I just came across a topic on Reddit asking something I’ve never really stopped to think about—how many 501st clone troopers did Yoda and Obi-Wan actually kill when they returned to the Jedi Temple in Revenge of the Sith?
It’s one of those scenes we’ve all watched dozens of times, but the question kind of slips by because the movie doesn’t show much beyond the front steps. Still, it got me curious, so I did some digging.
Twenty-five Clone Troopers Were Killed On-Screen
The first thing we can do—and honestly, what most of us would probably do—is go straight to the scene in Revenge of the Sith and start counting. When Yoda and Obi-Wan arrive at the Jedi Temple, they’re met by a squad of 501st clones guarding the entrance. Without a word, lightsabers ignite, and the Jedi cut through them in seconds. If you slow it down and count carefully, you’ll see that nineteen clone troopers are taken down on-screen during the moment when Obi-Wan and Yoda begin their assault on the Temple.
But it doesn’t stop there. Right after that, there’s a quick moment where four more clones run straight at Yoda—and he dispatches all of them. That brings the total to twenty-three troopers taken down.
Then the scene briefly shifts to Obi-Wan, and we catch a glimpse of him taking out two more clones, raising the final on-screen kill count to twenty-five clone troopers—all eliminated by the combined force of two Jedi Masters.
There Were Thousands of Clones During the Jedi Temple Purge
Another important detail to highlight about the Jedi Temple purge is the sheer number of clones present during the assault. While the on-screen kills only show a couple dozen troopers being taken down, that’s just a tiny fraction of the full force. According to the Revenge of the Sith novelization by Patricia C. Wrede, thousands of 501st clone troopers and additional security forces were stationed on Coruscant during the Temple siege.
The book describes the danger Obi-Wan and Yoda faced when attempting to re-enter the Temple:
“Bail parted from Obi-Wan and Yoda at the Senate landing platform. The two Jedi used their mind-clouding abilities to pass the red guards, then raised their hoods and slipped off. Bail watched them go with considerable misgiving. They were undoubtedly two of the best and most powerful Jedi in the galaxy, and they were warned and ready—but there were thousands of clone troops and security guards. If they were discovered, and it came to a battle...”
Later in the novel, it emphasizes that the clones Obi-Wan and Yoda fought through were just a small squad:
“Obi-Wan and Yoda had no trouble disposing of the first few clones they encountered. Once they were inside, they had even less trouble avoiding the others.”
So while we only see about 25 troopers fall on-screen, the actual odds they were up against were far more overwhelming. There were thousands of clones stationed at the Temple, but Yoda and Obi-Wan weren’t there to take on the entire 501st—they were focused, precise, and did everything they could to avoid unnecessary confrontation.