Who Hated Obi-Wan Most: Maul or Vader?

Obi-Wan Kenobi was one of the greatest Jedi of his time—his skill, wisdom, and unwavering loyalty to the light side made him a true legend. But as we’ve seen, that kind of reputation doesn’t come without enemies. Two figures, in particular, despised him more than anyone: Maul and Darth Vader.

We’ve witnessed their hatred play out in brutal duels and personal vendettas, but their reasons for hating Obi-Wan were very different. Maul’s rage was all about revenge, a seething obsession after his humiliating defeat. Vader’s hatred, though, was something else entirely—rooted in betrayal, heartbreak, and the pain of losing someone he once considered a brother.

Maul’s Unrelenting Hatred for Obi-Wan Kenobi

We all know where Maul’s hatred for Obi-Wan Kenobi began—on Naboo. In The Phantom Menace, Maul was sent to eliminate both Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan, but things didn’t go as planned. Instead of emerging victorious, Maul was cut in half by Obi-Wan and left for dead. That defeat didn’t just take his physical form—it shattered everything he had built his life around. Stripped of his power and abandoned by the Sith, Maul’s existence became consumed by one thing: revenge.

From that moment forward, Maul’s entire purpose is fueled by his obsession with Obi-Wan. We see it in The Clone Wars, where he tracks Kenobi across the galaxy, orchestrating elaborate traps and committing atrocities just to make his enemy suffer. He even murders Duchess Satine of Mandalore, the woman Obi-Wan loved, right in front of him—just to cause pain. For Maul, this was never just about winning a fight. It was about taking everything from Obi-Wan, just as he felt everything had been taken from him.

But despite all his efforts, Maul never got what he wanted. In Star Wars Rebels, he finally tracks Obi-Wan down on Tatooine, believing he can still have his revenge. But by this point, Obi-Wan has grown beyond the battles of the past. He remains calm, centered, and at peace with the Force, while Maul is still driven by his endless hatred. Their final duel is swift—Obi-Wan defeats Maul in an instant.

And yet, in his final moments, Maul doesn’t find satisfaction or closure. As he lies dying in Obi-Wan’s arms, his last words are still about revenge, asking if he—Luke Skywalker—is the Chosen One who will finally destroy the Sith. Even in death, Maul’s hatred hasn’t faded.

Vader’s Complex Hatred for Obi-Wan Kenobi

We have to look at Vader’s hatred for Obi-Wan differently from Maul’s. While Maul was driven by pure revenge, Vader’s anger ran much deeper—rooted in betrayal, pain, and the loss of everything he once was.

Anakin Skywalker once saw Obi-Wan as a mentor, a brother, and a friend. The two fought side by side in countless battles, and despite their differences, their bond was undeniable. But that bond was shattered the moment Anakin fell to the dark side. In Revenge of the Sith, when Obi-Wan confronts him on Mustafar, it’s not just another duel—it’s the final breaking point between master and apprentice.

From Anakin’s perspective, Obi-Wan abandoned him when he needed him most. He saw his master’s refusal to stand with him as the ultimate betrayal, especially since Anakin’s turn to the dark side was, in his mind, an act of desperation to save Padmé. And when the duel ends with Obi-Wan leaving him to burn, the anger, grief, and sense of betrayal become permanent scars.

Unlike Maul, whose hatred was singular and obsessive, Vader’s emotions toward Obi-Wan were layered with regret and inner conflict. In A New Hope, when the two meet again after years apart, Vader is fully consumed by the dark side, yet there’s still a lingering sense that defeating Obi-Wan is about more than just revenge—it’s about proving himself, about settling the pain that never truly faded.

This inner turmoil becomes even more evident in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series. When Vader finally faces Obi-Wan again on Mapuzo, the hatred has intensified, but so has the pain. He doesn’t just want to win—he wants Obi-Wan to suffer. When he tells Obi-Wan, “I am what you made me,” it’s a raw confession of the emotional wound that never healed. Unlike Maul, who only saw Obi-Wan as an enemy, Vader’s hatred was personal in a way that made it even more devastating.

Who Hated Obi-Wan the Most?

So, who hated Obi-Wan the most? For me, it’s undoubtedly Maul. Maul’s hatred was purely fueled by vengeance—his life was completely derailed by Obi-Wan when he was defeated on Naboo. 

Being sliced in half and left for dead turned Maul’s obsession with revenge into the core of his existence. His entire drive after his survival was focused on one thing: getting even with Obi-Wan. 

The extent of Maul’s grudge is unmatched, as his quest for vengeance spanned years, crossing from The Clone Wars into Star Wars Rebels.

With Anakin, however, the hatred was more complicated. Anakin’s hatred wasn’t just directed at Obi-Wan—it was deeply rooted in self-loathing. 

After becoming Darth Vader, Anakin’s feelings toward Obi-Wan were laced with a sense of betrayal, but also guilt. 

When Obi-Wan apologizes in Obi-Wan Kenobi for his perceived failure as a mentor, Anakin’s response reveals this emotional complexity: “Anakin is gone. I’m not your failure, Obi-Wan. You didn’t kill Anakin Skywalker. I did.” 

These words show that while Vader resents Obi-Wan, much of his anger is internal—hating himself for the choices that led him to the dark side.