I am of the opinion that dual wielding is almost always better than a single lightsaber because whenever a Jedi / Sith "gets serious", they use two weapons. Dual wielding seems to be synonymous with greater skill, more attack power, and increased versatility, especially when dealing with multiple opponents.

Examples (Spoilers):

• Kao Cen Darach vs. Darth Vindican and Darth Malgus
  
• Darth Malgus vs. Kao Cen Darach
  
• Anakin Skywalker vs. Count Dooku
  
• Kit Fisto vs. General Grievous
  
• Obi-Wan vs. Darth Maul and Savage Opress
  
• Darth Sidious vs. Darth Maul and Savage Opress
  
• Darth Maul vs. Darth Sidious
  
• Barriss Offee vs. Anakin Skywalker
  

I am of the opinion that dual wielding is almost always better than a single lightsaber because whenever a Jedi / Sith "gets serious", they use two weapons. Dual wielding seems to be synonymous with greater skill, more attack power, and increased versatility, especially when dealing with multiple opponents.

 

Examples (Spoilers):

 

• Kao Cen Darach vs. Darth Vindican and Darth Malgus
  
• Darth Malgus vs. Kao Cen Darach
  
• Anakin Skywalker vs. Count Dooku
  
• Kit Fisto vs. General Grievous
  
• Obi-Wan vs. Darth Maul and Savage Opress
  
• Darth Sidious vs. Darth Maul and Savage Opress
  
• Darth Maul vs. Darth Sidious
  
• Barriss Offee vs. Anakin Skywalker
  

Problems include

• Skill it takes to use
  
• Dangerous to the user
  
• Patterns (much more difficult to be unpredictable without hurting yourself)
  
• Stamina it takes to use
  
• Agility is hampered (also see 2nd point)
  

Now there are of course great advantages to dual wielding, especially since the force can help mitigate a lot of these problems. However, the problems still exist and someone with a single sword has their own advantages. In the fights you list, do note that the winner was typically decided by the skill level of the participants. Dual wielding was more a product of their skill than the cause of their victory imo and note that a lot of these people know dual wielding but willing choose to use a single blade on a regular basis despite having more than enough ability to utilize two blades all the time.

That tells me that single blade is still probably the way to go... But I'll admit dual wielding is cool and very effective.

One thing, Anakin actually dual wielding was noted to hinder rather than help him, as he wasn't using his form that he was more accustomed to.

Obi-Wan only lasted as long as he did due to the tight environment, the Zabarak brothers getting in one another's way and him taking them by surprise with his offense.

The others mentioned are more trained in the use of it whereas Malgus that was more of a battering/rage charge than actually using them properly and it was against an exhausted Kao.

Two advantages of dual wielding are that it allows you to attack twice as fast, theoretically, and it's more effective against multiple opponents, because you can attack one opponent and block another at the same time.

I think when a duellist pulls out two blades, its to play to either one of these strengths or both. A faster attack speed for example would lend itself to finishing your opponent quickly by overwhelming them with a fast and powerful attack, it's essentially them deciding to go on the complete offense, and therefore yes in some ways, step it up a gear. Being able to defend against multiple opponents being obvious what it lends itself to. With that in mind looking at your examples:

Kao Cen Darach vs. Darth Vindican and Darth Malgus

Darach was up against two fierce opponents, a second blade would have been a must, if Darach had stuck to his single-bladed weapon, I would think he'd be quickly overwhelmed.

Darth Malgus vs. Kao Cen Darach

Malgus wanted a fast and powerful offense, he knew his opponent was weak and wouldn't put up much of a fight so at this point was in a position to go viciously all out without concern for using up too much energy.

And it works, Malgus pretty much bulldozes him.

Anakin Skywalker vs. Count Dooku

Probably out of desperation, both to catch Dooku off-guard by changing up his style and hoping to blow through his defenses before Dooku could fight back. Anakin and Kenobi both were well aware how dangerous he was.

