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In a galaxy far, far away, Star Wars introduced us to the epic battle between the righteous Jedi and the powerful Sith Lords, but they’re not alone in this magnificent universe. They may not have the allure, but some of the most fascinating characters in Star Wars are the bounty hunters, mercenaries who make their living tracking, capturing, or eliminating designated targets for a reward. Operating mostly in the galactic underworld, they are often employed by crime syndicates, corporations, and governments to do the dirty work of collecting debts or neutralizing threats.
Whether protagonist or antagonist, hero or villain, no matter how they fit in the story, bounty hunters are politically neutral and act as free agents. Their morality is based on whoever pays the most. Because they face dangerous adversaries along their adventures, bounty hunters rely on an extensive arsenal of weaponry and combat skills. Some even have elements that set them apart from the rest, which helps their case for this list! Now, with a plethora of bounty hunters in the galaxy, to be among the best, they must have a resounding resume, unique attributes, and, for some, a legacy that shines bright. Power, strength, and reputation make a bounty hunter in the Star Wars universe.
10
Zam Wesell
Primarily appearing in Star Wars: Episode II— Attack of the Clones, Zam Wesell (Leeanna Walsman) is an assassin from the planet Zolan, known as a clawdite, or a changeling, having the ability to shape-shift. In her original form, she is of a reptilian species, but her power allows her to disguise herself in any humanoid form. Jango Fett (Temuera Morrison) hired her to assassinate Senator Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman). Zam made two attempts on Amidala’s life on Coruscant, the second of which led to a high-speed chase, during which she was ultimately caught by Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) before being killed by Jango.
A victim of story circumstance, Zam’s legacy continued in the Star Wars expanded universe via Star Wars: Bounty Hunter video game. There, Zam showcases her full skill set, with her true grit on display, demonstrating tactical versatility and utilizing covert methods as shown in the film. Zam is a capable spy and infiltrator thanks to her ability to assume any human identity. She is an elite marksman, famously wielding a Kyuzo disruptor rifle. Though her on-screen track record is weak, her shape-shifting ability earns her a spot, even if it’s at the bottom.
9
Fennec Shand
Emerging as one of the newfound fan favorites, Fennec Shand is a ruthless bounty hunter whose first live-action appearance came in The Mandalorian. Played by Ming-Na Wen, Shand brings a cold-blooded coolness to the screen. She appears as a fugitive on Tatooine, where she battles Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and rookie bounty hunter Toro Calican (Jake Cannavale). It’s there that she’s left for dead, only to be saved by Boba Fett (Morrison). Now bound by honor and debt, Shand is seen as a loyal enforcer in The Book of Boba Fett. She joins him to claim Jabba the Hutt’s throne in Mos Espa. Once an enemy to Din Djarin, she returns to his aid, rescuing Grogu from Moff Gideon’s (Giancarlo Esposito) Imperial remnant.
Characterized by her wit, expert marksmanship, and iconic cybernetic midsection installed by her savior, Shand remains one of the deadliest bounty hunters in the universe, operating as a one-woman army. Her resiliency is unmatched; rather than lie down and die, Shand fought to stay alive, even if it meant aligning with another. Her journey continued in Star Wars: The Bad Batch, where her backstory was further explored. There, she was seen going toe-to-toe with Cad Bane (Corey Burton) and the Bad Batch (Dee Bradley Baker). Shand’s elite reputation has earned great peer respect.
8
Din Djarin
Mando! There is certainly a section of Star Wars fanatics who would not list Din Djarin, lovingly known as the Mandalorian, on a best of the bounty hunters list. The reason he slips in is his renowned legacy as a character. With a deeper, more conclusive story shown across media, we know more about him than we do about some others with considerably less screen time. The titular character of the Disney+ series and the latest Star Wars blockbuster, The Mandalorian and Grogu, Din Djarin was orphaned as a young child during the Clone Wars. Rescued and adopted as a “foundling” by the Children of the Watch, Din Djarin became a member of a strict religious sect of Mandalorians. He stood by his orthodox Mandalorian code, most notably by the creed’s prohibition on removing his beskar helmet in front of other living beings.
