Summary
- Darth Vader transformed lightsaber dueling into a key element of
Star Wars
, with high entertainment value. - Notable duels with Vader include Obi-Wan, Starkiller, and Ahsoka, showcasing his power and impact.
- Lightsaber battles in the franchise have evolved to include emotional depth, expert choreography, and iconic moments.
As the first Star Wars character to have a lightsaber duel onscreen, Darth Vader set the standard that each subsequent entry would strive to top. A good lightsaber duel is now a quintessential aspect of the Star Wars experience, creating a visually stunning and highly entertaining fight and physically representing the battle between the light and dark sides. While the first lightsaber duel in the original Star Wars film was relatively simple compared to what came later, the franchise now encompasses an impressive variety of emotional and expertly choreographed sword fights.
Darth Vader himself has been at the center of many of the saga’s best lightsaber duels, from the first movie to the latest Star Wars TV shows. The franchise has even branched out to include Vader in animation, video games, and more, allowing fans to experience lightsaber duels in new and interesting ways. 10 Star Wars lightsaber duels show Vader at his most terrifying, offer the greatest entertainment value, and encompass that which makes the franchise so special.
Related Star Wars Movies In Order: How To Watch Release Order, Chronologically & With The TV Shows
What’s the best way to watch Star Wars? Here’s everything you need to know to watch in release or timeline order, and how to include the TV shows.
10 Darth Vader Vs. Ben Kenobi
Star Wars (aka A New Hope)
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope PG
Director George Lucas Release Date May 25, 1977 Studio(s) Lucasfilm Distributor(s) 20th Century Writers George Lucas Cast Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , Alec Guinness , David Prowse , James Earl Jones , Frank Oz , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , Peter Mayhew , Peter Cushing Runtime 121 Minutes Franchise(s) Star Wars Budget $11 Million Expand
Darth Vader’s first lightsaber duel – and the first duel of the Star Wars franchise – was his final confrontation with Obi-Wan “Ben” Kenobi on the Death Star. While the choreography of this scene is admittedly limited and a bit silly compared to other lightsaber duels, it’s still an iconic Star Wars moment. The direction, editing, and sound create a gripping atmosphere that makes up for the simple swordsmanship, while the performances add emotional depth.
The style also allows the scene to focus more on the characters, with witty dialogue that hints at their shared history. However, the most memorable part of the scene comes when Obi-Wan realizes he won’t make it out alive, choosing to let Vader strike him down and become one with the Force. The first Star Wars lightsaber duel ended with a victory for Darth Vader but established the themes that would come full circle by the end of the original trilogy.
9 Darth Vader Vs. Kanan Jarrus & Ezra Bridger
Star Wars Rebels season 2, episode 2 “The Siege of Lothol: Part 2”
Star Wars Rebels
Cast David Oyelowo , Steve Blum , Freddie Prinze Jr. , Tiya Sircar , Vanessa Marshall , Jason Isaacs , Taylor Gray Seasons 4 Network Disney Channel Streaming Service(s) Disney+ Franchise(s) Star Wars Writers Dave Filoni , Greg Weisman Directors Dave Filoni Showrunner Dave Filoni , Simon Kinberg Expand
Another Darth Vader duel with simple choreography came in the Star Wars Rebels season 2 premiere. An animated show that specifically sought to recapture the magic of the original trilogy, Star Wars Rebels drew heavy inspiration from Darth Vader’s previous duels, especially when the Sith Lord himself made a dramatic entrance. Rather than relying on speed or advanced moves, Vader overwhelms Kanan Jarrus through physical strength and the power of the dark side, making each move seem effortless.
It was a brilliant way to show how powerful Vader was compared to the Grand Inquisitor from the first season, who died in a fast-paced and acrobatic duel with Kanan. Vader easily bests a master and apprentice, survives being crushed by an Imperial walker, and deflects blaster bolts back at Sabine Wren, who would have died without her Mandalorian armor. Vader and Kanan’s duel adopted the general style of the first Star Wars movie while adding more weight and purpose to each strike.
