Warning. This also includes the duels in Revenge of the Sith and I don't want to spoil it for anyone.

Ok, with that said and done:

12. Attack of the Clones: Anakin, Obi-Wan vs Dooku

There's not really anything wrong with this duel per se, it does include Anakin weilding two sabers and some nice fighting between them and Dooku but it felt a bit to short. I feel that it was just there to give Anakin the robot arm and a reason to seek revenge on Dooku in Revenge of the Sith. Also, it kind of build up the excitment for the Yoda vs Dooku duel so it's really just a filler in.

This duel also has some annoying shot on the duelists faces where you just see streaks of blue and red but not really what is happening. I prefer to see what's happening because you have no idea what's going on in those shots and the duel seems to be standing still.

All in all, an ok duel, but not breathtaking nor emotional.

11. The Phantom Menace: Qui-Gon vs Darth Maul on Tatooine

The first duel of the Saga and it is a pretty good one. Again, this isn't a very emotional one or a visually stunning one. The one thing I do like is the setting. Maul coming on his speeder, jumping of it and attacking Qui-Gon whilst the dust is whirling around them. It's beutiful, quite frankly.

This one, as the one I've just talked about builds up the mood for the real duel and it was smart of Lucas to let Darth Maul only use one blade and not two, which takes us by surprise later.

10. Revenge of the Sith: Obi-Wan vs General Greivous

Don't get me wrong. This is a great duel with some great moves. This one is visually stunning because of the four sabers of Greivous vs the one of Obi-Wan and the build-up to it all.

"Hello there"

It is a classic and it was amazing to see Greivous fight but again, this one was a bit too short with two of Greivous hands being cut of in quick succesion. I would've liked to have had a longer one, but, oh well...

9. A New Hope: Obi-Wan vs Darth Vader

I'm a bit torn over this one. It isn't visually stunning and it is maybe the most tedious of the duels in the whole Saga. But I can't place it last due to the emotional context of it all, especially with the release of Revenge of the Sith. The duel gets a whole new light. It's the rematch where Vader can get Obi-Wan back for putting him in the suit and the fact that Obi-Wan gives up his life so that Luke can flee is almost tear-jerking

Also, it is a first one and from what I've heard, the sticks they used were heavy. So kudos to Sir Alec and Mr. Prowse

8. Revenge of the Sith: Anakin vs Dooku

It's payback time for the last time and Lucas does an excellent job with this duel. The whole duel has an eerie echo of Return of the Jedi with Chancellor Palpatine again watching a duel between an apprentice and (what he hopes) is an apprentice to be. Also the fact that when asked to kill Dooku by Palpatine, Anakin follows suit which is a contrast to Luke disobeying the order when Darth Vader is down for the count and confronting the Emperor without a lightsaber.

This one is visually stunning because of the backdrop of the battle over Coruscant. It is also a little emotional because it shows Anakins baby steps into a path he that we won't be able to turn from. The parallels to Return of the Jedi are also good and that's why this duel is at #8

7. The Empire Strikes Back: Luke vs Darth Vader

I've always had a hard time to warm up to this duel. It is visually stunning with the smoke and the whole carbonite chamber. It's also emotional with the unexpected turn at the end that is classic.

Maybe it is the fact that I've never really been a fan of The Empire Strikes Back because as a kid I always got scared when Darth Vader choked the Admirals. I'm older know and I've gotten over that so within time I might warm up to this particular duel

6. Attack of the Clones: Yoda vs Dooku

Yes, finally we get to see Yoda weild a saber and how he does it! The disappointment with the earlier duel is quickly forgotten when Yoda appears on screen and takes on Dooku.

I would say this is the coolest duel in the whole Saga. When seeing Yoda, you have no idea what he is going to do. You've never seen him weild a saber before and when he takes it out, you get a kick in the stomach. You're left breathless as you see this former muppet twist and turn.

It is amazing and has a very good climax when the contest of "Who's stronger" starts.

Possibly the best reason to see Attack of the Clones.

You go Yoda!

5. Revenge of the Sith: Mace Windu vs Palpatine

Oh my God!

That's the only word that can accurately describe what you feel when you see the lightsaber appear from Palpatines sleeve and when he disposes Eeth Koth, Saesse Tiin and Kit Fisto in three quick blows. The fight in his appartment is amazing and it's good to see what Mace can do. This battle has also got an amazing climax with Anakin entering and his decsision changes the course of the Galaxy forever

It is an emotional duel, earlier I talked about Anakins baby steps, well this is Anakins leap into the path. Also, you can't help feel sad for Mace. You're sitting there thinking "Don't kill Mace! Please! He was right!" and you dread the moment that every Star Wars fan knows will happen.

Well, Samuel L. Jackson can be proud by the fact that Mace doesn't go out as a regular sucker.

4. Revenge of the Sith: Yoda vs Darth Sidious

This is at number four due the unlikely combatants Yoda and Darth Sidious fighting each other in the equally unlikely duelground of the senate. Even though we know the outcome of this battle it is still a cliffhanger. You are desperate to see Yoda triumph and you get so disappointed when Yoda must flee through the ventilation shaft.

This duel is breathtaking, starting under the Senate floor and then into the Senate Hall, boxes flying everywhere and for once we see Yodas full force potential.

This duel is emotional because if Yoda loses, then the Galaxy has also lost and you can't help feeling that there's no way out of this. And it's just stunning too. One of the greatest moments in Revenge of the Sith

3. The Phantom Menace: Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan vs Darth Maul

And we're into the top three. Some may disagree with me but I can't get enough of this duel. It's almost perfect. Ray Park shines as Darth Maul and you can't help to feel awed by his skills with the double lightsaber.

The setting in the reactor room is also stunning and this battle has some sleek moves between Ewan McGregor and Ray Park.

This duel is also accompanied with John Williams excellent "Duel of the Fates" and it fits in perfectly with the nature of the duel. My only complaint is that the end comes a bit to fast and you're taken by surprise.

2. Revenge of the Sith: Obi-Wan vs Darth Vader

This duel is the One. The One every Star Wars fan has waited to see and Lucas delivers.

He already sets the feeling with placing the duel in Hell....I mean Mustafar and you can't escape the overall feel of impending doom.

This duel is also dirty and gritty with the combatants kicking each other and grabbing each others throats which shows that what in the beginning of the movie was a great friendship has taken a turn for the worse, big time. The feeling of betrayal runs through the whole duel and is shown especially in Anakins line

"I hate you"

And Obi-Wans

"I loved you as a brother"

It's heart-wrenching and it pains you to see the remains of a great warrior such as Anakin lying on the ground, spitting and shouting.

It also changes your view of the duel in A New Hope, for the better. It puts everything into perspective

1. Return of the Jedi: Luke vs Darth Vader

This is, in my opinion, the greatest duel of the whole Saga.

It is emotional so that it almost brings you to tears and without using any CGI, it is still visually stunning.

The fighting isn't fancy, but effective. You have really no idea where it is going and there is a shot in that duel that perfectly sums up what the viewers are thinking:

It's the shot where Luke is hiding from Vader under where the Emperor is sitting and half of his face is illuminated, showing if he should chose the dark side or the lights side. The climax is also the best one in all of the Star Wars movies showing Anakin Skywalker redemption.

Come to think of it, the whole duel shows simplicity, even the soundtrack is simple, with a deep chorus and no real other music. Nothing fancy, just a deep male chorus that makes you feel that Luke has made the wrong choice only to surprise you that he hadn't.

By far the most emotional duel and the best one.


Well, that's the list. This is my opinion and I'm pretty sure that there are different lists for every Star Wars fan