Top 10 Best Star Wars Lightsaber Duels

The top Star Wars movie of all 6, it makes sense that it also has the best duel. A compelling story that began in episode 1 builds up to the ultimate mystery of how Anakin became encased in Darth Vader. An intense, heated, emotional duel between Anakin and his former master/best friend is the best way it could've happened. This duel is the main thing that makes Episode 3 the most emotional Star Wars film, ending in sadness and disparity as the Empire rises and the evil Palpatine's plan succeeds. Vader's life supporting armor made him feared by the galaxy for years to come, thanks to his awesome, but sad duel against Obi-Wan.

One the most incredible duals in Star Wars and cinema history saving the complete mess of the prequels. The dialogue once again is not the best, however Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen completely make up for with incredible displays of acting getting though all the emotion involved in the dual.
The set up is absolutely epic, lava and big massive tall structures make it a great spectical and is a fitting way to finally see Anakin turn the dark side.
It is also the most emotionally driven fight between Anakin and his master, McGregor really showing us how hard it was for Obi Wan to try to kill Skywalker, the look on his face at the end haunts me every time a see it, it's truly chilling. And of cause who can forget Mr Kenobi telling Anakin he failed him, before his (once again) chilling 'speech' at the end, Him shouting 'You were the chosen one, you were meant to destroy the sith not join them! ' (Of course later he does destroy the sith). And Anakin screaming 'I HATE YOU! ' Giving into his hate and joining the dark side.
Great set, great acting, intense and almost sad because of the emotion brought through, what is not to love.

This is the most intense lightsaber action in the trilogy, mostly because they were constantly fighting while a lot of Anakin vs. Obi Wan was spent swinging on ropes, floating on platforms, etc. But I can't say I like Darth Maul in any way. I mean, he ruined Obi Wan's life! 1st in the phantom menace he killed Qui Gon, forcing Obi Wan to train Anakin while cope with his master's death and not being totally prepared for either, as well as kill his close friend Duchess Satine in clone wars. But I have to admit, the first time I saw Obi Wan behind the red shield, it was VERY intense.

The double saber grabbed everyone's attention. Everyone loved how Maul was twirling it around and holding off 2 Jedi at once, considering he was only an apprentice and he was fending off a master and a padawan. Maul definitely had some tricks up his sleeve, like separating the master and the padawan. I do have to say, this being the first movie of the lot I watched, I was really hoping for the sith to destroy both jedi. Epic battle with a decent paced saber action.

This is my favorite scene in all of film. It's not the most technically choreographed but the sheer terror of not knowing when Darth Vader is going to attack Luke is thrilling. The colors in the scene are immaculate too.

The best duel by far. It was dark and ominous from the beginning. When I saw it as a kid, I thought Luke would win because the good guys always win. Right? Wrong! When Vader cut off his hand I thought it couldn't get any more shocking. Not! Vader's words cut even deeper than did his lightsaber. In real life Luke would have needed therapy after this encounter. The greatest reveal in the history of cinema, in the greatest film of the Star Wars franchise.

The stakes are higher in this battle as Luke battles Dark Vader for the first time. The setting and the dark lighting are what makes this battle great, also with most famous Star War's line being said at the end. The sword fighting seems more realistic, and better choreographed.#1 on my list.

This is the best lightsaber duel in the Star Wars franchise due to how emotional and climactic it was. Unlike in The Empire Strikes Back, we see a battle between two equals here as Luke has finished his training and is now ready to confront his father. Add in the ultimate puppet-master, Emperor Palpatine, watching from his throne, goading Luke and Darth Vader into a fight to the death, and you have so much tension that you can cut it with a knife! This duel isn't just the best lightsaber duel, but its conclusion is also one of the most powerful moments in the Star Wars franchise.

This duel is emotional and it's also very powerful because it ends in Darth vader and the Emperors' deaths. It also is shows Luke's progress as a jedi, because you can see that he is far more powerful in this duel than in his duel with Darth Vader in the previous movie. I also love how Luke is willing to fight his father so that he can become a Jedi and he stayed loyal to the light side until the end.

This duel was between the leaders of the two greatest opposing and warring groups in history. Yoda, the greatest of all jedi, vs lord sidious, the greatest sith in the history of the dark side. You say lightsaber duel, waht should automatically pop into your head is this duel right here. Not only was it so greatly executed, but it was fought right in the heart of palpatine's newly created Empire. I mean, true Yoda got beat, but he went out with a literal BANG! Waht was even more stupendous was all the senatorial hover platforms palpatine hurled at Yoda. Just... The greatest lightsaber duel in Star Wars history... EVER!

This is the one time I will defend the Darth Maul lightsaber scene to whoever below claimed it was a "choreographed dance off." Yes, in a way, it was. But seriously the amount of training the actors had to go through, and re shooting is just crazy. And also, in a way, much more emotional than some scenes in the original trilogy. It depicts a scene in which Obi Wan and Qui Gon are battaling the first with in over 1000 years. Once Qui Gon is struck down, it shows Obi Wan being able to hold his ground, and fight back his dark thoughts. After Darth Maul is defeated, it shows a bitter sweet exchange between master and apprentice, and as they say their last goodbyes the thought looms over them both that Obi Wan will have to train Anakin, whether he is ready to or not. In my opinion, this entire scene is the perfect balance between emotion and action, while in Darth Vadar vs Luke episode 6, It mostly just talks about vadar overcoming the dark side (which Obi Wan did) and Luke redeeming him. Of course, as powerful as it was, in many aspects could not match the level of deep meaning behind all the flips and deflects portrayed in episode one.

