There is no doubt that the more well-known and popular Star Wars battles will come from the Skywalker saga and the other live-action movies. However, the Star Wars television canon, comprised of The Clone Wars, Rebels, and The Mandalorian, has so much to offer in terms of character rivalries, with original brilliance.
The three TV shows currently in canon have all done outstanding jobs at furthering the lore, and those fans who indulge in them know how excellent they all are. Even rivalries such as Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader are challenged by some of the unreal stories told between two enemies in the television sphere.
Anakin Skywalker & Rush Clovis
The relationship of Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker is possibly the most important romance in the entire Skywalker saga, but in the prequels, the execution of their love across the stars was fairly subpar.
The Clone Wars improved on it significantly, adding a multitude of elements to their relationship to make it better for fans. One such element was Rush Clovis, the former love interest of Padmé, who still carries a torch for her throughout the show. Anakin and Rush come to blows in the show, and their encounters always highlight the toxicity of Anakin, the dangerous nature of his feelings, and make us sympathize with Padmé. However, it was great seeing Anakin handily beat Clovis in a fight.
Asajj Ventress & Count Dooku
Based on what is seen in The Clone Wars alone, this rivalry qualifies for this list, but it has the added bonus of its journey being fulfilled in canon through an unaired arc-turned-novel, 'Dark Disciple'.
The betrayal of Asajj by Dooku is the central subject of one of the show's best story arcs, the Nightsister trilogy, and seeing the former Master/Apprentice become bitter enemies as Ventress seeks out revenge is excellent. Dooku is made an infinitely better character by The Clone Wars, and Asajj Ventress is a huge part of that.
Ahsoka Tano & Maul
A rivalry that stretches over both animated shows but is not very prominent in either is that between Maul and Ahsoka Tano. Contained within a singular Clone Wars arc and a singular Rebels episode, this rivalry has more to it than we currently know and is epic.
The pair, who are arguably the two best individual characters in The Clone Wars, has what is undoubtedly the best-animated lightsaber battle during the Siege of Mandalore. It is challenged only by that between Vader and Ahsoka, which comes directly after Maul and Ahsoka meet again, a moment which, in hindsight, is even more amazing. What they go through together in the final four episodes of The Clone Wars earns their place as one of Star Wars' best rivalries.
Obi-Wan Kenobi/Anakin Skywalker & Count Dooku
Ahsoka and Maul's rivalry is definitely a case of quality over quantity in regards to their encounters. As for Anakin/Obi-Wan and Count Dooku, it definitely leans more into quantity but also has so much quality throughout.
Their rivalry, as portrayed in The Clone Wars, far surpasses that in the prequel trilogy. They have better lightsaber duels, such as in "The Lost One," the inclusion of Asajj Ventress enhances the rivalry, and there are plenty of great moments involving the trio. Others are more consistently excellent, but they are also not as prominent as this trio, which was written brilliantly in the animated show.
Din Djarin & Moff Gideon
The latest great rivalry to come out of Star Wars television is from the smash hit Disney+ original The Mandalorian and is simply between the show's main protagonist and antagonist whose journeys have been amazing in the sixteen episodes of the show thus far.
Grogu is, of course, a significant part of the two's journey, with Din protecting his companion and Gideon after the blood of everyone's favorite little green baby for experimentation, so it will be interesting to see what the next steps are for the character's rivalry with Grogu out of the picture. Nevertheless, in the two seasons of the show, the two have brought out some incredible moments with one another, from their duel to Din's warning to Gideon, and they have already solidified themselves as a great pairing.
The Ghost Crew & The Empire Villains
It is difficult to pinpoint just one rivalry in Star Wars: Rebels between one of the Ghost crew and a villain that stands above the rest, with a selection to choose from within the four seasons of the underappreciated show.
Kanan and the Grand Inquisitor's season-long rivalry is great and ends in spectacular fashion, Thrawn and Ezra's story is still not finished and looks to be going on a path that is at least as good as in Rebels, and even the battles between the Specter's and the Inquisitorius are great. Then there are the short stints of Vader and Palpatine in the show, as well as Maul, whose rivalry with Kanan and Ezra is another fantastic one.
The Jedi & Darth Sidious
Most of the iconic rivalries in Star Wars are one-on-one, two-on-two, or two-on-one. But with a mastermind like Darth Sidious, the odds are never too stacked, and his rivalry with the entire Jedi Order is one of the best in both the Skywalker saga and in the TV shows.
The use of the clones in The Clone Wars is arguably the show's greatest aspect, and they play a huge role in Sidious's plans, with so much emotion and brilliance coming as a result of Sidious's use of them. Alongside the clones, another great part of the Sidious/Jedi story that The Clone Wars leans into is Yoda's attempts to figure out what is going on, a path that leads to a fascinating Force journey and a battle with Sidious. Of course, Sidious wins this rivalry, and fans were given another look at the heartbreaking Order 66.
Ahsoka Tano & Darth Vader
Another fantastic element of The Clone Wars that bleeds over into Rebels is the relationship between Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker, who have one of the most beautiful friendships in Star Wars, as well as one of the most painful stints as enemies.
The sibling-esque relationship between the two is a joy to watch grow throughout six seasons of The Clone Wars. When it comes to an end in season seven, and Darth Vader holds the abandoned lightsaber of Ahsoka, it is nothing short of heartbreaking. Their duel in "Twilight of the Apprentice" induces goosebumps and tears from all fans of the two, and even though their rivalry only truly sporadically appears in one season of Rebels, it is still one of the best due to the execution and all of the emotional weight behind it.
Everything Mandalore
It is Star Wars gold nearly every time the franchise ventures into Mandalore and its people's culture, and The Clone Wars gives the best canonical look at the planet, showing the immense divide with its people.
The rivalry between the new era of Mandalore ushered in by Duchess Satine Kryze, and the violent traditionalist's Death Watch is a sight to behold, with so many terrific elements weaved throughout the saga. From attempts on Satine's life to the takeover of Maul to the Siege of Mandalore itself, the long rivalry between those who are pretty much the good guys on Mandalore and those who want power and violence is brilliant.
Obi-Wan Kenobi & Maul
Right at the Mandalore saga's heart are two of Star Wars' all-time great characters and one of the greatest, most hate-filled rivalry in all of the franchises, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Maul.
The two's rivalry is one of the main reasons a lot of fans see season five of The Clone Wars as being the best. However, their rivalry goes well beyond that show, stretching into Rebels where the two have a final encounter which is one of the best, most poetic, and gorgeous lightsaber duels of all time.