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No matter what era of Star Wars content you’re watching, you know at some point you’re due a great lightsaber duel.

While there have been countless great duels throughout the films and shows, there’s a great one that flew under the radar. Many fans are seeing it just now, and any true Star Wars fan owes it to themselves to check it out. 

Duels play a major role in the ‘Star Wars’ universe

Hayden Christensen
Hayden Christensen | Bruno Vincent/Getty Images

At the center of Star Wars is the battle of the dark side of the Force against the light. That typically translates to a member of the Jedi versus a member of the Sith. This isn’t always the case, of course, but it’s typical. When those heroes and villains are Force-sensitive, their conflict is usually resolved or continued with a lightsaber duel. 

One of the most interesting aspects of the different films and shows is how the duels have evolved over the years. The lightsaber duels of the original trilogy are slow and deliberately paced. The duels of the prequels were fast-paced and frenetic due to the Jedis being in their prime. And the duels of the sequels are raw and emotional. They all vary from series to series and film to film, but they all resonate in their own way. 

Some of the most famous duels in ‘Star Wars’ history

Star Wars has had plenty of intense duels during its series. Some of the most memorable include: 

  • Darth Vader vs. Obi-Wan Kenobi, A New Hope: This was the first lightsaber duel in the franchise. It doesn’t have the fancy stunt work of the others. It features an old man going against an apprentice who has advanced beyond his skill level. But viewers can feel the years of resentment and hatred from Vader. They can also feel Obi-Wan’s confidence in executing his plan to distract Vader and the Empire to allow for Luke’s escape. 
  • Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader, Return of the Jedi: After losing his hand and the fight in Empire Strikes Back, Luke returns to confront Vader as a more seasoned Jedi. However, this time his goal is to save his father rather than defeat him. 
  • Obi-Wan vs. Anakin Skywalker, Revenge of the Sith: This duel showcased two of the greatest Jedis in all of Star Wars lore at the top of their respective games. 
  • Luke Skywalker vs. Kylo Ren, The Last Jedi: Years of pent-up hatred for his uncle compelled Kylo Ren to attempt to kill Luke, but he was unable to. Much like Obi-Wan years before, Luke’s presence at this fight was merely a distraction. He projected his image from another planet. 

Those were all from the movies, but the Star Wars TV shows had plenty of great duels as well. One, in particular, stood out that many fans may have initially missed. 

The unforgettable ‘Star Wars’ duel many fans are just now seeing for the first time

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Before the 3D animated Clone Wars series came out, an earlier, 2D animated Clone Wars series aired on Cartoon Network in 2003. It was much shorter, but also critically acclaimed. A Star Wars fan on Reddit pointed out that a duel from this series featuring Anakin and Sith assassin Asajj Ventress was “so damn cool.”

The fight features the two battling in the rain, with Anakin defeating her and seemingly embracing the dark side. Another fan chimed in: 

“That lightsaber fight is amazing. The rain, the dark ruins and as others said, details like the steaming lightsabers are really cool.” 

The 2D Clone Wars series is now available on Disney+, meaning Star Wars fans can enjoy that great show (and this great duel) if they’d like. 

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