Din Djarin’s solitary life changed when he was hired to track down Grogu. Instead of turning The Child over, Mando broke his code by rescuing and forming a father-son bond with him. Played by Pedro Pascal, Din Djarin has become one of the most prominent characters in Star Wars as more than a standard gun-for-hire; he is a legendary galactic protector. His full suit of Beskar allows him to be nearly impenetrable. He’s got a versatile arsenal of high-tech weaponry, as well as the temporary holder of the Darksaber. Din Djarin is quite skilled in hand-to-hand combat, having the capability of defeating monstrous beasts, Imperial forces, and even holding his own against trained Jedi.
7
Embo
Having a unique element unlike any other bounty hunter certainly helps you get hired. For Embo, his hat is more than just a panache for style; it’s a versatile vessel of transport and weaponry that makes him an exceptional assassin. Known for his quiet demeanor, Embo first appeared on screen in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, becoming an instant fan-favorite. Embo is a silent-but-deadly non-Force-sensitive fighter who has been known for going toe-to-toe against the galaxy’s most dangerous warriors.
While his unique asset is his hat, he also masters the bowcaster. He handles the heavy Wookie weapon with incredible strength and pinpoint accuracy, firing it with one hand. As a Kyuzo, his physical prowess goes to the extreme. He has lightning-fast reflexes and dexterity that allow him to battle Force wielders, like Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter). Embo is also one of the few non-Force users to survive a direct physical confrontation with the Sith warrior Savage Opress (Clancy Brown). Voiced by Star Wars visionary Dave Filoni, Embo made his live-action debut in The Mandalorian and Grogu, serving as a primary antagonist pursuing Din Djarin and Grogu.
6
Asajj Ventress
A bounty hunter with dual lightsabers? Sign me up! Asajj Ventress (Nika Futterman) is a former Jedi Padawan turned Sith assassin who served as a formidable antagonist during the Clone Wars before reinventing herself as an independent bounty hunter. Born to the magical Nightsister clan on the planet Dathomir, Ventress was orphaned before she found her calling through her Jedi training. When her Jedi Master Ky Narec (Corey Burton) was murdered, Ventress turned to the dark side via grief and anger. She was taken in by Count Dooku (Burton), where she acted as his personal assassin. After being betrayed by Dooku, she returned to her Nightsister roots to seek revenge, renouncing her Sith and Jedi ties.
Having the power of the Force made her quite a threat long before her bounty hunting days. Between her lightsabers and her Force powers, including brutal Force chokes, Asajj was a threat to everyone from Clone Commander Colt (Dee Bradley Baker) to Obi-Wan Kenobi (James Arnold Taylor) and Anakin Skywalker. During her surprise return in The Bad Batch, Ventress served as a powerful guide to Omega, displaying her mastery of the Force through Dathomirian magic. Ventress’ greatest asset was her survival-forged understanding of the galactic underworld; she’s been through so much that she could handle anything.
5
Black Krrsantan
Yes, casual Star Wars fans: there is more than Wookie than Chewbacca. Perhaps the second most iconic is Black Krrsantan (Carey Jones), a towering, black-furred Wookie gladiator with spiked gold armor whose notable appearance comes from the scar over his left eye caused by a duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi. First appearing in Marvel’s Darth Vader comics, Krrsantan served as a hired hand for crime lords like Jabba the Hutt, Darth Vader, and the rogue archaeologist Doctor Aphra before making his live-action jump in The Book of Boba Fett.
Krrsantan may be the greatest physical fighter of any bounty hunter, at least on this list. Forced to be a gladiator, even having his skeletal structure surgically altered, Krrsantan is a literal bone-crusher. He takes his defeat hard after his gladiatorial days, as he’s seen drinking heavily in the cantina. So when a group of Trandoshans, the mortal enemies of Wookies, mock him, he snaps, showcasing his untapped years of pent-up rage. The sheer fact that he can rip off arms points to his brilliance on the battlefield.
