The 10 Most Exciting Clone Wars Battles In Star Wars, Ranked

The Star Wars canon features some incredibly exciting battles that took place during The Clone Wars era. Set between the events of Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, the Clone Wars was an extended three-year conflict spanning the entire galaxy far, far away. Featuring the Republic’s new clone army led by the Jedi against the droid armies of the Separatist Alliance, battles were fought on several different worlds and battlefronts. That said, some battles were more exciting than others.

Beginning at the end of Attack of the Clones with the First Battle of Geonosis, the Clone Wars didn’t end until after the events of Order 66 and the Jedi Purge in Revenge of the Sith when Chancellor Palpatine (secretly Darth Sidious) turned the Republic into his very own Empire. While the bulk of the most exciting battles can be found within Lucasfilm’s animated Clone Wars series, some of the final campaigns are just as epic as seen in Revenge of the Sith. To that end, here are the top 10 most exciting Clone Wars battles (ranked from least to most exciting).

10

Battle of Onderon

Clone Wars (Season 5)

A more unique campaign during the Clone Wars, the Battle of Onderon did not feature the forces of the Republic in any sort of official capacity. This was because Onderon was a Separatist world, albeit one where its king was facing an insurgency led by Steela and Saw Gerrera. As such, the Republic secretly funded and supplied the insurgents, while Jedi such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Ahsoka Tano were sent to help train the rebel fighters. Ultimately, Onderon was liberated and its previously deposed king was returned to his throne, intending to reintegrate Onderon back with the Republic.

The Battle of Onderon is quite unique, putting the Republic in a rare position where its forces aren’t taking on the enemy through direct means. That said, they still illegally funded the insurgents, and the Jedi were used to train the rebels. Likewise, this arc from The Clone Wars’ fifth season serves as the origin of Saw Gerrera, a rebel created by George Lucas himself who’d become quite aggressive in his methods during the Empire’s reign, as seen in future projects such as Rogue One, Rebels, The Bad Batch, Andor, and more.

9

Raid on Kamino

Clone Wars (Season 3)

The Raid of Kamino was the Separtists’ bold attempt at sabotaging the future production of clone troopers for the Republic. Attacking Tipoca City and its cloning facilities with massive underwater Trident-class assault craft, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi thankfully intercept the Separatists’ plans, allowing them to support Jedi Master Shaak Ti and Kamino’s standing garrison with the 501st Legion. That said, the battle did see Obi-Wan dueling General Grievous himself with Anakin taking on Asajj Ventress.

The Battle of Kamino is quite notable due to the Separatists’ unique attack craft and its squid-like structure. It also features major characters battling on both sides of the conflict. However, the most exciting element of the Battle of Kamino is the promotion of both Fives and Echo to the rank of ARC Trooper, seeing as how both of them would play major roles in the galaxy’s future both near the end and after the Clone Wars.

8

Battle of Kashyyyk

Revenge of the Sith

As seen during Revenge of the Sith, the Battle of Kashyyk was an extended campaign that saw its end in the final prequel film. Primarily led by Jedi Master Luminara Unduli, the end of the Clone Wars saw her being joined by Jedi Master Quinlan Vos and Grandmaster Yoda himself. However, the resulting Order 66 saw Yoda fleeing the campaign once his clone troopers turned on him. Future projects would confirm that both Quinlan Vos and Luminda also survived, though Luminara was eventually captured and executed by the Empire’s new Imperial Inquisitors.

Featuring the Republic protecting a beachhead alongside a legion of powerful Wookiee warriors, it’s very impressive seeing such a force come together while supported by the ever-popular and multi-wheeled HAVw A6 Juggernaut, more commonly known as a Turbo Tank. Likewise, the Battle of Kashyyyk also marks the first chronological on-screen appearance of Chewbacca in the Star Wars timeline, though he’d eventually make an even earlier appearance in The Clone Wars season 3.

7

Battle of Christophsis

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)

The Battle of Chrstophsis was one of the first major conflicts of the Clone Wars shortly following the First Battle of Geonosis as seen in Attack of the Clones. The conflict was first featured in 2008’s Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie which helped launch the animated series. However, subsequent episodes of the show expanded upon the events of the campaign before Ahsoka Tano even landed on the planet to introduce herself as Anakin Skywalker’s new Padawan.

The Battle of Christophsis is exciting not only because it helped kick off the animated series and the first meeting of Anakin and Ahsoka. Episodes beyond the movie showed that Republic forces were also dealing with a mole, revealed to be a rogue clone trooper in league with Asajj Ventress who was tasked by Count Dooku with claiming the world. Likewise, episodes detailing the Battle of Christophsis also debuted the Separatist Admiral Trench, a brilliant tactician who’d created a massive blockade around the planet.

6

Liberation of Ryloth

Clone Wars (Season 1)

The final episodes of The Clone Wars season 1 revealed the Liberation of Ryloth and its impressive three-pronged assault. While Anakin and Ahsoka took care of the planetary blockade over Ryloth, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jedi Master Mace Windu led invasion forces to the surface below. While Kenobi and the 212th liberated several villages and liberated Ryloth’s southern hemisphere, Windu led the 187th to take the planet’s capital alongside Cham Sydualla and his Twi’lek freedom fighters. Together, the Separatists and the Techno Union’s Wat Tambor were successfully defeated.

