Full Series Ahsoka in Rebels

Fair enough, but it's just as fair to suggest that she was never a weakling that couldn't stand up to a solo duel. Outside of maybe Anakin himself, how many Padowans could have won a duel against the likes of a Sith Lord or their apprentice?

 

Marvel's Vader had a difficult time taking on those cyborgs, which kinda makes one wonder about Lords of the Sith , maybe Vader was younger in LOTS, who knows. Anyway, Kenobi already handled Vader in ROTS, but that was not where I was going. This Vader could be meaner, a bit more powerful cause of his injuries we can all agree and we can all agree also that Vader is no push over - but moving past all the propaganda and mystique whether well deserved or heaped upon by years and years of propaganda and fan fever he's also older and slower and really no match in a brawl with a champion Force warrior like a Yoda or Kneobi whom they compared Tano too. Now, unless her new look is all show and no delivery, which I doubt I do not agree it will be an overwhelming victory for Vader if they do indeed go toe to toe. We're not talking Vader going up against no name jobbers & fodder(organic or droid or both) so he can keep a champion ship little and look good nor old fart Jedi or little younglings with 5-10,000 troopers at his side - am talking about a one on one with well trained and powerful Force user and also well experienced basically an equal or better even.

 

The thing is, we don't know. Anakin had NEVER intended to kill her in their previous duel, but he will definitely do so now.

As for Grievous, she barely escaped alive each time. I'm not saying that she's a weakling, but the truth is that her skills in single combat are limited due to lack of experience because she's obviously a talented force-user and physically adept. We don't know what she did in these fifteen years, but there's no question that she's become a lot wiser. Wiser doesn't mean a better duelist like Obi-wan, whose skills and old age affected his ability to fight Vader.

 

Ahsoka is probably the one character so far who could realistically stand up to Vader, depending of course on your definition of 'stand up to' - I mean that we've already seen what happens when Kanan and Ezra go up against him... they get an unholy ass-kicking without Vader's even having to raise a sweat. Ahsoka on the other hand has a lot more practical experience of fighting against lightsaber duellists and in particular (whether she knows it or not) Vader's favoured style, as she was trained by him. On the other hand, Vader is bigger, stronger and probably faster and Anakin cutting loose was still a level above anything Ahsoka showed, and he's been getting practice too.

Ahsoka surviving/escaping a fight with Vader? Yeah, that I can buy. Ahsoka winning outright? Not so much. Buying time then booking it seems like her most viable tactic.

 

How would Ahsoka be slower than Vader though?
Mobility isn't really Vader's thing

 

Agreed. Speed and agility is likely the biggest advantage she has up against any opponent. It's why she was able to survive encounters with Grievous.

 

Vader in the OT was (relatively) slow yes. But then everyone was compared to the prequel era duels. OT lightsabers were broadswords (that glowed), PT lightsabers are basically katanas (that also glow.) It's much quicker and more frenetic and energetic, for better or worse. And the new version of Vader seen in the comics and the novels he's appeared in is portrayed as MUCH quicker than the OT version. He's pretty darn monstrous, physically.

Which I add is not necessarily the same as better, but he's definitely fast. Ahsoka may be faster which will probably be her saving grace, but in terms of power (physically and Force-wise) Vader's a level above her.

 

Ahsoka's Tano I never meant to imply that Ahsoka was weak, but neither is Vader. They could be evenly matched.
The point I was trying to make was that IMO the emotional side of the duel would be more of a determining factor than the physical side of the duel. Specifically regarding what Ahsoka’s reaction to Vader being Anakin would be.

 

From the way it sounds, Filoni will be using how Vader was seen in the OT and basically how we saw him in TFU games:

http://makingstarwars.net/2015/04/learning-more-about-rebels-at-the-celebreation-press-conference/

 

I couldn't imagine Vader moving exactly as Anakin did in TCW but I'd expect him to have superb grabbing / choking / force control ; he's very fond of that and practise makes perfect. So Ahsoka would be on the level with him on lightsabers but slightly below in force powers.

 

Vader isn't fast. He's monstrously strong, but extreme physical strength in lieu of speed doesn't win you battles against Jedi.