8 Darth Vader Vs. Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi season 1, episode 6 “Part VI”
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Cast Bonnie Piesse , Hayden Christensen , Moses Ingram , O’Shea Jackson Jr. , Simone Kessell , Ewan McGregor , Grant Feely , Joel Edgerton , Maya Erskine , Benny Safdie , Indira Varma , Marisé Álvarez , Sung Kang , Rupert Friend , Kumail Nanjiani Release Date May 27, 2022 Seasons 1 Streaming Service(s) Disney Franchise(s) Star Wars Writers Joby Harold , Hossein Amini , Stuart Beattie , Hannah Friedman , Andrew Stanton Directors Deborah Chow Showrunner Joby Harold Expand
Most viewers thought there would never be another onscreen fight between Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi after Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, but the Obi-Wan Kenobi series surprised fans with multiple lightsaber duels. The show revealed that the two had in fact crossed paths between Episodes III and IV, fighting once on the planet Mapuzo and a second time on a barren moon. This was complemented by a flashback showing the two in a sparring match during the prequels that foreshadowed their respective fates.
However, their final climactic duel in the Obi-Wan Kenobi season finale was by far the most engaging duel of the series. The choreography impressively combines aspects of the prequels, originals, and the flashback from the previous episodes, while also featuring parallels to other Star Wars movies and TV shows. What truly makes the duel iconic is Obi-Wan seeing beneath Vader’s mask and accepting that his friend is gone for good, with brilliant performances from Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen.
7 Darth Vader Vs. Cere Junda
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Franchise Star Wars Platform(s) PC , PlayStation 5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S Released April 28, 2023 Developer(s) Respawn Entertainment Publisher(s) Electronic Arts ESRB T For Teen due to Mild Language, Violence Expand
Star Wars has had many impressive lightsaber duels across several video games, and the Star Wars Jedi games deserve praise for having some of the best to date. Darth Vader’s duel with Cere Junda in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor was thrilling both in the cutscenes and the gameplay, topped by incredible graphics and an intense score. The Star Wars Jedi games make Vader feel absolutely terrifying, and no matter how powerful Cere is, she’s ultimately no match for him. Her death feels especially tragic after coming so close to striking Vader down in her last moments.
6 Darth Vader Vs. Ahsoka Tano
Ahsoka season 1, episode 5 “Part Five: Shadow Warrior”
Ahsoka
Cast Rosario Dawson , Natasha Liu Bordizzo , Hayden Christensen , Eman Esfandi , Ivanna Sakhno , Mary Elizabeth Winstead , Ray Stevenson , Genevieve O’Reilly , Lars Mikkelsen , Diana Lee Inosanto Release Date August 23, 2023 Seasons 1 Streaming Service(s) Disney Plus Franchise(s) Star Wars Writers Dave Filoni Directors Dave Filoni , Steph Green , Rick Famuyiwa , Geeta Vasant Patel , Peter Ramsey , Jennifer Getzinger Showrunner Dave Filoni Creator(s) Dave Filoni Expand
Most of Darth Vader’s duels show him wearing his trademark suit of armor, but Ahsoka season 1, episode 5 “Part Five: Shadow Warrior” proved to be an exception. Despite initially meeting Anakin Skywalker’s spirit in the World Between Worlds, Ahsoka Tano is later confronted by his dark half, unleashing Vader’s ferocity with none of the restraints of his mechanical body. It’s a rare glimpse of what Vader may have looked like had Obi-Wan Kenobi not defeated him on Mustafar, and having Ahsoka fight her master while seeing his face is heartbreaking.
5 Darth Vader Vs. Starkiller
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
Franchise Star Wars Platform(s) Nintendo DS , Xbox 360 , Xbox One , Nintendo Wii , PlayStation Portable , PlayStation 3 , PC Released October 26, 2010 Developer(s) LucasArts Publisher(s) LucasArts ESRB Teen // Violence Expand
Another Star Wars video game series that pushed the boundaries of lightsaber combat was Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Telling the story of Darth Vader’s secret apprentice, Starkiller, each game ends with the assassin-turned-Jedi dueling his former master. While the first game was great, their second duel on Kamino at the end of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II was phenomenal, with each opponent displaying incredible power in the gameplay and scenes. The voice actors take the duel to another level with outstanding performances, particularly Sam Witwer as Starkiller.
Related 13 Star Wars Canon Stories That Are Pulled Straight From Legends
The original Star Wars Expanded Universe may have been relegated to “Legends,” but the official Disney canon continues to draw inspiration from it.
