Every Lightsaber Fight in Star Wars’ Skywalker Saga, Ranked From Worst to Best

by

The Star Wars galaxy is incredibly appealing, filled with unique creatures and planets unlike our own. Beyond the exciting spaceship battles – featuring famous ships like the X-Wing and Millennium Falcon – the heart of the story lies in the ongoing conflict between the Jedi and the Sith. This eternal struggle between good and evil, and the powerful weapon at its center, drives the entire franchise.

The lightsaber first appears in Star Wars: A New Hope when Obi-Wan Kenobi shows Luke Skywalker his history. Since then, it’s been featured in many memorable battles, though some are better than others. Here’s a ranking of every lightsaber fight in the Star Wars Skywalker Saga, from least to most impressive.

14) Rey vs. Kylo Ren II (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker)

The final confrontation between Rey and Kylo Ren takes place on the ruins of the second Death Star, as both search for a Sith wayfinder. Instead of trying to understand each other, they immediately begin to fight. While the duel looks impressive, it’s around this point that Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker starts to feel confusing and loses some of its emotional impact. The fight is also weakened by the disappointing way Kylo Ren’s story ultimately resolves.

13) Obi-Wan vs. Darth Vader (Star Wars: A New Hope)

As a film buff, I always believe a great movie fight needs two things: amazing choreography and a story that makes it matter. The duel between Obi-Wan and Darth Vader in Star Wars: A New Hope absolutely nails the story part. Seeing Luke lose Obi-Wan is genuinely heartbreaking. Now, Obi-Wan doesn’t really fight fight – and that’s intentional. He knows Vader is too powerful. But honestly, even knowing that doesn’t make it any easier to watch, and there’s no reward for just almost winning a lightsaber fight.

12) Anakin Skywalker & Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. Count Dooku (Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith)

At the beginning of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Anakin Skywalker is determined to defeat Count Dooku, and he attacks without hesitation. He’s so focused on revenge that he doesn’t even react when Obi-Wan is quickly knocked down. The fight is short, and Anakin defeats Dooku at the urging of Chancellor Palpatine.

11) Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi & Yoda vs. Count Dooku (Star Wars: Attack of the Clones)

Star Wars: Attack of the Clones features more lightsabers than all the other films in the series combined. However, most of the lightsaber duels don’t involve Jedi fighting each other; they’re battling the Separatist army in the Geonosis arena. The lightsabers really start clashing when Anakin and Obi-Wan confront Count Dooku. After the Jedi struggle, Master Yoda arrives to dramatically rescue them, perhaps with a bit too much flair.

10) Darth Sidious vs. Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, Saesee Tiin & Agen Kolar (Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith)

In Revenge of the Sith, Palpatine is forced to handle conflicts himself when his apprentices are gone. This includes a fight with Jedi Masters who arrive at his office to arrest him, led by Mace Windu. Windu quickly finds himself facing Palpatine alone after his fellow Jedi are defeated. Although Windu gains the advantage, it seems Palpatine is deliberately fighting weakly, likely to manipulate Anakin Skywalker, who is unsure where his loyalties lie. Because Palpatine appears to be holding back, this duel isn’t one of his most impressive battles.

9) Rey vs. Kylo Ren I (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker)

The first fight between Rey and Kylo Ren in The Rise of Skywalker suffers from the same issues as their second confrontation – it’s difficult to connect with the characters because the plot is overly complicated and doesn’t really go anywhere. However, the fight does stand out thanks to a unique element: Rey and Kylo Ren’s ability to travel between locations using their Force connection. While it’s not groundbreaking, this fight is good enough to rank among the top ten in its category.

8) Luke Skywalker vs. Kylo Ren (Star Wars: The Last Jedi)

As a fan, I always found the duel between Luke and Kylo in The Last Jedi really interesting, even if it wasn’t a traditional lightsaber battle. When Kylo tries to destroy the Resistance and attacks Luke, it turns out Luke isn’t even there physically – he’s projecting himself through the Force! It’s a clever scene, but because it’s not a real, physical fight, I wouldn’t rank it among the very best. Still, it’s definitely a memorable moment and worth revisiting.

7) Darth Sidious vs. Yoda (Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith)

In Revenge of the Sith, Yoda gets another chance to shine as he battles the powerful Dark Lord of the Sith. Their lightsaber duel takes place in the Senate Chambers and is an impressive display of both fighters unleashing their full power. However, the visual of a small, computer-generated Yoda fighting an older man isn’t entirely convincing.

6) Darth Vader vs. Luke Skywalker (Star Wars: Return of the Jedi)

Throughout Return of the Jedi, Luke consistently believes his father, Darth Vader, has some good left and hopes to save him. However, when Vader reveals his intention to target Leia during their confrontation on the Death Star, Luke’s faith is shaken. Their second duel largely repeats their first, and isn’t much of a challenge for Vader. Despite this, the scene is incredibly powerful and emotionally resonant, making it a standout moment in the film.

5) Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. General Grievous (Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith)

Though it’s not just about looking good, General Grievous’s fight in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith is incredibly memorable. He impressively wields multiple lightsabers, forcing Obi-Wan to defend himself. However, Obi-Wan is prepared and fights hard to overcome Grievous. Even though Grievous doesn’t last long, he definitely leaves his mark on the Star Wars story.

4) Finn & Rey vs. Kylo Ren (Star Wars: The Force Awakens)

Many of the later Star Wars films have been criticized, and often rightfully so, as they struggle to find a clear path forward. However, Star Wars: The Force Awakens delivers a strong battle sequence where Finn and Rey face off against Kylo Ren. Even wounded, Kylo struggles against Rey, a new and inexperienced Force user. This underdog victory is classic Star Wars, making it one of the best fight scenes in the series.

3) Darth Vader vs. Luke Skywalker (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back)

No fight in Star Wars is more shocking than the one in Cloud City. Darth Vader arrives, intending to lure Luke Skywalker into a duel to eliminate the last Jedi. They fight fiercely, and Luke is nearly defeated. Then comes the stunning reveal: Vader is Luke’s father, and he wants Luke to join him. This incredibly famous scene is arguably the most iconic moment in the entire Star Wars saga, and that’s why it stands out in this discussion.

2) Qui-Gon Jinn & Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. Darth Maul (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace)

The first of the Star Wars prequels, The Phantom Menace, gets off to a slow start and feels long. However, it does feature a truly amazing lightsaber duel between Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Darth Maul. This battle is not only brilliantly choreographed but is also set to John Williams’ iconic “Duel of the Fates” – a piece of music that instantly comes to mind for Star Wars fans whenever they think about lightsabers.

1) Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. Darth Vader (Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith)

The first six Star Wars films all lead up to the intense duel between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader. After Anakin Skywalker falls to the dark side, Obi-Wan goes to the volcanic planet Mustafar, determined to stop the conflict. A fierce and tragic battle ensues, with the two former friends and mentor trying to kill each other. Obi-Wan’s painful admission of his love for Anakin only adds to the tragedy, marking the definitive birth of the franchise’s iconic villain.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/every-member-of-star-wars-jedi-council-ranked-by-power/embed/#

Read More

2025-10-23 20:51