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I forgot who exactly said this, but some Clone Wars vet when he saw Vader said that before he met him, the most potent expression of the Dark side he's ever felt was Kar Vastor but now that he met Vader, Vader>>>him completely. Mace had difficulty with Kar Vastor in Shatterpoint, although there should have been some circumstances IIRC.
Originally posted by AncientPower
On the other hand Mace Windu admits he wouldn't beat Vastor on his best day.
Windu not exactly the best source on Windu 🤣
Unless you believe that Depa and Kenobi > Windu, or that Windu is like a padawan next to Yoda as a duelist even though official sources saying otherwise.
Vastor was younger, stronger, faster, and immensely more powerful, and he wielded weapons that could not be harmed by the Jedi blade. Mace couldn't win such a battle on his best day, and this day was far from his best: he was exhausted, badly wounded, and heartsick.
—Shatterpoint
Beside being exhausted, badly wounded, and heartsick, Mace was also on a DS Nexus. Which we know is not something he can draw on:
The Count's blade was quick as a viper striking. Among the other Jedi, perhaps only Mace Windu would have been his equal on neutral ground: but here on Vjun, steeped in the dark side, his bladework was malice made visible—wickedness cut in red light.
—Yoda: Dark Rendezvous
That quote implies that while Mace is Dooku's equal on neutral ground, he is not on a DS Nexus.
Oh, and Mace is already contradicted. He said Vastor is faster? Well:
Vastor still could whip his arms in blindingly fast raking slaps at Mace's head and wounded neck. But where Vastor's speed was blinding, Mace's was invisible. Not one of those slaps connected. Before Vastor could even focus his eyes, Mace had hit him six times.
—Shatterpoint
Their whole exchange was when Vastor was double amped, and Mace was pre-prime. Not just by timeline (Shatterpoint is in 22BBY, at the start of the war), but mentally as well:
There was a time when Mace Windu had feared the power of the dark; there was a time when he had feared the darkness in himself. But the Clone Wars had given him a gift of understanding: on a world called Haruun Kal, he had faced his darkness and had learned that the power of darkness is not to be feared.
He had learned that it is fear that gives the darkness power.
—Revenge of the Sith
———
With all that aside Vader is still more powerful, just using Vastor for that is kinda incorrect.
I'd say Windu wins sabers, he is more skilled and pretty fast too, Vader's strength I doubt would turn that around.
Vader wins the other two though, handily in Force.
Originally posted by AncientPower
His lightsaber skills are called unparelelled in his time.
This is the moment that defines Mace Windu. Not his countless victories in battle, nor the numberless battles his diplomacy has avoided. Not his penetrating intellect, or his talents with the Force, or his unmatched skills with the lightsaber.
—Revenge of the Sith Novel
Originally posted by AncientPower
That's before Vader's time though and is more talking about his efforts within the Jedi Order itself. Vader's time, the Dark Times, puts him above Palps however.
Well it's says unmatched, even if it would only include the Order (which there is no proof of) it would mean Mace > Yoda. Yoda who disarmed Sidious, and Sidious constantly tried to create distance so he doesn't have to engage Yoda blade to blade.
As for Vader, his quote is coming from the TFU II guide. Which is before ANH. During ANH Vader fought evenly with Ben Kenobi, who was a serious threat to him, yet they were both called a shadow of their former self. Prime Kenobi being at best equal to Mace would suggest that Mace >= Prime Kenobi > ANH Vader >= Ben Kenobi > TFU II Vader.
So that accolade is not the end-all and be-all imo.
Firstly Lightsaber skill has a much broader meaning than just Fencing skill. Given Jedi don't have sword to sword fights for 90%+ of their Saber wielding time.
Second it was Mace's own opinion. Not canon fact. Mace also tells Obi-Wan that him and Kenobi are peers in swordmanship.
And Thirdly in a sword fight Power in the Force tends to play at least as important a part as Skill, if not more so.