Star Wars’ 40 Best Lightsaber Duelists, Ranked

The Star Wars universe is famous for its exciting lightsaber battles, which represent the ongoing struggle between the forces of good and evil. Throughout the movies, many characters have shown off their skills with a lightsaber, and most Star Wars films end with a major fight between Jedi and Sith.

Lightsaber fighting is special because the weapons are incredibly dangerous yet feel weightless. It takes a lot of skill to use one effectively. However, throughout the world of Star Wars, some characters have proven to be exceptionally talented with a lightsaber.

Marrok Has an Upper Limit to His Lightsaber Combat Skills

Okay, so initially, when Marrok showed up in the Ahsoka series on Disney+, a lot of Star Wars fans – myself included – were a little let down. He seemed pretty easily defeated early on. But then, something amazing happened! He reappeared in the Maul Shadow Lord animated series, which takes place decades before Ahsoka, and that’s where his awesome design and potential really got to shine. It totally changed my perspective on the character!

Marrok, also called the First Brother, is a skilled lightsaber fighter who initially holds his own against Darth Maul during their clashes on Janix. However, he soon realizes Maul is too strong and needs to call for help. Despite being a capable warrior, Marrok isn’t considered one of the greatest lightsaber duelists in the Star Wars universe.

The Crow Is a Powerful Fighter But Loses to a Stronger Opponent

The Crow, also known as the Eleventh Brother, is a character who appears in the Tales of the Jedi and Maul – Shadow Lord series. He’s called the Crow because of his distinctive mask, which looks like a crow and hides his face—a face Star Wars fans still haven’t seen despite his multiple appearances as the enigmatic villain.

The Crow shines in Maul – Shadow Lord, fighting alongside Marrok against Darth Maul. Even though it takes a team of Inquisitors to finally defeat Maul, the Crow demonstrates impressive skill as a swordsman in the animated series. Sadly, he misjudged his strength and was quickly killed by the former Jedi.

Devon Izara Has Faced Opponents Far Stronger Than She

Devon Izara is introduced as a Twi’lek Jedi Padawan who, along with her master Eeko-Dio Daki, managed to survive the devastating Order 66. A powerful Force-user, Devon struggles to keep her aggressive impulses in check. Sensing this vulnerability, Darth Maul subtly guides her toward the dark side. After her master is killed by Darth Vader, Maul successfully turns Devon into his new apprentice, completing her descent into darkness.

Devon Izara is a promising new character with incredible potential, though she’s still developing her skills. She’s already proven herself by battling iconic Star Wars villains like Darth Maul and Darth Vader. While she hasn’t defeated them yet, her ability to even compete with such powerful opponents shows just how strong she could become.

The Second Sister Is a Powerful Foe (But Nothing Compared to Her Master)

I recently dove into the backstory of Trilla Suduri, and wow, what a tragic figure. She was a Jedi Padawan near the end of the Clone Wars, but after Order 66, things went horribly wrong. Captured and brutally tortured by the Empire, she felt completely abandoned by her master. That pain and rage? It consumed her, and she willingly embraced the Dark Side. She became a member of the Inquisitorious, known as the Second Sister, and her path eventually crossed with Cal Kestis, leading to a really compelling and fraught conflict. It’s a story that really digs into the consequences of trauma and the seductive pull of anger.

The Second Sister is a powerful and fearsome enemy, highly skilled with a lightsaber. She’s a challenging opponent for Cal Kestis, who is also a capable fighter. But, like other Inquisitors, she’s no match for Darth Vader. When Vader attacks her, she doesn’t resist and is quickly defeated with a single strike.

Barriss Offee Shows Great Skill But Puts It to Poor Use

Barriss Offee was a skilled fighter during the Clone Wars, initially fighting alongside the Republic and Jedi against the Separatist droid army, starting at the Battle of Geonosis. She survived the battle, along with her master Luminara Unduli, and continued to serve the Jedi throughout the war. However, she later betrayed the Jedi Order by bombing the Jedi Temple on Coruscant.

