Gallia was one of the Jedi Knights that were able to send her voice to Rey in the Rise of Skywalker;
Certainly, they shouldn't be underestimated just because Maul's apprentice Savage killed her, and they forced Obi-Wan to retreat later.
Maul forces Kenobi to escape during the duel after the death of Adi Gallia;
''Darth Maul's long-term adversary Obi-Wan Kenobi couldn't survive against both Maul and his fellow Nightbrother Savage Opress, so was forced to retreat.''
Source: The Official Star Wars Fact File Remake #044 (2014)
This duo is collectively strong enough to bring down the foundations of a gigantic fortress;
Source: Tales From Vader's Castle 002 (2018)
You can see the size of the gigantic Citadel/Fortress from here that Obi-Wan and Adi Gallia took down by using the Force;
“I knew I could draw you out, Darth Plagueis,” - Venamis
Darth Venamis is one of the two Sith Apprentices of Darth Tenebrous. Tenebrous violates the Rule of Two by training two Sith apprentices at the same time, however Plagueis was unaware of this fact, while Venamis prepares to face Plagueis.
Venamis is also a good example on why the Sith has grown more powerful after nearly 1000 years, with ''each generation'', the Sith Lords has grown more powerful in the Banite Sith,
''The Sith had changed. The Sith had grown, had adapted, had invested a thousand years' intensive study into every aspect of not only the Force but Jedi lore itself, in preparation for exactly this day. The Sith had remade themselves. They had become new. While the Jedi-The Jedi had spent that same millennium training to refight the last war.''
Source: Revenge of the Sith Novel (2005)
"As they gained knowledge of the Dark Side of the Force, their powers increased with each generation."
Source: The Phantom Menace Scrapbook (1999)
That also applies to the Sith Lords that couldn't become Sith Master (such as Maul or Vader), because Venamis never become a Sith Master, (just like them), yet Venamis is nearly as powerful as Plagueis, whose powers were even amplified after Tenebrous's death. Venamis, just like Tenebrous, was more powerful than Pre-Tenebrous era Sith lords, and Darth Bane was more powerful than the Pre-Rule of Two era Sith Lords;
''Darth Bane had gained more knowledge and mastery of Sith techniques and power than anyone who had come before him. He used that knowledge and skill to change the Sith Order forever.''
Source: The Official Star Wars Fact File Remake #022 (2014)
ACCOLADES
Venamis is Plagueis's ''near-equal'' in power, and Plagueis thinks it's powerful enough to be Tenebrous's spirit.
''When he reached out with the Force he could detect the presence of something or some being of near-equal power.
Was Tenebrous’s spirit the source of the power he sensed?''
Source: Star Wars Darth Plagueis (2012)
At this point, Plagueis's powers were ''amplified'' after the death of Tenebrous, and yet Venamis is ''nearly as powerful as'' Plagueis.
''Plagueis withdrew a vial of his own blood and subjected it to analysis. Despite the recent amplification of his powers he sensed that his midi-chlorian count had not increased since the events on Bal’demnic,''
Source: Star Wars Darth Plagueis (2012)
Venamis is ''well trained'' by Darth Tenebrous.
Darth Plagueis: ''You’re (Venamis) well trained.''
Source: Star Wars Darth Plagueis (2012)
Tenebrous made Venamis in ''his image'', Venamis's presence in the Force was so identical to Tenebrous's that Plagueis wrongly assumed Darth Tenebrous cloned himself by using the Bith science to create Venamis.
“He (Tenebrous) made you in his image. You’re a product of Bith science.” The Bith laughed harshly. “You’re (Plagueis) an old fool. He (Tenebrous) found and trained me.”
Source: Star Wars Darth Plagueis (2012)
Darth Plagueis states that Darth Venamis would've done ''well'' in Darth Bane's era.
''Plagueis could not help being impressed, though begrudgingly. The young Bith (Venamis) would have done well in Bane’s era.''
Source: Star Wars Darth Plagueis (2012)
COMBAT & SWORD MASTERY
Venamis enjoys sword combat, just like his master Darth Tenebrous.
''To Plagueis, lightsaber duels were tedious affairs, full of wasted emotion and needless acrobatics. Tenebrous, however, who had pronounced Plagueis a master of the art, had always enjoyed a good fight, and had clearly bequeathed that enthusiasm to his other trainee (Venamis).''
Source: Star Wars Darth Plagueis (2012)
Venamis is a very aggressive duelist, he brings the fight at Plagueis shortly after clashing their laser swords.
''For no sooner had the blades of their weapons clashed than Venamis began to bring the fight to him in unexpected ways, twirling his surprisingly limber body,.''
Source: Star Wars Darth Plagueis (2012)
Venamis uses hybrid and multiple saber forms, he mixes it while dueling with Plagueis.
''tossing the lightsaber from hand to hand, mixing forms.''
Source: Star Wars Darth Plagueis (2012)
Venamis is an ''expert'' in Plagueis's fighting style.
''Worse for Plagueis, Tenebrous had made Venamis an expert in Plagueis’s style,''
Source: Star Wars Darth Plagueis (2012)
Venamis can not only anticipate Plagueis's attacks, he can also counter attack Plagueis during the duel.
''and so the Bith could not only anticipate but counter Plagueis’s every move.''
Source: Star Wars Darth Plagueis (2012)
Venamis penetrates Plagueis's defenses, and ''sears'' the side of Plagueis's neck with his laser sword.
''In short order, Venamis penetrated his defenses, searing the side of Plagueis’s neck.''
Source: Star Wars Darth Plagueis (2012)
Their duel looked like ''lightning'' flashing through the territory.
''from afar, must have looked like lightning flashing through the forest’s understory.''
Source: Star Wars Darth Plagueis (2012)
The duel could go ''indefinitely'' if Plagueis continued to use his usual fighting style.
''Realizing that the fight could go on indefinitely,''
Source: Star Wars Darth Plagueis (2012)
Their duel was ''a fight to the death'' for both Plagueis and Venamis, it wasn't easy for Plagueis until he changed his fighting style.
''that what up until then had been a fight to the death seemed suddenly like a training exercise.''
Source: Star Wars Darth Plagueis (2012)
In the end, Venamis puts more power into his attacks and fights more aggressively against Plagueis, who changed his style and started to fight defensively, and focused on more of counter attacking.
''Exasperated, he (Venamis) doubled his efforts, fighting harder, more desperately, putting more power into each maneuver and blow, and in the end surrendering his precision and accuracy''
Source: Star Wars Darth Plagueis (2012)
FORCE POWERS
Venamis can hide his dark side power from the other Force users, even from Darth Plagueis, who is one of the most powerful dark side users of all time.
Plagueis: '''I sensed the Force in you (Venamis), but not the dark side.''
Source: Star Wars Darth Plagueis (2012)
Venamis is a very skilled Telekinesis user, not only he protects himself against Plagueis's Telekinetic attacks, he can also suspend himself in the air during the duel by using Telekinesis, and continues to the duel as if from high ground. Plagueis considers this as a feat in itself, but Venamis doesn't stop there, he can even continue to the duel with Plagueis.
''At one point he (Venamis) leapt onto an overhanging greel branch and, when Plagueis severed it with a Force blow, hung suspended in the air— no mean feat in itself—and continued the fight, as if from high ground.''
Source: Star Wars Darth Plagueis (2012)
Venamis can use Force lightning.
''Sensing a storm of Force lightning building in the Bith,''
If you are a casual Star Wars fan, who only watch the Star Wars movies, the answer is probably for you; ''Oh of course Dooku is stronger, he beat Kenobi, while Maul lost to Kenobi.''
Well, that's not how the Star Wars duels works.
The reason why X beats Y sometimes, is because of circumstantial and emotional situations, luck / bad luck, or even the will of the Force plays a huge factor.
Matt Martin from Lucasfilm confirms it.
Question: ''As far as I understand, circumstantial and emotional situations are playing huge part in duels, right?''
Matt Martin: ''Definitely. There's always more to it than pure fighting prowess.''
If you understand that, then it's also easier to understand how the duels in Star Wars works.
So how do you decide when this ''special circumstances'' happens in the duels?
When Maul killed Qui-Gon, Kenobi's master, it was almost certain that Kenobi needed to win that fight, with any way possible. Because you can't kill Kenobi due to Kenobi being the main character, and you can't end the movie with the bad guy winning.
What we know about the duels betwen Maul vs. Qui-Gon + Obi-Wan;
Maul was equally as skilled as Qui-Gon + Obi-Wan combined,
Qui-Gon was stronger than Obi-Wan, and still got killed,
Obi-Wan tried to defeat Maul but he too, got disarmed and lost the fight, confirmed that Maul was stronger than even rage amped Kenobi.
''He was skilled, Anakin saw-more skilled, perhaps, than the men he faced. And he was confident in a way that was disturbing. He would not be overcome easily.''
Source: Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace Novel (1999)
''The SITH LORD's moves are incredible. He is fighting the TWO JEDI at once, flipping into the air, outmaneuvering them at every turn.''
Source: Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace Script (1999)
''The battle wore on, and for a time it was fought evenly. But Darth Maul was the stronger of the two and was driven by a frenzy that surpassed even the frantic determination that fueled Obi-Wan. Eventually, the Sith Lord began to wear the young Jedi down.''
Source: Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace Novel (1999)
So how did Maul lose, when he was so superior against his opponents?
Overconfidence of Maul,
Surprise factor via already defeated Qui-Gon's weapon, and Obi-Wan's amplification due to Qui-Gon's death.
Even Star Wars Databank states that Maul ''toyed'' with Obi-Wan after defeating him.
If the argument is that Kenobi was weaker in TPM in comparison with AotC, that's wrong as well.
Qui-Gon already said Kenobi is ready to be a Jedi Knight in TPM, and Nick Gillard also states that both TPM Kenobi and AotC Kenobi are in the same tier 7.
Nick Gillard : "Obi-Wan has gone up one level from Episode I to Episode III, but it’s a huge jump from one level to another.''
Obi-Wan only reaches the tier 8 in RotS, not in AotC. Both TPM Kenobi and AotC Kenobi are the tier 7.
While AotC Kenobi didn't exactly get stomped by Dooku, both the novelization and the script says that AotC Kenobi managed to drove Dooku back for a while;
''OBI-WAN takes a deep breath, gets a fresh grip on his lightsaber and comes in again. For a moment, he drives COUNT DOOKU back. Then Dooku's superior skill begins to tell again, and he forces OBI-WAN to retreat.''
Source: Attack of the Clones Script (2002)
What if Maul faced the same opponent, AotC Kenobi, or even a better version, a late Clone Wars (TCW S4) Kenobi?
Maul managed to ''take down'' TCW S4 Kenobi, despite Maul being out of the business for about ten years.
IGN: ''Was that something else where you thought, "He can't just instantly be that badass again"?
Filoni: ''Definitely. In my opinion, he did really well for being out of the business for about ten years. To come back in and take down Obi-Wan, leaping around on velociraptor legs, he did pretty good.''
Source: IGN Interview (2012)
So in comparison with taking down AotC Kenobi, Maul's feat is even better than Dooku's feat in AotC.
Without the circumstantial differences, both Maul and Dooku were capable of defeating Kenobi.
Then how do we decide who is better than who?
I think we can examine them in 3 different categories; Their Potential in the Sith. Their skills with a saber. Their knowledge of the Force.
Category 1: Potential in the Sith
I believe Maul has an edge against Dooku in here, because we know that Sidious knew the existence and the potential of Dooku around and before the TPM timeline, yet Sidious never thought Dooku as his first apprentice, despite Dooku being much older than Maul.
George Lucas: ''After Darth Sidious' first apprentice is killed, he has to come up with a new apprentice, and rather than coming up with some baby that he trains from birth, which is what he should have done --well, he shouldn't have gotten himself in a position of getting his apprentice killed anyways-- he's decided to make his move, so he needs somebody that was already trained.''
Source: AOTC DVD Commentary
Sidious never really considered Dooku as his apprentice until the ''seemingly'' death of Maul in TPM.
Not only that, Sidious directly states that Maul was a ''loss'' while Dooku wasn't.
Sidious: ''And my apprentices? Darth Maul was a loss. But Darth Tyranus... He was a proton torpedo.''
Source: Darth Vader #20 - End of Games, Part I (2016)
Another superior portrayal of Maul; Dooku states that Maul is a ''Great'' Sith Lord.
Dooku: ''I foresee we will do great things together, I shall teach you the ways of the dark side. Soon, your powers will rival that of the Great Sith Lord Darth Maul. We will be even more powerful than Lord Sidious.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 3 Episode 13 (2011)
And what Maul thinks about Dooku in return?
Maul: ''You're Dooku... the Jedi betrayer? I've heard much of you since my rebirth. I expected... more.''
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #01 (2014)
Talzin states that, Sidious even betrayed her, because he was impressed with Maul's potential as a Sith.
Talzin: ''He promised to make me his right hand, but when Sidious realized Maul's potential he took him from me and trained him as a Sith.''
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #03 (2014)
I think Maul has a clear edge in this category.
Category 2: Skill with a Saber
Both Maul and Dooku were trained perfectly well in the Jedi Arts, Sidious trained Maul, and even said he is ''well trained'' as a Sith Lord, while Dooku was the Jedi apprentice of Yoda, and trained Qui-Gon, who trained Kenobi in return.
Before going into the detail, lets not forget that Nick Gillard, the director of the fighting scenes in PT movies, states that both Maul and Dooku are in the same tier 8,
Nick Gillard: ''Dooku & Maul are 8, but there is a huge difference inside the numbers themselves. It's not about how well they fight, it's about how well they learned.''
Which is superior to the very skilled Jedi Knights such as TPM/AotC Kenobi (tier 7), and Kit Fisto (tier 7), possibly Qui-Gon (he never said which tier Qui-Gon was in), so he describes the tier 8 and tier 9 as ''cheat'' levels, so not many duelists and Force users are on this tier.
So either way, even if you think Maul is superior, or Dooku is superior, the difference must be closer than the difference between a tier 7 and tier 8, or a tier 8 and tier 9, so this is a really close comparison between the two tier 8 fighters, and it could go either way.
Maul and Sidious are the top 2 duelists of the Banite Sith Order;
''An incredible duelist second only, perhaps, to Darth Sidious, Darth Maul honed his lightsaber skills through a lifetime of training against advanced sparring droids.''
Source: Star Wars Chronicles - The Prequels (2005)
We've a canon list that states that both Maul and Dooku are in the top 5 red saber users of all saga, however, Maul (no.3) takes place higher than Dooku (no.4).
Source: Star Wars Absolutely Everything You Need to Know (2015)
If you are wondering, Matt Martin from Lucasfilm confirms that the list is based on order, however, the lower ranked fighters, can still win against the higher ranked fighters, so it doesn't guarantee anything.
Question: ''SW Everything you need to know says Vader is better than Palps''
Matt Martin: ''I guess it's sort of like sports. One team may rank higher than another but that doesn't mean the lower ranked team can't win the game.'
Source: Twitter.com/Matt Martin (17 Jun 2018)
So as I said earlier, it's really a close call, not only based on Gillard's tier system, even the official rankings doesn't guarantee anyone's victory against the other.
Between these two fighters, Dooku uses Makashi, which usually gives an advantage in saber duels, because it's a really old saber style, which created for dueling only in the ancient times, it doesn't really help against the other kind of opponents or when it comes to deflecting the blaster shots.
Which also helps Dooku, because Dooku usually relies on his balance and his leverage, instead of physical skills, he doesn't want to waste any unnecessary energy, both because of his own preference, and because of his old age.
Maul is the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to ''skilled duelist'' in Star Wars.
Source: Star Wars Destiny - Spark of Hope (2019)
While Maul is the master at multiple fighting styles; like Juyo, Niman, or Ataru. Juyo alone, requires multiple saber style mastery,
''Juyo is an intensely aggressive form, even more so than Ataru. Juyo practitioner fights with controlled fury, laying about with a combination of frenzied, rapid strikes and powerful blows.
To maintan the onslaught of Juyo without exhausting oneself, giving the enemy an opening, or sacrificing accuracy, a practitioner must channel the Force with every movement and strike.''
Source: Force and Destiny - Knights of Fate (2015)
It has been stated that Maul is ''too powerful'' for even TCW S5 Kenobi.
Hondo: ''Where is the other Jedi?''
Kenobi: ''She's... She's dead.''
Hondo: ''She's d... They are too powerful for even you? I am semi-speechless.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 01 (2012)
In addition to that, he has the styles like Niman, makes his overall saber style perfect, because while Juyo focuses on physicality and offense by using the Force while moving, it can make him vulnerable to fatigue and the other Force attacks. Niman balances this weakness due to its high level of usage of the Force powers over the blade work. It uses the Force to defend and block, and even attack during the duels.
Source: Star Wars Destiny - Spark of Hope (2019)
''Overall, Niman is less demanding physically than the other forms, thanks in part to its increased focus on the application of Force powers over bladework.''
Source: Force and Destiny - Knights of Fate (2015)
While Dooku's makashi's weakness remains in physicality, and raw strength based attacks, raw kinetic power based attacks, it's actually hard to compansate it without using the other saber styles, and Dooku only uses makashi, he perfected it and he is possibly better than any makashi user in the history,
Luminara Unduli states the huge difference between Ventress's Jar'Kai makashi and Dooku's makashi.
Luminara Unduli : ''Even with my vision clouded, I recognize the fighting style of Count Dooku. Your (Ventress') version is unrefined, amateurish, sloppy.''
Source: The Clone Wars Season 1 Episode 09 (2008)
However, despite his mastery, Dooku is still vulnerable to the usual weakness of makashi (kinetic power), despite his perfect mastery of the ancient style which was produced for saber duels specifically.
''His own elegant Makashi simply did not generate the kinetic power to meet Djem So head-to-head.''
Source: Revenge of the Sith Novelization (2005)
However, his knowledge of the other fighting styles, also help Dooku a lot in his saber duels, especially against Ataru users like Kenobi or Yoda.
Because he fenced with his former Jedi apprentice Qui-Gon ''thousands of times'', both knew each other style's perfectly, however, Kenobi and Yoda are not really an expert on Dooku's makashi, while Dooku knew every weakness of Kenobi's and Yoda's Ataru style, which actually gave an advantage to Dooku in their duel, whenever he faces with them.
''Obi-Wan lifted his lightsaber into the balanced two-handed guard of
Ataru: Qui-Gon's style, and Yoda's. (...) Dooku had fenced Qui-Gon thousands of times, and he knew every weakness of the Ataru form, with its ridiculous acrobatics.''
Source: Revenge of the Sith Novelization (2005)
While its true that Dooku's mastery of his makashi (produced for saber dueling) is the main reason for his success against Kenobi, we should also not forget about Dooku's inside knowledge about Kenobi's style, due to knowing and training Qui-Gon. If it was a Qui-Gon vs. Dooku match up, Qui-Gon could probably do better than Kenobi.
Due to knowing Dooku's style very well, much better than Kenobi could ever know. But this match-up remained as Dooku vs. Kenobi only, and Dooku used this advantage against Kenobi very well, whenever he dueled with him.
These weaknesses was obvious when Dooku fought against Anakin in the Clone Wars, and Savage Opress, they defeated Dooku.
''True or False? Dooku cannot be bested in a lightsaber duel.
False: Opress disarms him but is bested by Force lightning.''
Source: The Clone Wars: What is a Sith Warrior? (2012)
Savage Opress alone is a threat to Dooku.
Dooku: ''I can sense him Grievous. That creature Savage Opress is growing stronger and stronger as each day passes.''
Grievous: ''You consider him a threat?''
Dooku: ''He is a threat to all of us...''
Source: The Clone Wars Season 4 Episode 21 (2012)
While Maul is superior to Savage Opress.
''No love lost: They might have been fellow Nightbrothers, but it was Darth Maul who was very definitely in charge. Savage Opress accepted his role as apprentice to the more powerful Maul, at least for a time.''
Source: The Official Star Wars Fact File Remake #044 (2014)
Another weakness is that when he faces someone who is very unpredictable, such as Quinlan Vos, Dooku failed against him and lost the duel twice.
''Dooku might have been a master of technique, but Vos's characteristic unpredictability-quite possibly even to himself-often gave him the edge. Vos all but danced around Dooku, forcing the older man to whirl, strike, and block from every side. And then-there it was.
Dooku overextended-only a trifle-and the next thing Kenobi knew the count's lightsaber was across the room and the count himself was on his back. (...)
He activated his lightsaber, deflecting the Force lightning back onto Dooku. The count's eyes widened in comprehension a split second before his own weapon turned on him, disloyal, as things of the dark always were. Dooku was flung back and lay on the ground, screaming and trembling, then lying still as the bolts faded.''
Source: Star Wars Dark Disciple (2016)
Which is why, Dooku's knowledge of the other saber styles, (such as when he knows Kenobi's and Yoda's) is very important, but when he faces someone who is very unpredictable, that might be a problem for Dooku.
While Maul doesn't have these weaknesses, his only weakness remains to be very overconfident, and makes mistakes sometimes. While Maul perfected his Juyo style, with the addition of Niman, his weakness only remains in his own overconfidence (like toying with TPM Kenobi), while Dooku's weakness remains stylisticly only, against the kinetic power based fighters like Savage Opress, or against the very unpredictable opponents like Quinlan Vos, which he lost twice.
However, against the tier 9 fighters such as Yoda or Sidious, and you can even include Mace Windu to this list, (bordering to tier 9 according to Gillard), they both performed very well.
Although Dooku's success against Yoda, was also related to Yoda himself, who wasn't going all out against his former Jedi padawan. And he was fighting differently than he fought against Sidious, he didn't want to hurt or destroy Dooku,
''Yoda: "Wish to hurt you, I do not!"
"That's odd," Dooku remarked. "I intend to enjoy killing you.''
Source: Yoda - Dark Rendezvous (2004)
While Yoda tried to destroy Sidious.
Still Dooku's makashi mastery and his inside knowledge about Yoda's Ataru, worked well, and he managed hold his own against Yoda before escaping.
And Maul takes both Mace Windu and Aayla Secura at the same time in a duel. And he kicks Aayla while dueling with Mace Windu.
Maul: ''Finally, a fair fight!''
Source: Son of Dathomir #3 (2014)
If you are wondering, Son of Dathomir comic book is entirely canon;
For Maul to state that an opponent like Mace Windu isn't enough, he adds Aayla Secura to that, and then states that it's a ''fair fight'', it is a very high level dueling feat.
What I believe is that it's even better than Dooku holding his own against an holding back Yoda.
Kicking Sidious in a duel alone is a very very high level feat as well, you could never see Dooku kicking Yoda in a duel.
Or, Maul and his apprentice, Savage Opress, putting up a ''better fight'' than the Jedi Council did against Sidious, is also an incredibly high level dueling feat.
Dave Filoni: ''He (Savage) puts up a better fight than the Jedi Council did, I'll say that much for him"
Source: Starwars.com/Wrath of the Sith
Another impressive high level dueling feats are; we can add Dooku dueling with Ventress + 2 Nightsisters, Dooku loses that fight due to lack of his eyes, he couldn't see his opponents. Which tired him more than a usual duel, and he barely survives with his Force powers in the end, while Maul casually takes 3 Inquisitors at the same time, kicks them one by one, and shows his superiority against the 3 Inquisitors.
He even shows his superiority against SWR Ahsoka, and before that TCW S7 Ahsoka;
Maul's portrayal as a fighter was superior to SWR Ahsoka.
Source: Rebels Season 2 Episode 22 (2016)
''Kanan agrees to split the group up, the logical choice pairing Maul with the weakest of the Jedi.''
To balance the powers of the two teams, Maul, the strongest of the group, goes with the weakest Ezra, while the second strongest Ahsoka and the third strongest Kanan goes together on Malachor in different two groups.
And again, another official source that states Maul's obvious superiority against Ahsoka,
Dave Filoni: ''When Ahsoka pauses and struggles at the break in the fight, it was really meant to portray the toll it took on her compete against Maul. I wanted to take a lot out of Ahsoka to compete at his level. He is the stronger sword fighter.''
Source: Clone Wars Download: "Shattered" (2020)
If you are wondering, SWR Ahsoka's growth was spiritual, her skills were the same level with TCW S7.
Henry Gilroy: ''She's extremely skilled, and I think over the years, she's probably had the opportunity to hone her abilities -- but there hasn't been as much day-to-day, ongoing battle as there used to be in the Clone Wars. So you could say on some level, while she's become more measured, her growth is more spiritual in nature.''
Source: Rebels Recon #2.09: Inside "The Future of the Force" (2015)
And both Maul and Dooku have been stated to be a ''threat'' to Sidious, if they were allowed to have their own Sith apprentices.
Dave Filoni: ''There is an opportunity there to take up on his offer, you know what, together they could eliminate Sidious, so you're talking about the lesser of evils.''
Source: Clone Wars Download: "The Phantom Apprentice" (2020)
Sidious: ''Silence! I can sense her powers growing stronger, I would hate to think you are training your own Sith apprentice to destroy me. (...) I said eliminate her!''
Source: The Clone Wars Season 3 Episode 12 (2011)
I believe Maul has the edge in this category, if he isn't overconfident or toying with his opponent, although as I said at the beginning, it's very close. No matter which side you think is better.
The author of Son of Dathomir comic book, Jeremy Barlow, also stated that Maul can win 7/10 against Dooku,
Question: ''How many rounds do you think TCW Maul can win against Dooku?''
Barlow : ''Hmm. 6/10 sounds good. Maybe even 7/10—'cause Maul won't quit until he's completely out. That's just my opinion, though.''
Source: Twitter.com/Jeremy_Barlow (12 Oct 2014)
There won't be a clear victor like 9/10 or 10/10.
Category 3: Knowledge of the Force
This might be the category that Dooku can have the edge, most likely because of Force lightning advantage, while Maul blocked Force lightning against Sidious.
It's still an ability that could help Dooku to get the advantage between these two fighters. Jeremy Barlow also believes that Dooku has the edge on the Force powers against Maul.
However, Telekinesis mastery of these two Sith Lords, which is the most common usage of the Force powers, is really really close. And with the latest feats of Maul from the Clone Wars Season 7, Maul might have the edge in Telekinesis against Dooku.
Both Dooku and Maul, overpowered a late Clone Wars Kenobi by using the Force, however, before Dooku choking Kenobi, it has been stated that Dooku ''cheated'' by using the superbattle droids in the novel. Otherwise he couldn't accomplish that feat. Still, he managed to Force push Kenobi in their duel, which is also a very high level Force feat, as well as overpowering Ventress after showing his superiority in the duel by driving Ventress back in the entire time.
