The upcoming Star Wars series The Acolyte promises plenty of martial-arts-inspired action and a climactic lightsaber battle. The makers of the show recently mentioned that the team aimed to compete with Darth Maul’s legendary battle with Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon Jinn in Episode I: The Phantom Menace, and called it the best lightsaber battle in Star Wars history.
But is it? The franchise has seen numerous lightsaber battles across media, with fan getting their first taste of the trope in Star Wars: A New Hope. While the original trilogy is still considered to be the best of the films released to date, the lightsaber battles seem to have improved since then. The prequel trilogy’s climactic showdown between Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker definitely has a higher ground in the category.
Which Is The Best Lightsaber Battle In Star Wars History?
Across eleven films, five live-action series, and numerous animated media, Star Wars fans have seen some truly great and some truly underwhelming lightsaber battles. The first lightsaber battle in Star Wars: A New Hope between Obi-Wan and Darth Vader is often considered to be underwhelming, given how their previous battle went in Revenge of the Sith.
From there, fans were exposed to the legendary fight between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back. Taking place in Cloud City, the battle is mostly without music, with the static hum of the lightsabers being the only prominent sound. The duo goes from light to darkness and traverses between different spaces before Luke gets his hand severed and finds out his true parentage.
While The Empire Strikes Back’s battle is legendary due to its implications, the choreography and effects seem to be far inferior to what fans have received since then. The original trilogy had plenty of iconic fights to choose from and so did the sequel trilogy. The Force Awakens was also the first film to use the lightsabers as a source of light.
Though Luke and Darth Vader’s second round in Return of the Jedi is iconic as the father and son battle it out to escape the dark side, fans have often compared the legendary battles of the prequel trilogy. Dark Maul’s twin blades against Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan in The Phantom Menace are often considered by many to be the best lightsaber battle in history.
Anakin Vs. Obi-Wan Is Better Than Darth Maul’s Lightsaber Fight
The iconic ‘Duel of Fates’ is one of the greatest lightsaber battles in Star Wars history. There is no doubt about that. The two-versus-one battle with the legendary Darth Maul whipping out twin blades and a different kind of choreography came to define the prequel trilogy. It is one of the few things that the prequel trilogy got right.
However, the ‘Duel of Fates’ worship seems too pale considering what fans got to witness in the final film of the trilogy. In Revenge of the Sith, fans get to witness Anakin Skywalker’s true tragedy as he is seduced by the dark side after suffering many losses and obstacles. The fall of a hero and the rise of Darth Vader begins with this climactic battle against Obi-Wan.
What makes the fight between Obi-Wan and Anakin so legendary is the context and mis-en-scene. The setting of Mustafar, a volcanic hellscape represents the eventual destruction of Anakin’s identity and his friendship with Obi-Wan. The ‘Battle of the Heroes’ is not just between a protagonist and an antagonist or between two ideologies, but between two friends who began their journey with the same goals.
Over the years, many have appreciated the ’Duel of Fates’ and its sensational choreography. The cast and crew of The Acolyte recently mentioned to EW that they wished to top the Darth Maul battle scene in the upcoming series. However, nothing can ever come close to the tragedy and dramatic flair of the ‘Battle of the Heroes’.