Kit Fisto vs. General Grievous

Multiple arms in a respect could be interpreted as multiple opponents. Wielding a second blade would have given Fisto more surface area to defend against Grievous' onslaught and return fire without exposing himself.

Obi-Wan vs. Darth Maul and Savage Opress

Kenobi's tactic here is stated in the novel to be to suprise and overpower the Brothers with a powerful offense, he as he knew going on the defensive would only delay the inevitable. He needed to be able to attack the Brothers quickly and ferociously, defeating them before he ran out of energy, dual wielding being the ideal solution.

Darth Sidious vs. Darth Maul and Savage Opress

Pretty simple, two opponents, two lightsabers. Not that he couldn't have handled them with one, but if he had he probably would have opted for blitzing them quickly before they had the opportunity to flank. Sidious however wanted to enjoy himself, so by dual-wielding he'd be in a position to engage in a protracted engagement.

Darth Maul vs. Darth Sidious

Similiar reasons to Anakin, Maul knew he was inferior to his master, so his only chance of winning was a final, all-out, desperate assault, there was no chance he could defeat Sidious in a protracted engagement or outfence him.

Barriss Offee vs. Anakin Skywalker

Offee was a threat, and Anakin didn't have time to mess around. Anakin had every reason to be confident he could plow through her defenses before exhausting himself, so it's no suprise he decided to opt for Jar'Kai and likely Ataru.

Altogether I wouldn't say dual wielding is better than a single blade. It is certainly the best for a fast and overpowering offense, but not the ideal choice if you plan to outfence your opponent through skill rather than power, or otherwise forsee a protracted engagement and want to conserve energy, but it does have it's uses.

Dual wielding takes extra stamina because of two weapons. Just compare Watchman sentinel and Vigilance guardian Focus management in game But seriously, most ppl favor one of their hands (usually right, except sith purebloods who are left-handed), using their offhand to support their mainhand's single saber increases the effectiveness of their only weapon; using their offhand to hold another weapon will increase their overall damage capabilities because of the two weapons, but their mainhand will be weaker (as in technique) than a single saber user, their offhand will be much weaker. This will cause them to have weaker defenses on both hands, also against a single wielder the dual wielder only have 1 arm's strength to push their saber at a stalemate. Also most Jedi and Sith dont really master Jar'Kai, rather just a beginner level.

Basically dual wielding allows to deliver better offense but at the cost of weaker defense, especially at stalemates. Jar'Kai is better option for a few forms than others like for Shien, since it focuses on reflecting, reverting its opponent's strength back at him, for Juyo since it doesnt care about defense anyway, for Ataru in some cases since it's defensive part rather relies on the user's increased speed, sometimes for Soresu since it already has the strongest defense and also if the Jar'Kai user is much higher skilled than his/her opponent.

DUal wielding doesn't really allow you to attack twice as fast. In the time it takes you to turn your body by roughly 180 degrees to strike with the second weapon, you can easily attack at least a second time while only wearing 1 weapon.

Real sword fighting is not these huge, ridiculous and overdramatic swings you are used to see in films and comics. That is true for steel weapons (which are not as heavy as many people seem to think) and even more so for lightsabers, that basically weigh nothing at all.

If you face your opponent in a way that you can attack him with both weapons at once, you sacrifice reach. Reach in close combat equals speed. Reach and speed are the most essential things in sword fighting. I can see dual wielding having some benefits against multiple opponents, but not in 1 vs 1.

Two advantages of dual wielding are that it allows you to attack twice as fast, theoretically, and it's more effective against multiple opponents, because you can attack one opponent and block another at the same time.

 

I think when a duellist pulls out two blades, its to play to either one of these strengths or both. A faster attack speed for example would lend itself to finishing your opponent quickly by overwhelming them with a fast and powerful attack, it's essentially them deciding to go on the complete offense, and therefore yes in some ways, step it up a gear. Being able to defend against multiple opponents being obvious what it lends itself to. With that in mind looking at your examples:

 

Kao Cen Darach vs. Darth Vindican and Darth Malgus

 

Darach was up against two fierce opponents, a second blade would have been a must, if Darach had stuck to his single-bladed weapon, I would think he'd be quickly overwhelmed.

