The confrontation on a desolate lunar body was a lightsaber duel that transpired between the Jedi Master known as Obi-Wan Kenobi and the Dark Lord of the Sith identified as Darth Vader. This battle occurred on a barren moon, unfolding across the moon's arid landscapes and a complex network of rocky spires during the period of the Great Jedi Purge.
The Jedi Master strategically drew the Sith Lord to the moon, aiming to provide the Hidden Path with sufficient time for their escape. Kenobi engaged Vader in combat near the Dark Lord's arrival point. Vader, Kenobi's former student, inquired if Kenobi was prepared to conclude their previous encounter. In response, Kenobi activated his lightsaber, reaffirming his determination and adopting a traditional defensive posture. The Sith Lord responded with lethal intent before activating his own lightsaber and initiating the conflict.
Initially, both Jedi and Sith demonstrated equal skill, with Vader's attacks, including strikes, slashes, lunges, and ripostes, being countered by Kenobi's blocks, parries, dodges, and counterstrikes. Kenobi soon attempted to conclude the duel by delivering two forceful blows to Vader's lightsaber, aiming to destabilize the Dark Lord and use telekinesis to drop a nearby pillar onto him. However, Vader countered with his own telekinetic abilities. The Sith Lord acknowledged his former master's undiminished power but asserted his own superiority. Vader quickly gained the advantage, overwhelming Kenobi with lightsaber attacks, Force-propelled boulders, and strikes with his armored fist, before using his power to collapse the ground beneath him and bury him alive by collapsing the stone columns around them. Proclaiming his triumph, the Sith Lord departed for his shuttle.
Kenobi survived, though he was gradually being crushed by the weight of the rubble and his own remorse. However, thoughts of his young proteges enabled him to overcome his emotions and summon the strength to free himself before pursuing the Dark Lord. He intercepted Vader before he reached his shuttle, attempting a surprise attack from behind, only to be met by the Sith Lord's lightsaber.
Abandoning his usual defensive tactics, Kenobi launched an aggressive lightsaber assault, forcing Vader to retreat. The Dark Lord attempted to seize Kenobi's blade telekinetically, but the Jedi Master quickly broke free and retaliated by force pushing him into a distant pillar. Capitalizing on his opponent's momentary disorientation, Kenobi used his powers to levitate the surrounding rocky debris, launching a massive telekinetic barrage at Vader. Vader desperately attempted to regain the offensive, but Kenobi swiftly recovered and resumed his attack.
The two former comrades exchanged lightsaber blows and grappled before Kenobi used his lightsaber pommel to damage Vader's chest control panel, severely compromising his armor's life support system. The Sith Lord managed to deflect a potentially fatal blow from the Jedi Master, but Kenobi struck him from behind with a piece of Force-propelled debris. In desperation, Vader launched an overhead strike that Kenobi evaded, immediately countering with a slash that struck the Dark Lord in the back, forcing him to his knees. Regaining his footing, Vader attacked Kenobi again, only to be blocked and telekinetically pushed back against a pile of debris. Kenobi then charged at the Sith Lord, executing a running leaping slash, avoiding Vader's counterstrike and slicing open his helmet.
Initially, Kenobi retreated and assumed a defensive stance, but he lowered his guard as Vader visibly struggled. The sight of the Sith Lord's scarred face shocked Kenobi, causing him to address him by his former name. He attempted to apologize to his former apprentice for everything that had transpired between them. Vader responded by declaring his complete embrace of his new identity and reaffirming his hatred for Kenobi. Upon hearing this, the Jedi Master finally relinquished his guilt and departed, convinced that his friend was truly lost, ignoring the Dark Lord's powerless screams of rage. He would later describe Vader as "corrupted" and "more machine than human" to his new Padawan: Anakin Skywalker's son, Luke.
The fight on a barren moon was first depicted in the sixth episode of the Obi-Wan Kenobi television series, which was broadcast on June 22, 2022. The scenes set on the moon were filmed within the virtual LED environment known as the Volume. Ewan McGregor, the actor portraying Kenobi, was suspended by wires when his character sliced off Vader's mask. Vader was attached to wires for when he was Force pushed by Kenobi.
According to Stuart Beattie, a writer for Obi-Wan Kenobi, the concept of Kenobi confronting Vader was inspired by the 1983 film Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. In that film, Luke Skywalker tells Vader "I know there is good in you," to which Vader responds "Obi-Wan once thought as you do." Obi-Wan Kenobi retroactively made this dialogue a reference to the fight on a barren moon, where Kenobi believes there is still good in him.