Maul too, Force choked a late Clone Wars Kenobi, when he find the chance, just like Dooku did. And even slammed him into the wall on Florrum, even when Kenobi was amped due to Adi Gallia's death, and then he even KOed Kenobi for a while with a powerful Force push in their duel on Florrum.
Maul also easily Force choked powerful Force users like Inquisitors. And he send TCW S7 Ahsoka flying with a Force push, who is powerful enough to stop a flying Space Shuttle by using the Force.
Maul also Force pulled a Space Shuttle, from a long distance even when he was wounded, and throw it in front of the pirates, in order to stop them.
Dooku's one of the best Force feats is lifting giant obelisk stones,
and overpowering Ventress, however his Force defenses doesn't look like as good as Maul's, due to getting Force choked by Savage Opress, and losing to TCW Kenobi's Force push in the Legends, and getting Force choked by Sidious via hologram.
With the recent feats, I can say that Maul is slightly superior to Dooku in Telekinesis, due to destroying multiple building size Hyperdrive generators of a Star Destroyer;
And before, that Maul was single handedly killing a small army of the Clone troopers, without even using a saber.
As for their prediction and Force sense abilities, I believe Maul also has the edge, as he was able to sense the future of Anakin Skywalker, which is something that not only Dooku, even Yoda couldn't see it clearly.
Ahsoka: ''What do you want with Anakin Skywalker?''
Maul: ''He is the key to everything. He has long groomed for his role, as my master's new apprentice.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 10 (2020)
Maul's Force powers were so potent that he created a Dark Side nexus at Naboo Palace, where Princess Leia sensed it years after Maul's death.
Leia: ''I feel... Cold.''
Source: Star Wars - Shattered Empire #03 (2015)
His survival after TPM was also very impressive, even Sidious was impressed by Maul's dark side power;
Sidious: ''I am most impressed to see you have survived your injuries.''
Maul: ''I used your training, Master.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 16 (2013)
It was because of Maul's ''mastery'' of the dark side.
''Darth Maul's first set of cybernetic legs were built on blind instinct and an all consuming rage. They were a terrifying creation, and horrifically effective, but were held together as much by Maul's mastery of the dark side of the Force as by his technical ability during their construction.''
Source: The Official Star Wars Fact File Remake #024 (2014)
Dooku has the edge due to Force lightning, and Maul has the slight edge in Telekinesis.
And Maul's Force potential was also superior due to seeing things that even Yoda couldn't see, and impressing Sidious with his dark side mastery, and leaving behind a powerful Dark Side energy that even after his death can be felt by the other Force users.
CONCLUSION
Category 1 - Potential in the Sith: Maul.
Category 2 - Skill with a Saber: Slightly Maul, still very close.
Category 3 - Knowledge of the Force: Could go either way, very close.
*Click here, if you want to view this thread in blog format.
Maul has become even more powerful in TCW. It's TCW Maul > TPM Maul, however they are still close and in the same tier 8.
''Maul had grown more powerful since the last time he’d been in Sidious’s presence, before the Neimoidian invasion of Naboo had turned disastrous and Obi-Wan had bested him inside the Theed power core.
His hermitage on Lotho Minor, his lessons on Unbara, his restoration by Mother Talzin, and his training of Savage had all strengthened him, made him a more worthy vessel for the dark side to fill with its power.
But strong as he had become, Maul found himself in awe of Sidious.''
Source: Star Wars Shadow Conspiracy (2013)
This is the direct quote, and the author of Shadow Conspiracy novel, Jason Fry was talking with the other guys in Lucasfilm, it was coming from Lucasfilm directly that Maul has grown more powerful.
Jason Fry: ''Lucasfilm shared notes from Pablo Hidalgo and supervising director Dave Filoni about Satine’s past, including the startling fact that Satine and Bo-Katan were sisters. But Lucasfilm’s Leland Chee and Joanne Chan Taylor graciously agreed to act as my eyes and ears: I’d ask them questions, which they’d bring to Lucasfilm Animation for answers.''
This is a direct canon source: TCW Maul wasn't slow down due to prosthetics legs.
''She could see Maul, not far from her now. Smoke wreathed his black-and-red face, though it didn't seem to bother him. He'd already put aside his cloak; battle-readiness oozing from his stance. He was in one of the plazas that wasn't burning yet, pacing while he waited for her.
If she hadn't known that his legs were artificial, she never would have guessed they weren't the limbs he'd been born with. The prosthetics didn't slow him down at all. She walked toward him, determined. After all, she knew something she was pretty sure he didn't.''
Source: Star Wars Ahsoka Novel (2016)
TCW Maul's Force powers were never weakened as well. Leland Chee from Lucasfilm answers;
Question: ''When force users lose parts of their body, does their strength in the force diminish?''
Leland Chee: ''Maul lost the lower half of his body, still seemed pretty powerful so I'm gonna have to go with 'no'.''
TCW Maul's Force powers were indeed more powerful, he has the best feats in TCW.
TCW Maul destroys multiple building size hyperdrive generators of a Star Destroyer by using the Force.
TCW Maul brings multiple building size hyperdrive generators down on a bridge where a group of Clone troopers stands, and destroys a Star Destroyer by using the Force.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 12 (2020)
TCW S4 Maul ''took down'' TCW S4 Kenobi in combat, and did really well despite being out of the business for about ten years. TCW S4 is very close to RotS timeline, they are only a couple of months away from RotS.
IGN: ''Was that something else where you thought, "He can't just instantly be that badass again"?
Filoni: ''Definitely. In my opinion, he did really well for being out of the business for about ten years. To come back in and take down Obi-Wan, leaping around on velociraptor legs, he did pretty good.''
Source: IGN Interview (2012)
TCW S4 Maul also overpowers Asajj Ventress, not only TCW S4 Kenobi.
TCW S4 Maul vs. TPM Maul is debatable,
However, TCW S5 Maul is definitely better than TPM Maul, as he easily defeated Savage Opress, and Savage as a Force sensitive person, stated that TCW Maul has grown ''so powerful'' after TCW S4.
That's canon as well.
Savage Opress: ''You have grown so powerful.''
Source: The Clone Wars Season 5 Episode 01 (2012)
Maul drives Kenobi back in TCW S5, and shows his superiority as a duelist.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 01 (2012)
So even if we compare TCW S4 Maul to TPM Maul (TCW S4 Maul still has a better dueling feat than TPM Maul has), it is just obvious that TCW S5 Maul was just better, which means TCW Maul > TPM Maul overall, which aligns with what they said in Shadow Conspiracy Novel.
Another thing is, Filoni indirectly stated that TCW Maul > TPM Maul;
IGN: ''And there are some other notable beats there at the end, besides, obviously, the death of Savage. There’s the fact that Maul begged for his life. I'm curious, should we take that at face value or was it a ruse?''
Filoni: ''Yeah, I think that’s pretty literal at that point. I think that what you understand about Maul is that he is still not nearly as powerful as Sidious. Perhaps in his time away and his own ambition, like a villain, he got carried away with himself. He’s not offering proper respect to his master, Sidious, and he’s going to pay the price for that.''
Source: IGN Interview (2013)
He says ''still not nearly as powerful as Sidious''
The key word is; ''still''.
Is there any point if Maul didn't grow more powerful than TPM? And why would Maul get ''carried away'' because of his ambition? Clearly, it was because Maul has grown ''so powerful'' like Savage Opress said, and he clearly was stronger than when ''the last time when he'd been in Sidious's presence''.
TCW Maul leveled up at this point when he was in TPM, he had his own ambition and being a mere apprentice wouldn't be enough. This is also why he was thinking to take Dooku as his new apprentice in SoD, and stated that Mace Windu + Aayla Secura is a ''fair fight'' for him.
Maul: ''Finally, a fair fight!''
Source: Son of Dathomir #3 (2014)
If you are wondering, Son of Dathomir comic book is entirely canon;
Question: ''The duel between Darth Maul vs. Mace Windu, all of it are canon right?''
Matt Martin: ''SoD is canon in its entirety, yeah.''
The author of Son of Dathomir comic book;
Barlow : ''Hmm. 6/10 sounds good. Maybe even 7/10—'cause Maul won't quit until he's completely out. That's just my opinion, though.''
Source: Twitter.com/Jeremy_Barlow (12 Oct 2014)
The author states that Maul beats Dooku 7/10.
Maul is powerful enough to scare Dooku off, when he has 2 mandalorians at his side. Dooku couldn't even challenge him. This is right after their duel against the Jedi, Dooku has his lightsaber in here.
Source: Star Wars - Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #04 (2014)
TCW Maul was also toying with TCW S7 Ahsoka, and he didn't want to kill her, because he wanted her to join him against Sidious. Vader on the other hand, definitely didn't want her to join him against the Emperor, Vader was still serving to the Emperor, he wasn't planning to attack the Emperor with the help of Ahsoka. What's the point of killing Ahsoka when there is Sidious to deal with and when Sidious was the real enemy, killing Ahsoka would only serve Sidious.
Both versions of Ahsoka is clearly confirmed to be weaker than Maul, and I don't think she is at tier 8, she should be in tier 7 alongside with TPM/AotC Kenobi, Kit Fisto and Qui-Gon, they are Jedi Council level, which is very good anyway.
Maul even asked her to join him in the last second of their duel after disarming her, Vader was in no position to do that to SWR Ahsoka, toying with her and putting her in a desperate unarmed position where he could force her to join, Vader just needed to beat Ahsoka without toying and risking anything.
SWR Ahsoka also never felt any fear nor paused during the fight against Vader,
She was breathing heavily in fear because TCW Maul overpowered her too much when he wasn't even trying to kill her.
Dave Filoni: ''When Ahsoka pauses and struggles at the break in the fight, it was really meant to portray the toll it took on her compete against Maul. I wanted to take a lot out of Ahsoka to compete at his level. He is the stronger sword fighter.''
Source: Clone Wars Download: "Shattered" (2020)
Maul is so powerful that if TCW S7 Ahsoka joined him, they could ''eliminate'' Sidious.
Dave Filoni: ''There is an opportunity there to take up on his offer, you know what, together they could eliminate Sidious, so you're talking about the lesser of evils.''
Source: Clone Wars Download: "The Phantom Apprentice" (2020)
TCW Maul also beat TCW S7 Ahsoka again without even using his lightsabers,
Source: The Clone Wars Season 7 Episode 12 (2020)
The power difference between Maul and TCW S7 Ahsoka is definitely bigger than the power difference between Vader and SWR Ahsoka.
And TCW S7 Ahsoka was even strong enough to stop a flying Space Shutte, similar to TRoS Rey.
It's confirmed that SWR Ahsoka wasn't more skilled than TCW S7 Ahsoka, she grow spiritually.
Henry Gilroy: ''She's extremely skilled, and I think over the years, she's probably had the opportunity to hone her abilities -- but there hasn't been as much day-to-day, ongoing battle as there used to be in the Clone Wars. So you could say on some level, while she's become more measured, her growth is more spiritual in nature.''
Source: Rebels Recon #2.09: Inside "The Future of the Force" (2015)
*Kenobi in RotS, defeated RotS Anakin, and in the Clone Wars, and he also defeated Savage Opress, both of them managed to beat Dooku before.
And Dooku only beat Kenobi in RotS because of cheating via Super battle droids.
''That blue blade was everywhere, flashing and whirling faster and faster until Dooku saw the room through an electric haze and now Kenobi was back in the picture: with a shout of the Force, he shot like a torpedo up the stairs behind Skywalker, and Dooku decided that under these rather extreme circumstances, it was at least arguably permissible for a gentleman to cheat.
"Guards!" he said to the pair of super battle droids that still stood at attention to either side of the entrance. "Open fire!"
Kenobi reached the top of the stairs and a single slash of his lightsaber dismantled both droids. Before their pieces could even hit the floor Dooku was in motion, landing a spinning side-stamp that folded Skywalker in half; he used his last burst of dark power to continue his spin into a blindingly fast wheel-kick that brought his heel against the point of Kenobi's chin with a crack like the report of a huge-bore slugthrower, knocking the Jedi Master back down the stairs. Sounded like he'd broken his neck.''
Source: Revenge of the Sith Novel (2005)
RotS Kenobi and Maul should be slightly better than Dooku, but they are still in the same tier 8.
As for why RotJ Luke is being on tier 7, alongside with TRoS Rey, Matt Martin from Lucasfilm answers;
Question: ''What do you think Rey's lightsaber skill level is at the end of TROS?''
Matt Martin: ''Anakin is pretty far beyond. He had a lot of training and natural aptitude for that. Rey was probably stronger with the saber than Luke in RotJ. Again, because she was raised having to fend for and defend herself. Luke was more sheltered.''
RotJ Luke is technically still a padawan.
Yoda said he will only be a Jedi when he faces Vader, after that he becomes one. Vader only lost to Padawan RotJ Luke only because of Vader's own internal conflict (this is similar to Maul and Sidious are being overconfident and makes mistakes).
The Mandalorian Season 2, takes place 5 years after RotJ, this is more experienced Luke than he was in RotJ, so I think it's fair to put TM Luke in tier 8 in that timeline alongside with TLJ Luke, and his feat against the Dark Troopers was very high level.
*Snoke's Force powers are probably a little better than tier 8, but his lightsaber combat doesn't exists, so he takes -1 point for that.
Ben Kenobi being better than RotS Kenobi also can't be true, we've even Matt Martin saying that he would bet on RotS Kenobi winning against Ben Kenobi in a fight.
*What we know for sure about the tiers so far;
Nick Gillard : "Obi-Wan has gone up one level from Episode I to Episode III, but it’s a huge jump from one level to another. It’s not just about a style of fighting, it’s mental as well. Anakin has gone up probably four levels from Episode II to Episode III. So he’s gone beyond Obi-Wan, but he hasn’t gone beyond him mentally."
"When I started, I figured that a youngling is a level one. And somebody like Kit Fisto; seven. I did take it to eight and nine, but not many people know that. Eight and nine is cheat. So Obi-Wan is eight, Yoda is nine, Mace is eight, bordering on nine. Anakin is nine."
"Dooku and Maul are eight, but there is a huge difference inside the numbers themselves. It's not about how well they fight, it's about how well they learned..."
"I had to give them levels," he says. "Sidious is a level nine out of ten. On this film. Obi is eight - he's moved up - Anakin is a nine; Mace is a nine, Yoda is a nine. They're up with Sidious. Once you get to eight, you have a Pandora's box. You could go any way with it. The way not to go is the dark side. But it would tempt you, because that would jump you right past the others. So you need to arrive at level eight at the right age - not as young as Anakin. That young, the dark side is just too tempting."
The actors rehearse in their dressing gowns and then adjourn for final costume adjustments, while Lucas and Knoll continue to examine the footage. When Palpatine easily strikes down Mace's three associate Jedi at the outset of the scene. Knoll says, "Look at this. Mace brought the B-team!" "You have to be either Mace or Yoda to compete with the Emperor,"
Lucas says. "If Anakin hadn't got all beat-up, he could've beat the Emperor". "But Mace was going to arrest Palpatine," Knoll says, "and a few moments later he says Palpatine's too dangerous to live. What happened?" "Mace was going to do the right thing by arresting him. but after Palpatine does the lightning, he changes his mind."
Source: The Making of Star Wars Revenge of the Sith (2005)
*The ones they are clear;
Tier 9: Sidious, Yoda.
Tier 8: Maul, RotS Kenobi, Dooku.
Tier 7: Kit Fisto, TPM/AotC Kenobi.
Tier 6: AotC Anakin.
*He said Anakin gone up probably 4 levels between Episode II and Episode III, I believe that's a little exaggeration, it's fair to say Anakin is at least tier 6 in AotC. And he said Obi-Wan gone up 1 tier between Episode I and Episode III, so Episode I and II Obi-Wan is tier 7.
*What's not clear; Windu, he said he is tier 8 bordering tier 9, and Anakin, he said he is tier 9 but mentally he is still tier 8, and equal to Kenobi, and mentality is also a very important aspect, so you can say that both Windu and Anakin are pseudo tier 9's, but essentially they are tier 8.
*Quinlan Vos defeated Dooku twice in the Dark Disciple (TCW S6), he should be in the same tier with Dooku, and slightly better than Dooku.
''Both Jedi watching were prepared to act if need be. Indeed, Anakin was more than eager to do so. But, truth be told, Vos seemed to be holding his own against Dooku. He leapt, sprang, ducked, and tumbled. Dooku might have been a master of technique, but Vos's characteristic unpredictability-quite possibly even to himself-often gave him the edge. Vos all but danced around Dooku, forcing the older man to whirl, strike, and block from every side. And then-there it was. Dooku overextended-only a trifle-and the next thing Kenobi knew the count's lightsaber was across the room and the count himself was on his back.
(...)
"Mediocre? Who's got the lightsaber?" Again, Vos slammed Dooku's head against the unyielding metal of the deck, this time with his hand around the older man's throat. Vos's fingers tightened.
"Am I? Go then. Find him. See what happens. Or you could join with me again. We will defeat Sidious together!"
"I won't be your apprentice!" Vos started to choke Dooku again.
"No, no!" Dooku wheezed. "A team. Equals.''
(...)
Dooku stood, his teeth bared in a savage snarl of victory. Ventress was caught in the most violent bolts of Force lightning Vos had ever seen. They danced and crackled about her hungrily, almost like living creatures. Her body spasmed and her face contorted into a mask of absolute agony. Blood trickled from her ears, eyes, and nose.
"Asajj!" Vos cried, leaping between Ventress and Dooku. He activated his lightsaber, deflecting the Force lightning back onto Dooku. The count's eyes widened in comprehension a split second before his own weapon turned on him, disloyal, as things of the dark always were. Dooku was flung back and lay on the ground, screaming and trembling, then lying still as the bolts faded.
Ventress lay unmoving on the floor. Her clothes-and her body itself-emitted wisps of smoke. "No," Vos moaned. She was breathing, but her pulse was thready and she was still, so terribly still. "Asajj...no...no...!"
Fury, as intense and primal as the bolts that had nearly killed her, shuddered through him, and the world went red. Vos threw back his head and voiced his rage, whirling on the count as he lay, shivering and gasping for breath, on the stone floor. Three strides brought Vos to Count Dooku. He pressed the humming blade close to Dooku's neck.
"Do...it," rasped Dooku. Impossibly, he was smiling. "The lightning wasn't...for her. It was for you. She just...got in the way. Go on. Take...your revenge!"
Source: Star Wars Dark Disciple (2016)
*They said Talzin can go toe-to-toe with Sidious,
''She is a powerhouse that could go toe-to-toe with Darth Sidious.''
Source: Star Wars Insider (2014-05-06)
And if she didn't sacrifice herself for Maul, she could still turn intangible, and she could escape again by turning into ghost, like this;
*Her powers makes her almost invincible, and she wouldn't get hurt unless she sacrifices herself fo someone. Sidious also mentioned that, he said Dooku's and Grievous's armies couldn't destroy her.
*The Jedi Council members gets +1 point, because of what the director of the Rebels said,
Dave Filoni : ''I always thought Grievous that way right, he can use a lightsaber but you know to kill Nahdar he plug a gun and shoot Nahdar. He doesn't care.
Jedi is like a more classic samurai, who is gonna fight with the technique and the honor. The Inquisitor lightsaber, it's got to be a multifunction, it's all about intimidation and fear. Throw your sword to someone never really looked upon highly. That's why I call it a cheat. It's a simple way to do something that Maul actually does have far greater skills spinning and twirling, this guy can just stand there and can have a helicopter blade in. It's the mechanical element of it to me says that this guy isn't as powerful as you think.
''But to the great many that he would've counter one might have pick up a lightsaber, or been like youngling or padawan that survived he would be more than a match for any of them. Remember the Jedi council if they would survived the Inquisitor be lot harder pressed in that battle.
I would say someone like Mace Windu is far far far above the Inquisitor we've seen in Star Wars Rebels. But in this dark time when the light side is really suffering he is a fairly powerful guy. Especially for someone like Kanan, who kind of lack his own conviction and belief in his own ability at this point. If you do that you don't believe in yourself how can you fight with someone like the Inquisitor. He gets Force thrown he really gets thrown in that throw has much to do with Kanan's own lack of believe in himself as does the Inquisitor is pushing him. There is not a lot countering the Inquisitor in that fight. We thought it was important to show Kanan really struggling.''
Source: Rebel Force Radio Interview
*The Grand Inquisitor is an average Jedi Knight level, and Jedi masters like Prosset Dibs (who held his own against Windu) who turned out to be the Inquisitor Tenth Brother, shouldn't be more powerful than him. So if any members of the Jedi council, can hard press the Grand Inquisitor, they should be in the tier 7 like Kit Fisto, who is also a member of Jedi Council.
*The main difference here is that being a Jedi council member, the rank of master doesn't really matter. Only exception to that rule is probably Qui-Gon, because they speficially said he would be in the Jedi Council if he followed their code because Qui-Gon had his own Jedi code, and Obi-Wan has grown powerful enough to be in tier 7 and then tier 8 thanks to Qui-Gon's Jedi training, and Gillard said Anakin and Obi-Wan comes from Qui-Gon's Jedi line, and they are fighting just like Qui-Gon.
Gillard: ''They are almost the same those two, because they've learnt, they come up through the same way. Taught by Qui-Gon, Tyranus, Yoda. It's the same line.''
Source: Star Wars It's All For Real - The Stunts Of Episode III
Filoni: ''In Phantom menace, you see these two Jedi in their prime fight this evil villain. Maul couldn't be more obviously the villain. He's designed to look evil. And he is evil, and he expresses that from his face to the type of lightsaber he fights with. What's at stake is how Anakin is gonna turn out. Because Qui-Gon is different from other Jedi, you get that in the movie.
Qui-Gon is fighting because he knows he's the father that Anakin needs. Because Qui-Gon hasn't given up on the fact that Jedi are suppose to actually care and love, and that's not a bad thing. The rest of the Jedi are so detached and they've become so political that they've lost their way. And Yoda starts to see that in the second film. But Qui-Gon is ahead of them all. That's why he is not part of the council, so he is fighting for Anakin. So that's why it's the Duel of the Fates. The fate of this child.''
Source: Disney Gallery The Mandalorian (2020)
Filoni: ''Even though she is not part of the Jedi Order, she is acting very much like a Jedi. For me, with Ahsoka, it was always important that as a young person, she is asking questions and she is not just following. That she can made up her own mind. That she can even go against what Anakin thinks. She has to be an individual. And to me when you look at the Jedi in the prequel era, the one Jedi that has it most right is Qui-Gon.
Because Qui-Gon understands that you can still love someone as long as you don't try to possess them, as long as you can let them go. He is selfless. Ahsoka is on a selfless path. And because Qui-Gon taught Obi-Wan taught Anakin taught her. That teaching is in her. She gets the benefit of Anakin and Obi-Wan. Both of them teach her throughout the course of her life. And so she has kind of a nicely balanced view of things where a lot of Jedi, I don't think have that.''
*Kirak Infila could be tier 8, for his battle against Vader. But there are contexts, for one; Vader was just testing new suit right after his injury in Mustafar, and secondly, he took serious injuries because of not having a Sith lightsaber yet, so Kirak actually fought against a heavily injured Vader. But still, they said Kirak was special amongst the other Jedi due to his combat skills, so he should at least be on the Jedi Council level like Kit Fisto.
*The same goes for Ancient Sith Lord Momin, he also fought a heavily injured Vader, and still lost. He wasn't at tier 8, tier 7 at best.
''There is no justice, no law, no order, except for the one that will replace it! The time of the Jedi has passed. They cannot defeat Sidious. But together, you and I can.''
― Maul
This is a respect thread for Darth Maul. It's from the new canon and canon related materials only.
The canon Star Wars materials are officially published books, comic books, movies, animations after 2014 new Star Wars canon announcement. Only exceptions to that are the old movies and the 2008 Clone Wars animation, they are canon too. As well as the novelization of the old movies. Some of the sources here are technically not canon, I've added it because it's directly related to the canonical materials. Such as the director's, and the writer's statements, and the related sources about the canon movies and the canon animations.
If you want to view this thread in a better blog format click here.
ACCOLADES
Maul is one of the ''most skilled'' Sith Lords in the history.
''One of the most skilled and deadly warriors in Sith history, Darth Sidious's apprentice was to be the First Sith openly encountered by the Jedi Order for more than 1,000 years.''
Source: The Official Star Wars Fact File Remake #001 (2014)
Maul is one of the ''most efficiently'' trained Sith Lords in the history.
''One of the deadliest, most efficiently trained Sith in the Order's history.''
Source: Ultimate Star Wars (2015)
Maul has been ''well trained'' by Sidious.
Sidious: ''You've been well trained, my young apprentice. They will be no match for you.''
Source: Star Wars - Episode I (1999)
Maul is the ''fastest and deadliest'' like no villain before him.
''Darth Maul is quick and deadly like no other Star Wars villain before him.''
Source: Starwars. com / Top 10 best fights
Maul is ''so strong'' with the dark side that he survives bisection.
''This Zabrak was so strong with the dark side he survives being cut in two.''
Source: Starwars. com / Top 10 best villains
Maul is the galaxy's ''deadliest'' Zabrak.
''And what role will a band of bounty hunters, including Cad Bane and Aurra Sing, play? Get to know the galaxy's deadliest Zabrak like never before!''
Source: Star Wars - Darth Maul (2017)
The director states that Sidious ''shouldn't have lost'' his first apprentice.
George Lucas: ''After Darth Sidious' first apprentice is killed, he has to come up with a new apprentice, and rather than coming up with some baby that he trains from birth, which is what he should have done --well, he shouldn't have gotten himself in a position of getting his apprentice killed anyways-- he's decided to make his move, so he needs somebody that was already trained.''
Source: AOTC DVD Commentary
Maul was a loss for the Sith Order, and ''more important'' than Dooku.
Sidious: ''And my apprentices? Darth Maul was a loss. But Darth Tyranus... He was a proton torpedo.''
Source: Darth Vader #20 - End of Games, Part I (2016)
Maul's ''potential'' power was high enough to disregard Mother Talzin's power.
Talzin: ''He promised to make me his right hand, but when Sidious realized Maul's potential he took him from me and trained him as a Sith.''
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #03 (2014)
Maul was destined to become ''so much more'' as a Sith.
Maul: ''I was apprentice to the most powerful being in the galaxy once. I was destined to become so much more.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 4 Episode 22 (2012)
Count Dooku states that Darth Maul is a ''Great'' Sith Lord.
Dooku: ''I foresee we will do great things together, I shall teach you the ways of the dark side. Soon, your powers will rival that of the Great Sith Lord Darth Maul. We will be even more powerful than Lord Sidious.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 3 Episode 13 (2011)
Dooku senses a ''sinister'' power in the Force because of Maul.