 

Darth Malgus vs. Kao Cen Darach

 

Malgus wanted a fast and powerful offense, he knew his opponent was weak and wouldn't put up much of a fight so at this point was in a position to go viciously all out without concern for using up too much energy.

 

And it works, Malgus pretty much bulldozes him.

 

Anakin Skywalker vs. Count Dooku

 

Probably out of desperation, both to catch Dooku off-guard by changing up his style and hoping to blow through his defenses before Dooku could fight back. Anakin and Kenobi both were well aware how dangerous he was.

 

Kit Fisto vs. General Grievous

 

Multiple arms in a respect could be interpreted as multiple opponents. Wielding a second blade would have given Fisto more surface area to defend against Grievous' onslaught and return fire without exposing himself.

 

Obi-Wan vs. Darth Maul and Savage Opress

 

Kenobi's tactic here is stated in the novel to be to suprise and overpower the Brothers with a powerful offense, he as he knew going on the defensive would only delay the inevitable. He needed to be able to attack the Brothers quickly and ferociously, defeating them before he ran out of energy, dual wielding being the ideal solution.

 

Darth Sidious vs. Darth Maul and Savage Opress

 

Pretty simple, two opponents, two lightsabers. Not that he couldn't have handled them with one, but if he had he probably would have opted for blitzing them quickly before they had the opportunity to flank. Sidious however wanted to enjoy himself, so by dual-wielding he'd be in a position to engage in a protracted engagement.

 

Darth Maul vs. Darth Sidious

 

Similiar reasons to Anakin, Maul knew he was inferior to his master, so his only chance of winning was a final, all-out, desperate assault, there was no chance he could defeat Sidious in a protracted engagement or outfence him.

 

Barriss Offee vs. Anakin Skywalker

 

Offee was a threat, and Anakin didn't have time to mess around. Anakin had every reason to be confident he could plow through her defenses before exhausting himself, so it's no suprise he decided to opt for Jar'Kai and likely Ataru.

 

Altogether I wouldn't say dual wielding is better than a single blade. It is certainly the best for a fast and overpowering offense, but not the ideal choice if you plan to outfence your opponent through skill rather than power, or otherwise forsee a protracted engagement and want to conserve energy, but it does have it's uses.

^^

Where it's going to be essential is against two opponents with lightsabers. The only way to defend against a lightsaber is with another one; unlike historical combat there are no shields or armor. You just can't move fast enough to block two independent fighters with one blade. And since these are lightsabers, when you don't block, you die. You just die.

^^

 

Where it's going to be essential is against two opponents with lightsabers. The only way to defend against a lightsaber is with another one; unlike historical combat there are no shields or armor. You just can't move fast enough to block two independent fighters with one blade. And since these are lightsabers, when you don't block, you die. You just die.

Actually, there have been known to be shields, both physical and energy, to block lightsabers. While it is not cannon at this time, in The Force Unleashed you encounter one such as a 'trial' in the Jedi Temple. His name escapes me right now, but he indeed used a metal shield to block lightsaber blows and killed numerous jedi despite being greatly out numbered before he finally was overcome.

Energy shields though, look for example at Droideka's. They can't simply cut through it, and often had to deactivate their blades and reactivate them once inside. Do note, there are historically personal energy shields available to organics to use as well, but they are quite... expensive... For example Kyle Katarn made extensive use of one, and storm troopers began to fear he was immortal due to it. In the Old Republic they were used by soldiers, mandalorians, and ect.

So in fact, there ARE things other than lightsabers which can deflect a lightsaber blow. Not to mention Mandalorian Iron, more so when made into armor... Or cortosis which shorts out lightsabers.