4
Jango Fett
There are great bounty hunters, and then there are legends; Jango Fett was the latter. An orphaned child on Concord Dawn, Jango was taken in by the True Mandalorians, a splinter faction of Mandalorians. He famously fought in the Mandalorian Civil Wars, where he gained his fearsome reputation. At one point, he survived an ambush and killed six Jedi with his bare hands. His combat prowess caught the attention of the Sith Lord Darth Tyranus (Christopher Lee), better known as Count Dooku. It was through him that he made his debut in Star Wars: Episode II— Attack of the Clones. Arguably, his most legendary on-screen sequence was his blow-for-blow Kamino battle with Obi-Wan Kenobi in the pouring rain. Unfortunately, his tenure came to a brutal end at the hands of Jedi Master Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson).
Jango’s run in the film showcased his immense skills as a cold-blooded assassin. His elite combat training, exceptional tactical intellect, and unparalleled lethality against Force-users enabled him to become a premier bounty hunter. Jango served as a genetic blueprint for Tyranus’ grand army. Using him as the primary genetic template proved just how powerful he was while he was alive. Jango is a bounty hunter who will forever be known as great, but simply cannot stand atop because those who came after built upon his powers to become better.
3
Aurra Sing
Known for her pale-skinned appearance, Aurra’s presence was so prominent that her character was expanded for the animated series. Voiced by Jaime King, Aurra took on a prominent role working alongside Cad Bane as she mentored the newly orphaned Boba Fett, guiding him in his early, vengeful attempts to assassinate Mace Windu. During The Clone Wars, Aurra was hired by Ziro the Hutt (Burton) to assassinate Padmé (Catherine Taber). Through this attempt, Aurra showcased her terrifying tenacity as a top-tier hitwoman.
Aurra was celebrated as a dangerous and effective bounty hunter for her lethal combination of Force-sensitivity and cybernetic enhancements. She had a surgically implanted biocomputer and a comlink antenna that enhanced her senses while tracking targets and scrambling enemy radar. Though she did have blasters at the ready, the real terror was her long-range capabilities, which made her an expert sniper. Perhaps her greatest strength was her mentorship; if she couldn’t be the best, she was going to help make the best.
2
Cad Bane
Imagine the antagonist of a spaghetti-western in space; chances are, you’ll think of Cad Bane. George Lucas designed the character based on Lee Van Cleef‘s iconic Angel Eyes mercenary from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. A calculating and cunning bounty hunter, Bane served as the galaxy’s preeminent gun-for-hire during and after the Clone Wars, known for his trademark wide-brimmed hat, breathing tube, and dual blasters. Bane had quite a resume during his run, from kidnapping Force-sensitive children to holding the Galactic Senate hostage; there was no job he wasn’t able to handle.
Mostly known for his animated appearances, Cade made his triumphant live-action debut in The Book of Boba Fett, once again voiced by Corey Burton. Like a classic Western standoff in the streets of Freetown, he notoriously took down a deputy and critically wounded Marshal Cobb Vanth (Timothy Olyphant). Once again, his extraordinary shot made him the ultimate hired hand. Bane continually pulled off nearly impossible jobs thanks to his high-tech arsenal of custom weaponry; no matter the contract, he operated with no moral code.
1
Boba Fett
You’ll always remember your first, and based on the very first film, the first bounty hunter in our lives was none other than Boba Fett. Perhaps because his story has been with us the longest of any character on this list, Boba Fett is a tried-and-true legend. Though we know much about his origin story, Boba’s first appearances were in Star Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI—Return of the Jedi, played by Jeremy Bulloch. In those stories, he tracked down Han Solo (Harrison Ford) for Darth Vader (James Earl Jones) and crime lord Jabba the Hutt (Larry Ward). A true survivor, when it was believed he had been eaten by the monstrous Sarlacc after he fell into the Great Pit of Carkoon, he clawed his way out, launching his resurgence story in The Book of Boba Fett.
But that’s not where his true story began. The legendary bounty hunter was the unaltered genetic clone of his father, Jango Fett, created with no accelerated aging and raised as Jango’s own. During Attack of the Clones, a teenage Boba lived alongside the clone army, only for him to eventually witness his father’s slaughter at the hands of Mace Windu. From there, his story continued in the animated series The Clone Wars. Boba Fett became the best because he had his father’s clone DNA and training from other great bounty hunters, which made him even stronger and more powerful. More than his action prowess, Boba’s tactical aptitude earned him the respect of Darth Vader, an honor few ever achieved.
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Michael Block
Almontather Rassoul