Dooku: ''Something is rising... Something sinister.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 4 Episode 21 (2012)
Anakin senses a ''sinister'' power in the Force because of Maul.
Anakin: ''I sense disturbance. Something; sinister. Whatever it is, it feels familiar.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 4 Episode 21 (2012)
Yoda ''fears'' for Kenobi because of Maul.
Yoda: ''Feel the disturbance in the Force, do you? Fear you are in danger, I do.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 4 Episode 21 (2012)
Maul is both a formidable warrior, and also a ''scheming mastermind''.
''A deadly, agile Sith Lord trained by the evil Darth Sidious, Darth Maul was a formidable warrior and scheming mastermind.''
Source: Starwars.com/Databank/darth-maul
Talzin states that Maul can teach Savage to be even ''more powerful''.
Talzin: ''You (Savage) will find him. He (Maul) will teach you everything you need to learn to become even more powerful.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 3 Episode 14 (2011)
Grievous is scared of Maul, and states that Maul is ''too dangerous''.
General Grievous: ''You should've killed Maul when you had him in custody. I told you he was too dangerous to let live.''
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #01 (2014)
Anakin states that Maul is ''tricky'' even for the Jedi.
Anakin: "Be careful, Ahsoka, Maul is tricky. And he has no mercy in him at all."
Source: Star Wars - Ahsoka Novel (2016)
Maul is a ''deceiver'' that scares even Kenobi.
Kenobi: ''With Maul, nothing is as it appears, Cody.''
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #03 (2014)
Maul ''inspires'' the Crime Syndicates and the Mandalorians.
Ziton Moj: ''You inspire us all, Lord Maul.''
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #02 (2014)
Sidious considers Maul as a ''Sith rival'' during the Clone Wars.
Sidious: ''How unfortunate that you are attempting to deceive me.''
Maul: ''Master?''
Sidious: ''You have become a rival.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 16 (2013)
Maul is from the strongest advanced generation of the Sith Lords.
''Darth Bane had gained more knowledge and mastery of Sith techniques and power than anyone who had come before him. He used that knowledge and skill to change the Sith Order forever.''
Source: The Official Star Wars Fact File Remake #022 (2014)
Maul's need for vengeance has grown even ''more powerful'' in the Clone Wars.
Opening: ''Though Darth Maul's memory has yet to be fully restored, his need for vengeance has awakened, more powerful than ever.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 4 Episode 22 (2012)
Maul is an ''amassing power'' in the Clone Wars, and he is a ''challenge'' for Sidious during the Clone Wars.
''Darth Sidious was presented with an unforeseen challenge: Maul had, in fact, survived his injuries suffered at the hands of Obi-Wan Kenobi, and was now amassing power.''
The director states that Maul is a ''big-time player'', who can make an impact during the Battle of Yavin and after.
Dave Filoni: ''If there’s a character like Maul running around during one of the old films, he’s such a big-time player you think there would have been an echo of that somewhere.''
Source: io9 interview / 18.03.2017
Maul creates ''fear'' even amongst the Imperial Inquisitors, who are former Jedi Knights.
The Eighth Brother: ''The Shadow!''
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Season 2 Episode 21 (2016)
The director describes Maul as a ''super dangerous'' threat and a Vader-realm character.
Dave Filoni: ''Maul is a super dangerous threat. Because he has been trained for years. He’s really adept. So he’s kind of in the Vader realm. He’s well trained by Sidious in all types of Sith ways. Not the least of which is manipulation.''
Source: Rebel Force Radio Interview (2012)
The director states that Darth Maul is on the ''same level'' with Darth Vader.
George Lucas: "But Obi-Wan screwed that up by cutting off his arms and legs and burning him up. From then on, he wasn't as strong as the Emperor -- he was like Darth Maul or Count Dooku. He wasn't what he was supposed to become. But the son could become that."
Source: Rolling Stone Interview (2005)
The director states that Maul is ''so powerful'' as a dark side user.
Dave Filoni: ''The galaxy as its exists now is a fertile place for Maul to flourish. Because he is so powerful within the dark side, because he is able to channel it because of the teachings from Sidious.''
Source: The Clone Wars Season Five: Revival Featurette
The director states that there is ''a connection'' between Maul and Mortis God the Son.
Dave Filoni: ''And that Maul is an echo of the Son and some of the evil the Son was talking about which echoes in our galaxy. So there’s definitely a connection between those two characters.''
Source: Starwars.com Interview (2013)
COMBAT & SWORD MASTERY
In Star Wars universe, laser swords are powerful weapons that can deflect any kind of blaster bolts and can cut very durable materials such as high quality steel and other type of metal alloys. Maul is a very skilled warrior and duelist when it comes to using a sword. He is well trained in the arts of multiple saber styles such as Juyo (Form VII) by Sidious. Maul is also master at Niman (Form VI) fighting style as well.
Addition to his saber skills, Maul is master at style Teräs Käsi. Teräs Käsi was designed to fight the Jedi. Maul taught this fighting style to his students Vos and then Qi'ra.
Dryden Vos: ''Have you ever heard of the art of Teräs Käsi? It was designed to counter the Jedi, but I find it works quite well on anyone with limbs to break.''
Source: Solo - A Star Wars Story Expanded Edition (2018)
Even Maul's Non-Force sensitive underling Qi'ra gives trouble to Vader in combat because of Maul's Teräs Käsi training, Vader had to use the Force to defeat Qi'ra.
Vader: ''You have... Training. I recognize the lineage of your instruction.''
Qi'ra: ''Do you, Lord Vader? Then you know you're in trouble.''
Vader: ''Your skill does credit to your teacher. But you do not have the Force. And your Teräs Käsi will not save you.''
Source: War Of The Bounty Hunters (2021)
The director states that Maul is a ''great fighter'' and a good villain.
George Lucas: ''I said I wanted the faster version of those movies were, and more energetic version. That's basically what he gave me. And I think the key to it, we had a good villain who is a great fighter.''
''Maul employed the Juyo fighting style, the ultra-aggressive Form VII (Juyo) that, in the waning years of the Republic, was all but forbidden to Jedi.''
Source: Force and Destiny - Knights of Fate (2015)
Maul's Juyo style is the most aggressive and unpredictable form.
''Juyo/Vaapad: The most aggressive and unpredictable form.''
Source: Star Wars - Absolutely Everything You Need to Know (2015)
Juyo users such as Maul must channel the Force with every move and strike.
''Juyo is an intensely aggressive form, even more so than Ataru. Juyo practitioner fights with controlled fury, laying about with a combination of frenzied, rapid strikes and powerful blows.
To maintan the onslaught of Juyo without exhausting oneself, giving the enemy an opening, or sacrificing accuracy, a practitioner must channel the Force with every movement and strike.''
Source: Force and Destiny - Knights of Fate (2015)
Maul is also ''master'' at Niman (Form VI) fighting style, not only at Juyo.
Source: Star Wars Destiny - Spark of Hope (2019)
Maul's Niman style is the least physical of all saber forms, it focuses on the application of Force powers over bladework.
''Overall, Niman is less demanding physically than the other forms, thanks in part to its increased focus on the application of Force powers over bladework.''
Source: Force and Destiny - Knights of Fate (2015)
Sidious states that Maul hunts the ''most ruthless'' beings in the galaxy.
Sidious: ''I've indulged your various hunting expeditions, allowed you to test your mettle against some of the most ruthless beings in the galaxy.''
Source: Star Wars - Darth Maul - Part I (2017)
Maul easily slaughters a large group of ''cunning pirates''.
Sidious: ''Our allies in the Trade Federation have requested assistance. While establishing secret mining facilities in the Kellux System, they have run afoul of particularly cunning faction of pirates.''
Source: Star Wars - Darth Maul - Part I (2017)
Maul easily blocks a saber strike from Jedi Eldra Kaitis when his back is turned.
Source: Star Wars - Darth Maul - Part V (2017)
Jedi Eldra Kaitis is ''no match'' for Maul in saber combat.
Source: Star Wars - Darth Maul - Part V (2017)
Even when he is distracted by the possibilities, he still beats Jedi Eldra Kaitis.
Source: Star Wars - Darth Maul - Part V (2017)
How powerful is Jedi Eldra Kaitis?
The writer of the comic book states that she is a ''skilled'' Jedi, who is on the fast track to being a Jedi Knight.
Cullen Bunn: ''She is a skilled Padawan, and Maul sees that she must be on the fast track to being a Jedi Knight.''
Source: Star Wars Insider 173 (2017)
The director states that Maul's skills with a laser sword are ''far greater'' than the Grand Inquisitor's, a former Jedi Knight.
Dave Filoni: ''That's why I call it a cheat. It's a simple way to do something that Maul actually does. Maul has far greater skills.''
Source: Rebel Force Radio Interview (2015)
How powerful is the Grand Inquisitor?
The Grand Inquisitor defeats Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus more than once.
''The Inquisitor parried the Jedi's swing, then went on the offensive himself. As in their last duel, the Jedi retreated. Try as he might, lunging and thrusting, he was no match for the Inquisitor's skill.''
Source: Ezra's Duel with Danger (2015)
Maul is a ''force of nature'' in battle.
''Aptly named, the Sith apprentice Darth Maul was a force of nature in battle, wielding a massive double-bladed lightsaber with almost reckless abandon.''
Source: Force and Destiny - Knights of Fate (2015)
Dooku knows Maul's victorious battles against the Crime syndicate Black Sun.
''He could have slaughtered both of them as casually as that creature Maul had destroyed the vigos of the Black Sun.''
Source: Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith Novel (2005)
Maul is from the advanced stronger generation of the Sith lords, which is superior to the old Sith.
''The Sith had changed. The Sith had grown, had adapted, had invested a thousand years' intensive study into every aspect of not only the Force but Jedi lore itself, in preparation for exactly this day. The Sith had remade themselves. They had become new.''
Source: Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith Novel (2005)
Maul shows superiority against one of the most powerful Jedi Master in the Jedi Order during the duel.
"He was quicker, and stronger than Qui-Gon, and he was gaining ground rapidly. The Jedi Master blocked him again and again, but could not find an opening that would provide any chance of escape.''
Source: Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace Novel (1999)
How powerful is Qui-Gon Jinn?
Qui-Gon is a very talented Jedi, who taught Yoda how to become immortal. In the canon Age of Republic (2019) comic book, he deflects almost 30 blaster bolts from different directions, demonstrates Soresu mastery, not only Ataru. He was able to carry the Priestess of the Wood on his back while deflecting the blaster bolts.
Qui-Gon is one of the most able swordsmen in the order.
''Qui-Gon Jinn was one of the most able swordsmen in the Jedi order.''
Source: Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace Novel (1999)
Kenobi gained the skills from Qui-Gon to help him in the future battles.
''From Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan gained the skills and the wisdom that would serve him so well as a Jedi and as a military leader during the Clone Wars.''
Source: Age of Republic - Qui-Gon Jinn (2019)
Qui-Gon is a ''Great'' Jedi.
Jak'zin: ''Of course. He was a great Jedi.''
Source: Age of Republic - Count Dooku (2019)
Qui-Gon declines a seat in the Jedi Council, if he wanted he could join the Jedi Council.
''Mace replied. “Qui-Gon Jinn, we hereby offer you a seat on the Jedi Council.”
Source: Star Wars Master and Apprentice (2019)
The director states that Qui-Gon is part of the same Jedi ''line'' with Yoda, Dooku, Kenobi and Anakin.
Nick Gillard: ''They are almost the same those two (Kenobi & Anakin), because they've learnt, they come up through the same way. Taught by Qui-Gon, Tyranus, Yoda. It's the same line.''
Source: Star Wars It's All For Real - The Stunts Of Episode III
Qui-Gon is one of the strongest tier 7 fighters, that superior to even another tier 7 fighter such as Kit Fisto, Fisto is a Jedi master who is also in the Jedi council.
Question: ''Where Qui-Gon was on your/Lucas tier system? Was he a 7 or an 8?''
Nick Gillard: ''7.''
Question: ''Is Qui-Gon higher than Kit Fisto, since he learned from Dooku?''
Nick Gillard: ''Yes exactly for that reason, there's a bit of the dark side from that line.''
Qui-Gon ''barely'' blocks Maul's strike, and then Maul dominates the duel.
''DARTH MAUL jumps off his speeder bike, and before he has hit the ground, the Sith Lord has swung a death blow with his laser sword that is barely blocked by QUI-GON.''
Source: Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace Script (1999)
Qui-Gon ''escapes'', and he states that Maul is ''strong'' in the Jedi arts.
''Qui-Gon escapes with his allies and tells the Jedi council that he believes his opponent is a Sith Lord strong in the Jedi arts.''
Source: Ultimate Star Wars New Edition (2019)
Maul easily deflects TPM Kenobi's attack when his back is turned.
Source: Star Wars - Episode I (1999)
How powerful is TPM Obi-Wan Kenobi?
TPM Kenobi has completed his Jedi training and ready to become a Jedi Knight and becomes one.
Qui-Gon: "Obi-Wan is ready," Qui-Gon declared.'' (...) There is little more he will learn from me."
(...) Later in the novel; Yoda: "Confer on you the level of Jedi Knight, the Council does.''
Source: Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace Novel (1999)
The director states that TPM Kenobi is in his prime in Episode I.
Dave Filoni: ''In Phantom Menace, you see these two Jedi in their prime fight this evil villain.''
Source: Disney Gallery The Mandalorian (2020)
The director states that Kenobi is in the tier 7 as a sword fighter in the Episode I and in the Episode II, it's the same tier with Jedi Master Kit Fisto's.
Nick Gillard: ''Obi-Wan has gone up one level from Episode I (tier 7) to Episode III (tier 8), but it’s a huge jump from one level to another.''
It takes all of TPM Kenobi's skills to ''just to stay alive'' against Maul. TPM Kenobi is a tier 7 fighter, such as Jedi Master Kit Fisto, who is a Jedi Council member.
''So this is a Sith Lord, he thought fleetingly as he dodged and leaped. It was taking every skill he knew just to stay alive. Slowly, the Sith Lord forced Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan back.''
Source: Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace Novel (1999)
Maul is more skilled than Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan combined.
''He was skilled, Anakin saw-more skilled, perhaps, than the men he faced. And he was confident in a way that was disturbing. He would not be overcome easily.''
Source: Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace Novel (1999)
Maul kicks Qui-Gon while deflecting an attack from Obi-Wan.
Source: Star Wars - Episode I (1999)
Maul outmanuevers the Jedi at every turn with ''incredible'' moves.
''The SITH LORD's moves are incredible. He is fighting the TWO JEDI at once, flipping into the air, outmaneuvering them at every turn.''
Source: Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace Script (1999)
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan can't even find a chance to attack against Maul.
''Together, they were able to hold their own against the Sith Lord, but their efforts at attack, at assuming the offensive against this dangerous adversary, were woefully inadequate.''
Source: Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace Novel (1999)
He easily penetrates TPM Kenobi's defenses and kicks him while dueling 2 v 1.
Source: Star Wars - Episode I (1999)
Maul tosses Qui-Gon around with ease during the duel.
Source: Star Wars - Episode I (1999)
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were ''struggling'' to fight against Maul, and the situation looked grave.
''With the Jedi struggling against the fury of Darth Maul, and Amidala and her loyal troops hammered by powerful droidekas, the situation looked grave.''
Source: The Official Star Wars Fact File Remake #061 (2015)
Maul disarms Obi-Wan with a kick while dueling with Qui-Gon at the same time.
''Then Darth Maul caught Obi-Wan off balance and with a powerful kick knocked the Jedi completely over the railing.''Source: Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace Novel (1999)
Even when Maul is in a disadvantageous position, still deflects Qui-Gon's attack and then kicks him.
Source: Star Wars - Episode I (1999)
Maul outduels Qui-Gon and finishes him.
''Then the Sith Lord parried a downstroke, whirled swiftly to the right, and with his back to the Jedi Master, made a blind, reverse lunge. Too late, Qui-Gon recognized the danger. The blade of the Sith Lord's lightsaber caught him directly in the midsection.''
Source: Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace Novel (1999)
Maul's Juyo and Teräs Käsi combination, he stuns Qui-Gon during the duel.
Source: Star Wars - Episode I (1999)
Maul has ''astonishing'' saber combat skills.
''Though he had had a taste of Maul's fury on Tatooine, Qui-Gon was once again astonished by the Sith's mastery of lightsaber combat.''
Source: The Official Star Wars Fact File Remake #055 (2015)
Maul is an ''exceptional warrior'' against the Jedi.
''However, the Sith was an exceptional warrior. He suddenly struck out and reached Qui-Gon, running him through and mortally wounding him.''
Source: The Official Star Wars Fact File Remake #055 (2015)
Maul's ''sheer power'' is too much for Qui-Gon.
''In the end, the sheer power of the mysterious Sith proved too much for Qui-Gon, who succumbed to a lightsaber blade run through his chest.''
Source: The Official Star Wars Fact File Remake #055 (2015)
Maul kicks the rage amped TPM Kenobi in the face during the duel.
Source: Star Wars - Episode I (1999)
Despite the rage amplification, TPM Kenobi is still ''no match'' for Maul.
''The battle wore on, and for a time it was fought evenly. But Darth Maul was the stronger of the two and was driven by a frenzy that surpassed even the frantic determination that fueled Obi-Wan. Eventually, the Sith Lord began to wear the young Jedi down.''
Source: Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace Novel (1999)
Rage amped TPM Kenobi grows weary during the duel against Maul.
''OBI-WAN screams as the pulsing electron gate opens, and the SITH LORD attacks him. The DARK LORD is relentless in his assault on the young JEDI. DARTH MAUL seems to have the upper hand as OBI-WAN grows weary. DARTH MAUL catches OBI-WAN off guard, and the JEDI slips into a melting pit.''
Source: Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace Script (1999)
Maul overpowers TPM Kenobi with ease, and beats him.
Source: Star Wars - Episode I (1999)
Maul easily outduels rage amped TPM Kenobi. TPM Kenobi is a tier 7 fighter such as Jedi Master Kit Fisto, who is a Jedi Council member.
''Quickly he struck him again, harder still, and this time Obi-Wan lost his footing completely and tumbled over the edge of the pit, his lightsaber flying from his hand.''
Source: Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace Novel (1999)
Maul is more than the equal of Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan combined, only ''bad luck'' and chance stops Maul.
''He had been more than the equal of the Jedi Knights he had faced and should have been able to defeat them easily. It was bad luck and chance that had led to his death, a combination that even the power of the dark side could not always overcome.''
Source: Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace Novel (1999)
The director states that Maul's level as a fighter is ''tier 8'', which is superior to the tier 7 fighters like Jedi Masters Kit Fisto and AotC Kenobi, and far superior to the tier 6 fighters like AotC Anakin.
Nick Gillard: ''And somebody like Kit Fisto is tier 7. I did take it to tier 8 and tier 9. But not many people know that. 8 and 9 is cheat. So Obi-Wan (Episode III) is 8. Obi-Wan has gone up one level from Episode I (tier 7) to Episode III (tier 8), but it’s a huge jump from one level to another. Yoda is 9. Mace is 8 bordering on 9. Dooku and Maul are 8, but there is a huge difference inside the numbers themselves. It's not about how well they fight, it's about how well they learned.''
The director states that Maul vs. Vader is a close fight, it's ''hard to say''.
Dave Filoni: ''You never know, you never know. The nerd-tacular obsession with Vader vs. Maul. It's hard to say – I mean, Vader is hard to top. Something George is pretty adamant of all the time was that Vader, you know… You never want to do anything to diminish him.''
Source: IGN Interview (31 Mar 2016)
It has been stated that a battle between Darth Vader and Darth Maul would be ''close call''.
''It's a close call, and these two Sith (Vader and Maul) are well-matched in terms of fighting skills.''
Source: Star Wars Comic UK Volume 07 Issue 04 (2014)
Maul has such a powerful ''sheer force of will'' that it helps him to stand alongside with Vader as equals.
Jeremy Barlow: ''That never stops him. He stands alongside the Sith Lords only by sheer force of will.''
Source: previewsworld interview (2014)
How powerful is Darth Vader?
Vader defeats Commander Karbin, a cybernetic droid that's designed to be the next General Grievous.
Darth Vader: ''It's too late to hide Karbin. I've stood alone against thousand rebels this day. And I will be still be standing tomorrow. While you will be as dead as the Jedi.''
Source: Vader Down - Book III, Part V (2015)
Vader killed Jedi Masters Kirak (although with a cheap-shot) and Eeth Koth with ease. And he is more powerful than SWR Ahsoka and managed to kill ancient Sith lord Darth Momin with ease.
Pre-Prime Maul penetrates Post-AotC Kenobi's defenses with a kick during the duel.
Darth Maul: ''Still as weak as ever. And they call you, 'Master'. (talking about Kenobi)''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 4 Episode 22 (2012)
How powerful is Post-AotC Kenobi during the Clone Wars?
AotC Kenobi had Count Dooku backing during the duel.
''He kept a better measure of his cuts this time, though, reversing his angle often, turning a wide slash into a sudden thrust, and he soon had Dooku backing, the red blade working furiously to keep Obi-Wan at bay.''
Source: Star Wars Episode II - Attack of the Clones Novel (2002)
Kenobi is ''even stronger'' than Anakin.
"Take him!" Ventress ordered the super battle droids. She ran for a side exit. Anakin Skywalker was a powerful Jedi, but she knew Obi-Wan was even stronger.''
Source: The Clone Wars Adapted Jr. Novelization (2008)
Kenobi outduels Asajj Ventress.
''She stepped back to swing again with both blades, but Kenobi caught the tip of one and sent it spinning from her hand. "Surrender," he said.''
Source: The Clone Wars Adapted Novelization (2008)
Dooku states that Kenobi is a ''worthy adversary''.
Dooku: ''Well done, Master Kenobi. You are a worthy adversary. I cannot say the same about your young apprentice.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 4 Episode 18 (2012)
Kenobi and Anakin ''defeats'' Dooku several times.
''Suddenly facing two Jedi, Count Dooku made a fighting retreat. Though they had defeated the Sith again, Obi-Wan and Anakin were under no illusions as to how close Dooku had come to prevailing.''
Source: The Official Star Wars Fact File Remake 055 (2015)
Pre-Prime Maul outduels Post-AotC Kenobi and penetrates his defenses with a kick.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 4 Episode 22 (2012)
Post-AotC Kenobi admits defeat against Pre-Prime Maul during the duel.
Kenobi: ''We are outmatched. (against Maul)''
Ventress: ''You want to run?''
Kenobi: ''I learned from watching you.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 4 Episode 22 (2012)
Pre-Prime Maul outduels Asajj Ventress and he drives her back with his raw power.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 4 Episode 22 (2012)
Maul and Savage overwhelms Post-AotC Kenobi and Ventress with raw power in the duel.
''Kenobi and Ventress are overwhelmed by the raw power of Maul and Opress.''
The director states that Maul and Savage were going to ''defeat'' Post-AotC Kenobi and Asajj Ventress.
Dave Filoni: ''But eventually they (Kenobi & Ventress) are going to lose in that space, in that situation, and they needed to flee.''
Source: Star Wars Celebration Clone Wars Season Five Premiere (2012)
How powerful is Asajj Ventress?
Jedi Master, Luminara states that she never faced an adversary like Ventress.
Luminara Unduli: ''This assassin, I've never faced an adversary like her. I should've listened your advice.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 1 Episode 09 (2008)
The director states that Ventress is stronger than Grievous.
Dave Filoni: "I still don't believe that, at this point -- one-to-one -- that Grievous could really take out someone like Ventress in a lightsaber fight. I don't see how he can hope to be as proficient as a Jedi or a Sith could be fighting with a lightsaber, which is why he's always willing to dirty play at the end of the day."
Source: IGN interview (2012)
Pre-Prime Maul easily kills Jedi Knight Finn Ertay in the duel.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 01 (2012)
Maul easily outduels Savage Opress.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 01 (2012)
Savage feels that Maul has grown ''so powerful'' during the Clone Wars.
Savage Opress: ''You have grown so powerful...''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 01 (2012)
Maul has grown even ''more powerful'' than when he was Sidious's Sith apprentice during the Invasion of Naboo.
''Maul had grown more powerful since the last time he’d been in Sidious’s presence, (...) But strong as he had become, Maul found himself in awe of Sidious.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Shadow Conspiracy (2013)
The writer of Shadow Conspiracy gets this information from the director of the Clone Wars.
Jason Fry: ''For the adaptation, Lucasfilm shared notes from Pablo Hidalgo and supervising director Dave Filoni about Satine’s past.''
''No love lost: They might have been fellow Nightbrothers, but it was Darth Maul who was very definitely in charge. Savage Opress accepted his role as apprentice to the more powerful Maul, at least for a time.''
Source: The Official Star Wars Fact File Remake #044 (2014)
How powerful is Savage Opress?
Savage is physically strong enough to defeat Dooku in a duel, also overpowered Ventress in duel. He killed Jedi Masters; Halsey, and Adi Gallia in 1 v 1 combat.
''-True or False?- ''Dooku cannot be bested in a lightsaber duel.'' False: ''Opress disarms him but is bested by Force lightning.''
Source: The Clone Wars: What is a Sith Warrior? (2012)
Maul shows his superiority to Savage with rapid saber strikes.
''Though Savage wishes for an equal partnership with his brother, Maul makes it clear- forcibly, through a rapid display of lightsaber strikes- that he is the Master.''
Maul duels with Post-AotC Kenobi and Adi Gallia at the same time with ease.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 01 (2012)
Maul drives Post-AotC Kenobi back, and shows his superiority as a duelist.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 01 (2012)
Maul is ''too powerful'' for Post-AotC Kenobi.
Hondo: ''Where is the other Jedi?'' Kenobi: ''She's... She's dead.''
Hondo: ''She's d... They are too powerful for even you? I am semi-speechless.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 01 (2012)
Maul forces Post-AotC Kenobi to escape during the duel.
''Darth Maul's long-term adversary Obi-Wan Kenobi couldn't survive against both Maul and his fellow Nightbrother Savage Opress, so was forced to retreat.''
Source: The Official Star Wars Fact File Remake #044 (2014)
Maul fights with Sidious and attacks him with a spinning move during the duel.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 16 (2013)
How powerful is Sidious?
Sidious kills Jedi Council members; Agen Kolar, Saesee Tiin and Kit Fisto at the same time in the duel.
''Now Obi-Wan did face him. 'Palpatine faced Mace and Agen and Kit and Saesee, four of the greatest swordsmen our Order has ever produced. By himself.'''
Source: Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith Novel (2005)
Sidious turns into an agile ''whirlwind of destruction'' against Maul during the duel.
