In the Star Wars timeline, many interesting characters throughout history represent immense power, a keen mind or a foreboding presence; however, some of the  most iconic heroes and villains have never interacted. A perfect example of this is in the Original Trilogy, where two powerful characters, Yoda and Darth Vader, are introduced but never encounter one another. As a result, it raises the question of why not and who would come out on top if they did?

Throughout both characters' histories, Yoda and Vader have experienced painful losses. For Yoda, he felt almost the entire Jedi Order get wiped out. Then, when the time came to face the mastermind behind it, he could not overcome his power.

On the other hand, Anakin Skywalker fell to the Dark Side to try and save his wife, and when she realized what he'd become, it was too late. Before the Empire could fully seize control, Anakin lost his wife, order and friend, and he was severely scarred and forced to wear cyborg prosthetics that made him more machine than man, yet even with these tragedies, each side coped in their own way.

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Why Yoda and Vader Never Fought in Star Wars?

When Yoda was introduced in The Empire Strikes Back, audiences presumed Dagobah was where he was from, and his time as a Jedi was more philosophical than Obi-Wan's. However, as the franchise expanded, more revelations about Yoda and his allies were shown, and audiences learned Dagobah wasn't his home. Instead, it was where he went into hiding following Order 66.

Yoda's history with Dagobah extended beyond the events of Revenge of the Sith. In Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 6, Episode 11, "Voices," Qui-Gon Jinn sent him there, and he experienced an intense spiritual journey. From then on, the planet remained in Yoda's mind until the time came where he needed to hide.

In the canon book Star Wars: Complete Locations, it was revealed Yoda purposefully avoided Vader and the Emperor for a greater purpose. The book explained, "Yoda has been able to devote the years of his exile to pondering ancient Jedi texts, meditating on the deepest mysteries of the Force, and using his Jedi skills to communicate with Obi-Wan Kenobi and other exiles." He also kept a watchful eye on the Skywalker twins, waiting for their time to bring balance to the Force. Ultimately, Yoda knew that confronting the Sith would yield deadly results.

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Yoda vs. Vader: Who Would Win?

While Yoda only fights when there's no other option, that doesn't mean his fighting skills are lacking. As a master of Form VI, Ataru, Yoda could use his Force abilities to perform strenuous physical feats, even at his advanced age. In contrast, Darth Vader used a modification of Form V, Shien/Djem-So. This allowed Vader to attack using his cybernetic strength to his advantage. In a lightsaber duel, the two would likely be at a stalemate, meaning their Force abilities w0uld be the deciding factor.

Darth Vader had shown impressive feats when utilizing his Force abilities. Since his cybernetics make it impossible to use Force Lightning, Vader relied more on telekinesis in combat. However, using the Force required a greater strain on his body. As a result, Vader relied more on hard-hitting attacks that offer stopping power.

In contrast, Yoda spent nearly 1,000 years studying the Force and its ancient techniques. Since becoming a Jedi, he learned some of the Force's most powerful secrets and knew how to utilize it to its full capabilities. Aside from agility and telekinesis, Yoda could absorb and redirect Force attacks, like lightning. Because of his higher understanding, he would easily overcome Darth Vader in a fight, though that doesn't mean it wouldn't be a difficult battle.

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