While it’s rare in theStar Warstimeline, it’s always awesome wheneverYodawields his iconic lightsaber. Whether during the High Republic Era or his exile on Dagobah, the Jedi Grandmaster is quite an impressive swordsman despite his diminutive stature (which he should never be judged by). However, Yoda wielded his teachings and words of wisdom far more in theStar Warsgalaxy than he did his green-bladed lightsaber.
Despite being a senior member of the Jedi Council and a Grandmaster, Master Yoda has plenty of his own adventures across theStar Warsgalaxy, never content with staying behind the walls of Coruscant’s Jedi Temple for long. As such, there have been some pretty exciting moments in both canon and Legends whereYoda has been forced to wield his lightsaber which Grogu almost inheritedduring the New Republic Era.Here are Yoda’s eight best lightsaber battles inStar Warshistory ranked, both on-screen and in the comics.
8Yoda Duels Luke Skywalker… With A Stick
(Star Wars Adventures: Luke Skywalker and the Treasure of the Dragonsnakes)
While technically part of the non-canon Legends continuity, Dark Horse’sLuke Skywalker and the Treasure of the Dragonsnakesby Tom Taylor and Daxiong expanded Luke Skywalker’s Jedi training on Dagobah. This includes the reveal that Yoda helped Luke hone his lightsaber skills with sparring sessions. However, the Grandmaster is shown using his walking stick rather than his traditional lightsaber, as the Grandmaster swore never to raise a lightsaber again followingRevenge of the Sith.Nevertheless, the lightsaber training session is quite entertaining as Yoda helps Luke become a Jedi Knight.
7Yoda Leading A High Republic Assault
(Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #2)
In the prequels, Yoda preferred imparting wisdom to the youngest generations of the Jedi Order, and the same was just as true hundreds of years prior, during theHigh Republic Era.At the dawn of the Emergence and the Nihil rising as a major galactic threat, Yoda led a force of younglings against the marauders who were taking advantage of the crisis in the Trymant system. Yoda was also joined by Master Torban Buck, who’d been leading the academic Jedi cruiser full of students. Overall, it’s a pretty exciting way to kick off this newStar Warsera.
6Yoda Defends A Remote Village
(Star Wars: Yoda #1)
Yoda would frequently go on extended sabbaticals during the High Republic, visiting remote parts of theStar Warsgalaxy to experience new cultures, listen to the will of the Force, and support those in need.InYoda #1, the Grandmaster defends a group of villagers caught in an unending civil war with a neighboring tribe. The battle presents Yoda at his most heroic, and he’s truly in his element. However, it gets even better with Yoda’s return trips, guiding both tribes to make peace after an entire generation has passed, a true benefit of Yoda’s age and long life span.
5Yoda and Anakin Skywalker vs The Megadroid
(Star Wars: Yoda #7-9)
During the Clone Wars, Yoda had a rare team-up with Anakin Skywalker inYoda #7-9.While the duo had a couple of partnerships in theClone Warsanimated series, this comic series was their first alliance in battle. As such, the opportunity to see the Jedi Grandmaster and Chosen One fighting side by side to destroy a Separatist factory developing massive and extremely powerful prototype “megadroids” is quite impressive, especially when Yoda uses his small size to destroy one of the droids from within.
10 Best Yoda Moments of All Time (That Fans Only Got in The Comics)
Yoda is one of the most powerful Jedi Masters in the Star Wars canon, and some of his best moments have come from the comics (both canon and Legends)
(Star Wars: Yoda #10)
During one of Yoda’s first visits to Dagobah’s Cave of Evil, the Grandmaster was given a dark vision that forced him to face his mistakes and guilt over the Jedi Order’s fall.This involved Yoda having to duel deceased versions of his former allies like Qui-Gon Jinn, and multiple Sith Lords (Palpatine, Dooku, Darth Vader). While the vision nearly overwhelms Yoda in this issue, the Jedi Master ultimately rises above the darkness, determined to remain in the light to train the galaxy’s new hope to succeed where he failed.
3Yoda vs Count Dooku
(Attack of The Clones)
Attack of the Cloneswas the first time Yoda was even shown wielding his green-bladed lightsaber, on-screen or otherwise. Dueling Count Dooku at the film’s end, who was revealed to be Yoda’s old apprentice, it’s incredible to see how Yoda makes up for his size using the Force and various acrobatic moves in between various strikes and counters.While Dooku ultimately fled and left Yoda to save Anakin and Obi-Wan, it’s still one of Yoda’s best lightsaber battles of all time.
2Yoda vs. General Grievous
(Star Wars: Yoda #7)
Remarkably,one of Yoda’s best duels was against General Grievous, part of the same arc that saw Yoda joining forces with Anakin Skywalker.While investigating the droid factory, the Jedi Grandmaster found himself face-to-face with the leader of the Seperatist Droid Army, wielding multiple lightsabers from fallen Jedi he’d slain. Having been far too overconfident in his own skills due to Yoda’s small size, Yoda was able to not only damage Grievous' mask, but he also stole back one of his “trophies” before a wave of Super Battle Droids came to the cyborg’s aid, forcing Yoda to retreat.
1Yoda vs Emperor Palpatine
(Revenge of the Sith)
Yoda’s most impressive duel will always be hisRevenge of the Sithbattle with Emperor Palpatine in the Senate chambers. Intending to rid the galaxy of the Sith and avenge so many Jedi who’d already fallen due to Order 66,Yoda ultimately failed in his duel against Palpatineand was forced to go into exile on Dagobah. Nevertheless, it wasn’t for a lack of trying, as Yoda was moments away from defeating Palpatine, wielding his lightsaber and the light side of the Force in tandem as a formidable counter to the dark power of Darth Sidious.