''Meanwhile, Sidious duels with the Sith brothers, never wavering from his position of superiority. Fueled by the dark side, Sidious is transformed into an agile whirlwind of destruction.''
Maul and Sidious continues to fight with each other even when their back is turned.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 16 - Extended (2013)
Maul deflects and overpowers Sidious's Force lightning with his saber.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 16 - Extended (2013)
Maul dodges Sidious's saber attack with a backward jump.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 16 (2013)
Maul drives Sidious back during the duel.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 16 (2013)
Maul penetrates Sidious's defenses and ''kicks'' Sidious in the duel.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 16 (2013)
After Maul's ''kick'', Sidious seems very disturbed.
Sidious struggles heavily before overpowering Maul during the duel.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 16 (2013)
The director states that Maul's apprentice Savage puts up ''a better fight'' than the Jedi Council, and Maul puts up even a better fight than his apprentice against Sidious.
Dave Filoni: "You know, getting taken out by Sidious is pretty good, ranks up there. He puts up a better fight than the Jedi Council did, I'll say that much for him."
Source: Starwars.com/video/wrath-of-the-sith
Maul initially has the ''upper hand'' against Sidious but he loses because of Sidious's Force mastery.
''Although the brothers initially gained the upper hand, Sidious proved too powerful, and impaled Opress in the chest with his lightsaber. Maul lashed out at his former master, but couldn't match Sidious's mastery of Force throw and Force lightning,''
Source: Star Wars The Clone Wars Magazine 19 (2013)
Maul blitzes 4 of Grievous's Personal MagnaGuards at the same time with ease.
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #01 (2014)
How powerful are the MagnaGuards?
MagnaGuards were able to duel and held their own against RotS Kenobi and RotS Anakin.
''Each with reflexes that operated near lightspeed, each with hypersophisticated heuristic combat algorithms that enabled it to learn from experience and adapt its tactics instantly to any situation, were certainly beyond Obi-Wan's ability to defeat.''
Source: Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith Novel (2005)
Grievous is ''no match'' for Maul.
Darth Maul: ''Grievous! I'm more than a match for you!''
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #01 (2014)
The director states Maul is more powerful than Grievous.
George Lucas: ''One of the themes with Grievous was that I didn't want a big and powerful villain. I wanted a cunning and almost cowardly villain who was not super strong or super powerful but, at the same time, a good fighter. But I didn't want someone bigger, stronger, and more powerful than the other villains.''
Source: Revenge of the Sith DVD commentary
How powerful is General Grievous?
Grievous can fight against Kenobi in the Clone Wars, and he defeated Jedi Nahdar Vebb in one-on-one combat, although with a cheap-shot.
Maul duels equally with Windu and Aayla Secura at the same time, penetrates Aayla's defenses with a kick. The duel continues on off-panel, and Maul ''defeats'' Windu in the end by dodging an explosion while Windu couldn't. He uses Sokan (to use the environment to his advantage) to win against Windu.
Maul: ''Finally, a fair fight!''
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #03 (2014)
How powerful is Mace Windu?
Windu was able to defeat Jango Fett and Jedi Prosset Dibs, later known as Inquisitor Tenth Brother. Windu is stated as top 5 Jedi of all time.
Rissa Mano: ''He is a top five Jedi Master of all time for sure!''
Source: Jedi of the Republic - Mace Windu #01 (2017)
Windu's powers are on par with Yoda's.
''A respected Jedi with powers on a par with those of the venerable Yoda, Mace Windu was a senior member of the Jedi High Council, and his wisdom and judgement were legendary.''
Source: The Official Star Wars Fact File Remake #008 (2014)
The director states that Windu can compete with the Emperor.
George Lucas: ''You have to be either Mace or Yoda to compete with the Emperor.''
Source: The Making Of Revenge Of The Sith (2005)
Maul ranks ''higher'' than Dooku as a top 5 red saber user.
3-) Darth Maul
4-) Darth Tyranus
5-) Asajj Ventress
Source: Star Wars - Absolutely Everything You Need to Know (2015)
The author of the Son of Dathomir comic book states that Maul ''beats Dooku'' 7 times out of 10.
Question: ''How many rounds do you think TCW Maul can win against Dooku at 10, like 3/10 or 6/10?''
Jeremy Barlow: ''Hmm. 6/10 sounds good. Maybe even 7/10—'cause Maul won't quit until he's completely out. That's just my opinion, though.''
Source: Twitter.com/Jeremy_Barlow (12 Oct 2014)
When Maul only has 2 Mandalorians as a back up, even Dooku can't challenge Maul. Dooku has his lightsaber in here, he accepts Maul's superiority without even putting up a fight.
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #04 (2014)
How powerful is Count Dooku?
Dooku defeated AotC Kenobi in 1 v 1 saber combat, as well as Ventress. Jedi Jak'zin states that his skills with a laser sword is inspirational.
Jak'zin: ''I'll never forget your dueling demonstrations with Master Yoda. Your skill with a lightsaber was simply inspirational.''
Source: Age of the Republic - Count Dooku (2019)
Maul is the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to ''skilled duelists''.
Source: Star Wars Destiny - Spark of Hope (2019)
Maul blocks Sidious's Force lightning with his saber.
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #04 (2014)
Maul is powerful enough to hold Sidious back while Talzin drains Dooku's energy.
Maul: ''At last, the great deceiver comes to rescue his pawn.''
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #04 (2014)
Maul duels with 3 Inquisitors, punches Fifth Brother's head and kicks him with ease.
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Season 2 Episode 22 (2016)
How powerful are the Inquisitors?
They are former Jedi Knights who uses the dark side of the Force, and trained by Darth Vader.
Star Wars: ''They have ties to the Order in some way, the exact connection varies. He was a guard, some may have been Padawans etc.''
Source: Twitter.com/StarWars (03 Mar 2016)
Prosset Dibs is a former Jedi Master, who becomes the Inquisitor Tenth Brother later. The Grand Inquisitor was also a Jedi temple guard before turning to the dark side. Other Inquisitors are also stated to be former Jedi Knights.
Maul kicks Seventh Sister's head while dueling with other 2 Inquisitors at the same time.
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Season 2 Episode 22 (2016)
Maul kicks Eighth Brother's head while dueling with other 2 Inquisitors at the same time.
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Season 2 Episode 22 (2016)
Maul easily duels with 2 Inquisitors at the same time, overpowers Eighth Brother and kicks Fifth Brother.
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Season 2 Episode 22 (2016)
Maul easily kills Inquisitor Fifth Brother in the duel.
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Season 2 Episode 22 (2016)
Maul is ''logically'' stronger than SWR Ahsoka.
''Kanan agrees to split the group up, the logical choice pairing Maul with the weakest of the Jedi.''
The strongest Maul had to match with the weakest Jedi.
It's Maul > SWR Ahsoka > Kanan > Ezra. Group A : Maul / Ezra. Group B : Ahsoka / Kanan.
Maul sends TCW S7 Ahsoka flying with a kick, leaves her defenseless as he walks towards his spaceship to leave.
Maul was still trying to turn TCW S7 Ahsoka to the dark side, instead of finishing her.
Maul: ''We could've destroyed Sidious!''
Ahsoka: ''Only for you to take his place!''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 10 (2020)
The voice actor of Maul also states that Maul was holding back, and TCW S7 Ahsoka was at ''her best''.
Sam Witwer: ''And Maul was not at his best when he is fighting to save the galaxy, and Ahsoka is at her best when she is fighting to save a friend.''
Source: Clone Wars Download: "The Phantom Apprentice"
Maul easily overpowers Djem-So user TCW S7 Ahsoka, it's impressive because Djem-So relies on strength by using the Force.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 10 (2020)
The director states that Maul is a ''stronger'' sword fighter than TCW S7 Ahsoka, and on a ''different level''.
Dave Filoni: ''When Ahsoka pauses and struggles at the break in the fight, it was really meant to portray the toll it took on her compete against Maul. I wanted to take a lot out of Ahsoka to compete at his level. He is the stronger sword fighter.''
Source: Clone Wars Download: "Shattered"
How powerful is TCW S7 Ahsoka?
Anakin states that TCW S2 Ahsoka's abilities are ''advanced'' for her age.
Anakin: ''Because of Ahsoka's advanced abilities, I forgot how young she is.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 2 Episode 01 (2009)
- Ahsoka, even in TCW S3, she was skilled enough to ''disarm'' TCW S3 Anakin during the duel.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 3 Episode 16 (2011)
- TCW S3 Ahsoka was able to hold her own against Yoda for a while.
Source: Star Wars Forces of Destiny - Teach You, I Will (2017)
The director states that TCW S7 Ahsoka is part of the best Jedi line.
Dave Filoni: ''And because Qui-Gon taught Obi-Wan taught Anakin taught her. That teaching is in her. And so she has kind of a nicely balanced view of things, where a lot of Jedi don't have that.''
She is a Djem So (Form V) practitioner, just like Anakin. TCW S7 Ahsoka deflects omnidirectional blaster bolts during Order 66, and she does that while holding back. TCW S7 Ahsoka is so powerful that she stops a flying Space Shuttle by using the Force.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 12 (2020)
While holding back and not trying to kill her, Maul disarms Ahsoka, tries to turn Ahsoka to the dark side instead of finishing her. TCW S7 Ahsoka is strong enough to stop a flying Space Shuttle by using the Force.
Maul: ''I give you one last chance. Join me... Or die.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 10 (2020)
The director states that Maul is so powerful that if TCW S7 Ahsoka joins him, they can ''eliminate'' Sidious.
Dave Filoni: ''There is an opportunity there to take up on his offer, you know what, together they could eliminate Sidious, so you're talking about the lesser of evils.''
Source: Clone Wars Download: "The Phantom Apprentice" (2020)
SWR Ahsoka attacks and tries to defeat Maul right after Jedi Kanan loses his eyes, but she fails.
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Season 2 Episode 22 (2016)
Maul turns his back to SWR Ahsoka during the duel, and shows his superiority against SWR Ahsoka.
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Season 2 Episode 22 (2016)
SWR Ahsoka ''escapes'' from the duel against Maul.
Maul: ''Running away again, Lady Tano?''
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Season 2 Episode 22 (2016)
How powerful is SWR Ahsoka?
She was stated to be one of the best Jedi of all time.
Freddie Prinze Jr: "I don't think Ahsoka's going to get owned. Yeah, Ahsoka is, I would say like top 3-4 of all time, as far as the fighting Jedi combat skills concerned."
Source: Collider Jedi Council - Freddie Prinze Jr aka Kanan Live In Studio (2015)
SWR Ahsoka also held her own against Darth Vader in a 1 v1 duel for some time.
Maul wasn't defeated after fighting with extremely Force amped Jedi Kanan.
Freddie Prinze Jr. :''Kanan vs. the Grand Inquisitor, that's Kanan releasing his fear and his attachment, and sort of being like water. This is a Force overpowering moment. So for that moment between the two of them, that's a Force explosion. Kanan isn't controlling that, that's the Force dictating what's going to happen to him.''
Source : First Order Transmissions #197: Star Wars Rebels Finale Interview (2016)
''Maul has not been defeated. He pilots a TIE fighter away from Malachor with a menacing grin.''
The director states that Maul is ''very good'' at using a saber.
Dave Filoni: ''If you talk to a lot of people that know the sword fight they’ll tell you, people that are very good don’t have long fights. It’s very quick. And so that scene it’s an homage to the Seven Samurai.''
SWR Ben Kenobi states that he had to be ''prepared'' for a long time on Tatooine because of Maul.
Kenobi: ''One doesn't survive as long as I've by being foolish or unprepared. Maul is an old adversary, and a persistent one at that.''
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Season 3 Episode 20 (2017)
SWR Ben Kenobi wins only by ''waiting'' the move that killed Qui-Gon, because Kenobi has seen it before.
Dave Filoni: ''You know he uses the blunt part of his lightsaber to pick Qui-Gon in the face and stun him.But Obi-Wan saw that, Obi-Wan was there and Obi-Wan in that moment is ready for that. He sees the symmetry of the moment and he is able to slice that. The apprentice learned from the masters mistakes.''
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Maul vs. Kenobi Featurette
Question : ''The move that he took down Qui-Gon?''
Dave Filoni : ''Yeah, also visually tells the story that Obi-Wan paid attention, you know that moment was kind of put into his brain and that he could defeat.''
Source: Star Wars Celebration 2017 Orlando
The director states that Maul could ''dispatch'' SWR Ben Kenobi on Tatooine, and Kenobi knew it.
Dave Filoni: ''Obi-Wan, to me, has grown as a character so much that he knows he could dispatch Maul, or Maul could dispatch him, but to what point?''
Source: Starwars.com/news/interview (17 Aug 2017)
Maul creates an ''energy shield'' with his laser sword to protect himself from the Force attack.
Source: Star Wars - Darth Maul - Part V (2017)
Maul easily deflects Pre Vizsla's dual blaster bolts. Vizsla is very skilled at using blasters as the mandalorian death watch leader.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 15 (2013)
Maul deflects blaster bolts from almost every corner against Jabba's mercenaries.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 14 (2013)
Maul easily slaughters the Rebel soldiers, and after that he easily captures the Rebel Ghost crew.
Ezra: ''There must have been one heck of a fight.''
Kanan: ''I can smell the carbon scoring. Over here.''
Dying Rebel soldier: ''Red... Red blade. After you... Made me tell... The Ghost is in danger.''
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Season 3 Episode 03 (2016)
Maul deflects multiple blaster bolts at the same time when he is in a very disadvantageous position. Sabine is a very skilled sharpshooter, Zeb and Hera are also skilled shooters.
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Season 3 Episode 03 (2016)
Maul overpowers Nightsister-possessed Jedi Kanan during the duel. He isn't continue to duel because the nightsister ghosts are unkillable.
Source: Rebels Season 3 Episode 11 (2016)
How powerful is Nightsister-possessed Kanan Jarrus?
Nightsister-possessed Kanan easily disarmed and overpowered Ezra Bridger as of Rebels Season 3 with superior raw power. SWR S3 Ezra has grown more powerful after Rebels Season 2.
ENHANCED PHYSIOLOGY
*ENHANCED SPEED & REFLEXES*
Maul has a ''blinding speed'' and he moves faster than the Jedi.
''Later, Maul waited for Amidala on Naboo, where he dueled with Qui-Gon and his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi. The Sith fought with blinding speed and impressive agility.''
Source: Starwars.com/Databank/darth-maul
How fast are the Jedi Knights?
Source: Star Wars - Episode I (1999)
Jedi Knights Qui-Gon and Kenobi are able to run at a speed that looks invisible to the eyes. It's a speed feat that no human athlete could possibly achieve.
Maul creates 3 after images in midair while deflecting blaster bolts from 4 pirates.
Source: Star Wars - Darth Maul - Part I (2017)
Maul moves faster than even Post-AotC Kenobi.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 01 (2012)
He easily dodges from Sugi's, Dengar's and Embo's combined blaster bolts with a backward jump.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 14 (2013)
He dodges from blaster bolts and Droideka blaster bolts by using a flying spin.
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #01 (2014)
Maul dodges a rocket explosion and defeats Mace Windu by being ''faster'' than even Windu in the duel,
it's a very skilled Sokan technique usage, Maul uses the explosion to his advantage to ''win'' the duel.
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #03 (2014)
Maul blocks TCW S7 Ahsoka's sneak attack while trying to clear his way through his ship.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 10 (2020)
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Season 2 Episode 22 (2016)
*ENHANCED STRENGTH*
Maul pulls a Rathtar back in a strength contest, shatters the tree's foothold. Rathtars are powerful enough to fodderize even a trained soldier such as Finn from the Force Awakens.
Source: Star Wars - Darth Maul - Part I (2017)
Savage struggles against Maul's physical strength. Savage physically overpowered both Anakin and Obi-Wan.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 4 Episode 21 (2012)
Maul lifts Savage and tosses him around.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 4 Episode 21 (2012)
He physically hurts Savage's chin with his one hand.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 4 Episode 22 (2012)
Maul lifts Post-AotC Kenobi with only one arm, and physically overpowers even Kenobi with ease.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 4 Episode 22 (2012)
Post-AotC Kenobi gets ragdolled by Maul's physical strength.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 4 Episode 22 (2012)
Maul easily drags Post-AotC Kenobi with only one arm, and throws him around.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 4 Episode 22 (2012)
Maul physically throws a huge beast away to a far distance.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 14 (2013)
Maul easily slams Pre Vizsla into the ground and finishes him.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 15 (2013)
He lifts Post-AotC Kenobi with only ''one arm'' and beats him easily.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 16 (2013)
Maul physically overpowers even Grievous and beats him. The impact of his attack shatters the ship's window.
Grievous: ''Gurrf!''
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #02 (2014)
Maul ''humiliates'' Grievous via defeating him easily.
''When Darth Maul sprang his trap, General Grievous was quickly taken prisoner. It was a humiliating defeat for the cyborg.''
Source: The Official Star Wars Fact File Remake #070 (2015)
How powerful is General Grievous physically?
Grievous is physically very powerful and fast, he is ten times stronger than humans.
''He is built to dominate. The ceramic armorplast plates protecting limbs and torso and face can stop a burst from a starfighter's laser cannon. Those indestructible arms are ten times stronger than human, and move with the blurring speed of electronic reflexes.''
Source: Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith Novel (2005)
Maul knocks 2 Clone troopers out with a single kick.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 12 (2020)
Maul throws Kanan with only one hand.
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Season 3 Episode 03 (2016)
*ENHANCED STAMINA*
After defeating Qui-Gon and rage amped TPM Kenobi, Maul is still ''fresh''.
''The Sith Lord attacked Obi-Wan relentlessly, backing him around the melting pit. All Obi-Wan's efforts could not break through his guard. And Obi-Wan was tiring, while his opponent seemed as fresh as ever. The Sith Lord was on him before he could recover his balance. With a mighty stroke, the Sith knocked the young Jedi into the melting pit.''
Source: Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace Jr. Novelization (1999)
Maul can travel days and nights in the Tatooine desert, even when his cybernetic legs got damaged due to the extremely harsh conditions.
''To demonstrate an arduous passage of time, the Darth Maul character model is not only scuffed up as if coated with sand and dust, but also has chunks taken out of its mechanical legs.''
He shrugs off a 5 meters rock debris and kills Jedi Kaitis at the same time.
Source: Star Wars - Darth Maul - Part V (2017)
He survives in the space for a while, and he shows a better durability than his monstrous brother Savage.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 14 (2013)
He is strong enough to survive a mandalorian grenade.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 15 (2013)
He resists the explosion closer this time, and still continues to fight.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 15 (2013)
Maul laughs at Vizsla's mandalorian laser darts.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 15 (2013)
He takes a blaster shot on his hand and continues to beat Pre Vizsla.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 15 (2013)
No sells Vizsla's punches, and breaks Vizsla's arm. Vizsla is strong enough to knock Kenobi with a punch.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 15 (2013)
Maul no sells a kick from Sidious during the duel.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 16 (2013)
Maul has a very high resistance to pain.
Maul: ''I've become indifferent to pain.''
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #01 (2014)
He survives Sidious's Force lightning, it is strong enough to kill and incapacitate Vader and Windu.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 16 (2013)
Even after getting hit by Force lightning, he refuses to give the information that Dooku seeks.
Dooku: ''I'll ask this only once. Give me the names of your underworld leaders and the locations of your shadow collective bases.''
Maul: ''Never.''
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #01 (2014)
FORCE POWERS
*TELEKINESIS*
Maul Force chokes a bounty hunter and kills another with his laser sword with ease.
Source: Star Wars - Darth Maul - Part IV (2017)
Maul easily kills a Force sensitive thief by using the Force, stabs him with a metal.
Maul: ''All too easy.''
Source: Star Wars - Age of Republic - Darth Maul #01 (2018)
Even in the duel, Maul casually opens the gate behind him by throwing a battle droid on it.
Source: Star Wars - Episode I (1999)
Maul Force pushes the rage amped TPM Kenobi after overpowering him in the duel, and beats him. TPM Kenobi is a tier 7 fighter such as Jedi Master Kit Fisto, who is a Jedi Council member.
Source: Star Wars - Episode I (1999)
It is far more impressive to hit the ''Force users'' with the Force during the duels, they have Force defenses.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 6 Episode 10 (2014)
Pre-Prime Maul disarms Post-AotC Kenobi by using the Force and uses Force push.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 4 Episode 22 (2012)
Pre-Prime Maul ragdolls Post-AotC Kenobi by using the Force.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 4 Episode 22 (2012)
Maul uses the Force to crush a police droid with ease.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 01 (2012)
Maul casually disarms a pirate by using the Force, and then chokes him with ease.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 01 (2012)
Maul penetrates Post-AotC Kenobi's defenses with the Force and slams him against the wall in the duel.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 01 (2012)
Maul knocks Post-AotC Kenobi out with a powerful Force push and collapses the cave with the Force.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 01 (2012)
Maul uses the Force to kill a pirate while deflecting blaster bolts from other pirates.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 01 (2012)
Maul ''pulls a Space Shuttle'' from a long distance by using the Force, and brings it in front of the pirates and Post-AotC Kenobi to slow them.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 01 (2012)
Maul Force pushes a beast and sends it back to the opposite direction with ease.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 14 (2013)
Maul casually kills one of Jabba's men with a Force choke, then throws his body at a bounty hunter.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 14 (2013)
Maul Force chokes bounty hunter Sugi and ragdolls her.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 14 (2013)
Maul easily breaks the steel chains by using the Force while he was drugged with a sedative that is strong enough to drop even a ''Rancor'', an animal that is as big as an elephant.
Maul: ''Poison?''
JJan: ''A sedative, but enough to drop a Rancor...''
JJan: ''Impossible! The sedative...''
Maul: ''Sedative?! I've the dark side as my ally. The Force is mine to use at will. Your poisons are nothing to me.''
Source: Star Wars Adventures 003 (2021)
Maul easily Force chokes and ragdolls Post-AotC Kenobi, he captures Kenobi again.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 16 (2013)
Post-AotC Kenobi admits his failure against Maul.
Kenobi: ''My last encounter with Maul didn't go so well.''
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #03 (2014)
Without even using any hand gesture, Maul uses Force choke and levitates.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 16 (2013)
Maul penetrates Sidious's defenses with a Force push, and disarms him.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 16 - Extended (2013)
Maul uses the Force against Droideka army and knocks them aside.
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #01 (2014)
Maul uses the Force to crush Grievous's droids. He destroys them with the impact, and beats Grievous.
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #02 (2014)
Maul easily sends Grievous away by using the Force, it hurts Grievous's very durable body.
Grievous: ''Uhn!''
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #04 (2014)
Maul ''easily'' drives Grievous away during the duel.
''Dooku was possessed by Talzin and fought Sidious, while Maul easily drove Grievous away.''
Source: The Official Star Wars Fact File Remake #070 (2015)
Maul easily redirects Bo-Katan's blaster bolts by using the Force and disarms her without even getting up.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 10 (2020)
While holding back, he pushes TCW S7 Ahsoka back, and Force chokes a Clone trooper and beats Ahsoka by throwing a Clone at her. TCW S7 Ahsoka is strong enough to stop a flying Space Shuttle by using the Force.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 10 (2020)
Maul slaughters Clone trooper army during Order 66 by using the Force only. He rips metal walls and throws it so fast that it beheads Clone Troopers.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 11 (2020)
Maul rips metal walls of the spaceship by using the Force, and smashes Clone troopers with it.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 11 (2020)
Maul uses metal walls as shields by using the Force and throws one of it to kill Clone troopers.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 11 (2020)
Maul simultaneously Force chokes 2 Clone troopers.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 12 (2020)
Maul controls a Clone trooper by using the Force, and making him shoot others.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 12 (2020)
Maul destroys 4 ''building size hyperdrive generators'' of a Star Destroyer by using the Force.
The generators are connected to the entire Star Destroyer's core, once he uses the Force on them, the entire Star Destroyer starts shaking and collapsing.
He brings them down on a bridge where the Clone troopers stands, kills the Clones and destroys the Star Destroyer.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 12 (2020)
Unarmed Maul easily beats TCW S7 Ahsoka with a Force push, sends her flying. TCW S7 Ahsoka is strong enough to stop a flying Space Shuttle with the Force, like TRoS Rey did.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 12 (2020)
It is a stronger Force push in comparison with TCW S3 Anakin's Force push when he fought with Ahsoka.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 3 Episode 16 (2011)
Maul easily beats Inquisitor Eighth Brother with a Force push during the duel.
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Season 2 Episode 22 (2016)
Maul Force chokes Inquisitor Seventh Sister during the duel with ease and kills her.
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Season 2 Episode 22 (2016)
Maul Force chokes Sabine and throws her at Hera to disarm them with ease.
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Season 3 Episode 03 (2016)
Maul's signature attack in Battlefront II is ''choke hold''.
In-game Description: ''Darth Maul uses the Force to choke his enemies before throwing them to the ground.''
Source: Star Wars Battlefront II (2017)
*TELEPATHY*
Maul uses the dark side to ''cloud'' TPM Kenobi's vision in the duel with ease.
''The Sith Lord seemed to cloud Obi-Wan's use of the Force, making it hard to sense his opponent's moves and counter them in time.''
Source: Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace Novel (1999)
He ''toys with the 2 Jedi Knights'' without even getting detected.
Sidious: ''But to toy with the Jedi. You risk too much.''
Source: Star Wars - Darth Maul - Part I (2017)
Maul senses even a ''hiding Ahsoka's presence'' through a hologram.
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 08 (2020)
Maul ''always knows'' if something happens in his Crime Syndicates.
Fife: "You think he will find out about this?"
Marg Krim: "He knows... He always knows."
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 08 (2020)
Maul quickly reads the minds of the Clone Troopers during the fight, and learns everything.
Clone Trooper: "You need to know, Maul... He went right through us! One by one, he was asking about you. The ARC trooper, Jesse, Maul realized he was older, somehow looked in his mind! And he took him! He took Jeese alive!"
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 10 (2020)
He uses the Force to extract information from Hera.
Hera: ''I don't know anything about him.''
Maul: ''That's not true. You know all about Kanan Jarrus. Or should I use his real name? Caleb Dume. Yes, it was your idea to recruit the apprentice. And it was from here that the boy found. No, he stole the holocron. That wasn't so difficult, was it ?''
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Season 3 Episode 03 (2016)
Maul senses SWR Ben Kenobi's thoughts and senses Luke Skywalker.
Maul: ''Why come to this place, not simply to hide?... Oh, you have a purpose here. Perhaps you are protecting something? (the voice of Sith chant in the background) No... protecting someone.''
