Everyone has their favorite Star Wars lightsaber duel, as well as perhaps a differing one they see as the best. They are a staple of the Star Wars franchise and usually one of the best things - if not the best thing - about the movies they are in, whether it be the Duel of the Fates, Battle of the Heroes, or Vader vs. Luke. But, fantastic lightsaber battles are not just found in the movies.
Some of the best, and on some occasions the very best lightsaber duels in Star Wars come from The Clone Wars and Rebels, and we look at the very best here.
Honorable Mentions
It was tough to cut out some battles, but just missing the top ten by a painfully small margin was Obi-Wan and Asajj Vs. Savage and Maul, Ventress and Savage vs. Dooku, Asajj and the Nightsisters vs. Dooku, and the underrated Ahsoka vs. Anakin and Obi-Wan. So too deserving mention is Ahsoka vs. the Inquisitors, Grievous vs. Kit Fisto, Kanan vs. Maul, and a few others.
Anakin Skywalker Vs. Barriss Offee ("The Wrong Jedi")
Any of the honorable mentions could have made it on this list, and all are underrated. However, just making the cut is another arguably underrated but immensely important duel between Barriss Offee and Anakin Skywalker.
Anakin wielding the two lightsabers against Barriss' two is excellent, and you can feel the emotion and stakes in the duel as Anakin fights for Ahsoka's life. The contest is fantastic, and as it goes on, Anakin gets stronger, drawing from anger more and more to the point where Barriss looks scared at points.
Dooku Vs. Anakin & Obi-Wan ("The Lost One")
There are a few Dooku vs. Anakin duels you could put on this list, such as in "Shadow Warrior" or "Crisis On Naboo," but getting the nod here is their duel from season six.
Dooku is fantastic in this battle as always, and it adds a lot to the prequels as information is given on Syfo Dias, and Obi-Wan and Anakin find out that Dooku is Tyrannus, as well as just a great duel to watch, with Dooku's skill and grace, and Anakin and Obi-Wan's improving opposition.
Kanan Jarrus Vs. The Grand Inquisitor ("Fire Across The Galaxy")
"There are some things far more frightening death." A chilling quote to close out season one of Rebels in grand fashion as Kanan overcomes his fear, and vanquishes the Inquisitor.
The choreography of the fight is excellent, and Kanan's reaction to the thought that Ezra dies is fantastic. Seeing Kanan overcome his fear, open himself up to the Force, and watching the Inquisitor welcome death create what nothing short of a phenomenal duel is.
Obi-Wan Kenobi & Adi Gallia Vs. Maul & Savage Opress ("Revival")
One lightsaber duel that perhaps gets a bit forgotten about in the grand scheme of the Obi-Wan Maul rivalry comes in the season five premiere when Obi-Wan's Soresu skills are in full force, and Maul and Savage show some great prowess.
When Savage kills Adi Gallia, you care, and you can feel how much Obi-Wan cares. Seeing the Jedi Master wield two lightsabers and hold his own against two talented opponents is a sight for sore eyes, and this is undoubtedly one of the very best duels Star Wars has to offer.
Maul Vs. Pre Vizsla ("Shades Of Reason")
Sticking with Maul, sticking with season five, and sticking with sheer badassery, Maul vs. Pre Vizsla may well be the most cinematic Clone Wars duel.
Maul's immense skill is on show better than ever here, with Vizsla having to pull out every Mandalorian trick in the book to no avail, getting outmatched, overpowered, and beat in every aspect before Maul beheads him mercilessly and claims both the Darksaber and Mandalore.
Yoda (& Anakin Skywalker) Vs. Darth Sidious (& Count Dooku) ("Sacrifice")
The entire Yoda arc in season six was absolutely wild, and also fantastic, and perhaps the wildest part of it was seeing Yoda and Anakin duel Dooku and Sidious, then just Sidious and the Jedi, then just Sidious and Yoda.
The battle is an illusion created by Sidious and Dooku but is phenomenal to watch. Yoda fights off Dark Side temptations, Anakin kills Dooku, and Palpatine and Yoda have a great battle, with Anakin also getting in some great swipes at Sidious. It is a dream-like battle both literally and figuratively.
Maul & Savage Opress Vs. Darth Sidious ("The Lawless")
The first time we see Sidious in action with lightsabers in The Clone Wars is an epic occasion as he faces off against his former apprentice and that apprentice's brother.
Sidious makes the skilled Maul and Savage look like they do not know how to wield a lightsaber. He almost toys with the pair as he deals with what he sees as merely a minor annoyance; it is but an exercise for Sidious as he murders Savage and captures Maul. It is an incredible battle, Sidious' best.
Maul Vs. Obi-Wan ("Twin Suns")
Is this the longest lightsaber battle? With the most choreography? And a series of huge slashes and quick manoeuvers? No. It is quite merely storytelling in its most beautiful form.
It may seem short and straightforward, but far more complex than it first appears. Maul is drained from his trek through the desert, running on fumes of hate alone, a singular hatred of Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan immediately wants to fight at the moment it becomes clear Luke may be in danger, and he changes his stance to that of Qui-Gon in The Phantom Menace, luring Maul into a false sense of security before outsmarting and killing him. That final moment between the two enemies is peaceful, beautiful, with immense closure.
Ahsoka Tano Vs. Darth Vader ("Twilight Of The Apprentice" & "World Between Worlds"
This may be the only lightsaber fight on the list that gets on by emotional merit alone. While Obi-Wan and Maul was masterful storytelling, beautiful visuals, and high emotion, Vader and Ahsoka were that with a little more of a battle.
The amazing quotes from the pair, Matt Lanter's voice dub, the score by Kevin Kiner, the amazing action we see between the two episodes, all of it works all of it is fantastic, and it is not only one of the best-animated lightsaber battles, but one of the best overall.
Maul Vs. Ahsoka Tano ("The Phantom Apprentice")
Topping the list is the most recent of the duels that came in the unbelievable Siege of Mandalore arc. When you look at lightsaber duels for the fight itself, there is no question Maul Vs. Ahsoka is one of the very best in Star Wars, better than most movies.
The gorgeous animation, coupled with Ray Park and Lauren Marie Kim's unbelievable motion capture, help create an insanely realistic fight. You take that and then look at the battle's importance, its impact, emotion, the voice performances from Ashley Eckstein and Sam Witwer, and the visuals, and you have the greatest animated Star Wars lightsaber battle of all time.