Rather, Vader wins by massive, extreme, heavy use of raw Force attacks. He literally starts ripping up the surroundings and hurling them at his enemy. He did it on Cloud City vs Luke. It's notable that while Jedi typically channel a telekinetic use of the Force through a physical gesture, Vader didn't need to do this at all. He ripped stuff up and hurled it at Luke while his hands were still firmly gripping his saber. To be fair, IIRC Luke did the same thing when he levitated Threepio on Endor. Probably any Jedi could do this, but it would require more concentration. Note how Luke had to close his eyes and really concentrate, to get that Golden God a-flyin' without having his hands free to do the normal gesture. But Vader does it casually, without even looking at the stuff he's ripping of the walls. He has completely mastered gestureless telekinesis. The result is a monstrous, inexorable assault, Vader attacking his foe with his lightsaber and engaging in lightsaber combat, while subjecting them to a simultaneous telekinetic barrage of large hurled objects. Most Jedi would be caught totally flatfooted and unprepared by this.

 

THIS.

 

Eh, he might be a bit rusty by now. He's probably only been able to practice on imperial officers for the past decade or so. And have you seen how fast they move? With their jackboots and ridiculously-starched riding britches, they run slower than Steven Seagal in tight pants.

 

Vader is capable of destroying an AT-AT with his mind or disintegrating large monsters with the force. He can also instantly kill people with a telekinetic throw. And he survives pretty much anything that could possibly be thrown at him, up to and including a direct burst from an AT-AT who is designed to level buildings plus the whole ceiling coming down on him.

Ahsoka has no-where the same level of raw power and durability. How do you speed-blitz an opponent who can throw multiple objects into your path at once? And even if she gets through to engage him with sabers, he still has his lightsaber-resistant armor and he could just telekinetic-ally throw her back. Once he cuts loose however, she has no defences because she can't stand against this magnitude. If he brings the whole building down around them, what is she gonna do?

Still, the duel will last pretty long, because that's more exciting than having it be over after five seconds. Vader's cautious, probing approach to battle will be shown here, as he only cuts lose once Ahsoka scratches him or similarly. But she will lose pretty badly and we'll worry about her until she's rescued by Deus ex Machina. I doubt that there will only be one confrontation between them, Filoni will want to milk this for all its worth.

 

I wonder Vader even bothers with his lightsaber if he can wreck the other party just by flinging all manner of materials at them with his mind. But he's probably being the bad boy playing with his food.

 

More fun that way, I guess. Sure you could just squint real hard and they die... or you could chop them into kibble. What's an evil Sith Lord to do?

 

Filoni saying that, 1-on-1 , Vader can beat Ahsoka reminds me of the Revenge of the Sith novelization, where, during the Battle of the Heroes, it says that Obi-Wan and Anakin know each other's every move. It'd be the same with Vader and Ahsoka

 

I am not sure about that... in the old EU, Vader had to change his fighting style due to the limitations of his suit.
It might be the same in Rebels, it looks a bit like that in the S2 trailer.

And who knows how Ahsoka changed? Perhaps her new sabers with different hilt indicate a new fighting style?

 

I'm going after what Filoni said. I think he's a reliable source

 

I would never in a million years suggest that Ahsoka (or anyone else for that matter) could easily defeat Vader on a one-on-one fight. It's just that the notion of her having to be rescued by Ezra and Kanan just doesn't seem right. This is how you'd compare the relative strengths of each character, based on their knowledge of the force and skills with a lightsaber. There's absolutely no disputing it: Ezra < Kanan < Ahsoka < Vader

 

Of course. I don't doubt that Vader would win; I doubt that Vader and Ahsoka know their respective fighting styles in Rebels as well as Anakin and Obi-Wan know each other's in RotS.

 

For me though, in a fight where both knew who the other was Ahsoka would hold back... Anakin would not. Vader (for me) is still firmly in the reaches of the 'Vader Delusion' where he's convinced himself that Anakin Skywalker is a completely different person to Darth Vader, and furthermore a completely different person who is dead. Actually dead, not just 'dead to me' but gone for good, forever. Ahsoka has always been a pretty idealistic young lady, and if she's still motivated enough to join the Rebels that's presumably still true and I just can't see her fighting her old master to the death straight off the starting blocks. Vader on the other hand would be willing or even eager to kill her despite/because of her knowing 'Anakin Skywalker.'

Vader's style is all about power and overwhelming force and I don't see how Ahsoka can trump that. Speed will presumably be what keeps her alive and gives her a chance but I don't see her landing a solid undisputable win over Vader. At best a tactical victory when she just needs to last long enough to get away, and does so. People say that she went up against Ventress or Grievous and 'won' but I can't honestly recall her handing either of them a solid defeat single-handed, and however much she's improved, Vader is Vader. He's still another level of dangerous.

Ahsoka is just about the ONLY character in Rebels I could buy actually surviving a fight with Vader on fairly even terms. Not winning - surviving. Which is probably a win in itself...