Barriss is a remarkably talented lightsaber duelist, skillfully blending attack and defense to overcome difficult challenges. She demonstrated this ability early on, surviving the deadly Battle of Geonosis as a Padawan, despite many more experienced Jedi falling in that fight. She even managed to fight Anakin Skywalker to a standstill, a feat considering his future reputation as a powerful and deadly warrior. It’s ironic, then, that she ultimately chose to abandon her lightsaber and renounce fighting altogether.

Kelleran Beq Survives the Jedi’s Darkest Hour

Kelleran Beq is a Jedi Master who appears briefly in a flashback in The Mandalorian. He knows about Grogu, a young member of Yoda’s species with a powerful connection to the Force. During the attack on the Jedi Temple on the night of Order 66, Kelleran fights to escape and survive.

Kelleran Beq hasn’t been in many scenes yet, but those he’s appeared in show he’s a highly skilled lightsaber fighter. He was one of the few Jedi to survive the devastating Order 66, bravely battling through numerous clone troopers and even rescuing Grogu. While his ultimate fate remains a mystery, it’s probable he perished before the story of the original Star Wars trilogy began.

Rey Skywalker Still Has a Lot to Learn

Rey Skywalker, played by Daisy Ridley, is the central character in the recent Star Wars films. She begins as a poor scavenger on the desert planet Jakku, but eventually becomes the last of the Jedi. Her journey starts with a dangerous mission to find the legendary Luke Skywalker before the evil First Order can. Luke trains her in the ways of the Force and lightsaber combat. After Luke’s passing, Rey decides to honor his memory by taking his name and establishing a new generation of Jedi.

Rey defeated the returned Emperor Palpatine in The Rise of Skywalker primarily through her Force abilities, not her lightsaber skills. While she’s still developing as a lightsaber fighter – a skill that seems rare in the newer films – recent reports suggest she’ll have opportunities to improve and demonstrate her progress with a blade after the events of the movie.

Ki-Adi-Mundi Is on the Jedi Council For a Reason

Ki-Adi-Mundi is a highly respected member of the Jedi High Council. While fellow Jedi admire him, some have questioned the ethics of his strategies during wartime. Despite this, he served as a respected general throughout the Clone Wars.

I’ve always been fascinated by Ki-Adi-Mundi, and while we don’t see him fight a ton, when he does, he’s seriously impressive. It’s kind of heartbreaking that his best fight is also the last one he ever has. During the Battle of Mygeeto, when his own clone troopers turned on him, he managed to deflect a whole bunch of blaster fire – way more than a lot of other Jedi could have! Sadly, it wasn’t enough, and he ended up being one of the many Jedi who fell during Order 66. It’s a really powerful, but tragic, moment.

Ezra Bridger Is Out of Practice With a Lightsaber

Ezra Bridger was a young Jedi learner, mentored by Kanan Jarrus after the Jedi Order was destroyed. Originally an orphaned survivor on the planet Lothal, Ezra discovered his connection to the Force and helped the growing Rebel Alliance fight against the oppressive Galactic Empire. He vanished just before the start of the Galactic Civil War, sacrificing himself to send both himself and the Imperial officer Grand Admiral Thrawn into the unknown reaches of space during a battle over Lothal.

Ezra was a talented Jedi, but without a strong Jedi Order to guide him, his progress was limited by his master’s abilities. After years in exile without training, he’s a bit out of practice with a lightsaber, though he still shows flashes of his former skill. It’s likely we’ll see him regain his full potential as a lightsaber fighter in the future.

Shin Hati’s Unbridled Rage Makes Her Dangerous

Shin Hati is a puzzling character introduced in the Disney+ series Ahsoka. The show doesn’t reveal her origins, but it’s clear she’s driven by intense anger. Alongside her mentor, she battles Ahsoka Tano and the New Republic, ultimately reaching Grand Admiral Thrawn before they do. This sets the stage for Thrawn’s return and threatens to plunge the galaxy into another civil war.

Throughout the first season of Ahsoka, Shin Hati frequently battles with lightsabers, mostly against Ahsoka Tano’s student, Sabine Wren. Shin consistently wins these fights, demonstrating her greater skill with a lightsaber. She clearly draws strength from her anger, making her a formidable opponent. However, this reliance on emotion also puts her at a disadvantage, as she sometimes acts impulsively without thinking things through.

2026-05-26 19:42