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Season 3 Episode 20 (2017)
Maul senses Sidious's presence at Mandalore.
Maul: ''I sense a presence, a presence I haven’t felt since... Master!''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 16 (2013)
*PRECOGNITION*
He predicts Satine will contact with Kenobi.
Almec: ''The duchess appears to have contacted the Jedi just as anticipated.''
Maul: ''Good. You have done well.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 16 (2013)
He senses the arrival of Grievous's and Dooku's droid army before it appears on the planet.
Maul: ''I sense... The Droids are here.''
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #02 (2014)
Maul senses Vader's arrival to Malachor, when SWR Ahsoka couldn't.
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Season 2 Episode 22 (2016)
Maul sees the future of Anakin when not even Yoda could sense it before.
Ahsoka: ''What do you want with Anakin Skywalker?''
Maul: ''He is the key to everything. He has long groomed for his role, as my master's new apprentice.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 10 (2020)
*SELF SUSTAINMENT*
Maul uses Sidious's training to survive, which ''impresses'' even Sidious.
Sidious: ''I am most impressed to see you have survived your injuries.''
Maul: ''I used your training, Master.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 16 (2013)
Maul embodies the ''true warrior spirit'' while surviving from bisection.
''Even more remarkable than his great skill with a lightsaber, Darth Maul embodied the power of a true warrior spirit to overcome the seemingly impossible. The bisected Maul clawed his way to freedom from the bowels of Naboo's Royal Palace.''
Source: Force and Destiny - Knights of Fate (2015)
Maul focuses through the ''dark side'' to survive from bisection.
''At the Battle of Naboo, Obi-Wan Kenobi took advantage of Darth Maul's overconfidence to launch a surprise attack that left Maul cut in two and plummeting down into a reactor pit. However, Maul's anger, hatred and even the pain he was in were focused through the dark side, and the Sith was able to survive.''
Source: The Official Star Wars Fact File Remake #024 (2014)
Maul uses the dark side of the Force to survive after getting cut in two, but even while surviving in that condition, he can still use Telepathic abilities to get the attention of a scavenger ship, and he almost gets out of Lotho Minor after killing the ship captain droid Spikewheel.
Maul: ''Take him... Take Maul...'' (Maul uses Telepathy) ''Take him to... Mount Gethzerion.''
Brennar: ''... That voice, the message isn't garbled... It's him!''
Source: Return to Vader’s Castle 001 (2019)
Maul survives bisection because of his ''mastery of the dark side''.
''Darth Maul's first set of cybernetic legs were built on blind instinct and an all consuming rage. They were a terrifying creation, and horrifically effective, but were held together as much by Maul's mastery of the dark side of the Force as by his technical ability during their construction.''
Source: The Official Star Wars Fact File Remake #024 (2014)
The director states that Maul constantly uses the Force to sustain himself during his exile, states that Maul has the same type of ''focus'' that Vader has.
Dave Filoni: ''The Force is what holding his (Maul's) body together. So Vader holds on to life at the edge of the lava flow, because he is such a condemned for Obi-Wan, such an anger for whose happens in his life. And that same type of focus, hatred what sustains Maul.''
Source: Star Wars Celebration Clone Wars Season Five Premiere (2012)
*ILLUSION*
Maul creates illusions in Jedi Ezra's mind, and knocks him out.
Source: Rebels Season 3 Episode 11 (2016)
The director states that illusions are entirely created by Maul.
Henry Gilroy: ''The visions are entirely manufactured by Maul. And they're manufactured by Maul as Maul gets closer and closer to Ezra.''
Source: Rebels Recon #3.10: Inside "Visions and Voices" (2016)
Source: Rebels Season 3 Episode 20 (2017)
How skilled is Ezra Bridger as a Jedi?
Ezra as of Rebels Season 3 is a skilled telepath and can manipulate AT-DP's imperial driver and force him to commit suicide.
''Their way out blocked, Ezra displays an impressive and unsettling use of the Force. Using a Jedi mind trick, he manipulates the Imperial combat driver behind the AT-DP's controls to methodically blast stormtroopers.''
Maul creates dark side nexus on Naboo. Leia feels the dark side because of Maul.
Leia: ''I feel... Cold.''
Source: Star Wars - Shattered Empire #03 (2015)
*KNOWLEDGE OF THE SITH HOLOCRONS*
The director states that Maul's knowledge about the Sith Holocrons is part of his training.
Dave Filoni: ''Darth Sidious was aware of this planet and that Maul had been brought there as a small child and they together had attempted to get into the temple and get to the holocron. That’s a sacred object that contains ancient Force-sensitive knowledge.''
Source: ew.com interview (2016)
Maul creates his double bladed saber with the help of Sidious's Sith Holocron.
''Maul based the design of his double-bladed lightsaber on ancient plans found deep within a Sith Holocron owned by Darth Sidious.''
Source: A Guide to Weapons of the Force (2018)
Maul possesses the secret knowledge of both Jedi and the Sith Holocrons.
Ezra: ''A Sith, Darth Maul, has them. He wants it.''
Bendu: ''Oh. He would bring them together? Such a vergence carries grave danger. If two such powerful sources of knowledge are united, they will grant a clarity of vision beyond your kind. When joined, any secret, wisdom or destiny can be seen through the Force. One could bring much chaos with such hidden truths. I have seen it before.''
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Season 3 Episode 03 (2016)
TACTICAL AND STRATEGIC SKILLS
Maul makes his plan to counter the Queen and the Jedi.
''Maul knew the power of ambush and of theatre. He predicted the route Amidala and her Jedi guardians would take, patiently waited to ambush them. His sudden appearance had the desired effect, unsettling the Queen, distrupting her plans, and drawing off the two Jedi.''
Source: The Official Star Wars Fact File Remake #061 (2015)
Maul establishes a Galactic Underworld, and makes his plan to conquer the planet Mandalore.
Maul: ''The vision has expanded. You will still rule Mandalore, and under your protection, I will command a new galactic underworld.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 14 (2013)
Maul: ''I will use my army of crime lords to attack different targets across Sundari and sow chaos to undermine the Duchess' rule. Our gangsters will make her look too weak to maintain control. Then you and your Death Watch will capture and arrest us, bringing order where Satine's weak government could not.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 15 (2013)
He conquers the Mandalore planet by winning their loyalty.
Maul: ''Vizsla is a soldier, and like every soldier, he is bound by honor. I will challenge him to single combat in front of his men. He will not deny me.''
Source: The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 15 (2013)
Maul outwits Grievous and Dooku, and captures them.
Sidious: ''Lord Tyranus... You disappoint me.''
Maul: ''Now you see their failure, and yet you couldn't foresee the trap I laid for them. Your schemes are unraveling, Sidious. Without your generals, your armies will be crushed, as will your plans.''
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #03 (2014)
Dooku understands why Maul was Sidious's first Sith apprentice after getting captured.
''On Ord Mantell, Dooku and Grievous believed they were about to destroy the Shadow Collective, but Darth Maul, guided by Mother Talzin, had set a trap for the Separatists. Dooku was about to discover why Maul had been Sith apprentice before him.''
Source: The Official Star Wars Fact File Remake #070 (2015)
Dooku is ''no match'' against Maul's tactical abilities.
Maul: ''What would you know of control, Count? Our alliance has been Sidious's will all along. He has instructed you to play this game, but you've been outmatched.''
Source: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #04 (2014)
The director states that Maul is smart, and trained to build forces, deceive people.
Dave Filoni: ''He was a well trained apprentice and that he would start to do the things that he trained to do, to build armies, to deceive people, create a power base for himself. All parts are showing that Maul isn't just a brute force, but he is also being smart, he is building a power base, he is doing kind of Sidious did with the senate.''
Maul was the first Sith apprentice of Darth Sidious, a.k.a the Emperor of the Star Wars universe. According to George Lucas, losing Maul was not something that Sidious actually planned. This is how important Maul was.
While Obi-Wan was Obi-Wan, the original trio's first known Jedi knight, also known as Ben Kenobi, a general from the Clone Wars. He was the ''only hope'' of Princess Leia in the events of the Battle of Yavin, it's safe to say that while Maul was chronologically important, and a very important figure in the prequel trilogy, Ben Kenobi is even a more important figure and one of the iconic figures of the original trilogy.
George Lucas decides that these two must fight several times, first in the Battle of Naboo, and then in the Clone Wars, and then in the Age of Empire when Obi-Wan was hiding in Tatooine...
These two probably fought with each other more than any other two characters ever did in the series, it's the most iconic rivalry.
The Battle of Naboo - The Phantom Menace Episode I (1999 - Canon)
This is where Obi-Wan was in the line of being officially a Jedi Knight, his master Qui-Gon Jinn recommends Obi-Wan as a Jedi knight. And Obi-Wan believes that he is ready, but the Jedi council delays that so Qui-Gon couldn't take Anakin as his apprentice.
1000 years later, the Sith finally makes their move by using the Trade Federation and their army as their pawn. And they started their move with the planet Naboo. Although their actual plan was to show Naboo as a desperate and weak planet, so they could actually use this event to their advantage in the upcoming voting of the new chancellorship, so they could choose the Naboo's own senator Palpatine as the new Chancellor, who was actually the Sith master known as Darth Sidious.
The Gungan army fights against the Sith Lord's and the Trade Federation's droid army, while the Queen of Naboo and the Jedi were trying to capture the Viceroy of the Trade Federation and end the battle.
The battle starts at the gate in the Naboo Hangar, and they see the Sith Lord, who was trying to stop the Queen and her guards. Then the Jedi moves forward and tells others that they shouldn't interfere.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan perfectly fights as a team, they try to create an opening on Maul's defense, but that never happens. Instead, Maul kicks Obi-Wan during the duel, and disarms him and leaves him defenseless. Then he deals with Qui-Gon alone.
Qui-Gon fights equally with Maul for a while, but that doesn't last long, Maul starts to get the upper hand against Qui-Gon while Obi-Wan watches it desperately from the laser barriers that stopped him previously. Maul overpowers Qui-Gon and finishes him off with a lightsaber hilt bumping move, Obi-Wan screams in pain and then he turns this pain into a Force rage state, and he attacks Maul with all of his rage and hatred, and he manages to kick and cut Maul's weapon thanks to his adrenaline boost.
Then Maul once again gets the upper hand due to his superior fighting skills and he overpowers Obi-Wan in the saber lock, then he uses a Force push that hits Obi-Wan like a stone wall, it leaves Obi-Wan defenseless once again, shortly after he destroys Obi-Wan's lightsaber.
At this point Maul has basically won the duel, he killed Qui-Gon, outdueled the Force rage amped Obi-Wan and destroyed Obi-Wan's lightsaber. Obi-Wan failed to protect both his master and his lightsaber. I think Maul deserves a score here.
Maul 1-0 Kenobi.
After this victory, Maul starts to toy with unarmed Obi-Wan and he laughs at him. Then something that Maul would never think happens. Obi-Wan realizes that Qui-Gon's lightsaber was still there, and he suddenly jumps on Maul which surprises him and not only this, he doesn't realize Obi-Wan pulls Qui-Gon's lightsaber at the same. Before he can realize what is happening, Obi-Wan catches him off-guard. In the end Obi-Wan cuts Maul in two.
It was a cheap-shot, but let's give a score to Obi-Wan here.
Maul 1-1 Kenobi.
Old Wounds - Visionaries Comic Book (2005 - Not Canon, Not Legends)
In this comic book, Maul survives being cut in half somehow (they don't show how) and he starts to follow Obi-Wan for revenge. He says that he has followed him since the Clone Wars, since he starts talking about Kamino and then he says that he found a corpse at Mustafar, by implying the corpse that he found was Anakin Skywalker. But it takes years for Maul to find Obi-Wan on Tatooine since he doesn't find him in the Clone Wars, and we see that Luke Skywalker was around 3-4 years old when he finds Obi-Wan on Tatooine.
Maul realizes that there was a ''son'' of Anakin Skywalker and when he says that word Obi-Wan's heart quickens and at that moment Maul hears the sound of Obi-Wan's heart and he knows that Obi-Wan was hiding all the time at Owen's house.
Maul says he knew that if he found the boy Obi-Wan would reveal himself.
Obi-Wan's first question was asking that if Palpatine knows what Maul already knows, Maul answers it with ''There is no Palpatine, no Empire, no Jedi, no light, no dark... Just you and I here now!''
Obi-Wan stops hiding and at the same time Maul reveals his new double-bladed lightsaber and his mechanical legs.
Maul starts fast, and he manages to kick Obi-Wan, and then he starts to choke him later. Then Obi-Wan manages to save himself from Maul's choke and they continue to their lightsaber duel, Obi-Wan punches Maul's overgrown Zabrak horn with his backhand and then with a huge jump he cuts Maul's hand and his double-bladed lightsaber.
In the last moment Maul manages to kick Obi-Wan once again, but just when he was Force pulling one side of his sliced double-bladed lightsaber Obi-Wan recovers quickly and he points his lightsaber through Maul's head.
But he still can't finish off already defeated Maul, instead of Obi-Wan, Owen Lars shoots him with his pistol from the rear.
Since the comic book wasn't canon or even legends, I am not giving a score to Kenobi.
The Clone Wars - Season 4 Episode 22 ''Revenge'' (2012 - Canon)
Unlike the Visionaries comic book, this time we actually learned that how Maul survived the Battle of Naboo and the cheap-shot bisection from Obi-Wan Kenobi. In the last moment, by using the Dark Side of the Force, Maul clings to life and somehow he manages to save himself and went to an off-world to exile, to the planet Lotho Minor.
But because of using too much Dark Side energy, Maul actually loses his mind. But somehow he still manages to live as a Spider creature with metalic legs like state. He says ''It has been so long and my path has been so dark, darker than I ever dreamed it could be.'' In Lotho minor, a snake like creature named Morley feeds Maul by luring the other people towards him, and every one of them becomes Maul's victims and his meals. When Maul finishes off his meals, Morley eats the leftovers. That's how Maul continues to live for years in Lotho Minor.
Despite his lack of mental health, one time Maul actually tries to leave the Junk World by using the Dark Side of the Force, he sends a transmission to the spaceship Salvage-1 and to its droid captain Spikewheel. He manages to get on to the ship and he destroys the droid captain and the crew member Gritz, but eventually he fails when the other crew member removes all the cargo from the ship alongside with Maul.
Later on, with Mother Talzin's and his brother Savage Opress's help, Maul manages to escape from Lotho Minor, and then Talzin heals his Maul's mind.
Maul challenges Kenobi through sending a transmission, and he says that if Kenobi doesn't come alone, he will kill all the people in the planet Raydonia.
Windu proposes to send reinforcements alongside with Kenobi, but Kenobi insists that he must go alone, Yoda also agrees with Kenobi. Then Kenobi goes to Raydonia and he faces with Darth Maul. Just when he was expecting a one-on-one duel, Maul surprises Kenobi by using Savage Opress who was hiding to ambush Kenobi, and so two of them together easily captures Kenobi by using the element of surprise.
Just when Kenobi was defeated and helpless, Asajj Ventress comes to rescue him. She sneaks on their starship, and she helps Kenobi by giving a lightsaber. Then the duel starts between Maul / Savage vs. Kenobi / Ventress.
Maul was kind of rusty for not using his lightsaber for years, but he adapts quickly during the duel, and he kicks Obi-Wan to a far distance first, then he taunts him by mentioning about Qui-Gon's death.
Obi-Wan gets enraged and once again, the Force rage gives him an advantage for a while, however Maul fends off Kenobi's power strikes, and overpowers him with another powerful kick. At this point, Kenobi realizes that he can't win the duel against Maul and he proposes Ventress to escape together.
Obi-Wan and Ventress manages to escape in the last second.
Maul wins this duel. Maul 2-1 Kenobi.
The Clone Wars - Sith Hunters Comic Book (2012 - Legends)
Instead of following Kenobi, Maul and Savage goes to the planet known as the Yellowblade's landing, where they come across a wealthy girl by luck and they decide to use her for their own plans.
While Obi-Wan and Plo Koon, and a couple of Jedi, decides to follow the Sith, and they manage to find Maul's and Savage's location in the Yellowblade's Landing,
Obi-Wan faces with Maul once again, he says ''You can't win Darth. You and your apprentice are vastly outnumbered.'' , but just before the Clone troopers and the several Jedi knights can capture them, Maul realises the Wampa beasts that are hiding inside the building. The wild and powerful beasts keep the Clone troopers and the Jedi busy while Maul and Savage escapes.
Just before they can escape, one of the Jedi calls Savage coward, and Savage turns and cuts the Jedi padawan's hand, before he can finish him, Maul stops Savage and tells him that he should prepare the spaceship for their escape.
Right at this moment Obi-Wan arrives and he challenges Maul. With the Dark Side of the Force, Maul uses a powerful Force choke and almost crushes Obi-Wan's windspipe. Obi-Wan is defeated, but his Jedi friends Plo Koon, the Jedi knight Grohto and the Clone troopers comes to rescue him,
And then Maul and Savage leaves the planet while Obi-Wan was injured and lying on the floor.
Maul wins this fight too. But since this is not canon, it's legends, no need to add it to the scorecards.
The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 01 ''Revival'' (2012 - Canon)
This time Maul was patient, and he doesn't follow Kenobi for his revenge so soon. Instead he takes his time, and he fights with other factions, and other Jedi knights, and even kills one of them (Finn Ertay) during the timeline between these two Clone Wars episodes. Then they attack the Cybloc system in the Outer rim territories.
While in Coruscant, Kenobi and another Jedi council member Adi Gallia (who was Qui-Gon Jinn's friend) proposes to capture the Sith once again, Anakin also wants to join them, but Chancellor Palpatine finds a way to stop Anakin to help Kenobi and Adi Gallia, so this time only the two Jedi goes to capture the two Sith in the Outer rim territories.
Maul forces Hondo Ohnaka's Space pirates to join their new organization, and with the 3 spaceships and with the Hondo's remaining pirate lieutenants, they attack the planet Florrum and Hondo's pirate base.
Just before they can arrive there, Kenobi contacted with Hondo, and they agreed to fight against the Sith together.
Before Maul's space pirates could prevail against Hondo's men, Kenobi and Adi Gallia arrives, and they attack the Sith. Another lightsaber duel between Maul and Kenobi begins, they fight equally until Savage manages to kill Adi Gallia, after seeing this Obi-Wan gets enraged and kicks Savage, catches him off-guard, but just before he can deliver the finishing blow, Maul stops Obi-Wan's lightsaber, and then he forced Obi-Wan to escape.
Obi-Wan flees to the tunnels alone after Adi Gallia's death.
This is another win for Maul.
Maul 3-1 Kenobi.
In the second round, Obi-Wan decides to use a different strategy in a confined area, so the brothers could get each other's way during the duel, and this time Obi-Wan uses Jar'Kai (dual blades) to surprise them. And he lures the Brothers away from the Space pirates, in here Obi-Wan manages to kick Savage's left leg several times, (where Adi Gallia previously hit before she died) however Maul uses the Force, and he slams Obi-Wan through the stone walls and he staggers him.
Before they can finish off Kenobi, in the last second Kenobi manages to hit Savage's left leg once again, and finds an opening on Savage's defense and he cuts Savage Opress's left arm.
Although Maul was fine, but it's still a score for Kenobi for cutting Savage's arm.
Maul 3-2 Kenobi.
But then before Kenobi could attack Maul, Maul uses a powerful Force push that sends Kenobi flying tens of meters, shakes the tunnel and knocks Kenobi out for a while. Maul essentially beats Kenobi again.
Kenobi got KOed.
Maul 4-2 Kenobi.
But Savage was injured and Maul needed to save his injured apprentice, so they decide to leave the planet together. Then the Space pirates betrayed Maul and that's where Maul gets into trouble, they start to run from the Space pirates and he had to bring down a spaceship by using the Force to delay his pursuers, and then finally they managed to escape from Hondo's Space pirates.
The Clone Wars - Season 5 Episode 16 ''The Lawless'' (2013 - Canon)
This time Maul allies himself with the Mandalorians, who are powerful warriors. And then he makes a plan to create a galactic underworld, which includes intergalactic crime syndicates such as the Hutts, the Pykes, the Crimson Dawn and the Black Sun.
He gains the control of the planet Mandalore, then kills Pre Vizsla, and captures Duchess Satine.
He uses Duchess Satine to lure Kenobi out. As he predicted, Satine contacted with Kenobi and the Jedi council, but the Jedi council can't send any reinforcements to Mandalore without the approval of the Galactic Senate, because Satine never wanted to join in any war, which includes the Clone Wars and they stayed neutral and they didn't join the galactic war against the Separatist forces.
For this reason the Jedi council can't help. But Kenobi decides to go on his own, and he borrows a spaceship from Anakin. Anakin also wanted to help Kenobi, but once again the Chancellor finds a way to stop Anakin, and he prevents him to join Kenobi's secret mission to the planet Mandalore.
Kenobi successfully infiltrates inside the palace, and he saves Duchess Satine from the prison, however Maul and his men were expecting Kenobi's arrival, and they attack Kenobi's spaceship with a rocket launcher when they tried to escape, before they can escape their spaceship crashes to the port. And Kenobi realizes that Satine is wounded after the crash and he uses the Force to remove the wreckage that fell over Satine, and then he realizes that Maul is responsible for this attack, he sees him and he ignites his lightsaber.
Before Kenobi can attack Maul, Maul uses a powerful Force choke and he pulls him with the Force. He lifts Kenobi by using one hand and he disarms Kenobi's lightsaber with his other hand. At this point, Kenobi is captured, and Maul's plan worked perfectly. And shortly after this, Maul executes Duchess Satine in front of Kenobi, and takes his revenge, and he sends Kenobi to a prison cell to rot.
Maul wins another round against Kenobi.
Maul 5-2 Kenobi.
The Clone Wars - Son of Dathomir Part 3 (2014 - Canon)
After escaping from the CIS captivity, (which Darth Sidious puts Maul there after killing Savage Opress), with the help of his loyal Mandalorians, Maul once again makes a plan to take his revenge from both Sidious and Kenobi, but this time Sidious was his priority.
At the same time, the Jedi learns the battle between Maul's Shadow Collective and Grievous's CIS droid army, and they send their Clone troopers and the Jedi knights to capture both Dooku and Maul. These Jedi strike team was consisted of Mace Windu, Aayla Secura, Tiplee and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Maul captures Dooku and Grievous in the battle, and then Maul and Talzin ask Dooku to join them instead of serving Sidious, Dooku wasn't ready to abandon Sidious, however he doesn't say no, before they can finish the negotiations, they learn that the Jedi and the Clone troopers attacks the Mandalorian outpost, and they inform Maul about it.
Then Maul asks Dooku that what's going to be? Death or allies. Dooku answers it with ''let us go kill some Jedi together.'' , and Maul says ''wise decision.''
Obi-Wan surprised see that Maul and Dooku are working together, and Maul says that the only of their shared hatred of the Jedi could be strong enough to unite them.
The battle continues in off-panel, we see only that Obi-Wan shows his classic Soresu opening stance against Maul while Maul holds his Darksaber with two hands. And Tiplee matched with Dooku.
Before we can see any action, Mace Windu and Aayla Secura arrive for the battle, then somehow Maul and Dooku changes their Jedi opponents. Maul goes after Windu and Aayla, while Dooku goes after Obi-Wan and Tiplee.
Maul has successfully held Mace Windu back, and kicks Aayla Secura at the same time. He doesn't ask any help from Dooku. So Dooku could deal with the weaker matchup, he sends a Force lightning to Obi-Wan and Tiplee, and both of them deflects Dooku's lightning successfully with their lightsabers, meanwhile the Mandalorian guards see the duels, and they prepare their rockets to help their leader Maul.
And then Dooku uses the Force to pull Tiplee during the duel and he kills her with a lightsaber stab.
Obi-Wan cries in pain, and he fails to save Tiplee. While the Mandalorians were ready to help Maul and they send their rocket towards Aayla Secura, Maul successfully protects himself from the explosion while Aayla and Windu got KOed. Then Maul and Dooku make an exit to their spaceship while Obi-Wan was defeated and helpless.
In the end Mace Windu and Obi-Wan fails to capture Maul and Dooku, and the Jedi Tiplee dies during the battle.
Mission to Tatooine - Rebels Twin Suns (2017 - Canon)
Maul actually expected to see Kenobi in the Siege of Mandalore for the last time in the Clone Wars so they could finish their unfinished business. But Grievous and Dooku manage to kidnap the Chancellor Palpatine, and Kenobi had to choose between joining the Siege of Mandalore and facing with Maul, or joining his friend Anakin to save the Chancellor Palpatine. Kenobi chooses to save the Chancellor, so that last duel between Maul and Kenobi never happens in the Clone Wars.
Afterwards that the majority of the Jedi dies because of Order 66 and also because of the attack on the Jedi temple. And at this point, Maul starts to believe that Kenobi actually died during the Clone Wars and after, and he believes Kenobi might not be alive during the Age of Empire, just like the majority of the Empire and the Rebels believed that Obi-Wan Kenobi has actually died.
However, 17 years after the Clone Wars, Maul still has hope to kill Kenobi so he could move along with that past he could get rid of his obsession about Kenobi. But he doesn't know where Obi-Wan is or if he is still alive or not.
Maul decides to use his secret knowledge about the Jedi and the Sith holocrons, Maul could actually use that now because;
A) He learned from Ezra Bridger that Kanan Jarrus has a Jedi holocron.
B) He and Ezra already have acquired a Sith holocron from Malachor.
He knew that if he could reach both of the holocrons, he could learn the secret knowledge. And if he captures the Ghost crew he could take the Jedi holocron as well. He demands that both of the holocrons from Ezra and Kanan after capturing the Ghost crew.
Now Maul has a Jedi (Ezra) who can unlock the Jedi holocron too, since Maul couldn't unlock the Jedi holocron by himself even if he could get both of them.
It was a perfect chance to learn if Kenobi lives and if he does, and where was he.
Maul and Ezra combined the Jedi and the Sith holocrons, and they actually learn the secret knowledge of destroying the Sith (the key was Luke Skywalker) and Kenobi's location at the same time.
After learning Kenobi's location, Maul goes to Tatooine, and he senses Kenobi's presence in the Force, ''I can see him in my mind's eye.'', but Kenobi hides from Maul and he still doesn't want to be found on Tatooine.
At this point Kenobi knows that the fight against Maul is almost inevitable, and if he has to face him he needs to be prepared; he says ''Maul is an old adversary, and persistent one at that. One doesn't survive as long as I have by being foolish or unprepared.''
Previously, Maul makes a plan by using the Sith holocron, he uses his Sith abilities to deceive the young Jedi Ezra Bridger, and he reaches him through the Jedi holocron, he gives him the impression that Kenobi is in danger and he draws Ezra to the planet Tatooine.
