Star Wars: Blogs | Drawing in the Empire | The Top Ten Best Lightsaber Duelists

Drawing in the Empire

by: Joe Corroney

date posted: Nov 03, 2005 12:21 AM | updated: Nov 03, 2005 10:30 AM

The Top Ten Best Lightsaber Duelists

To commemorate the completion of the Star Wars saga on DVD with Revenge of the Sith I thought I'd share my list for the top ten best lightsaber duelists from the films.

(Though my preferences for this list include some Expanded Universe reference to validate my opinions so go figure.)

Here we go...

10. Qui-Gon Jinn - He taught Obi-Wan everything he knows... and he gave Darth Maul a run for his credits.

9. Count Dooku/Darth Tyrannus - Because he trained Qui-Gon and he can beat Obi-Wan blindfolded.

8. Darth Maul - An unpredictable pit bull with a lightsaber, but only behind Lord Vader because of Star Wars Tales #9.

7. Darth Vader - Granted, he was the Chosen One too but being more machine than man now he ain't what he used to be... ain't what he used to be... ain't what he used to be... (you get the picture).

6. Luke Skywalker - Like father, like "son of suns".

5. Anakin Skywalker - The Chosen One, natch.

4. Obi-Wan - He dispatched Darth Maul (as a Padawan!), General Grievous, and the Chosen One though he couldn't go toe to toe with an old man named Dooku for some reason. Most likely because Dooku trained Qui-Gon, Qui-Gon trained Obi-Wan so Dooku knew Obi-Wan's weaknesses... maybe.

3. Darth Sidious - Because Nick Gillard said so... and he took out three Jedi Masters without breaking a sweat.

2. Mace Windu - He had Sidious beat before Anakin showed up. He only lost because he was blinded by his faith in the Force and his misplaced trust, plus the Dark Side clouds everything.

And of course my number one pick is...

1. Yoda - Because Obi-Wan said so in Episode II... and he was *this* close to kicking Sidious' wrinkly butt, if only he had chopped his knees off when the dark lord raised his lightsaber over his head at the start of that fight.

I haven't picked up Battlefront II yet to test some of these theories out first hand since I'm too busy with new projects right now to let myself to get too distracted... I'm trying to practice discipline. But if I can make my deadlines I'll be celebrating by playing this game during Christmas break

http://blogs.starwars.com/joecorroney/29

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	Leland Y Chee Keeper of the Holocron's Blog
date Posted: Nov 03, 2005 9:26 AM According to the Making of ROTS, in terms of sheer skill, here's how swordmaster/stunt coordinator Nick Gillard ranks some of them on a scale of 1-10 at the time of Episode III. Darth Sidious 9 Yoda 9 Mace Windu 9 Anakin 9 Obi-Wan 8 Sorry, I've never heard Nick speak of ranks for the others.

	shatterpoint282 ''This Party's Over ''
date Posted: Nov 03, 2005 9:49 AM I agree pretty well with this blog but I think Obi-Wan is definitely better than Anakin , Anakin just beats Dooku cuz he used the dark side. and Anakin can't be on the same level as Mace , no way .

Joe Corroney
Drawing in the Empire

date Posted: Nov 03, 2005 10:29 AM

I figured it was pretty much a dead heat between Sidious, Yoda and Mace but I have to give the advantage to the Jedi over the Sith because they're the good guys. I remember Nick saying in that web doc that Anakin was a better swordsman than Obi-Wan, and that even Hayden was better than Ewan in terms of real skills, but it's Anakin's rage, temper, etc. that gets him beat. So technically Anakin should be higher on the list but I give Kenobi the edge because of his discipline.

	RojoTrooper Star Wars Recycled Art Project
date Posted: Nov 03, 2005 10:33 AM Joe.. Honorable Mention... Han Solo... ESB. Using the Lightsaber as a lifesaving device to save his buddy is very honorable... Slicing thru a Frozen Taun Taun isn't a walk in the park...it is the smell that could kill you.. THX, CE

	shatterpoint282 ''This Party's Over ''
date Posted: Nov 03, 2005 10:36 AM anakin maybe is better at fighting , but isn't as good ofa jedi overall , over all Anakin isn't as good at nonaggresive negotiations and definitely wasn't as was , far from it.And Obi-Wan is better at strategy during fights.

	Darth Rex0 So be it....
date Posted: Nov 03, 2005 11:25 AM How about you give Obi-Wan the edge over Anakin because he beat him. The only reason he lost to Vader was because of wanting to become "one" with the Force. I love your comment on Sidious. If Gallard says it, it must be so in my book.

Diviner525
In the Flesh

date Posted: Nov 03, 2005 4:14 PM

I'm not really basing this on any literature or ranking from the coordinators, so I guess this is just a personal opinion here. But I'm going to shuffle your numbers 6 7 8 & 9.

6- Darth Maul: he took on two Jedi, and actually bested them both - then a mental lapse.
7- Luke Skywalker: he was no match for Sith lightning at the end of ROTJ
8- Count Dooku: he fought well against Obi-wan & Anakin, and adequately against Yoda.
9- Darth Vader: takes a tumble to #9 in my book. Only defeated old Ben and little Luke.

As I mentioned this is just opinion.

D525.

Rainbow Droideka
Aren't you a little short for an egg?

date Posted: Nov 18, 2005 1:06 AM

Mace Windu - He had Sidious beat before Anakin showed up.

I would contest that....I'm pretty sure Sidious was fully expecting Anakin's arrival and turn, and so was probably just getting a heard start playing at Anakin's sympathy (maybe even intentionally encouraging Mace's arrogance)....plus, there's that whole thing about UNLIIIIIMMMMIIITED POOOOWWWWER!!!!!!!

But of course, I can't back that opinion up with any solid proof.

	Berzz Khattazz al'Yun
date Posted: Jan 10, 2006 4:03 AM 3. Darth Sidious - Because Nick Gillard said so... and he took out three Jedi Masters without breaking a sweat. Yeah, I couldn't believe Kit Fisto died so fast at that battle, he could have lasted longer, he was a great jedi.

	DarthBC A bounty hunter, a sith, and a do-good jedi
date Posted: Jan 27, 2006 2:10 PM They should have given Kit some lines (like he had in the comic)

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