Star Wars: Darth Vader’s 10 Best Lightsaber Fights in History, Ranked

Darth Vader was the first Star Wars villain to have a lightsaber fight, and he has continued to have many of the franchise’s best duels ever since. Automatically menacing thanks to his chilling mask, iconic breathing, and crimson red lightsaber, most people in Star Wars would know they’re bound to lose to Vader. Some put up a good fight, maybe even when, but only at personal cost.

Whoever the victor is, Vader’s duels are often the emotional turning point in a story and the most significant challenge his enemy will ever face. Other fights are memorable for their stunning visuals, memorable dialogue, and presenting different sides to Vader’s cruelty. Across countless Star Wars movies, TV shows, video games, and comics, 10 of Darth Vader’s lightsaber duels show the Sith Lord at his best.

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Darth Vader Vs. Obi-Wan Kenobi

Star Wars (aka A New Hope)

Darth Vader’s first lightsaber duel (and the first in all of Star Wars) may not have the best choreography by today’s standards, but it still feels iconic after nearly five decades. The immediate tension when friends turned enemies see each other, the quick cuts between slashes, and verbal sparring make the duel really fun. The ending makes Vader the first character to win a lightsaber duel, even if Obi-Wan Kenobi becomes more powerful than he could imagine.

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Darth Vader Vs. Obi-Wan Kenobi

Obi-Wan Kenobi season 1, episode 6 “Part VI”

Advertised as the “rematch of the century” leading up to its release, the season finale of Obi-Wan Kenobi delivered an epic duel between Obi-Wan and Vader. While brought down a bit by the lackluster visuals and boring location, the duel is still an impressive mix of all the fighting styles seen in these characters’ previous fights. Obi-Wan’s final conversation with Vader after seeing him beneath his mask is one of the franchise’s most heartbreaking moments.

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Darth Vader Vs. Master Kirak Infil’a

Star Wars: Darth Vader (2017) #4

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Vader’s first lightsaber duel after donning his armor was with a Jedi Master named Kirak Infil’a, part of a Sith rite of passage to steal a Jedi’s kyber crystal. Although Vader was initially defeated and cast into an abyss, he rebuilt himself and fought the Jedi Master again, brutally forcing him to watch everyone he loved die before his own death. Vader then made his kyber crystal “bleed,” causing his newly constructed lightsaber to glow red.

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Darth Vader Vs. The Dark Woman (Legends)

Star Wars Tales #1 & #2 “Extinction”

Vader also had several amazing duels in the original Star Wars Expanded Universe, now known as “Legends,” and one of the best was with Jedi Master An’ya Kuro (aka “The Dark Woman”). She and Vader used the plant life growing around them as a metaphor to discuss whether life was worth preserving or if extinction was natural. Vader may have slain the Dark Woman, but she became a Force ghost, ultimately proving him wrong about death.

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Darth Vader Vs. Luke Skywalker

Return of the Jedi (1983)

Vader’s final lightsaber duel is easily one of his most iconic, only this low on the list because of the purpose it serves in the story. Vader is often overpowered by Luke to mirror their last duel, showing Luke beginning to slip and follow his father’s path. The fight also ends with Vader losing his hand and at Luke’s mercy, but Luke defying the Emperor also inspires Vader to sacrifice himself to save his son.

5

Darth Vader Vs. Eight Jedi (Legends)

Star Wars: Purge (2005) #1

Most of Vader’s lightsaber duels are against one or two opponents, making Star Wars: Purge unique for pitting him against eight highly-trained Jedi. This group of Jedi thinks they can catch Vader off guard by luring him into a trap, but unfortunately, they make the mistake of baiting him with Obi-Wan’s name. Vader’s rage-fueled focus makes him a terrifying opponent who mops through the first few Jedi with ease.

The comic balances Vader’s impressive skill by having him sustain heavy damage from the other Jedi, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. One Jedi even uses a cortosis weapon to short out Vader’s lightsaber, but he simply snaps her neck and takes it to use against the Jedi lightsabers. Perhaps Vader’s most intriguing strategy is when he pretends to surrender, turning the Jedi against each other when they can’t agree on whether to spare him.