Ezra goes to Tatooine, and in there Maul telepathically manipulates Ezra Bridger, and deceives him and leaves him alone in the desert where the droid Chopper and Ezra gets knocked out due to the extreme conditions. That's where Ben Kenobi had to reveal himself and save Ezra Bridger and his droid.
And that's exactly what Maul wants, when Ben Kenobi revealed himself, he could easily find him in the desert, and he does.
The lightsaber duel starts after Ezra Bridger goes back to his spaceship. Maul says that he came to kill Kenobi, but after seeing the condition of Kenobi, he says that ''Look what have become of you, a rat in the desert. I've come to kill you, but perhaps its worst to leave you here, festering in your squalor.''
Maul completely underestimates Ben Kenobi due to Kenobi's current poor condition in Tatooine. He doesn't realize that Kenobi was protecting the Chosen One, Luke Skywalker.
Kenobi doesn't want to fight, or capture Maul anymore as he wanted in the Clone Wars. This time he isn't interested in Maul, he doesn't seek any battles, he is just doing his ''secret job'' which was probably the most important thing in the galaxy right now.
Of course Maul was clever, and he wanted Kenobi to fight. He wants to provoke him. And Maul starts to sense that what Kenobi is actually doing on Tatooine; ''Why come to this place, not simply to hide. Oh, you've a purpose here. Perhaps you're protecting something. No (with the voice of Sith Chant in the background), Protecting someone.''
This is where Maul actually senses the truth about Kenobi's secret mission.
At this point, Kenobi couldn't allow Maul go free, according to the director Filoni, Kenobi was ''When pressed, because Obi-Wan is protecting someone else in the end, he does fight. But because he is so true and knows who he is in that moment, you can’t defeat that.'', he was amped, he immediately ignites his lightsaber. And takes a Soresu opening stance, which he took several times in the Clone Wars against Maul.
Then Maul takes his own Juyo stance, and he counters Kenobi. This is like a ''game within a game almost'' according to the animation supervisor Keith Kellogg.
The writer Henry Gilroy states that ''The actual lightsabers hitting each other is actually longer because they’re basically playing it out in their heads''.
This is important because people thought that the duel is too short, while it was longer than 30 seconds.
They played the duel inside their heads for more than 30 seconds.
Then Kenobi realizes that stance is not going to work against Maul. It didn't work in the Clone Wars. It won't work now. According to the Maul's voice actor Sam Witwer, ''he takes a breath, no no... That was a mistake that young Obi-Wan did, I am actually Ben Kenobi. I am a different guy. And let's see if I can trick him with the old Qui-Gon pose. So he could lure Maul as if Maul could replicate the same victory that he gained against his old master Qui-Gon.''
And he says Maul thought that Kenobi was an old desert rat, not an active Jedi master on guard duty. Which is why Maul underestimates him. He was wrong. He wrongly underestimates his opponent and he goes for the killing move directly as if he could easily kill him.
After getting cut by Kenobi, Maul understands that Kenobi was doing something extremely important for the galaxy, which is why Maul anticipates that ''is it the chosen one?'', and Kenobi answers that ''yes, he is''.
One of the rare moments that Kenobi overestimates his own skills as a Jedi;
"Come on, then, Kenobi! Come for me!" he said. "I have been trained in your Jedi arts by Lord Tyranus himself."
"Do you mean Count Dooku? What a curious coincidence,"
Obi-Wan said with a deceptively pleasant smile. "I trained the man who killed him."
With a convulsive snarl, Grievous lunged.''
Source: Revenge of the Sith Novelization (2005)
Kenobi considers his survival skills against the opponents like Darth Maul, Count Dooku and General Grievous.
Obi-Wan: ''I'd gotten surprisingly good at over the years other than finding trouble it was not dying. Just ask Darth Maul. Or Count Dooku. Or General Grievous.''
Source: Star Wars 015 (2016)
However, later against a Wookie bounty hunter, Kenobi mentions that he actually got old and weakened.
Obi-Wan: ''The years had made me a fool.''
Source: Star Wars 020 (2016)
And this is 10 years before ANH. He was not even close to ANH yet.
Matt Martin (Official from Lucasfilm and new Disney Star Wars canon) also mentioned this, he said he believes that RotS Kenobi is stronger than ANH Kenobi.
Matt Martin: ''If you're asking if I think ANH Obi-Wan could beat RotS Obi-Wan in a fight: no, I'd bet on RotS.''
So how did Kenobi won against Maul if he is weaker than RotS Kenobi?
Let's remember their former duels;
- TPM duel; Obi-Wan is 25 years old (6 years older than AotC Anakin), and Qui-Gon is 48 years old, (9 years younger than ANH Kenobi) Qui-Gon is a very skilled Jedi Master, and he said Obi-Wan is ready to become a Jedi Knight. And Obi-Wan becomes a Jedi Knight in this same timeline. Maul duels with them and he performs better than both Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, he kills Qui-Gon and disarms Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan only wins by using a cheap-shot; he uses Qui-Gon's lightsaber and he surprises off-guard Maul who thought the duel was over and Obi-Wan was unarmed.
- TCW duel #1 (Season 4 Episode 22); 12 years have passed since Episode I, Obi-Wan is now 37 years old in the clone wars and he has become a Jedi Master, and he is very close to his RotS-self and he is a member of the Jedi high council, and this is where Maul and Savage defeats near-RotS Obi-Wan and Asajj Ventress, and he forced them to escape.
- TCW duel #2 (Season 5 Episode 01); This is where Maul and Savage and fights with near-RotS Obi-Wan and Jedi Master Adi Gallia, Savage kills Adi Gallia, while Maul duels with Kenobi, and then Maul saves Savage from Kenobi and he blasts Kenobi by using a powerful Force push and they retreat due to Savage's injury.
- TCW duel #3 (Season 5 Episode 16); this is where Maul immediately uses a powerful Force choke and he defeats near-RotS Kenobi who just activated his lightsaber only seconds ago, Kenobi fails to counter Maul and he fails to save Duchess Satine.
- TCW duel #4 (Son of Dathomir issue 03); This is where Maul and near-RotS Kenobi meets again, they exchange dueling stances but before starting to duel, Jedi Master Mace Windu and Jedi Knight Aayla Secura arrives, then Darth Maul duels with Mace Windu instead of Kenobi.
Let's see what happened only 2 years before ANH which is where the duel between Maul and Kenobi happened in Tatooine for the fifth time.
First of all, let's understand Filoni's earlier statement.
Filoni's earlier statement
''I wanted to create a lot of similarities in the way the fight happened and the way Obi-Wan beats Maul. I felt that with Maul, any moment that he parries Obi-Wan is saying that he’s as good as Obi-Wan and I don’t think that’s true. I don’t think Maul ever accepted a path of selflessness and enlightenment and in the end, never getting over his need for revenge, and his anger and the way his life worked out is what undid him.''
Source: ign.com
Filoni obviously meant this as a progression about their characters and improvement about their characters (selflessness and enlightenment), which is why he mentions about Maul's enlightment, it's not about their skills as duelists.
Otherwise it means that Ahsoka is very close to Darth Vader because the duel lasted longer than the Maul vs. Ben Kenobi duel, that also contradicts with Maul's superiority over Ahsoka (and even when they dueled each other Ahsoka never showed any superiority against Maul) who lasted much longer against Vader who is slightly better than Ben Kenobi.
Adult Ahsoka escapes from Maul during the duel.
Maul: ''Running away again, Lady Tano?''
Source: Rebels Season 2 Episode 22 (2016)
Evidence on Maul > Ahsoka
''Kanan agrees to split the group up, the logical choice pairing Maul with the weakest of the Jedi''
Source: Starwars.com
- Maul matched with the weakest Jedi. And the weakest Jedi was Ezra, he's paired with the strongest fighter, who is Maul.
It was Maul > Ahsoka > Kanan > Ezra.
Filoni also explained that with multiple other statements by saying that the duel was a mental duel not a physical one, and how Kenobi faked his lightsaber stance by using Qui-Gon pose in order to deceive Maul during their duel. The fact that Kenobi needed to use Qui-Gon's stance to win against Maul actually proves he wasn't a superior duelist than Maul, otherwise he would just beat him without needing any tricks like those.
Filoni also mentions about the fact that Ben Kenobi knew Maul could dispatch him in the duel,
Dave Filoni: ''Obi-Wan, to me, has grown as a character so much that he knows he could dispatch Maul, or Maul could dispatch him, but to what point? Obi-Wan is entering the realm of becoming selfless, and wholly selfless. He’s willing to give up so much so that everyone else can succeed, because he’s trying to make up for things in the Clone War — things that went poorly for him.''
Source: Starwars.com Interview (17 Aug 2017)
As they said, the things went poorly for Kenobi in the Clone Wars;
Tiplee: ''I sense your your turmoil, Obi-Wan.''
Kenobi: ''My last encounter with Maul didn't go so well.''
Source: Son of Dathomir Issue 03 (2014)
So his previous quote is about their mental state, and their characteristics accomplishments at the end of their lives. Not about their power levels and lightsaber skills.
Dave Filoni: ''So I felt that moment had to be beyond a lightsaber fight and had to be more an expression of their characters.''
Source: io9 interview / 18.03.2017
The preparation
Ben Kenobi was ''prepared'' for the duel with Maul in Tatooine. It means that he was actually working how to lure and deceive him for years.
Ben Kenobi : ''One doesn't survive as long as I've by being foolish or unprepared. Maul is an old adversary, and a persistent one at that.''
Source: Star Wars Rebels: Season 3 Episode 20 (2017)
The concept
The concept of the fight was different than the usual lightsaber duels due to marketing purposes.
Dave Filoni : “It was a much-discussed thing on how that was gonna go down, the instinct would be, and probably, I admit, the expectation, is for some kind of prolonged lightsaber battle. But I’ve done a lot of prolonged lightsaber battles over the years and I think what’s most important about any kind of confrontation is what’s riding on it. What’s the tension going into it? It starts to matter less and less how you swing a sword or how creatively you do it if there’s not a lot riding on it.”
Source: io9 interview / 18.03.2017
He also mentions about the duel being an homage to the Seven Samurai duel.
Dave Filoni : ''If you talk to a lot of people that sword fight they’ll tell you, people that are very good don’t have long fights. It’s very quick. And so that scene it’s an homage to the Seven Samurai. I think on one level people would be excited to see another prolonged lightsaber fight but I just never really saw the confrontation that way because to do that is to say the characters just don’t have growth. Yes, it’s exciting as an audience member but it’s not a really believable thing. Storytelling has to evolve.''
Maul was already tired before their duel, and his mechanical legs were damaged
Maul traveled in the Tatooine desert without getting rested possibly caused him to have a fatigue while Ben Kenobi was rested and fresh. Jedi Ezra lost his consciousness and almost died because of the Tatooine desert's harsh conditions, as well as his astro droid stopped working in the desert.
Because we also know that Maul's mechanical legs were damaged before their duel.
''To demonstrate an arduous passage of time, the Darth Maul character model is not only scuffed up as if coated with sand and dust, but also has chunks taken out of its mechanical legs.''
The duel is played on their head - THE DUEL LASTED MORE THAN 30 SECONDS
- The duel starts at 18:30
- The duel ends at 19:07
Henry Gilroy : “When you’ve fought someone many times, and you’ve faced off, you kind of know each other’s moves. So if you think about it the build up to this confrontation and the actual lightsabers hitting each other is actually longer because they’re basically playing it out in their heads.”
According to the producer of Rebels, it was mostly a mental duel and lightsabers hitting each other was longer. Not a quick one, it lasted more than 30 seconds.
Animation supervisor states that the duel is actually a game within a game.
Keith Kellogg : ''It's much more about foot work and the thought process that Obi-Wan has. It starts out as young Obi-Wan and then we shift him to sort of what Alec would do when he was fighting and then the very last one you should look back at the Phantom Menace you can see what Qui-Gon's doing. We just sort of moved him just a little bit right after Maul changes his. It's kind of a game within a game almost.''
Source: Behind The Scenes: Obi-Wan vs. Darth Maul | Star Wars Rebels (2017)
Maul underestimates Ben Kenobi during the duel
Sam Witwer : ''Because of that fight, Maul goes "Oh my god, I completely underestimated him"
(...) Maul is absolutely certain this old man has past his prime, he just doesn't understand this is an active Jedi Knight who is serving the Order even though it doesn't exist, he is doing the most important thing in the galaxy right now.''
Source: Rebel Force Radio Interview
Another evidence is how Maul sees Ben Kenobi;
Maul : ''Look what has become of you, a rat in the desert.''
''I've come to kill you, but perhaps it's worse to leave you here, festering in your squalor.''
Source: Rebels Season 3 Episode 20 (2017)
Maul directly goes for the killing move to finish Kenobi quickly, it was his choice.
Maul underestimates Kenobi, and directly goes for the killing move (which is Maul's own three strike technique), even then;
Dave Filoni : ''Qui-Gon part came late, when I was looking at it again. Originally, in that movie, when Kyuzo strikes the guy down, it's a one strike with the lightsaber.
But when we got animated, Keith Kellogg and I were looking at it, it's just Maul's technique to go, really quick, one-two-three, so, it didn't feel like Maul does get a shot at all. So block-block, then he (Maul) goes for that move (the move that he took down Qui-Gon), that's where I decided to put that move in.''
Source: Star Wars Celebration 2017 Orlando
The original confrontation was one-strike duel;
Dave Filoni: ''When it came to Maul and Obi-Wan, the fight that left to my mind was Kyuzo fighting the other man in the field, and in the film Seven Samurai. Originally I had it where Maul came in and it was one strike but from Maul's style, which is very fast, I thought well it doesn't feel like Maul with one strike. I need one-two-three, and I thought well one-two-three, the third move that he gets Qui-Gon with, which is a block block and then up. You know he uses the blunt part of his lightsaber to pick Qui-Gon in the face and stun him.''
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Maul vs. Kenobi Featurette
When you compare it to the original Seven Samurai duel, the duel should've been a one-shot duel.
Filoni changes the original ''one-shot'' scene from the Seven Samurai, because it didn't feel like Maul gets a shot at Kenobi, unlike the samurai that attacked Kyuzo in the actual movie.
Dave Filoni: ''But Obi-Wan saw that, Obi-Wan was there and Obi-Wan in that moment is ready for that. He sees the symmetry of the moment and he is able to slice that. The apprentice learned from the masters mistakes.''
Source: Star Wars Rebels - Maul vs. Kenobi Featurette
Kenobi uses that Qui-Gon posing scene and he has to deflect those 2 extra strikes from Maul during the duel just to make it a more competitive duel than the original duel that happened in the Seven Samurai duel.
Now if the duel was an homage to the Seven Samurai, and if the duel was meant to be a one-shot strike, and adding two extra lightsaber clashes and adding a special hilt bumping move, (which comes from Maul's past and Kenobi counters it because he saw it before) shows that how competitive this duel really is considering the old style one-shot movie concept.
Kenobi's trap for Maul
To easily explain, Kenobi waits at the defense against Maul, while Kenobi attacks Vader, who is a more powerful opponent than Maul.
Source: A New Hope (1977)
It doesn't make sense to attack a more powerful opponent (Vader) while waiting on the defense against a weaker one (Maul).
Which means that Kenobi was indeed trying to deceive Maul with that Qui-Gon pose.
Henry Gilroy : ''And the amazing thing is, the move that Maul tries after the initial exchange, he actually attempts the move that killed Qui-Gon Jinn. He tries to basically bash him with the hilt.”
Question : ''The move that he took down Qui-Gon ?''
Dave Filoni : ''Yeah, also visually tells the story that Obi-Wan paid attention, you know that moment was kind of put into his brain and that he could defeat.''
Source: Star Wars Celebration 2017 Orlando
Now if Maul never attacks Kenobi and if he never use the same hilt bumping move, how could Kenobi defeat Maul by waiting at defense?
We've seen how Maul dominated Kenobi in the Clone Wars when Kenobi tried to fight offensively. Kenobi had to wait at defense and he had to deceive Maul with the Qui-Gon pose.
And don't forget that this is the same Kenobi that dueled with Vader at the Death Star.
He says that Obi-Wan defeats Maul only because of his prior knowledge about Maul, not due to superior skill.
Ben Kenobi's Force amplification against Maul
Filoni directly says that Obi-Wan is unbeatable ''in that moment'' because he is protecting someone else (the most important thing to him; Chosen One) in the end.
Dave Filoni : ''When pressed, because Obi-Wan is protecting someone else in the end, he does fight. But because he is so true and knows who he is in that moment, you can't defeat that.''
Source: io9 interview / 18.03.2017
Another difference between Ben Kenobi's duel against Vader, Ben Kenobi wasn't amped against Vader because at the time Vader had no idea about Luke Skywalker, Vader was only interested in Kenobi. Vader only learns about Luke Skywalker during the Episode V Empire Strikes Back.
While Maul once again threatens Kenobi with killing someone he loves, but this time it is even more important than someone he loves, because Ben Kenobi believes that Luke Skywalker is the ''chosen one'', which is why Ben Kenobi was more powerful and more amped than ever against Maul once Maul learned what Ben Kenobi was doing in Tatooine. Because Vader didn't know anything about Luke, while Maul knew that he was protecting someone.
Qui-Gon's help?
This is similar to Rey's amplification against Sidious in TROS, where Rey hears the voices of the past Jedi.
She heard the voices of;
Anakin Skywalker
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Yoda
Mace Windu
Qui-Gon Jinn
Ahsoka Tano
Luminara Unduli
Aayla Secura
Adi Gallia
Kanan Jarrus
Luke Skywalker
These are the Jedi that amped Rey against Sidious in TRoS...
Is it possible that Qui-Gon also amped Ben Kenobi in his duel against Maul? Because Kenobi had to protect Luke no matter what?
We already know that Kenobi was communicating with Qui-Gon in Tatooine long before his duel with Maul,
Obi-Wan: ''Please... Guide my hand, Master Qui-Gon.''
Source: Star Wars 020 (2016)
It's possible that Kenobi was amped due to Qui-Gon, and he was preparing to fight Maul with Qui-Gon's help.
Summary for the Ben Kenobi duel:
Kenobi was Force amped (unbeatable in the moment) against Maul.
Kenobi was prepared for years to duel with Maul.
Maul underestimates Ben Kenobi and he believed that he could easily kill him.
Kenobi deceived and lured Maul with a fake Qui-Gon stance.
It was a mental duel and they played out on their head.
They changed the original one-shot scene from the Seven Samurai to make the duel more competitive than the original one.
Kenobi had to wait at defense for Maul's attack to win the duel, without anticipating the hilt bump move he couldn't win.
The duel was extremely circumstantial and can't be used to hype Kenobi, on the contrary, to think that a Kenobi level duelist (who is contending with Vader even better than Adult Ahsoka) needed a trap and amplification to win against Maul, which only shows that how formidable and skilled Maul really is.
Maul ranks better than Dooku and Ventress as a sword fighter according to the Top 5 Red lightsaber users list from canon Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know, and he is possibly better than Kenobi in terms of skill (without Kenobi's amplification and the deceiving tactic) and he has far superior Force powers. Ben Kenobi was able to match with Vader (who is way above of Dooku) in a duel.
In this blog I will explain why Windu was amped when he defeated Sidious.
Click here for viewing this thread in blog format.
*Note before the blog: I definitely don't believe Sidious faked his defeat or anything like that, Windu won the duel fair and square, however I will explain how did he win.
First of all, lets remember how the fight started, and how it come to a one on one duel with Windu.
Mace gathered his elite team and goes to arrest Palpatine, even Kenobi considers this team as an elite one;
''Now Obi-Wan did face him. "Palpatine faced Mace and Agen and Kit and Saesee-four of the greatest swordsmen our Order has ever produced. By himself. Even both of us together wouldn't have a chance."
"True," Yoda said. "But both of us apart, a chance we might create . . ."
Source: Revenge of the Sith Novel
Before the fight, somehow Fisto doesn't believe they can do it. Fisto wants Yoda or even Kenobi in this fight.
If Windu was far better than Kenobi, or even as strong as Yoda, then why Kit Fisto says that?
Why he doesn't believe Windu can match with Sidious in combat like Yoda could?
"I'd feel better if Yoda were here." This Master was a Nautiloid, tall and broad-shouldered, his glabrous scalp-tentacles restrained by loops of embossed leather. "Or even Kenobi. On Ord Cestus, Obi-Wan and I..." "Yoda is pinned down on Kashyyyk, and Kenobi is out of contact on Utapau.
The Dark Lord has revealed himself, and we dare not hesitate. Think not of if, Master Fisto; this duty has fallen to us. We will suffice." This Master was an Iktotchi, shorter and slimmer than the first.
Two long horns curved downward from his forehead to below his chin. One had been amputated after being shattered in battle a few months before. Bacta had accelereated its regrowth, and the once maimed horn was now a match to the other. "We will suffice," he repeated. "We will have to."
Source: Revenge of the Sith Novel
And if Windu is far better than Kenobi, why would Windu compare himself to Kenobi?
"He must have been trained by Count Dooku," Mace had said, "so you can expect Makashi as well; given the number of Jedi he has fought and slain, you must expect that he can attack in any style, or all of them. In fact, Obi-Wan, I believe that of all living Jedi, you have the best chance to defeat him." This pronouncement had startled Obi-Wan, and he had protested.
"But surely, Master Windu," Obi-Wan had said, "you, with the power of Vaapad-or Yoda's mastery of Ataro-" Mace Windu had almost smiled.
"I created Vaapad to answer my weakness: it channels my own darkness into a weapon of the light. Master Yoda's Ataro is also an answer to weakness: the limitations of reach and mobility imposed by his stature and his age. But for you? What weakness does Soresu answer?"
Blinking, Obi-Wan had been forced to admit he'd never actually thought of it that way. "That is so like you, Master Kenobi," the Korun Master had said, shaking his head. "I am called a great swordsman because I invented a lethal style; but who is greater, the creator of a killing form-or the master of the classic form?"
"I'm very flattered that you would consider me a master, but really-"
"Not a master. The master," Mace had said. "Be who you are, and Grievous will never defeat you."
Source: Revenge of the Sith Novel
Windu compares his own lightsaber skills to Obi-Wan.
Now before we start, there are multiple sources states that it's Sidious > Yoda. And Windu isn't better than Yoda, infact these sources states that Windu is only second to Yoda, so it says that Yoda > Windu.
Nick Gillard : ''We didn't see Mace fighting yet, but we know that he is second only to Yoda...''
Source: Star Wars Episode II: Action Featurette
''He seems to be second most powerful jedi on the that council, next to Yoda.''
Source: Insider #55
And let's see how many sources states that Sidious > Yoda;
1- Count Dooku:
Dooku: ''Do you really believe there is any power in the galaxy that can stand against my lord (Sidious)? Ten thousand Jedi knights will try this and all will fail.''
Source: Son of Dathomir 03 (2014)
2- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia:
''The two engaged in a spectacular duel- a contest between the most powerful practitioners of the Force's light and dark sides. The Emperor proved too powerful to defeat. Although Yoda held his own for much of the duel, in the end the Sith bested him. He realized that continuing to directly confront Palpatine would mean failure. Defeated, Yoda slunk away into the shadow's of the Senate chamber's cavernous depths, leaping into a waiting getaway speeder piloted by Bail Organa.''
Source: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
3- Revenge of the Sith Novel:
''Supreme Master of the Jedi Order, the fiercest, most implacable, most devastatingly powerful foe the darkness had ever known... just-didn't-have it.
He'd never had it. He had lost before he started. He had lost before he was born.
The Sith had changed.
The Sith had grown, had adapted, had invested a thousand years' intensive study into every aspect of not only the Force but Jedi lore itself, in preparation for exactly this day.
The Sith had remade themselves.
They had become new.
While the Jedi-The Jedi had spent that same millennium training to refight the last war. The new Sith could not be destroyed with a lightsaber; they could not be burned away by any torch of the Force. The brighter his light, the darker their shadow. How could one win a war against the dark, when war itself had become the dark's own weapon? He knew, at that instant, that this insight held the hope of the galaxy. But if he fell here, that hope would die with him. Hmmm, Yoda thought. A problem this is . . .''
Source: Revenge of the Sith Novel
4- Starwars.com:
''Yoda is eventually outmatched by Sidious.''
Source: Starwars.com
So if Sidious > Yoda > Windu, how did Windu beat Sidious?
The answer is simple; Windu was amped.
The evidences are; Dooku's former statement about Sidious also applies to Windu. And there are even more to that:
1- Windu defeats Jedi Master Prosset Dibs, but with difficulty:
Actually this is a good dueling feat, Windu defeats Prosset with moderate effort.
However Prosset manages to hold his own, and he even claims that Windu knows nothing of the Force.
The duel continues:
Windu wins in the end.
Source: Star Wars - Jedi of the Republic - Mace Windu (2017)
However, this duel shows us that Windu isn't actually on the same level with Sidious, people like Sidious would instantly stomp someone like Prosset Dibs.
If you're wondering, if Prosset is actually on the same level with Jedi Council members like Eeth Koth, Adi Gallia, Saesee Tiin or not, he really isn't.
Because later Prosset Dibs joins the Inquisitorius and he takes the name of Tenth Brother.
By the usual rankings; it's the Grand Inquisitor > the other Inquisitors, so we can't really say that Prosset was more powerful than someone like the Grand Inquisitor.
Later Tenth Brother got killed by his own Clone Troopers when former Jedi Ferren Barr mind tricked the Clones by giving the order to execute Order 66.
Source: Star Wars - Darth Vader Dark Lord of the Sith 017 (2017)
In the end Prosset Dibs wasn't really more powerful than the other Inquisitors. And we know Force users like Vader or Maul was able to fight and defeat 2 Inquisitors at the same time, let alone Sidious.
2- Windu fails to protect his friends (Kit, Saesee, Agen) from Sidious, who was killing all of them one by one:
Now imagine,
if Yoda was able to protect Anakin from Sidious in the Force vision when they dueled; why Windu failed to do the same?
Or Maul was able to protect Savage Opress, but Kenobi fails to protect Adi Galia, and then Kenobi retreats and admits his defeat.
Maul moves faster than post-AotC Kenobi, stops his blade in time.
Kenobi was unable protect Adi Gallia, and Hondo states that Kenobi isn't as strong as Maul.
Hondo: ''Where is the other Jedi?''
Kenobi: ''She's... She's dead.''
Hondo: ''She's d They are too powerful for even you? I am semi-speechless.''
Source: The Clone Wars: Season 5 Episode 01
Windu simply fails to save his friends, not even Kit Fisto, and if you believe Windu was Sidious's equal at the beginning of the fight, how did this happen?