The fourth best battle (behind Obi-Wan and Anakin and the two Luke/vaders) is mind blowing. I mean Yoda jumping around while swinging his light Saber like crazy is truly awesome.

I think I split a lung from laughing so hard. Yoda bounced around like a flea on a hound dog! Still took Anakin to cut Dickhu's head off

People hate this light saber scene for no apparent reason. I hated episode II but this scenes was still awesome.

General Grievous was at a disadvantage considering his weak condition and not having the Force but put up a great fight nevertheless.

Definitely not the most badass, but it was pretty intense. People tend to forget about this one.

It's so low because no style yo.

While not quite the most intense fight on the list, the reason it is so high is that it is the first time we see Palpatine use a lightsaber, and at the theater, many people probably just blinked and by the time they opened their eyes, two Jedi Council members were dead. It is a great fight and displays how powerful Palpatine truly is. (Windu may have won, but I personally think that Palpatine let Mace beat him once he sensed Anakin coming) Perhaps the greatest part about this fight is that it is like poetry, mirroring the events of Return of the Jedi, but with a different outcome.

The coolest, Mace windu is 3rd best Star Wars Character vs. Emperor Palpatine who is second worst character (Tarkin is worse)... Mace Windu should of won, but might have survived while getting shot down, falling on a speeding car

I would believe Palpatine a.k.a DARTH SIDIOUS was almost the far most skilled lightsaber user almost of all time that he was at his best almost in revenge of the sith movie but hey maybe its just me thinking that.

Far more emotional then episode 2's but this one has a theme of revenge, hate, and love(brotherly).

Amazing fight honestly

Anakin just gets kicked

Oh come on! You can't tell me you like these crappy live-action fights compared to a CGI duel where they can do whatever they want without the restraints of physics!

Clone wars lightsaber duels shouldn't be on this list, otherwise they would be far higher. I assumed this list was just Star Wars films, we should have a separate list for cw and rebels

God I loved this one. CGI was amazing. I mean, the most dynamic duo in the Star Wars against the evillest man in the galaxy? Love it

This scene actually showed some realism to the fights unlike the prequels. The duels wouldn't be super flashy and super choreographed, they would be more gritty and slow. The fight also showed how Kylo was hurt and battling with his internal feelings. He was battling with the dark and the light. It also showed how Kylo isn't fully trained and that because of all of that combined that someone such as Rey could take him. Rey also had used her staff before so she'd at least be decent with a saber. Overall the fight was good.

Rey is a total badass. Why don't people understand how she beat Kylo? He was wounded, AND he's not fully trained. And it's not like she never used a weapon before. You saw her fight with a staff on Jakku, otherwise, how would she have survived all those years if she didn't know how to fight? How is this duel not even in the top five?

To the people saying that the prequels are "choreographed and fake", all I can say is that the Jedi order at that point still existed, so the Jedi were being trained there entire lives to fight in such a way. Neither Kylo Ren, or Rey have that kind of training.

It was awesome. This fight was a combination of the great fight choreography of the prequels, and the raw emotion of the originals. It is probably my favourite Star Wars Fight. What else is there to say?

I'm not a huge fan of the new trilogy, but I have to give them credit where they earned it. This scene was amazing. I loved this fight.

For your money, you're not gonna find a more surprising, emotional, and well-choreographed fight.

Technically, this can't be classed as a proper lightsaber duel, as Kylo Ren was actually facing a force protection of Luke, not Luke in person.

Awesome fight because Luke tricks ("distracts") Kylo into thinking he is actually there (but Luke isn't) so that the Resistance could escape. Great way to end Luke because technically Kylo doesn't kill him, but rather Luke allows Rey to become the Last Jedi as he becomes one with the force along with his father and all the other jedi. "Strike me down in anger and I'll always be with you. Just like your father"-Luke

Come on, are you guys crazy? Even though Rebels falls short to the Clone Wars, there's no duel, in any Star Wars media, that matches this one. The emotion between the two, the part where (SPOILERS) Vader's masked is slashed and we hear Anakin's voice...it's all just stunning.

This is an epic battle! I loved when she leapt on him with two sabers! It's amazing!

Definitely top 10 for me. One of the most emotional duals in all my of Star Wars

Great duel. Anakin with 2 sabers vs. Dooku is the best part. One of the few duels that the bad guys prevail. Anakin gets his arm chopped off. Leads to another great duel. Awesome overall

Count Dooku takes down 2 of the most powerful jedi/sith then yoda comes in and schools that fool!

What about Yoda? He was in that fight! At least he gave him credit.

I love how they team up

Mace Windu was weak in this fight. I like him, but he's tougher than what he was portrayed in this movie.

Starts out with tons of Jedi, but then, just Windu.

Epic battle should be top ten. Lots of action and wicked cool.

The most riveting Star Wars Saber duel ever. 3 people!