When thinking of Star Wars one of the first things that comes to fans' minds is a lightsaber. They feature in most Star Wars stories, even some that don't involve someone who is able to use the Force. Without a lightsaber, Star Wars just falls among average science-fiction stories. The lightsaber adds excitement to the universe and a feeling of awe for those around it.
Lightsaber duels often symbolize the climax of a Star Wars story. There are plenty of amazing moments throughout the franchise, but what really captures the attention of fans is when two lightsabers clash against each other. The duels are often emotionally charged, personal, and full of tense moments. Some of the greatest duels in the franchise have been brought to fans through animation in series like Clone Wars or Rebels.
10 Sabine Vs Gar Saxon
Rebels "Legacy of Mandalore" (Season 3, Ep 16)
The third season of Rebels gave fans a unique lightsaber duel in the 16th episode "Legacy of Mandalore." Returning to the Mandalorians on Krownest Sabine, Ezra, and Kanan are met with hostility and turned over to the Empire.
The Empire-loyal Mandalorian attacks Sabine's mother with the Darksaber and Sabine defends her using Ezra's lightsaber. The ensuing duel is a fantastic mix of Mandalorian gear and lightsabers between two non-Force users that fans hardly get to see.
9 Maul Vs Ben Kenobi
Rebels "Twin Suns" (Season 3 Ep 20)
After finally tracking Obi-Wan to Tatooine, Maul confronted his oldest foe. The two had a brief conversation jabbing at each other with words before each drew their weapons ready for one last duel. Maul took his usual aggressive stance and Kenobi his signature posture before switching to that of Qui-Gon Jinn.
The battle is over as quickly as it started with Maul falling to his knees. Kenobi catches him and comforts the dying Sith by revealing that Luke Skywalker is the Chosen One who will defeat Sidious, creating a heartfelt end to a decade-long rivalry.
8 The Fights On Malachor
Rebels "Twilight of the Apprentice: Part 2" (Season 2, Ep 22)
The two-part finale of Rebels' second season "Twilight of the Apprentice" is full of lightsaber battles. Ezra, Kanan, and Ahsoka travel to Malachor to recover a powerful Sith holocron before it falls into the wrong hands. They are met by Maul and several Inquisitors.
Maul fights both sets of people at some point in the episode, finally killing all the Inquisitors and then turning on Kanan and Ahsoka. This is when Maul blinds Kanan before seemingly falling to his death. Malachor is a major point of development for Kanan and is full of flashy combat.
7 Maul & Savage Oppress Vs Darth Sidious
Clone Wars "The Lawless" (Season 5, Ep 16)
The first time Maul came face-to-face with his old master, Darth Sidious, was in the Clone Wars episode "The Lawless" when Sidious comes to Mandalore. Sidious immediately challenges Maul and a battle between the two ensues with Savage helping Maul.
Through the flash of red lightsabers, Sidious is able to hold the two brothers off, eventually kill Savage, and defeating Maul. The battle shows how brutal Sidious can truly be and showed that Maul did actually care for his brother.
6 Ezra & Kanan Vs Grand Inquisitor
Rebels "Fire Across the Galaxy" (Season 1, Ep 15)
One of the greatest lightsaber battles to come out of Rebels happened in the season one finale "Fire Across the Galaxy." While escaping an Imperial Star Destroyer after freeing Kanan, Ezra and Kanan must fight off the Grand Inquisitor.
Ezra is knocked out of the fight early, so Kanan must face the Inquisitor on his own. Finally taking his training to heart, Kanan is able to defeat the Grand Inquisitor. The Inquisitor's last words as he hurls himself into flame, "Somethings being worse than death," will stick with viewers.
5 Dooku Vs Yaddle
Tales of the Jedi "The Sith Lord" (Season 1, Ep 4)
The newest anthology, Tales of the Jedi, gave a look into Count Dooku's life before the Clone Wars. After the events of Phantom Menace, Dooku has a meeting with Darth Sidious and is confronted by Jedi Master Yaddle. Unfortunately, Yaddle heard too much and had to be eliminated.
The battle is the first time fans got to see someone of Yoda's race, other than Yoda himself, fight with a lightsaber. Throughout the battle, Yaddle tried to convince Dooku to return to the light, but it was too late. The battle let fans see Dooku's fall and Yaddle's fate.
4 Anakin Vs Barriss Offee
Clone Wars "The Wrong Jedi" (Season 5, Ep 20)
In an attempt to clear Ahsoka's name for a bombing that happened at the Jedi Temple, Anakin tracks the real criminal down. It turns out that fellow Jedi and friend to Ahsoka, Barriss Offee, had been framing Ahsoka for the bombing all along.
Anakin attacked Offee, overpowered her, and brought her to justice. However, the battle shows just how angry Anakin has become. His tactics in the battle are extremely aggressive, using two lightsabers and powerful attacks, and show just how close to the dark side he has come.
3 Ahsoka Vs Darth Vader
Rebels "Twilight of the Apprentice: Part 2" (Season 2 Ep 22)
Coming to Ezra's aid, Ahsoka attacks Darth Vader on Malachor. This is their first reunion since Anakin's transformation into Vader. Ahsoka vows to avenge the death of Anakin stating "I am no Jedi" when Vader responded that revenge was not the Jedi way.
Despite giving fans one of the most epic lines, Ahsoka gives an amazing performance against Vader. The battle is so emotionally charged with former master and apprentice fighting until what seems like both of their ends. The aftermath showed them both limping away battered but alive to continue their stories.
2 Ahsoka Vs Maul
Clone Wars "The Phantom Apprentice" (Season 7, Ep 10)
Arguably one of the best lightsaber duels of the entire franchise, the fight between Ahsoka and Maul on Mandalore is an amazing display. Maul offered Ahsoka an alliance to take down Sidious which she considered until Maul revealed that Anakin would be the one to destroy everything.
Ahsoka refused to believe Anakin would be part of something so evil and a fight broke out between the two. The acrobatics of the fight were brilliant. Maul's pleading to Ahsoka to let him die was chilling and would certainly stick with viewers well after the battle ended.
1 The Ronin Vs Sith Bandit Captain
Star Wars: Visions "The Duel" (Season 1 Ep 1)
Star Wars: Visions was an anthology created for Disney+ by some of the best anime creators in the world. The episode drew inspiration from older Japanese Ronin films and as such has a rogue Sith who protects a village from bandits led by another Sith.
The duel between the two Sith has so many great moments from the reveal of the umbrella-saber and the katana-saber, to the Ronin catching a lightsaber between his hands with the Force. The animation and battle are beautiful, and it is definitely one of the best lightsaber duels in the franchise.