The answer is clear, Windu got stronger during the fight after his friends died, (similar to Kenobi's amp, after losing Adi Gallia), and before that Windu wasn't Sidious' equal in power.
3- Sidious overpowers Windu by using the Force:
This actaully happened in the official RotS movie script and the comic book,
PALPATINE: It's treason, then. A close shot of PALPATINE as the fight begins. Close shots of THREE JEDI getting cut down by PALPATINE. PALPATINE and MACE continue to fight.
Jedi Master MACE WINDU and the Sith Lord fight their way down the hallway and into the main office area. PALPATINE is able to use the Force to slam MACE against the wall, but he recovers before the Chancellor can cut him down. ANAKIN lands his speeder, jumps out, and runs down a long corridor toward the Chancellor's office.
Source: Revenge of the Sith Script
And as I mentioned earlier, Windu fails to protect his friends, not even Kit Fisto who managed to survive longer than Agen Kolar and Saesee Tiin.
While Sidious murders even Kit Fisto, Windu was helpless about it. And then Sidious slams Windu through the wall by using the Force.
4- Sidious is powerful enough to cloud the vision of both Yoda and Windu:
Maul did this to TPM Kenobi before,
''The Sith Lord seemed to cloud Obi-Wan's use of the Force, making it hard to sense his opponent's moves and counter them in time.''
Source: Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Novel
However Sidious does this for a larger scale.
The Jedi Master rubbed a hand over his forehead and looked to Yoda, who sat with his eyes closed. Probably contemplating the same riddles as he was, Mace knew. And equally troubled, if not more so. "Blind we are, if the development of this clone army we could not see," Yoda remarked.
"I think it is time to inform the Senate that our ability to use the Force has diminished."
"Only the Dark Lords of the Sith know of our weakness," Yoda replied. "If informed the Senate is, multiply our adversaries will."
For the two Jedi Masters, this surprising development was troubling on several different levels.
Source: Attack of the Clones Novel
And Sidious was responsible for clouding their vision:
That hit Obi-Wan as profoundly as any of the electric bolts holding him ever could. "No! That's not possible." His mind whirled, needing a denial. He alone among the living Jedi had battled a Sith Lord, and that contest had cost his beloved Master Qui-Gon his life. "The Jedi would be aware of it."
"The dark side of the Force has clouded their vision, my friend," Dooku calmly explained. "Hundreds of Senators are now under the influence of a Sith Lord called Darth Sidious."
"I don't believe you," Obi-Wan said flatly. He only wished he held that truth as solidly as he had just proclaimed.
Source: Attack of the Clones Novel
5- Nick Gillard states that only Yoda and Sidious are tier 9, Windu is tier 8 and only bordering to tier 9:
Gillard: ''In the Jedi levels of lightsaber fighting, Obi-Wan is an eight, while Anakin, Yoda and Darth Sidious are nines.
And somebody like Kit Fisto is 7. I did take it to 8 and 9. But not many people know that. 8 and 9 is cheat.'' ''Obi-Wan has gone up one level from Episode I to Episode III, but it’s a huge jump from one level to another. So Obi-Wan is 8. Yoda is 9. Mace is 8 bordering on 9. Dooku & Maul are 8, but there is a huge difference inside the numbers themselves. It's not about how well they fight, it's about how well they learned.''
Source: Nick Gillard, the fighting scenes director of Prequel Trilogy
6- The director of the Clone Wars and the Rebels, Dave Filoni states that ''no one'' can compete with Sidious; it's Sidious > Windu as well.
Dave Filoni: ''Well, that was definitely one of our biggest challenges, Maul and Savage versus Sidious, because we wanted to have an epic lightsaber fight. We hadn’t really had a big one in awhile, and I really thought this is our chance to show everyone why Sidious is the Sith Lord. Why no one can compete with this guy.''
(...)
''At the end of the day, with Sidious, nobody was really going to be able to touch him. He had to be the strongest, most dangerous guy.''
The director states that Sidious is the strongest, and no one can compete with him.
7- Maul's apprentice was able to put up ''a better fight'' than the Jedi Council (Includes Mace Windu):
Dave Filoni: ''He (Savage Opress) puts up a better fight than the Jedi Council did.''
Source: Star Wars The Clone Wars Season Five: The Lawless Featurette
While Windu watches his friends die one by one; Fisto, Kolar, Tiin.
Maul's apprentice puts up a better fight, and unlike Windu, Maul was able to keep his apprentice in the fight, longer than Windu kept Fisto and the rest in the fight against Sidious.
8- Maul wasn't afraid to take on both Mace Windu and Aayla Secura at the same time and Maul defeats Windu by using Sokan (using the environment to his advantage):
Maul fights with Mace Windu and Aayla Secura at the same time and duel continues in a off-panel fight.
Source: Star Wars: Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir #03
The Son of Dathomir comic book is also confirmed as entirely canon.
Maul can't treat Sidious like this; he says: ''finally, a fair fight'' against Windu, and he couldn't win the fight after kicking Aayla Secura, by dodging an explosion that KOed Windu.
Which is an excellent Sokan technique usage for Maul and he defeats Windu with this technique.
Maul was faster than Windu.
That shouldn't be possible when it comes to fighting Sidious.
Maul couldn't easily defeat Sidious like this, it would be harder than this.
9- Dooku and Windu were equals in the Force:
Source: Star Wars Adventures 010 (2021)
Both Dooku and Windu Force pushed each other once,
Source: Star Wars Adventures 010 (2021)
In the end Windu wins the duel against Dooku, but Dooku manages to escape.
Mace: ''I am giving you one chance to surrender, Dooku. Lay down your lightsaber... Or I will take it from you.''
Dooku: ''I'm sure you would.''
Source: Star Wars Adventures 010 (2021)
However, if Dooku fights against Sidious, the fight shouldn't have been that close.
Sidious Force choked Dooku from another planet.
Source: The Clone Wars Season 6 Episode 10 (2014)
The fight between Sidious and Dooku wouldn't be close at all.
As well as Dooku himself admits this.
Dooku: ''Do you really believe there is any power in the galaxy that can stand against my lord (Sidious)? Ten thousand Jedi knights will try this and all will fail.''
Source: Son of Dathomir 03 (2014)
Now, for all of these reasons, even if it's slightly: Sidious > Yoda > Windu suits here perfectly fine.
Matt Martin, an official from Lucasfilm, also confirms that Windu's focus against Sidious was circumstantial;
''Mace's focus against Sidious'':
Let's get to the main reasons why Windu was amped against Sidious:
# 1- Windu fought for Republic, which is something he loved more than his life:
''Because Mace, too, has an attachment. Mace has a secret love.
Mace Windu loves the Republic.''
(...)
''Sinking into Vaapad, Mace Windu fought for his life. More than his life: each whirl of blade and whipcrack of lightning was a strike in defense of democracy, of justice and peace, of the rights of ordinary beings to live their own lives in their own ways. He was fighting for the Republic that he loved.''
Source: Revenge of the Sith Novel
This is very similar to Ben Kenobi's amplification against Maul, when Maul find out about Luke Skywalker's existence, Kenobi had to protect the person who he believed that it's the Chosen One.
Dave Filoni : ''When pressed, because Obi-Wan is protecting someone else in the end, he does fight. But because he is so true and knows who he is in that moment, you can't defeat that.''
Source: io9.gizmodo.com
# 2- Windu's Vaapad/Juyo has become more powerful due to Anakin's fears:
Let's remember the fact that Maul was able to feed from anger and rage, this is also similar.
Obi-Wan : ''He used my anger against me, actually fed off my fury, gaining strength as I exhausted my own. I lost my lightsaber and he had me...''
Source: Jedi vs. Sith The Essential Guide to the Force
Mace Windu becomes even more powerful when Anakin arrives and only then Windu defeats Sidious by using fear:
''He could feel the end of this battle approaching, and so could the blur of Sith he faced; in the Force, the shadow had become a pulsar of fear. Easily, almost effortlessly, he turned the shadow's fear into a weapon: he angled the battle to bring them both out onto the window ledge.
"For all your power, you are no Jedi. All you are, my lord," Mace said evenly, staring past his blade, "is under arrest."
"Do you see, Anakin? Do you?" Palpatine's voice once again had the broken cadence of a frightened old man's. "Didn't I warn you of the Jedi and their treason?"
"Save your twisted words, my lord. There are no politicians here. The Sith will never regain control of the Republic. It's over. You've lost."
Mace leveled his blade. "You lost for the same reason the Sith always lose: defeated by your own fear."
Palpatine lifted his head. His eyes smoked with hate. "Fool," he said.
He lifted his arms, his robes of office spreading wide into raptor's wings, his hands hooking into talons. "Fool!" His voice was a shout of thunder. "Do you think the fear you feel is mine?"
Source: Revenge of the Sith Novel
That was not Sidious' fear however, it was:
Anakin's fear:
"Listen to me-you have to listen to me-" Anakin sagged against him, shaking; Mace wrapped his arms around the young Jedi and guided him into the nearest chair. "You can't-please, Master Windu, give me your word, promise me it'll be an arrest, promise you're not going to hurt him-"
(...)
The tangled web of fault lines in the Force he had seen connecting Anakin to Obi-Wan and to Palpatine was no more; in their place was a single spider-knot that sang with power enough to crack the planet.
Anakin Skywalker no longer had shatter-points. He was a shatterpoint. The shatterpoint.
Everything depended on him. Everything. Mace said slowly, with the same sort of deliberate care he would use in examining an unknown type of bomb that might have the power to destroy the universe itself, "Anakin, look at me." Skywalker raised his head. "Are you hurt? Do you need-" Mace frowned.
Anakin's eyes were raw, and red, and his face looked swollen. For a long time he didn't know if Anakin would answer, if he could answer, if he could even speak at all; the young Jedi seemed to be struggling with something inside himself, as though he fought desperately against the birth of a monster hatching within his chest. But in the Force, there was no as though; there was no seemed to be.
In the Force, Mace could feel the monster inside Anakin Skywalker, a real monster, too real, one that was eating him alive from the inside out.
Fear. This was the wound Anakin had taken. This was the hurt that had him shaking and stammering and too weak to stand. Some black fear had hatched like fever wasps inside the young Knight's brain, and it was killing him.''
Source: Revenge of the Sith Novel
In terms of power levels, just like Gillard says, Windu is betweenKenobi / Dooku / Maul level (tier 8) and Yoda / Sidious level (tier 9) without his amp.
When he gets that amp due to the; Love of the republic and Anakin's fears, his Vaapad gets even more and more powerful and he becomes a true tier 9 like Sidious, and he surpasses Yoda.
These 2 reasons (Love of Republic and Anakin's fears) made Windu more powerful than ever against Sidious. Without these two factors (which made him more powerful than usual), Windu wasn't equal to Sidious.
Thanos is the most powerful being in the universe.
Korath: ''Master, you cannot! Thanos is the most powerful being in the universe!"
Source: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Thanos's strength is unrivaled.
Graviton: "Well, then, I've got to get down there with the Avengers and take on this Thanos."
Taryan: ''Thanos's strength is unrivaled. You will lose even with your powerful friends fighting alongside you.''
Source: Agents of Shield, Season 5 Episode 20 (2018)
Thanos is the toughest there is.
Rocket Raccoon : ''This is Thanos we're talking about. He's the toughest there is.''
Thor : ''Well, he's never fought me.''
Rocket Raccoon : ''Yeah, he has.''
Thor : ''He's never fought me twice.''
Source: Avengers - Infinity War (2018)
The Director Joe Russo says that Thanos doesn't use the power stone when he fights with Hulk. Thanos is unbeatable in a 1 v 1 battle, and says Thanos has conquered thousands of worlds.
Joe Russo: ''He’s not using it (Power Stone). This is to show that Thanos, the Genghis Khan of the Marvel Universe, he’s unbeatable in a 1-on-1 battle. He’s conquered thousands of worlds.''
Source: Avengers - Infinity War the movie commentary (2018)
Doctor Strange sees the future and he sees every possible outcome against Thanos. Thanos beat Doctor Strange, the Avengers and the Guardians for 14.000.604 times, while they only win in 1 time against Thanos.
Doctor Strange : ''I went forward in time... to view alternate futures. To see all the possible outcomes of the coming conflict.''
Peter Quill : ''How many did you see?''
Doctor Strange : ''Fourteen million six hundred and five.''
Tony Stark : ''How many did we win?''
Doctor Strange : ''...One.''
Source: Avengers - Infinity War (2018)
Thanos is over 1.000 years old, and he fought everyone in the universe.
Joe Russo: "Clearly Thanos is a thousand-year-old character who has fought everyone in the universe and is the greatest: He's the Genghis Khan of the universe."
Source: Comicbook.com Interview (May 10, 2019)
Thanos and his army destroys half of the Xandarians and the Nova Corps, and steals the Power Stone.
Thor: "Thanos already has the Power Stone because he stole it last week when he decimated Xandar."
Source: Avengers - Infinity War (2018)
The writer of the movie states that Thanos is the strongest guy in the universe.
Christopher Markus: ''I think that's an immense amount of energy, and there is a reason why other people haven't done this, because I think it will kill you, so the strongest guy in the universe has to be the one to do it and I do think it.''
Source: Collider Interview (22 May 2018)
Gamora states that killing Thanos may not be possible.
Nebula: ''I will help them by killing Thanos.''
Gamora: ''I don't know if that's possible.''
Source: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 (2017)
Thanos has no fear of death. He showed no emotion after seeing his death in the near future.
Nebula (from future): ''My father is many things. A liar is not one of them.''
Thanos (from future): ''Thank you, Daughter. Perhaps I treated you too harshly...'' (Thanos dies).
Thanos: ''And that, is destiny fulfilled.''
Source: Avengers - Endgame (2019)
Thanos's role in the Marvel Universe is being a far better villain than Darth Vader is in Star Wars Universe.
Joe Russo: ''If you took Darth Vader and you multiply him times 10... look, our job with Thanos is to make him the preeminent villain in the Marvel Universe. That is his role in the comics. That's his role in these movies. And in order to be a preeminent villain you have to do some pretty bad things.''
Source: Comicbook.com (March 18, 2018)
The writer of the movie states that even if Iron Man and others removed the infinity gauntlet from Thanos on planet Titan, Thanos would still win because Thanos is ''unbelievably powerful'' without the stones.
Question: ''Do you think that Iron Man and everyone would've beaten Thanos if Star Lord hadn't punched him?''
Christopher Markus: ''Thanos trashed half of the universe without the stones, he went to planet to planet and slaughtered them. He is unbelievably powerful without the stones. I think they would've been very disappointed to get the glove off him and find that he was still beating the living daylights out of them.''
Source: Collider Interview (22 May 2018)
Thanos is highly intelligent, and he is more intelligent than anyone in the MCU according to Josh Brolin.
Josh Brolin: "You see this lughead and this guy who you pigeonhole right from the first cosmetic reaction to him. And what I see is this in this guy's eyes. This super, super, super intelligence. There's this constant contrasting thing about this Neanderthalic lughead who's way more intelligent than anybody else in the movie, by far."
Source: Entertainment Weekly, Ultimate Guide to the Avengers (2019)
Thanos has a genius level intellect.
Joe Russo: ''He has a genius level intellect.''
Source: Kinowetter Interview, (10/04/2018)
Thanos is very smart and he knows that if he tried to collect the infinity stones earlier, the forces of the universe would rise-up against him. He waits until he learns the location of the Soul Stone.
Stephen McFeely: "The catalyst for the whole movie was when Thanos figured out where the Soul Stone was, because he captured Nebula on his ship and rooted around in her brain and found out that Gamora knew where the Soul Stone was,"
Joe Russo: "It's the reason why he has not gone after the Stones at this point; because the minute he does, the forces of the universe are going to line up against him,"
Source: Avengers - Infinity War the Director Commentary (2018)
ETERNAL PHYSIOLOGY
Thanos is a very tall purple skinned Eternal from planet Titan, he is the brother of Eternal Eros.
Doctor Strange: ''Oh, yeah. You're much more of a Thanos.''
Source: Avengers - Infinity War (2018)
Although, Thanos is the brother of an Eternal, Eros, it's highly possible that Thanos both has Deviant and Eternal DNA. Because the director described Thanos as a ''genetic mutation''.
Joe Russo: ''He is a genetic mutation and was born on a planet called Titan.''
Source: Kinowetter Interview, (10/04/2018)
He is almost as tall as Hulk. He towers over Star Lord and Gamora.
He is very muscled and large, he is basically a giant.
Thanos' weight is 700 pounds.
Josh Brolin: “Avengers is a 700-pound purple dude, which was different than a 190-pound, scarred up, machine-armed guy—you know what I mean?”
Source: June 2018 Issue of Men’s Journal
SUPERHUMAN SPEED
Thanos moves faster and blocks Loki's cheap shot attempt and he easily deals with it.
Loki is fast enough to catch Hawkeye's arrow barehanded, he has superhuman reflexes.
Thanos catches Iron Spider midair while Iron Spider uses Doctor Strange's magic portals. In addition to that portal advantage, Spider-man already has superhuman reflexes and speed.
Iron Spider is fast enough to dodge from Starlord's blaster bolts and he is a bullet-timer.
When Thanos was blinded by Iron Spider's web,
He still reacts at Doctor Strange's magical blade and catches it with bare hands.
Thanos catches Black Panther midair, who is a bullet-timer.
Just like Loki, Black Panther has superhuman speed and reflexes, he was able to catch Hawk Eye's dual arrows barehanded.
N'Jobu: ''A warrior shaman received a vision from the panther goddess Bast, who led him to the Heart-Shaped Herb, a plant that granted him superhuman strength, speed and instincts."
Source: Black Panther (2018)
Thanos easily dodges from Hulk's punches in close combat, and he moves faster than him.
Hulk is fast enough to defeat Abomination in close combat, who can catch an RPG barehanded when his back is turned.
Hulk has very superhuman reflexes, he catches a supersonic Aircraft:
Hulk also catches an ejection seat while sitting on an Aircraft. And he also caught Iron Man before he falls from the sky in the battle of New York.
Thanos vs. Captain Marvel's energy attack,
Thanos is fast enough to react at Captain Marvel's supersonic fast photon blast.
Thanos is fast enough to react at Cap, Nanotech Iron Man and Thor at the same time in combat.
Cap is a bullet-timer, Iron Man can fly at supersonic speeds and Thor reacted at supersonic speeds before.
It's confirmed by the director Russo that Thor was in his prime by the end of Endgame against Thanos.
Anthony Russo: "The difficult road that Thor's traveled ultimately gave him strength. He was stronger than ever by the end of Endgame."
Source: Q&A on Reddit (8/8/2019)
Thanos reacts at Mjolnir's supersonic flight speed, and uses Iron Man as a shield.
And holds Iron Man's head to its direction.
Thanos moves faster and dodges Worthy Cap's Mjolnir strike after getting hit by lightning.
Thanos reacts at Stormbreaker's supersonic flight speed,
Stormbreaker blitzed hundreds of Alien Outriders at Wakanda and Thanos catches it in midair.
Thanos moves faster than Worthy Cap, and blocks Cap's Mjolnir strike.
Cap is fast enough to dodge bullets in close combat.
Thanos throws his blade very fast,
And destroys the quantum tunnel before anyone could enter.
Thanos vs. Doctor Strange's attack:
Similar to Hulk, Thanos jumps extremely high and dodges from Doctor Strange's supersonic fast magical lightning.
SUPERHUMAN STRENGTH
Thanos overpowers Hulk's strength.
Thanos is stronger than Hulk.
Joe Russo: “I mean it’s like death comes to call for the Avengers, it’s a nearly unbeatable force who is determined to destroy half the life in the universe in order to bring it into balance. He sees it as an overgrown garden that he needs to prune. As you mentioned he is fairly invincible. He’s a sort of genetic mutation who’s the Genghis Khan of the universe. Unbeatable on the battlefield and stronger than the Hulk. His skin is invincible, so it’s going to cost the Avengers something to defeat him.”
Source: Hey U Guys’ interview (2018)
Hulk casually and quickly throws a large tank at Hydra soldiers.
That's a regular feat, Hulk throws a forklift truck like a softball.
Blonsky: "He threw a forklift truck like it was a softball! It was the most powerful thing I'd ever seen."
Source: The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Hulk dents a Vibranium wall with a punch.
Vibranium is the strongest substance in the universe.
N'Jobu: "Millions of years ago, a meteorite made of vibranium, the strongest substance in the universe, struck the continent of Africa, affecting the plant life around it. And when the time of men came, five tribes settled on it and called it Wakanda."
Source: Black Panther (2018)
Being able to dent it with a sheer strength is an amazing strength and striking feat. It's easily requires a force equal to hundreds of thousands of tons. Because Vibranium is not only extremely tough, it deflects kinetic energy.
Hulk's physical strength limit is unknown.
"The green behemoth possesses the greatest raw strength of any natural being on Earth, with an upper limit that has yet to be fully tested."
Hulk one-shots a Chitauri Leviathan. It's a gigantic alien creature with a very thick metal armor, Chitauri Leviathan weighs at least thousands of tons. Simply because of having a tougher armor than a tank (Iron Man couldn't penetrate its armor). It is hundreds of times heavier than a tank due to its toughness and its size.
To one-shot this gigantic alien creature which moves and charges towards them with great speed, Hulk uses an incredible physical strength that surpasses the weight and the tough armor of the Chitauri Leviathan, Hulk uses a force equal to hundreds of thousands of tons to overpower this gigantic alien creature in a single punch with one arm.
Chitauri Leviathans casually passes through inside of a large building while flying.
And Chitauri Leviathan has a very tough armor that even Iron Man's first suit can't penetrate.
Hulk also physically overpowered Thor, and defeated the Abomination and Fenris in combat. Hulk casually ripped off the Hulkbuster's very thick titanium alloy armor which is several times more durable than steel.
This is another an incredible strength feat from Hulk.
Hulk shakes the ground and creates an earthquake in South Africa, which requires a force equal to hundreds of thousands of tons physical power.
It's a force equal to at least 700,000 tons.
''Create the World's Biggest Building: Back in 2005, a geologist claimed that the world's then-tallest building, the Taipei 101, which weighs in at more than 700,000 metric tons, was triggering earthquakes in a long-dormant fault in Taiwan.''
Source: wired.com/2008/06/top-5-ways-that/
The same in Sakaar.
In another occasion, Hulk sends Vibranium Ultron miles away with a single punch. Vibranium is extra durable to blunt strength and it deflects kinetic energy. Punching Vibranium and sending it to a far distance is an incredible strength feat.
Hulk also staggered the mountain size Surtur with a punch. It requires a force equal to hundreds of thousands of tons.
Hulk lifts a very large building with one arm; it weighs hundreds of thousands of tons.
The most impressive about this lifting feat is that doing it with one arm and right after getting injured because of using the Full Infinity Gauntlet.
Thanos bleeds Hulk with a roundhouse kick after beating him.
Thanos beats Hulk in one-on-one combat, it takes only 12 hits. Thanos has far superior close combat skills.
Hulk is durable enough to resist multiple hits from Thor's Mjolnir. And he takes no damage from 30 mm Aircraft ammunition.
Hulk takes the entire bombardment from the Squadron of Chitauri Chariots, and he still continued to fight in New York without taking any injury,
Even a single blast from a Chitauri Chariot can blow-up a car.
And entire Chitauri Chariot squadron are all together firing at Hulk without giving any break for minutes. Hulk takes no serious damage from this bombardment and he saves Iron Man shortly after this.
Hulk is also durable enough to use the Full IG and survived afterwards. The Full Infinity Gauntlet channels energy to light up a continent, which is superior to nuclear bomb.
Thanos snaps Loki's neck by using one hand only and without even putting up any effort.
Loki is durable enough to survive a fall from the atmosphere when he fall from the Bifrost and he took only a minor damage from the Destroyer armor prototype gun blast. Loki is also bulletproof, and Loki also has superhuman strength as he matched with Valkyrie in close combat, who can send people miles away with one hand.
Thanos one-shots Black Panther's Vibranium armor with a punch.
Black Panther is highly bulletproof due to his armor,
He takes no damage from high caliber bullets.
Thanos blitzes Iron Spider with one arm only while distracted by Nanotech Iron Man.
Regular Spider-man can stop a bus, and Iron Spider is far more powerful than regular Spider-man.
Peter Parker: ''Yeah, a kid who can stop a bus with his bare hands.''
Source: Spider-Man Homecoming (2017)
Thanos ragdolls Drax, who has super strength,
And then he easily throws Doctor Strange's magical binding rope hundreds of meters away with one hand only.
Thanos sends Nanotech Iron Man flying tens of meters with a single headbutt.
Iron Man is strong enough to lift a tank, he has super strength and his armor is several times more durable than steel.
Thanos casually rips off Nanotech Iron Man's extremely durable helmet with one arm.
The helmet is many times more durable than steel and it's durable enough to resist mortar cannons, and any high calibre bullets with ease. As well as his suit durable enough to resist Thor's Mjolnir strike on his head and it didn't even shatter Nano tech Iron Man's helmet.
Nanotech Iron Man is durable enough to resist a direct meteorite crash when Thanos threw a moon at him.
Which is a force equal to hundreds of thousands of tons, and that hits Nanotech Iron man, and he still resists the direct meteorite crash. Another incredible strength feat.
Thanos rips off the mind stone from Vision's highly durable Vibranium skull by using one hand only.
This is also an incredible strength feat. Vibranium is the strongest substance in the universe.
Thanos casually crushes the cosmic cube Tesseract barehanded, with one hand only. This is even more impressive because of the cosmic cubes' durability.
The Tesseract is a highly durable cosmic cube which can easily get hot enough to melt the steel inside of an aircraft. It resists nearly 120 million Kelvin heat. It's an object that even an alien Flerken can't damage it after eating it. It's not destroyed over centuries until Thanos gets his hand on it.
According to the calculations, it's at least 42,000 tons with one-hand only;
''But Cranford concluded that squeezing the cube to dust required a force equal to 42,000 tons, or the combined grip strength of 750,000 average U.S. men. (That's about the number of men living in Philadelphia.) Assuming a proportional relationship between grip strength and what the average male American can lift, back-of-the-envelope math suggests Thanos could heft 120 million pounds, 10 million pounds more than the weight of the Titanic.''
Source: Washington Post, (May 18, 2018)
Casually lifts tens of thousands of tons with one arm with ease.
Thanos one-shots Doctor Strange's highly durable magical shield with a kick.
Doctor Strange's magical shield is very durable,
Even against Dormammu's dark energy blasts.
Thanos physically overpowers Captain Marvel's leg with a wounded arm.
