Alright, let’s clear this up because I see this argument everywhere. People say Ahsoka held her own against Darth Vader, but Obi-Wan—y’know, the Jedi Master—had a harder time dealing with Anakin.
That’s not how it went down.
Obi-Wan didn’t just “struggle”; he beat Anakin/Vader twice. Meanwhile, Ahsoka’s fight was more about survival than actually winning. Let me explain.
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Obi-Wan Knows How to Beat Vader (& Anakin)
Obi-Wan fought Vader twice: once on Mustafar and again in the Kenobi series. And both times, he walked away as the clear winner. Why? Because he didn’t just rely on his lightsaber skills. Obi-Wan knew Anakin. He understood his strengths, his weaknesses, and—most importantly—how to outsmart him.
On Mustafar, it wasn’t just about swinging a lightsaber better. That whole “high ground” line? It was a psychological move. Obi-Wan baited Anakin, knowing full well that his arrogance would make him take a reckless jump. And it worked—Anakin got absolutely wrecked.
Watch the scene here if you need a reminder:
Then in the Kenobi series, it was the same story. Vader’s suit was keeping him alive, and Obi-Wan went right for it. He didn’t overpower Vader; he outthought him. Obi-Wan’s wins weren’t about brute strength—they were about knowing exactly how to play Anakin.
Check out that fight here:
Ahsoka Fought With Her Heart
Now, Ahsoka’s fight with Vader in Rebels? Absolutely epic. But let’s not pretend it was a victory. Sure, she cracked his helmet, and that was a big moment, but the fight was way more emotional than tactical.
At first, Ahsoka went in full force, thinking Vader killed Anakin. But when she saw Anakin’s face through the cracked helmet? That hit her hard. She couldn’t bring herself to go all-out after that. She hesitated because, deep down, she still cared about him.
And let’s be real—Vader wasn’t going all-in on her either. There’s a part of him that still remembered Ahsoka as his Padawan. That emotional baggage? It affected how both of them fought. This wasn’t a “best fighter wins” situation. It was two people with a lot of history colliding.
Here’s the scene:
TL;DR: Obi-Wan Outsmarts, Ahsoka Survives
Obi-Wan beat Vader because he knew him inside and out. He exploited Anakin’s weaknesses and used his arrogance against him. Ahsoka, on the other hand, survived her fight with Vader, but it wasn’t a victory. It was an emotional clash that left both of them shaken.
Both battles were iconic, but let’s not pretend Ahsoka was on Vader’s level. She showed incredible heart, but Obi-Wan is the one who won when it mattered most.