The Battle of Ryloth is quite entertaining due to the sheer scope of the campaign and the Republic’s multiple points of assault. However, it also features notable moments such as Anakin guiding Ahsoka through loss and dealing with the burden of command. Clone troopers Waxer and Boil of the 212th were introduced during Ryloth as well, becoming recurring characters under Kenobi’s command. Ryloth also allowed Mace Windu to show off his impressive abilities while retaking Ryloth’s capital of Lessu.

5

Battle of Coruscant

Revenge of the Sith

The Battle of Coruscant was a definitive victory for the Republic with the death of the Separatist Alliances’s leader Count Dooku. Serving as the opening scene for Revenge of the Sith, the Republic was locked in a massive engagement with Separatist ships in Coruscant’s orbit. Likewise, General Grievous has successfully kidnapped Chancellor Palpatine, leading to Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi infiltrating Greivous’ flagship to stage a rescue. As such, the conflict ended with the Republic’s victory, Palpatine’s rescue, and Dooku’s death after Palpatine motivated Anakin to execute the Sith Lord.

Often cited as one of the best CGI sequences in the Star Wars prequels, the Battle of Coruscant perfectly conveys just how destructive the Clone Wars had been, as well as how much firepower and strength was at each side’s disposal. Additionally, it also serves as the first stage of Anakin’s corruption to the dark side thanks to Palpatine. With Dooku out of the way, Palpatine was ready to begin seducing Anakin in earnest to become his new Sith apprentice.

4

Battle of Utapau

Revenge of the Sith

Serving as Obi-Wan Kenobi’s final campaign of the Clone Wars before the events of Order 66, Kenobi and the 212th staged a massive attack to finally defeat General Grievous once and for all. Once Greivous was either killed or captured, it was promised by Palpatine that the Senate would vote to bring about the Clone Wars’ end. As such, Obi-Wan and Grievous engage in a head-to-head duel, one that continues even after Grievous attempts to flee, resulting in his ultimate death with Kenobi resorting to the use of a blaster.

Likewise, the 212th and droid armies began fighting all around Kenobi and Grievous. To that end, the Battle of Utapau was waged across the planet’s various sinkhole cities, making for a visually stunning battle across the board. That said, the most exciting element is certainly the final battle between Obi-Wan and Kenobi, a duel made even more significant after watching The Clone Wars animated series and all their previous encounters.

3

Darkness on Umbara

Clone Wars (Season 4)

A “shadow world” covered in perpetual darkness, the Battle of Umbara is quite exciting due to the limited visibility, the only true signs of fighting largely being the glow of incoming blaster bolts and lightsabers. However, the Umbara campaign becomes even more epic after Anakin is called back to Coruscant, leaving Jedi Master Pong Krell in charge of the 501st Legion. Eventually, it’s revealed that Krell is intentionally sabotaging the clones by tricking them into shooting each other.

Realizing that Krell had gone rogue, Captain Rex and his fellow clones of the 501st and 212th stage a mutiny, and one clone in particular ends up killing Krell after he is arrested. As such, Umbara is certainly one of the darkest battles of the Clone Wars both figuratively and literally. Wanting to gain the favor of Count Dooku by sabotaging the Republic, Pong Krell proved not only that the Jedi could and had been compromised, but that the clones were more than capable of taking them down (like with the future Order 66).

2

Second Battle of Geonosis

Clone Wars (Season 2)

The Second Battle of Geonosis was much longer and far more intense than the first as seen in Attack of the Clones. Led by a collective Jedi force including Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Lumiara Unduli, and Barriss Offee, the Republic mustered a full-scale invasion force to dismantle the droid factories in production on the world once and for all. Despite being met with stiff resistance, the Jedi’s three-pronged attack was eventually successful (though not without its casualties).

Not only did the Second Battle of Genosis debut the Republic’s Flame Trooper Corps, but it also saw the return of the 212th’s Waxer and Boil who helped save General Kenobi after his gunship was hit during the Republic’s attempt to hold a landing zone at Point Rain. Likewise, the aftermath of the primary conflict saw the Jedi facing both undead Geonosians and the insectoids’ attempt to take over the minds of several clone troopers. Even Jedi Padawan Barris Offee fell prey to the parasitic brain worms (temporarily).

1

Siege of Mandalore

The Clone Wars (Season 7)/Ahsoka

The last conflict seen in the animated Clone Wars series, the Siege of Mandalore and its aftermath takes place concurrently with the Battle of Coruscant. Giving aid to Bo-Katan Kryze and her fellow Mandalorins, Ahsoka Tano was joined by the 332nd Company despite having left the Jedi Order earlier during the Clone Wars. Although Anakin and Obi-Wan were forced to leave to save Chancellor Palpatine, Ahsoka and Captain Rex help free Mandalore from the control of the former Sith lord Maul, resulting in his eventual arrest after Ahsoka defeats him in a stunning lightsaber duel.

As the final episodes of The Clone Wars animated series, the Siege of Mandalore is quite nostalgic while also definitively closing the door on this key era of the Star Wars canon. Likewise, the battle itself is full of impressive action sequences, and elements of the campaign were even featured in live-action thanks to 2023’s Ahsoka series via a key flashback. The Siege of Mandalore is also quite significant due to Darth Maul’s reveal that he’s seen the future and the plans of his former master (which include Anakin). All in all, it’s not hard to see why the Siege of Mandalore is one of the most exciting battles in the entire Clone Wars era.