4 Darth Vader Vs. Ahsoka Tano
Star Wars Rebels season 1, episode 22 “Twilight of the Apprentice: Part 2”
Star Wars Rebels
Cast David Oyelowo , Steve Blum , Freddie Prinze Jr. , Tiya Sircar , Vanessa Marshall , Jason Isaacs , Taylor Gray Seasons 4 Network Disney Channel Streaming Service(s) Disney+ Franchise(s) Star Wars Writers Dave Filoni , Greg Weisman Directors Dave Filoni Showrunner Dave Filoni , Simon Kinberg Expand
While seeing Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano together in live-action was incredible in Ahsoka, their roles as master and apprentice began in animation, making it the best medium for the final duel. Darth Vader’s fight with Ahsoka in the Star Wars Rebels season 2 finale is well-choreographed, brilliantly scored, charged with emotion, and sports some of the most gorgeous animation in the franchise. Ahsoka seeing Anakin under the mask was a devastating way for the two to part ways, placing this among the most tragic lightsaber duels in Star Wars.
3 Darth Vader Vs. Luke Skywalker
Return of the Jedi
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi PG
Director Richard Marquand Release Date May 25, 1983 Studio(s) Lucasfilm Distributor(s) 20th Century Writers Lawrence Kasdan , George Lucas Cast Mark Hamill , Carrie Fisher , Harrison Ford , James Earl Jones , Billy Dee Williams , Ian McDiarmid , Peter Mayhew , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , David Prowse , Frank Oz , Sebastian Shaw , Alec Guinness Runtime 131 Minutes Franchise(s) Star Wars Budget $32.5-42.7 Million Expand
Darth Vader’s final lightsaber duel in life was also one of his best, serving as the final test for Luke Skywalker becoming a Jedi Knight. Reluctant to fight his father, Luke is manipulated by Palpatine and Vader into unleashing his Vader, finally gaining the upper hand on a foe who had previously appeared unstoppable. However, Vader’s defeat is far from triumphant, and Luke realizes that killing Vader would only make him his replacement. This inspires Vader to save his son and turn on his master, rejecting the dark side and offering him redemption in his final moments.
2 Darth Vader Vs. Luke Skywalker
The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back PG
Director Irvin Kershner Release Date June 18, 1980 Studio(s) Lucasfilm Distributor(s) 20th Century Writers Leigh Brackett , Lawrence Kasdan , George Lucas Cast Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , Frank Oz , Billy Dee Williams , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , David Prowse , Peter Mayhew , James Earl Jones Runtime 124 minutes Franchise(s) Star Wars Budget $30.5 Million Expand
Luke Skywalker’s first duel with Darth Vader, meanwhile, showed how ruthless the Dark Lord of the Sith really was. Perfectly paced, expertly shot, and with choreography that perfectly balances skill with raw power, Vader’s second onscreen lightsaber duel showed what Star Wars sword fights were capable of. The final stretch of the fight on the bridge is one of the most intense action scenes in the franchise, ending with Luke losing a hand and learning that his greatest enemy is his father. Only one other Darth Vader lightsaber duel in Star Wars could top this one.
1 Darth Vader Vs. Obi-Wan Kenobi
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith PG-13
Director George Lucas Release Date May 19, 2005 Studio(s) Lucasfilm Distributor(s) 20th Century Fox Writers George Lucas , John Ostrander , Jan Duursema Cast Ewan McGregor , Natalie Portman , Hayden Christensen , Ian McDiarmid , Samuel L. Jackson , Christopher Lee , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , Frank Oz , Ahmed Best , Temuera Morrison Runtime 140 Minutes Franchise(s) Star Wars Budget $113 Million Expand
Darth Vader’s best lightsaber duel – arguably the greatest in the entire Star Wars franchise – was his fight with Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar at the end of the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Although he had not yet been placed inside the armor, Anakin Skywalker had accepted the title of Darth Vader by this point and given himself to the dark side. The choreography of this duel far surpasses anything else in the saga, requiring months of rehearsal and countless hours of work in every department. The end result is a credit to Star Wars, lightsaber duels, and Darth Vader’s abilities.