Disparity between Yoda and Sidious??

As of ROTS, were Yoda and Palpatine generally considered as equally matched, or was there a gap in power between them?

I got the impression that Yoda was better in sabers and in the force.

Palpatine has been stated to have ultimately gotten the better of Yoda across multiple sources...

The SW Databank states- "Darth Sidious overwhelmed Yoda with the destructive energy of the dark side, and the Jedi Master fled Coruscant.":
https://i.imgur.com/7nzC07o.jpg

Jedi vs. Sith (2016) initially states that the two were "equally fierce", but then goes on to state- "[Yoda] realized that he could not defeat Sidious this time.":
https://i.imgur.com/uPJC8WH.jpg

Galactic Maps (2016) states- "[Yoda] is unable to defeat the Sith Lord in combat.":
https://i.imgur.com/V6USqEt.jpg

The updated Character Encyclopedia (2016) states- "Even the diminutive Jedi's amazing strength and speed, however, are not a match for the devastating fury of a Sith Lord.":
https://i.imgur.com/FbL07II.jpg

Ultimate Star Wars (2019) states- "The full power of the light side and the dark side of the Force is on display during Yoda's clash with Emperor Palpatine. Outmatched, Yoda retreats...":
https://i.imgur.com/MAGKmAL.jpg

And Yoda's timeline in Ultimate Star Wars (2019) states- "Yoda tries to stop Palpatine, the new Emperor, from taking control. He loses, and barely escapes with his life.":
https://i.imgur.com/tfBV1KG.jpg

👆

So how far above Sidious would you say Yoda is in sabers, and how far above Yoda is Sidious in the force?

ok but location plays a factor; Sidious was at a disadvantage in sabers because the tight space they fought in (chancellors pod) allowed zero movement for Sidious.

Conversely, Yoda was at a disadvantage in their Force battle because of his size, he couldn't quite get to Palpatine and he was constantly on the low ground, even them being blown apart at the very end, Yoda flew further based on his size.

Id love to see a fight between the two of them on neutral ground, someplace like the Geonosian Arena then wed get to see who's better because honestly, as of ep 3 they are so close in all aspects that it came down to terrain as a deciding factor in their actual duel

Does location play a factor? I don't know if that was really on Lucas' mind when he wrote that scene. I mean, we see Palpy hurling pods like a madman, when Yoda puts all his concentration on throwing one.

Palpatine had an OH ****!!! Look several times on his face showing me Yoda was superior.

Originally posted by Zentrex
Does location play a factor? I don't know if that was really on Lucas' mind when he wrote that scene. I mean, we see Palpy hurling pods like a madman, when Yoda puts all his concentration on throwing one.

I never understood why Yoda left. He was at the very least equal if not slightly stronger. He had nothing left to lose, so why run? I think he could have possible defeated Siddy

Originally posted by Eli Vanto
👆

So how far above Sidious would you say Yoda is in sabers, and how far above Yoda is Sidious in the force?

Originally posted by juggernaut74
Palpatine had an OH ****!!! Look several times on his face showing me Yoda was superior.

...Especially given the abundance of canon evidence saying the exact opposite.

Originally posted by Total Warrior
I never understood why Yoda left. He was at the very least equal if not slightly stronger. He had nothing left to lose, so why run? I think he could have possible defeated Siddy

In canon, almost every possible source indicates that Yoda was "overwhelmed by" Palpatine, "could not defeat" Palpatine, was "not a match for" Palpatine, and "lost to" Palpatine.

But the RoTS script isn't canon? I think in galaxy of adventures or whatever it's called he still has it as well.

That's true.

Palpatine was still shown with his saber in this flashback sequence from Galaxy of Adventures (2019):

And this clip states- "[Palpatine] is even skilled enough with the dark side of the Force to defeat Jedi Grand Master Yoda in a lightsaber duel.":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kstNsp5n_eU&t=0m12s

So in canon, he may have just been superior to Yoda across the board.

Originally posted by Total Warrior
I never understood why Yoda left. He was at the very least equal if not slightly stronger. He had nothing left to lose, so why run? I think he could have possible defeated Siddy

😆

So butthurt.

I'm unsure how Galaxy of Adventures even contradicts the film, tbh?

In the film, it is never shown, stated, or implied that Yoda disarmed Palpatine in sabers -- that *only* happened in the original RotS script and junior novel(which is, ironically, contradicted by the proper RotS novelization.)

Galaxy of Adventures(which IS canon, like it or not) simply presents the idea that Yoda may not have disarmed Palpatine at all. Palpatine could have simply chosen to put his saber away, in favor of using his superior Force power against Yoda instead. This notion is further cemented by GoA outright stating that Palpatine WAS able to defeat Yoda in a lightsaber duel... Along with the numerous canon sources flatly stating that Palpatine was >.

I don't get why you'd just... Ignore all of that? 😕

But in the movie Sid doesn’t indeed have his lightsaber, so..

Right.

But given the [canon] info we have, is it not possible that Palpatine chose to sheathe his saber in between the film's prolonged cut-scenes, in order to attack Yoda with the Force instead?

Originally posted by juggernaut74
Sidious was throwing downward with the aid of gravity. Yoda stopped the downwards force of one and spun it(Sidious wasn't) upwards against gravity with accuracy to the point Sidious was like OH SH!T!!!

Sidious tossed three above his head, against gravity.

Yoda spent most of the TK match trying not to get crushed, even losing his balance in the process. Yoda was only able to counter attack while Sidious was busy laughing and underestimating him.

Originally posted by Dominis
Sidious tossed three above his head, against gravity.

Yoda spent most of the TK match trying not to get crushed, even losing his balance in the process. Yoda was only able to counter attack while Sidious was busy laughing and underestimating him.

Equal. Film supports it.