We’ve seen Yoda battle Dooku and even hold his own against Darth Sidious—but what if he faced someone far more ancient… and arguably more terrifying?
I’m talking about Darth Bane—the Sith Lord who reshaped the entire Sith Order by creating the Rule of Two. He wasn’t just powerful; he was ruthless, calculated, and obsessed with building a legacy that would one day destroy the Jedi.
Yoda, on the other hand, was the Jedi Order’s greatest Grand Master—wise beyond measure, unbelievably skilled with a lightsaber, and one of the most powerful Force users of all time. His strength wasn’t just in combat, but in clarity, patience, and spiritual mastery.
They never fought in canon, but if they did, it could’ve been one of the most epic duels in Star Wars history.
Yoda Confronted Bane’s Ghost on Moraband
In The Clone Wars Season 6, we follow Yoda on a deeply spiritual journey as he seeks to uncover the secrets of immortality. One of the stops along his path takes us to Moraband, the ancient homeworld of the Sith—a place steeped in dark side energy and history. It’s there that we witness something incredible: a vision of Darth Bane himself, the Sith Lord who created the Rule of Two and set the wheels in motion for the Jedi’s eventual downfall.
Bane appears in full armor, surrounded by fire and smoke, and speaks to Yoda with booming authority. He tries to intimidate him, declaring his legacy and attempting to stir fear. But Yoda doesn’t flinch. He calmly tells Bane that he is only an illusion “An illusion. Real, you are not.”
From that alone, we can already tell—Yoda isn’t afraid of Darth Bane. Just like with Sidious and Dooku, he stays composed and focused, never giving in to fear. And if this encounter had turned into a real lightsaber duel? There’s no doubt Yoda would’ve stood his ground and fought until his very last breath.
Yoda Could Win the Duel—But Still Lose to Bane’s Secret Weapon
One of the things I love most about Star Wars is when the best of the Jedi face off against the best of the Sith. That kind of duel—where power, philosophy, and legacy all clash—is what makes the galaxy far, far away feel so intense and unforgettable.
Both Yoda and Darth Bane are incredible lightsaber duelists. If you’ve read the Darth Bane novels, you already know how deadly and relentless Bane was in combat. And on the other side, we’ve seen Yoda flipping through the air, deflecting Force lightning, and going toe-to-toe with both Dooku and Sidious without fear.
But here’s why I believe Yoda would ultimately win, because Bane would allow it.
In Dynasty of Evil, Bane faces off against his apprentice, Darth Zannah, in a brutal final duel. Zannah manages to strike the killing blow—but Bane isn’t done. In his final moments, he attempts to transfer his essence into her, hoping to take over her body and continue living through her. The novel ends ambiguously, without fully confirming whether he succeeded.
If we apply that idea to a theoretical fight between Yoda and Bane, the result becomes even more interesting. We’ve already seen in The Clone Wars that Bane’s vision tries to tempt Yoda into striking him down. That interaction on Moraband wasn’t just symbolism—it could reflect Bane’s belief that dying in battle might serve a greater purpose, especially if it gave him a path into a stronger host.
So in a twisted way, a loss to Yoda wouldn’t necessarily be a failure to Bane—it could be part of his bigger plan.