Naturally, theStar Warsfranchise is full of epic battles across the galaxy far, far away. Whether it’s full-scale ground assaults or major dogfights in orbit,Star Warsfeatures some of the most incredible sci-fi conflicts seen in cinematic history. To that end, it’s fun to pick out the very best of the best.
Beginning withA New Hopeand in more recentStar Warsfare likeThe Mandalorian, several epic battles have been depicted on-screen. Beyond live-action, there are some pretty incredible conflicts in animated projects as well.Keeping that in mind, here are the top 20 bestStar Warsbattles of all time (though the very best should be obvious).
20Battle of Exegol
Rise of Skywalker
The Battle of Exegol deserves its place among the top 20 bestStar Warsbattles, featuring more ships at one time than any other on-screen conflict. However, it’s still on the low end due to the controversial nature ofRise of Skywalker, the speed and ease with which the conflict was resolved, and frustrations over the plot overall.
19Battle of Starkiller Base
The Force Awakens
The Battle of Starkiller Baseis all kinds of entertaining as the Resistance takes the fight to the First Order battle station that was much bigger than the Empire’s Death Star (660 kilometers in diameter, compared to 160). However, it does deserve the criticism that it’s very much an echo ofA New Hope’sBattle of Yavin.
18Battle of Christophsis
The Clone Wars
The Battle of Christophsis and its various engagements across bridges and crystal formations made for an impressive battleground, opening up Lucasfilm’s canonicalClone Warsseries with a full-feature movie in 2008. That said, the animation quality was still in its early stages. Likewise, Obi-Wan’s false surrender, while humorous, did feel like bad form, breaking traditional rules of engagement.
17Raid on Kamino
The Raid on Kamino seen inThe Clone Warsseason 2 is one of the best battles in the show’s early seasons, featuring multiple squid-like Trident-class assault ships used by the Separatist droid armies.
Seeking to deal a critical blow to the Republic by bringing an end to their clone production, Count Dooku sent both General Grievous and Asajj Ventress to lead the assault. Likewise, there’s also a fascinating B-story involving clone troopersFives and Echo who get promoted to ARC Troopersin the battle’s aftermath.
16Battle of Lothal
Star Wars Rebels
The Battle of Lothal is the culminating battle inStar Wars Rebels, featuring multiple Rebel cells coming together to liberateEzra Bridger’s homeworld of Lothaland end Imperial manufacturing overseen by Grand Admiral Thrawn.
Ending with a pod of space whales attacking Thrawn’s Star Destroyer and exiling both the Grand Admiral with Ezra still on board, the Battle of Lothal is a truly epic conflict. Also featuring the tragic death and epic sacrifice of Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus, the Battle of Lothal was the perfect conclusion for the animated series overall.
Thrawn and Ezra were banished to the extragalactic world of Peridea, as confirmed inAhsokaseason 1.
15Battle of Crait
The Last Jedi
For all its divisiveness,The Last Jedistill features one of the most visually stunning battles in the entireStar Warsfranchise.
Kylo Ren unleashes the full force of the First Order against the Force projection of Luke Skywalker, as the Jedi Master makes his last stand on Crait. Likewise, the white salt flats and red minerals underneath make for a visual feast as Luke buys the Resistance time to escape and live on to fight another day.
14Liberation of Mandalore
The Mandalorian Season 3
Seen inThe Mandalorianseason 3,Bo-Katan Kryze reclaiming the Darksaberand leading a legion of jetpack-wearing Mandalorians to retake their lost homeworld is pretty amazing. Taking the fight to Moff Gideon and his Imperial Remnant super commandos,the Liberation of Mandalore is the culmination of a journey that first began inThe Clone WarsandStar Wars Rebels.
13Second Battle Of Geonosis
Returning to Geonosis in the second season ofThe Clone Wars, the Second Battle of Geonosis is arguably just as critical as the first one seen inAttack of the Clones.
Featuring three separate attack groups, it’s incredibly exciting to see Ki-Adi-Mundi and Anakin Skywalker’s respective forces converge on Obi-Wan and his downed troopers, having received the brunt of the Separatists' ground assault with a brutal landing that saw them immediately pinned down.
12Darkness on Umbara
The Battle of Umbara will always be one of the darkest conflicts inThe Clone Wars, both literally and figuratively.
A world forever held in darkness, Umbara saw the 501st and 212th Legions manipulated into attacking and killing each other on the orders of Pong Krell, a secretly rogue and corrupted Jedi seeking to earn Count Dooku’s favor. As such, the clones' justified mutiny acted as a dark preview for the events of Order 66.
11Battle of Endor
Return of the Jedi
Naturally, any battle involving a Death Star absolutely belongs in the upper half of this list. They’re simply far too epic and classic.
The culminating conflict of the originalStar Warstrilogy,the Battle of Endorsaw not only the destruction of the second Death Star, but also Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine (at least his first defeat). This motivated the Empire to shatter with the Rebellion’s major victory, resulting in their full surrender a year later at the Battle of Jakku.
