The best lightsaber duel in Star Wars history arguably takes place outside the canonical timeline of the movies, series, or officially recognized stories. It’s a duel that unfolded in the now non-canon ‘Expanded Universe,’ which has since been rebranded as ‘Legends’ following Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm. This particular bout stands out for its emotional depth, choreography, and the sheer impact it had on the Star Wars universe.

In “Star Wars: Visions of the Future” — a novel by Timothy Zahn which was part of the Expanded Universe — Luke Skywalker faces off with his clone, Luuke Skywalker (yes, with an extra ‘u’). Cloned from Luke’s severed hand, lost during his infamous fight against Darth Vader in “The Empire Strikes Back,” Luuke is controlled by Joruus C’baoth, a Dark Jedi intent on destroying Luke and converting Mara Jade to his dark cause. Mara Jade, a former Emperor’s Hand turned smuggler and ally to Luke, has her own deeply personal stake in this battle.

What makes this duel stand above many others is not just the spellbinding choreography described vividly in Zahn’s prose but also the complex emotions at play. On one side is Luke, wrestling with his own hubris and learning to truly master himself rather than simply wielding the Force like a tool. On the other is Mara Jade, carrying out the final wish of her deceased master—Emperor Palpatine—to kill Luke Skywalker. However, through this trial by combat, she finds redemption and catharsis.

This incredible narrative ballet stood as a pinnacle of character development and transformative storytelling long before Disney’s sequels attempted to provide additional layers to Skywalker’s saga. And although it remains non-canon lore as of my knowledge cutoff in 2023, for many fans who grew up on the Expanded Universe novels, it persists as one of the most thrilling and emotionally resonant moments in all of Star Wars storytelling—official or otherwise.