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

Anakin’s final step to fully committing himself to the Dark Side meant defeating his old master, Obi-Wan. This lengthy fight on Mustafar saw two Jedi going at it surrounded by lava which meant that if one doesn’t kill the other, the environment somehow would. What makes this battle one of the best is the combination of five things: the swift choreography which saw both Jedi evenly matched, a dramatic score that enhanced rather than overpowered, the story of a fight between good and evil made complicated by their close relationship, the fiery landscape which threatened both fighters, and advanced technology that made the lightsabers look really cool on screen. It was a epic battle that ended in a screaming match, but we also see how Anakin and Obi-Wan left things before their reunion in A New Hope.

5. Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. Darth Maul

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From Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

Even if you haven’t seen the movie, you know about this battle. It’s probably the most iconic scene in the entire franchise and features the plot twist to end all plot twists. "I am your father" just has a certain je ne sais quoi, right? Even though it lacked speed, the duel had plenty of drama and suspense, featured a big reveal, and boasted some great lightsaber exchanges. This seems pretty hard to argue with.

4. Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. Darth Vader

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Movie: Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Location: Mustafar

Anakin’s final step to the Dark Side is defeating his old master, Obi-Wan. This lengthy fight on Mustafar takes place over a massive lava pit, which means that if one doesn’t kill the other, the environment somehow will. What makes this battle one of the best is the combination of five things: the swift choreography; a dramatic score that enhances rather than overpowers; the story of a fight between good and evil made complicated by a close relationship; the fiery landscape which threatens both fighter; and advanced, digital film technology that makes the lightsabers look really cool on screen. The moral of the fight? Always take the high ground, unless you want to lose an arm, both legs, 90% of your skin, and the function of your respiratory system.

3. Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader (Death Star II)

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Movie: Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

Location: Death Star II


It’s the final battle between father and son with a cackling Palpatine in the background, so the stakes are high. Luke has finally mastered the Force and his feelings, and battles Darth Vader in a dramatic duel that also shows off his newly-acquired acrobatic skills. It's not a Skywalker fight until someone cuts a hand off, and that’s exactly what Luke does to Vader. The drama is omnipresent, and the ending resolves the central conflict of the original trilogy. It's ironic; Luke realizes that the only way to win the fight is to forfeit it.

2. Finn and Rey vs. Kylo Ren (Starkiller Base on Ilum)

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Movie: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens

Location: Starkiller Base on Ilum


There is so much subtext to this duel; every hit feels weighted with purpose. Kylo had killed his father. Rey and Finn had watched him kill the only father figure they had known. And so the three characters unleash their rage and grief in the woods of the exploding Starkiller Base; everything feels unstable, both literally and figuratively. There are so many memorable little moments: Kylo pounding his wound to pump adrenaline into his blood. Finn yelling, "Come get it!" while brandishing the infamous Skywalker lightsaber. And of course, Rey picking up that lightsaber, and taking the first steps toward fulfilling her destiny. 

1. Darth Vader vs. Luke Skywalker (Cloud City of Bespin)

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Movie: Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Location: Cloud City of Bespin


You know about this battle even if you haven’t seen the movie; it’s the most iconic scene in the entire franchise and features the plot twist to end all plot twists. "I am your father" just has a certain je ne sais quoi, wouldn't you agree? Even though it lacks speed, the duel has plenty of drama and suspense, features a big reveal, and boasts some great lightsaber exchanges. The visuals, which silhouette Vader and Luke against the glow of the carbonite chamber, are iconic. And when Vader begins tossing hunks of metal at Luke, the young Jedi-in-training realizes he's in too deep.

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