One of the Jedi who appears in this comic is Bultar Swan, who first appeared as an unnamed Jedi in the Geonosian arena battle in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones.

This is why I really love Vader so much as a villain, because he often pushes people into a no-win situation, either dying by his hand or giving in to the dark side. One Jedi even kills another when she insists that Jedi don’t strike down unarmed opponents, only for Vader to kill him anyway. Even though Vader would have lost without the 501st showing up, Emperor Palpatine uses the story to spread his dark legend to the galaxy.

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Darth Vader Vs. Ahsoka Tano

Star Wars Rebels season 2, episode 22 “Twilight of the Apprentice: Part 2”

When Ahsoka Tano was introduced as Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan in 2008, I remember how fans immediately began speculating on what a duel between her and Vader would look like. Eight years later, we finally got our answer in the Star Wars Rebels season 2 finale when an Ahsoka dueled Vader in the Sith Temple on Malachor. The lightsaber choreography, animation, and score are all top-notch, making it one of the best duels in the series.

However, what really sticks with viewers is when Ahsoka sees Anakin beneath the mask, six years before Obi-Wan Kenobi did the same thing. That brief moment of connection between the two, and Ahsoka’s refusal to leave Anakin again, makes his choice to kill her all the more devastating. Rebels season 4, episode 14 “A World Between Worlds” showed the final part of their duel and how Ahsoka barely cheated death.

3

Darth Vader Vs. Starkiller (Legends)

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II (2010)

The only thing more compelling than Vader fighting his old Jedi Padawan is his dueling his old Sith apprentice in the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video games. While their duel at the end of the first game was also incredible, Vader also got beaten worse than he had in most of his other fights. The second game, meanwhile, took Vader to another level by having him challenge Starkiller in every way imaginable.

Vader spends the entire duel getting inside Starkiller’s head, making him question his sense of reality and whether his own feelings can be trusted. Starkiller’s twin blades make their fight even more visually spectacular, plus Vader unleashes other deranged clones on his apprentice. Most of all. Vader tries to use the woman Starkiller loves, Juno Eclipse, to force him to hunt the other rebels.

Even when Starkiller wins, his choice is to either give into the dark side by killing Vader or live with the fear of his survival.

Even when Starkiller wins, his choice is to either give into the dark side by killing Vader or live with the fear of his survival. In the light side version of the game, Vader makes this clear by noting how he will always be able to control Starkiller through Juno. In the dark side ending, it’s revealed that Vader had another clone hidden with cloaking technology who would have killed Starkiller if he tried to kill Vader.

2

Darth Vader Vs. Cere Junda

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (2023)

One of Vader’s most brutal victories was against Cere Junda, the lowest point for the main characters in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. These games do an amazing job presenting Vader as a monster, a force of nature, which this level highlights by surrounding the combatants with flames and explosions. Cere’s death is especially tragic because of how close she came to killing Vader, but her attack left her open to Vader’s killing blow.

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Darth Vader Vs. Luke Skywalker

The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

It may be the obvious choice, but none of Vader’s lightsaber duels are ever likely to be as iconic as his fight with Luke in The Empire Strikes Back. This sequence has some of the best cinematography in Star Wars, each location illuminated by hauntingly beautiful lighting that makes the environment dynamic. It visually displays Luke having to survive in a den of darkness with no way out.

Vader toys with Luke through much of the duel, leaving Luke peering around corners wondering when Vader will strike next. It all culminates in the unforgettable reveal that Vader is Luke’s father, perhaps more painful than Luke losing his hand. Other Star Wars lightsaber duels may be faster and more intense, but Darth Vader’s fight with Luke will always be special.

Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader

Created By

George Lucas

Cast

Bob Anderson, Hayden Christensen, James Earl Jones, Matt Lanter, Matt Lucas, Jake Lloyd, David Prowse, Sebastian Shaw

First Appearance

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

Died

Star Wars: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi

Alliance

Jedi, Sith

Race

Human

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Category: Entertainment