Captain Marvel can casually lift a huge spaceship that weighs thousands of tons with her bare hands.
Thanos sends Cap flying through a rock debris after punching the Vibranium shield.
And the impact of his punch destroys a huge rock. This is impressive because the Vibranium deflects the kinetic energy, as Cap can deflect even a hit from Mjolnir.
Which is powerful enough to destroy a tank.
Another example of Cap's Vibranium shield defense, it easily tanks Iron Man's flying punch;
Thanos physically overpowers Thor:
Thor is physically so powerful that he can one-shot a huge Kronan (rock-like humanoid) fighter, and one-shotted a huge Frost Beast, and destroyed a city in Sokovia by hitting the Vibranium core that Ultron planted it while using Mjolnir. And he shook the ground while fighting with Infinity stone amped Malekith.
When Thor wasn't using his hammer, he physically overpowered Iron Man, who can lift a tank.
Thor easily swung Rocket Raccoon's several tons Space Pod at great speeds and with the help of the Space Pod's propulsive power, it was enough to move the gigantic mountain size frozen star forge Nidavellir that requires a force equal to hundreds of thousands of tons.
Thor can even hold the steel rope against the Space Pod's propulsive power which flies at FTL speed.
Thanos bleeds Thor with his punches:
Thor is durable enough to survive the full force of a star, and takes no injury from Vibranium Ultron's punches, as well as he takes no damage from extremely high caliber Aircraft bullets,
And Thor also takes no damage from advanced Hydra weapons,
Thor also survived multiple stabs from Hela, the goddess of death, who can pierce even Uru metal with ease.
Thanos physically overpowers Thor once again, this time he uses Thor's own weapon to kill him,
Worthy Cap saves Thor by using Mjolnir before Thanos kills Thor.
Thanos vs. Worthy Cap's Vibranium Shield,
He destroys Worthy Cap's Vibranium shield with his double-bladed sword.
Thanos one-shots a wizard who was using a magical shield.
Wizard's magical shield is no match for Thanos.
Scarlet Witch is powerful enough to lift a Chitauri Leviathan casually and she lifts huge Alien Threshers that weigh hundreds of thousands of tons with her TK.
Thanos destroys rage amped Scarlet Witch's gigantic rocks that weigh hundreds of tons first,
And then he overpowers her telekinesis for a while even when she was rage amped.
Thanos vs. Thor's Stormbreaker,
He blocks Thor's Stormbreaker swing with one hand.
Thanos beats Thor with a headbutt,
And then he beats Worthy Cap with ease.
Thanos physically overpowers Captain Marvel before wearing the Full Infinity Gauntlet.
Captain Marvel is physically very, very strong. She is strong enough to stop a very large alien tech ballistic missile midair.
And then Captain Marvel throws it back through the atmosphere. She overpowers it against the missile's propulsive force. It requires a force equal to tens of thousands of tons, due to its gigantic size and its propulsive power.
Captain Marvel casually lifts and carries a huge spaceship in the space,
It weighs thousands of tons.
While Thanos was physically weakened a lot due to wearing the Full Infinity Gauntlet, Thanos still holds Captain Marvel back in that physically weakened state.
The Full Infinity Gauntlet is channeling enough energy to light up a continent, which is superior to taking a nuclear bomb. It physically affects the user a lot as we've seen from Hulk.
Due to wearing the full Infinity Gaunlet, Hulk falls on his knees due to its immense power, and he hardly lifts his hand.
Just like Thanos, Hulk has been in huge pain when he wore the Full Infinity Gauntlet. And he was physically very weakened as well. Which is why Captain Marvel manages to overpower Thanos in this moment.
While Captain Marvel is powerful enough to destroy the gigantic spaceship Sanctuary II in seconds,
And she takes no damage from the several city block level full bombardment of the gigantic spaceship.
SUPERHUMAN DURABILITY AND HEALING FACTOR
Thanos takes no damage from Star Lord's alien tech explosive. Star Lord's explosives can take down spaceships.
Thanos has immunity to large fire, and explosion.
Both energy and piercing durability. He takes no damage from any shrapnel pieces and the heat of the fire.
Thanos gets hit by a hypersonic spacecraft directly,
And he takes no damage from it.
Thanos holds Doctor Strange's magic sword barehanded, and he gets no damage from it. Both piercing and energy durability.
He takes nanotech Iron Man's energy blasts wih ease,
It couldn't even put a scratch on Thanos.
Thanos takes no damage from Nanotech Iron Man's missiles and from the shrapnel pieces,
His missiles can one-shot a tank. It's both piercing and energy durability.
Thanos is highly bulletproof.
He no sells bullets from Bucky's auto rifle.
Thanos gets hit by Mjolnir's sky lightning,
And he takes no damage and quickly stands up.
Thor's lightning blast from above, he gets no damage and he quickly stands up to counter Thor.
Thor's lightning is powerful enough to destroy two gigantic Chitauri Leviathans and a large amount of the alien Outriders. Chitauri Leviathans have a very tough armor that even Tony's first suit can't penetrate.
And Thor's lightning destroyed the Bifrost bridge before, which is durable enough to resist a huge spaceship crash (it weighs tens of thousands of tons) and it also resists the grapple of Fenris and Hulk, and resists to Hulk's mountain size fall when Surtur sends him flying through the bridge, the Bifrost Bridge also resisted to Thor's Mjolnir hits.
Scarlet Witch: ''You took everything from me.''
Source: Avengers - Endgame (2019)
Thanos deflects rage amped Scarlet Witch's energy blasts which is powerful enough to atomize Ultron sentries and rip Vibranium Ultron's heart. It requires a force equal to tens of thousands of tons, to bend or rip Vibranium.
When she is rage amped, Scarlet Witch was able to rip Vibranium Ultron's heart, and she shreds bulletproof Ultron sentries to its atoms. She can lift thousands of tons weight with her TK, even without her rage amp. She one-shotted invulnerable Vibranium Vision.
She struggles to bleed Thanos, while she was able to destroy Vibranium and Thanos' sword which is as durable as Vibranium,
Thanos' skin is tougher than even Vibranium.
Thanos gets no damage from Captain Marvel's hits. She has super strength and energy blasts.
Captain Marvel can destroy a spaceship fleet single handedly while flying on the space, and she also destroyed the gigantic mountain size battleship Sanctuary II in mere seconds. She can casually lift a huge spaceship that weighs thousands of tons, and throws a huge alien missile with her bare hands against the missile's propulsive power.
Thanos uses the Nano tech glove that Tony Stark and Bruce Banner created, it channels enough energy to light up a continent. Thanos survives the continent level energy, which is superior to surviving a nuclear bomb.
Tony Stark: ''No, it’s not just the fact that that glove is channeling enough energy to light up a continent, I’m telling you, you’re in no condition.''
Source: Avengers - Endgame (2019)
The director Russo states that only Hulk was strong enough to do the snap. Any other members of the Avengers would die because of its power, that includes even Thor.
They are not even sure if Captain Marvel can withstand the full infinity gauntlet or not.
Question: ''Why Iron Man has to be the one to do the final snap, couldn't the people like Thor, Star-Lord or Captain Marvel whom all previously have handled the power of Infinity Stones done it instead?''
Joe Russo: ''Thor in this movie couldn't do it, only Hulk was strong enough to do the snap without dying. We are still not sure whether Captain Marvel can also withstand all the power of Infinity Stones at once.''
Source: Q&A from China (30/04/2019)
The writer Christopher states that Thanos is immune to Ant-man's size expansion sneak attack even if Ant-man successfully enters the inside of Thanos' body.
Christopher Markus: "Thanos could take a punch from the Hulk, we've seen that. And it stands to reason his whole body is at least as strong as that. If Ant-Man expanded, he would be simply crushed against the immovable walls of Thanos' mighty rectum."
Source: Yahoo Entertainment (10 May 2019)
The director Russo explains why Doctor Strange never tried to cut Thanos's arm off. Because Thanos's skin is almost impenetrable.
Question: "Why didn't they just cut off his arm?" More specifically, it seemed Doctor Strange may have had a chance to do just that when fighting the Mad Titan on his home planet but he didn't.
Joe Russo: "Thanos' skin is almost impenetrable, we don't know whether Doctor Strange had the capability to do it, if he failed to cut it on time, Thanos would still able to do the snap. Doctor Strange realized this issue during his millions of test runs."
Source: Comicbook.com Interview (April 30, 2019)
Thanos has regenerative healing factor.
Question: ''Hold on... Hulk has a whole healing factor... Why didn't his arm heal?''
Joe Russo: ''Hulk has never come up against every infinity stone in a gauntlet. Thanos is nearly invincible and he did not heal either. When you wield the full power of the Infinity Stones it does irreparable damage to your being.''
Source: Endgame Questions From Twitter | Tech Support | WIRED (2019)
MIND CONTROL RESISTANCE
Thanos is highly resistant to Empathic Manipulation. A different type of mind and emotion control.
Mantis: ''Be quick! He is very strong!''
Source: Avengers - Infinity War (2018)
Mantis was able to put even Ego (a celestial being, who is a planet) into sleep with her Empathic Manipulation ability, but Thanos still resists her powers.
COMBAT SKILLS
Thanos is a incredibly well trained fighter.
Joe Russo: ''He is a world conqueror, he is an incredibly well trained fighter, he is unbeatable in combat, he has got nearly invincible skin it's part of his genetic mutation.''
Source: Kinowetter Interview, (10/04/2018)
And Thanos is a more skilled fighter than both Thor and Loki.
Joe Russo: ''He’s a much more polished fighter than the Hulk, and Thor, and Loki.''
Source: Avengers - Infinity War the movie commentary (2018)
Thor is 1.500 years old, and he is a very experienced fighter, and he is capable of beating even highly trained special agents in close combat without using his super powers.
Agent Coulson: ''You made my men, some of the most highly trained professionals in the world, look like a bunch of minimum wage mall cops. That's hurtful. In my experience, it takes someone who's received similar training, to do what you did to them. Why don't you tell me, where you received your training?''
Source: Thor (2011)
THANOS'S URU METAL SWORD
Thanos has a large double-bladed sword, it's similar to Buster Sword from Final Fantasy VII, and Guts' sword from Berserk, and similar to Kotal Kahn's sword, but it's double-bladed unlike those swords.
It's a very durable and sharp sword, it's special like the Nidavellir weapons.
Joe Russo: "He's (Thanos) the Genghis Khan of the universe, so he would have the greatest weapon. He knows of Eitri, he's been to Eitri to have his glove created. Did he have them create his blade as well? Potentially."
Source: Comicbook.com Interview (May 10, 2019)
Considering Russo's statement, we can assume that Thanos' sword is at least on par with Corvus Glaive's blade as well, which is powerful to stab Vision's Vibranium body and stops him from phasing.
Vision: "The blade... It stopped me from phasing."
Source: Avengers - Infinity War (2018)
Thanos' sword is capable of cutting Cap's Vibranium shield.
The sword can rotate fast enough to block powerful energy blasts.
It can block Nanotech Iron Man's and Thor's combined energy without taking damage.
Thanos blocks Stormbreaker by using his blade without taking damage, Stormbreaker is the greatest weapon in Asgard,
With his own double-bladed sword, it's also durable enough to block Stormbreaker.
Thanos throws his blade away with a great skill,
Then the sword returns back to its owner as if it's like a boomerang.
Now the series have concluded, we can list all the best fighters we've seen so far. It's hard to rank one over another, so I will just casually mention the best we've seen so far, it's not in order.
40-) Ser Mandon Moore
One of the kingsguards from King's Landing. He betrayed Tyrion and cut his face during the Battle of Blackwater, then Podrick killed him with a sneak attack from behind.
39-) Lord Ramsay Bolton
He kills several Baratheon men in the Battle of Winterfell, successfully captures Theon and intimidates and brain washes him turns him into the Reek, survives an attack from Yara Greyjoy and her best ironborn killers and he forces them to escape. He is very quick with a knife as he killed Roose Bolton without even him realizing Ramsay. He is also a skilled bowman.
38-) Syrio Forel (wooden sword)
Syrio: ''The first sword of Braavos does not run.'' (S01E08)
First sword of Braavos, skilled enough to beat 5 Lannister soldiers with a wooden sword, although loses to Meryn Trant due to not having a real sword and Trant's steel armor, though thanks to Syrio, Arya still managed to escape from the Lannisters.
37-) Ser Meryn Trant
Another kingsguard from King's Landing, he killed Syrio Forel by using the advantage of having an armor and a real sword.
36-) Ser Podrick
He gets better and becomes a skilled fighter thanks to Brienne's training, kills one of the Bolton men in a single combat when Brienne rescued Sansa from the Boltons and survived the Great War against the army of the dead, and he has become one of the Kingsguards of King Bran the Broken.
35-) Yoren
A skilled fighter from the Night's Watch, kills 3 Lannister soldiers single handedly before he loses.
34-) King Euron Greyjoy
Euron: ''Another king for you. But I got you! I got you! I'm the man who killed Jaime Lannister.'' (S08E05)
Euron was a talented killer as he managed to kill Balon Greyjoy by throwing him out of the bridge despite getting a wound on his face, and he killed the Sand Snakes and captured Yara Greyjoy in combat, managed to kill one of Daenerys's Dragons by using the Ballista scorpion arrows, then fought against one-handed Jaime with only a knife, though he loses to Jaime he also mortally wounded Jaime in return.
33-) Jory Cassel
Although we didn't hear anything about his sword skills, he was the captain of Stark soldiers in the King's Landing, and he managed to kill 2 Lannister soldiers quickly before he encountered with Jaime Lannister.
32-) Ser Alliser Thorne
Jon: ''Ser Alliser. You have more experience than any other ranger at Castle Black. You proved your valor many times over while defending the Wall from the wildling attack. I name you First Ranger.'' (S05E03)
Appointed as the master at arms in the NW, and then appointed as the first ranger, he fought in the Battle of Castle Black and defeated several wildling fighters until he lost a fight to Tormund Giantsbane.
31-) Ser Gerold Hightower
He was the Lord commander of the Aerys's Kingsguard. Even when they were outnumbered against the Northmen (6 vs. 2), he managed to kill one of Eddard's men before he dies.
30-) Ser Rodrik Cassel
Tyrion: ''It's a lucky thing none of them were trained by a master-at-arms like your Ser Rodrik.'' (S01E03)
Rodrik was a veteran fighter, survived the attack of hill tribes alongside with Bronn, he trained Robb and Jon.
29-) Prince Rhaegar Targaryen
Daenerys: ''He told me Rhaegar was good at killing people.'' (S05E04)
According to Viserys, and Barristan, Rhaegar was talented at killing people, although he never liked it.
28-) Thoros of Myr
Jorah: ''The Ironborn thought you were some kind of god. The way you were waving that flaming sword. I thought you were the bravest man I ever saw.'' (S07E06)
Thoros is a veteran fighter who survived many battles such as the Siege of Pyke. Just like Beric, he uses a flaming sword in battles.
27-) Beric Dondarrion
Ser Beric is also a veteran fighter, and the champion of the Brotherhood without Banners. Fought well against the Hound in a single combat by using a flaming sword, although he still loses to him. Survived the raid beyond the Wall and they captured a Wight. Later he saved Arya from the army of the dead in the Great War, and he sacrificed himself for her.
26-) Jorah Mormont
A veteran fighter who survived many battles such as the Siege of Pyke, and defeated Khal Drogo's bloodrider Qotho in a single combat (with the help of his armor), survived the fighting pits in Meereen.
25-) Magnar of Thenn Styr
Styr was a Magnar (Lord) of Thenn (cannibals), he killed several NW soldiers in the Battle of Castle Black, and managed to disarm Jon Snow in a single combat, although he still lost the fight to Jon later.
24-) Karl Tanner
Karl: ''They told me a man's name and that man never saw daylight again. None of them cocksuckers got away from me. Haven't lost a fight since I was nine. Maybe it's time. What do you think, eh? Maybe you're the man. Eh, cunt?'' Rast: ''I wouldn't stand a chance. None of us would.'' Karl: ''I was a fucking legend in Gin Alley. '' (S04E04)
Grenn: ''Karl was a top paid cutthroat in Flea Bottom. I've seen what he can do with a knife.'' (S04E05)
He was skilled enough to kill Craster in a one quick move, killed several NW soldiers with ease, almost defeated Jon Snow too if Jon didn't get help.
23-) Benjen Stark
Appointed as the First Ranger in NW, and kills numerous Wights beyond the wall and saves Bran (S06E06), and saves Jon Snow from the army of the dead (S07E06).
22-) Grey Worm
He is skilled enough to be the captain of Unsullied, and he survives an ambush from the sons of harpy due to his fighting skills.
21-) Ser Loras Tyrell
Rennick: ''Loras Tyrell. He's prettier than the Queen.''
Lannister guard: ''I don't care about pretty. He's better with a sword than any of them.'' (S02E04)
Loras Tyrell is considered to be one of the best swordsman in the seven kingdoms. Although he loses to the Mountain when he attacked him after the tournament and then he lost to Brienne of Tarth later, he still should be skilled enough on this list.
20-) Waif
Another Faceless men, very skilled assassin.
19-) Lord Smalljon Umber
Smalljon Umber: ''Wildlings come down, we always have to fight them first. I like fighting wildlings. Been doing it all my life. '' (S06E03)
He killed several wildling fighters in the Battle of Bastards, and almost defeated Tormund Giantsbane in a single combat until he has been distracted by the Knights of the Vale.
18-) Tormund Giantsbane
Tormund: ''They call me "Giantsbane. " Want to know why? I killed a giant when I was 10. Then I climbed right into bed with his wife. When she woke up, you know what she did? Suckled me at her teat for three months. Thought I was her baby. That's how I got so strong. Giant's milk.'' (S08E02)
He was skilled enough to be the leader of the Free Folk fighters, and he killed several Night's Watch soldiers and defeated Ser Alliser Thorne in a single combat, he survived the Battle of Bastards, and the raid beyond the Wall when they went to capture a Wight.
17-) Khal Drogo
Viserys: ''Do you see how long his hair is? When Dothraki are defeated in combat they cut off their braid so the whole world can see their shame. Khal Drogo has never been defeated. He's a savage, of course, but he's one of the finest killers alive. '' (S01E01)
Drogo as one of the Khals in Essos, was one of the best fighters, he defeated a Dothraki rider Mago without even using his arakh, although he took a wound on his chest because of his overconfidence.
16-) Daario Naharis
Jorah: ''Daario Naharis killed his captains and dumped their heads at your feet when he grew tired of their commands.'' (S04E07)
Daario was a skilled fighter and he was a famous killer in the fighting pits in Essos.
15-) Ser Bronn of the Blackwater
Bronn survived the attack from the Hill tribes and killed several of their clan members, then defeated Ser Vardis in a single combat, he survived the Battle of the Green Fork in the vanguard against the Northmen, and he survived the Battle of Blackwater against Stannis where he is knighted. He managed to kill 3 Dornish guards when he and Jaime went to Dorne. He also managed to shoot one of Daenerys's Dragons by using a ballista scorpion arrow in the Battle of Goldroad.
14-) King Stannis Baratheon
Leads an attack to the King's Landing in the vanguard, and survived the Battle of Blackwater despite losing it, fights in the vanguard in the Battle of Winterfell against the Boltons and almost survived it, even after getting wounded he kills 2 Bolton soldiers single handedly, and when he couldn't fight any more Brienne executes him for killing Renly.
13-) Lord Eddard Stark
Barristan Selmy: ''You're too modest. I've seen you cut down a dozen great knights.'' (S01E05)
Eddard Stark killed one of Aerys's Kingsguards Gerold Hightower at the Tower of Joy, and killed 2 Lannister soldiers at the King's Landing before fighting with Jaime Lannister, and they evenly matched with Jaime Lannister until one of the Jaime's men interfered with a spear.
12-) King Robb Stark
Jon Snow: ''I was jealous of Robb my whole life. The way my father looked at him, I wanted that. He was better than me at everything-- fighting and hunting and riding and girls. Gods, the girls loved him. I wanted to hate him, but I never could.'' (S04E01)
Tywin Lannister: ''And what do they say of Robb Stark in the North?'' Arya Stark: ''They say he rides into battle on the back of a giant direwolf. They say he can turn into a wolf himself when he wants. They say he can't be killed.'' (S02E05)
Sansa Stark: ''Of course you'll be in the vanguard. They say my brother Robb always goes where the fighting is thickest.'' (S02E09)
Robb quickly killed 2 wildling fighters single handedly and captured the other (S01E06). He survived many battles in the vanguard against the Lannister armies, and it has been stated that Robb fights where the fighting is thickest.
11-) King Jon Snow
Ramsay Bolton: ''I keep hearing stories about you, bastard. The way people in the North talk about you, you're the greatest swordsman who ever walked.'' (S06E09)
Tormund: ''He's little, but he's strong. Strong enough to befriend an enemy and get murdered for it! Most people get bloody murdered, they stay that way. Not this one. He comes back and keeps fighting. Here, north of the Wall, and then back here again. He keeps fighting. He keeps fighting. He climbed on a fucking dragon and fought. What kind of person climbs on a fucking dragon? A madman or a king!'' (S08E04)
Jon Snow killed 2 White Walkers, and Karl Tanner (although with a help), defeated Magnar of Thenn Styr, and Ramsay Bolton in a single combat. Survived the Battle of Bastards in the vanguard, survived the Raid beyond the Wall and they captured a wight before they get surrounded by Night King's dead army, survived the Great War against the White Walkers, and he killed 8 Lannister soldiers in the King's Landing even when he was trying to stop the fighting and protect himself only.
10-) Ser Gregor Clegane, The Mountain
Ser Bronn: ''I'd be a bloody fool if he didn't frighten me. He's freakish big and freakish strong. And quicker than you'd expect for a man of that size. Maybe I could take him, dance around until he's so tired of hacking at me, he dropped his sword, get him off his feet somehow. But one misstep and I'm dead. Why should I risk it? .'' (S04E07)
As Bronn said, the Mountain is incredibly strong and big, and quicker than people would expect, he was going to kill Loras Tyrell easily if not for the Hound, and he killed Prince Oberyn.
9-) Prince Oberyn Martell
Oberyn was a skilled fighter, known as Red Viper, and he fought in the fighting pits of Meereen, almost defeated the Mountain in a single combat, stabbed him many times with his spear, although loses to him in the end to due his overconfidence.
8-) King Robert Baratheon
Joffrey: ''My father won the real war. He killed Prince Rhaegar. He took the crown while you hid under Casterly Rock!'' (S03E10)
According to several sources in the show, Robert was a great fighter in his prime. Fought in the vanguard in the battles against the Targaryens, and defeated Prince Rhaegar in a single combat with his warhammer.
7-) Ser Jaime Lannister (two handed)
Theon: ''Kill him, Robb. Send his head to his father. - He cut down ten of our men. You saw him.'' (S01E09)
Robb: ''lf we do it your way, Kingslayer you'd win. We're not doing it your way.'' (S01E09)
Euron: ''I remember very well. I saw you. I heard so much talk. The best in the world. No one can stop him. I didn't believe it, to be honesty. But I must say, when you rushed through the breach and started cutting people down... it was glorious. Like a dance.'' (S07E01)
Jaime: ''If you had armed me, they never would have taken us.'' Brienne: ''You were armed when we were taken.'' Jaime: ''I was in chains if you recall. Our little match would have ended quite quick if my hands weren't bound.'' Brienne: ''All my life I've been hearing, Jaime Lannister, what a brilliant swordsman. You were slower than I expected. And more predictable.'' Jaime: ''I've been sitting in a muddy pen wrapped in chains for the past year.'' (S03E03)
He was one of the best when he had two hands, he has only one defeat against Brienne but he was at a disadvantage due to being in chains and being out of form for almost one year. Even after losing his sword hand, he was a capable fighter, he survived the Great War against the Night King by helping Brienne and he even managed to kill Euron Greyjoy in a single combat, although took heavy wounds in return.
6-) Sandor Clegane, The Hound
Littlefinger: ''No, please don't. If the Hound so much as heard you mention it, I'm afraid all the knights in King's Landing would not be able to save you.'' (S01E04)
He saved Loras Tyrell from the Mountain, kills 3 Frey soldiers single handedly (S03E10), kills 4 Lannister soldiers single handedly (S04E01), kills 4 of Cersei Queensguard (S08E05), and defeats his brother the Mountain and disarms him in a single combat, however couldn't kill him without sacrificing himself due to Qyburn turning the Mountain into a zombie.
5-) Arya Stark
After her training under Jaqen H'ghar, she becomes a Faceless men, she kills another Faceless men Waif in a single combat, and killed numerous Wights in the Great War, and evenly matched with Brienne in a single combat, and she even managed to kill the Night King with a sneak attack.
4-) Ser Brienne Tarth
Defeated Ser Loras Tyrell in a single combat, defeated 2 of Renly's Kingsguards when they wrongly believed Brienne killed Renly, she defeated 3 Stark soldiers single handedly, defeated Jaime Lannister in a single combat (although Jaime had disadvantages in that fight), and she defeated the Hound in a single combat. She rescued Sansa from 4 Bolton soldiers, and she survived the Great War against the Night King where she fought in the vanguard.
3-) Jaqen H'ghar
Jaqen: ''To be a dancing master is a special thing, but to be a faceless man, that is something else entirely. '' (S02E10)
As a Faceless men, he was an extremely skilled fighter, he instantly killed Ser Amory Lorch and he taught Waif and Arya how to fight.
2-) Ser Barristan Selmy
Eddard Stark: ''My father once told me you were the best he'd ever seen. I never knew the man to be wrong about matters of combat.'' (S01E05)
Jaime Lannister: ''He was A painter. A painter who only used red. I couldn't imagine being able to fight like that, not back then. And to help him do that, to be a part of something that perfect. I don't need to explain how that felt, not to you. It's like stepping into a dream you've been dreaming for as long as you can remember, and finding out that the dream is more real than your life. Leaving that battlefield was like being dragged off to prison.'' (S02E07)
He was the best according to Rickard Stark and Jaime Lannister. He saves Daenerys from an assassination attempt and he saves Grey Worm from the sons of the Harpy.
1-) Ser Arthur Dayne
Joffrey: ''Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning... led the attack on the Kingswood Brotherhood. Defeated the Smiling Knight in single combat.'' (S04E01)
Bran: ''Ser Arthur Dayne. Father said he was the best swordsman he ever saw.'' (S06E03)
Perhaps the best, certainly rivals Barristan Selmy. He wounded Howland Reed and killed 3 of Eddard Stark's men single handedly and then defeated Eddard Stark as well, almost win against 4 v 1, only defeated by a sneak attack from behind by Howland Reed.
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