From the moment he first appeared on the screen in Star Wars: A New Hope, Obi-Wan Kenobi became one of the most iconic figures in Star Wars lore. While the saga classically revolves around Anakin Skywalker and his transformation into Darth Vader (it is the Skywalker Saga, after all), a closer look at Obi-Wan’s journey shows that he consistently outshone his contemporaries, including Yoda himself, and achieved feats that few, if any, other Jedi could match. Moments that put Obi-Wan at the forefront are scattered across the films, novels, and shows, but they don’t just showcase skill; they reveal spirituality and strategic brain that cement him as the single most fierce and influential Jedi Master in the history of the Order.
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Obi-Wan’s true strength lies not in raw, unbridled power, but in an unshakable control that puts him on a completely different level than any other Jedi.
8) He Learned How to Transcend Death (& Taught Anakin on His Deathbed)
Obi-Wan Kenobi was among the first in the modern Jedi Order to fully grasp the secret of retaining his consciousness after death. This skill required an innate connection to the Cosmic Force and was first achieved by his late master, Qui-Gon Jinn. This transformation from human to spirit is the ultimate form of power in the Star Wars universe—transcending physical limitations and achieving true immortality.
Furthermore, it is Obi-Wan who guides a dying Anakin Skywalker to find peace and, in that final moment when Anakin returns to the light, teaches him how to hold on to his identity, ensuring that the Chosen One could also live on. This act, passed on to Anakin at the climax of the galactic conflict and in his last moments of life, shows that Obi-Wan’s spiritual mastery of the Force and skill as a mentor extend even beyond the grave, influencing the most powerful Force-user of his time.
7) He Overwhelmed Darth Vader After Years of Being Disconnected From the Force
The Star Wars: Obi-Wan Disney+ series takes place a decade after the events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and establishes that Obi-Wan had been deeply disconnected from the Force in his isolation on Tatooine. While acting as Luke’s protector from afar, he is haunted by his past and living in exile as a broken man.
In contrast, Darth Vader had been relentlessly honing his power for a decade, fueled by hatred and the dark side. When the former master and apprentice cross paths for the first time since their conflict on Mustafar, a newly re-awakened Kenobi not only stands his ground but utterly dominates a decade-experienced Vader, proving that his mastery of the Force is so deeply ingrained in his very soul that it surpasses even Vader’s raw strength.
6) He Defeated Anakin on Mustafar
The climactic duel on Mustafar is not only one of the best battle sequences in all of Star Wars canon, but puts Obi-Wan’s superior skills on full display. He faced off against someone he loved like a brother—the Chosen One, who was arguably the most powerful Force-user ever born. Having just fully succumbed to the dark side, Anakin’s terrifying strength was at its peak.
Obi-Wan’s victory on Mustafar was a combination of his classic Soresu lightsaber defense, his patience, and his superior tactical skills, capitalizing on the high ground—a situation Anakin foolishly ignored due to his pride. The fact that Obi-Wan was the only one who could stop the Chosen One’s devastating rampage and survive the confrontation in one piece is an undeniable example of his skill and discipline.
5) He Matched Anakin’s Force Power
During the same duel on Mustafar, the battle shifts from lightsabers to a test of pure telekinetic Force power. Obi-Wan and Anakin become locked in a struggle, pushing against each other’s abilities. Even though Anakin’s midichlorian count is higher than any other Jedi in history, including Master Yoda, Obi-Wan not only matches him but comes out on top.
Obi-Wan’s ability to meet and surpass Anakin’s telekinetic powers shows that true power in the Force is not only about midichlorian count or physical strength, but about control, discipline, and commitment to the light side and the greater good of the galaxy. Matching Anakin in a pure test of will and power is a feat that few—if any—Jedi in history could have achieved.
4) He Defeated General Grievous
General Grievous was a highly specialized cyborg Jedi killer, and though he was beaten more than once by various Jedi in the Legends Continuity, his defeat at Obi-Wan’s hands in Revenge of the Sith holds special significance. All of Mace Windu’s attempts to capture or defeat Grievous, as seen in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, typically ended in failure.
Obi-Wan successfully tracked down and defeated Grievous—someone who could not even be harmed by multiple Jedi working in tandem. The final confrontation was a two-part battle: first, a lightsaber duel, and then skillfully exploiting Grievous’ physical weakness, accomplishing what even highly powerful masters like Mace Windu could not.
3) Mace Windu Considered Him the Best of the Best
In the officially licensed novelization for Revenge of the Sith, written by Matthew Stover, Mace Windu—the second most powerful Jedi Master on the Council—mentally acknowledges that Obi-Wan Kenobi is the Order’s best. Windu notes that Obi-Wan’s perfection of the defensive Soresu lightsaber form makes him essentially unbeatable.
Mace Windu’s thoughts confirm that Obi-Wan stands out among the Jedi hierarchy. He respects Obi-Wan’s absolute mastery and flawless defense over other high-risk offensive styles. If someone as powerful as Mace Windu acknowledged Obi-Wan’s superior skill and reliability, it proves that Obi-Wan is the true standard-bearer for the Jedi Order.
2) He Defeated Darth Maul While a Padawan
As a Padawan, Obi-Wan accomplished a near-impossible feat by defeating the incredibly dangerous Sith Lord, Darth Maul, a double-bladed lightsaber wielder. What makes this victory truly stunning is the context: Obi-Wan was weaponless, cut off from his Master, and, crucially, Maul technically had the tactical high ground.
In a moment of incredible bravery, athletic power, faith, and reliance on the Force, Obi-Wan flips over Maul and uses his fallen Master’s lightsaber to deliver the fatal blow. Not only did he avenge Qui-Gon, but he defeated a Sith Lord who was in his prime and had the element of surprise, as the Sith were considered a myth at this point. This win proves that Obi-Wan was miles ahead of his contemporaries long before he was a Master.
1) He is the First to Sense Palpatine’s Disingenuity
When Qui-Gon Jinn is discussing the dark side presence he sensed in the negotiations on Naboo, it is the young Padawan Obi-Wan who is the first to directly connect it all to Palpatine’s larger plan. He flatly tells Qui-Gon that the Sith have returned, immediately grasping the scale of the threat.
This singular moment so early in his training is an example of Obi-Wan’s sensitivity and connection to the Living Force, which allowed him to pick up on the shadowy and subtle movements of the true evil orchestrating the entire galactic conflict. To sense and understand the existential threat of the Sith when his highly attuned Master only felt a whisp of their presence establishes Obi-Wan’s impressive intuition right at the start of the saga.
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Image Courtesy of Shueisha
