Boba Fett is one of the most famous and instantly recognizable Star Wars characters.
Despite only having a small role in the original Star Wars trilogy, the mysterious bounty hunter quickly became a permanent fan favorite.
We learned Boba Fett’s origin story in Attack of the Clones and followed his journey in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.
Boba Fett is famous for his distinctive Mandalorian armor. However, he is not a Mandalorian. Boba is an unaltered clone of Jango Fett, a Mandalorian bounty hunter, and was raised as the latter’s son.
Unlike Din Djarin, Boba was not brought up in Mandalorian culture.
He does have rightful ownership of his father’s beskar armor.
Boba Fett vs Din Djarin (The Mandalorian)
| Criteria | Boba Fett | Din Djarin |
|---|---|---|
| Species: | Human (unaltered genetic clone) | Human |
| Birthplace: | Kamino | Aq Vetina |
| Foundling status: | orphaned at 10 | orphaned at 9 |
| Approximate Age*: | 41 | 38 |
| Height: | 183cm (or 6ft) | 180cm (or 5.11ft) |
| Notable Weapons: | Z-6 Jetpack, Blaster Rifle, Flame thrower | Darksaber, Amban sniper rifle, Beskar spear |
| Ship: | Slave 1 | The Razor Crest/N1 Starfighter |
| Pet/Cuddly sidekick: | Rancor | Grogu (baby Yoda) |
Boba Fett and the Mandalorian, Din Djarin, are equally matched. Both are skilled, ruthless, and experienced bounty hunters.
While Boba is a clone, he does not have the accelerated growth and other weaknesses inherent in clone stormtroopers.
Din can be considered slightly stronger than Boba because he is younger and in better physical condition.
Boba suffered extensive scarring from his time in the Sarlacc Pit.
Din also has superior weaponry, including the Darksaber.
What is a Mandalorian?
Mandalorians are a creed of warriors known for their superior fighting skills and precious beskar armor.
Although they originated from and around the planet Mandalore, any species can “take the creed” and become a Mandalorian.
Orphaned children of all species were adopted as Mandalorian foundlings.
Din Djarin, the eponymous hero of The Mandalorian, was raised by the Children of the Watch – a strictly traditional group forbearing members from ever revealing their faces.
Tragically, nearly all Mandalorians were killed during the Galactic Empire’s Great Purge of Mandalore.
Was Boba Fett’s father a Mandalorian?
Boba Fett’s father – in the sense that Boba was his unaltered clone – was the Mandalorian bounty hunter Jango Fett.
Like Din Djarin, Jango was a foundling raised by the Mandalorians as a warrior. He served in the civil wars of Mandalore before becoming a renowned bounty hunter.
Due to his superior fighting skills, Jango was chosen as the template for the Republic’s clone army.
As part of his payment for this, he was given an unaltered clone – Boba – to raise as his son.
Mace Windu killed Jango Fett at the First Battle of Geonosis, depicted in Attack of the Clones.
Was Boba Fett a Mandalorian foundling?
Boba Fett and Din Djarin both became orphans at a young age.
Din was taken in by the Children of the Watch, an orthodox Mandalorian group, and raised as a warrior.
Following Jango Fett’s death, Boba was trained as a bounty hunter by assassin-for-hire Aurra Sing.
He was therefore not raised as a Mandalorian, despite his father’s heritage and armor.
Why does Boba Fett have Mandalorian armor?
Boba’s famous green and gray armor were inherited from his father, Jango Fett.
His rightful ownership of the beskar armor – considered sacred to Mandalorians – became an undeniably contentious issue for several Mandalorian characters.
Din initially believes Boba has no right to the armor, as he has not taken the Mandalorian creed.
After becoming unlikely allies, Boba shows Din his chain code in the armor.
Jango Fett’s code is also there, and Din realizes the latter was a Mandalorian foundling. He tells Boba Fett “then that armor belongs to you”.
Despite his rigid upbringing, Din proves more accepting of Boba Fett than other Mandalorians.
Bo-Katan Kryze, sister of the previous Duchess of Mandalore, and her ally Koska Reeves are markedly hostile to Boba.
Bo-Katan refuses to acknowledge his inheritance of the armor, referring to Jango Fett as Boba’s ‘donor’ rather than a father.
Was Boba a Mandalorian in Star Wars Legends?
Expanded content introduced Boba Fett as a Mandalorian warrior prior to the Star Wars prequels.
The original Marvel Star Wars comic featured an issue where Princess Leia meets a Mandalorian called Fenn Shysa.
The latter tells Leia he used to be part of a group of ‘supercommandos’ led by Boba Fett before the latter left to become a bounty hunter.
This non-canon comic was the first reference to Mandalorians and the planet Mandalore in Star Wars media.
Boba Fett was considered to be a Mandalorian until Attack of the Clones changed his background story.