If I asked you to name the most famous bounty hunter in the Star Wars galaxy, chances are Boba Fett would be the first name that comes to mind. And while Fett’s reputation is well-deserved, he’s the obvious choice. Instead, let’s talk about other bounty hunters who were just as influential and famous as Boba Fett during the Empire’s reign.
These are my top five picks—who would make your list? Let me know!
Table of Contents
Bossk
If we’re talking about bounty hunters who can be ranked on the same tier as Boba Fett, then Bossk is a character I believe we simply can’t overlook.
Bossk is one of the most dangerous bounty hunters in the galaxy, known for his relentless pursuit of prey and unmatched skill in tracking. A Trandoshan, his species’ natural hunting instincts make him a ruthless adversary, often taking on contracts others wouldn’t dare touch.
One of his most infamous moments came when he single-handedly took down an entire Rebel cell on Ord Mantell. Using his thermal detonators and sharp wits, Bossk systematically eliminated the group, showing no mercy.
If he wasn’t one of the best in the business, why would the Empire trust him enough to hire him alongside Boba Fett during their hunt for the Millennium Falcon?
Zuckuss
Another bounty hunter who made a name for himself—so much so that the Empire summoned him alongside Boba Fett in The Empire Strikes Back—is Zuckuss.
What makes Zuckuss so unique—and honestly kind of terrifying—is that he’s Force-sensitive. He uses the Force to foresee future events, which gives him an incredible advantage in battle.
He can anticipate attacks before they even happen, dodging blows and outsmarting his enemies like it’s second nature.
If you want to see just how skilled Zuckuss really is, I’d recommend checking out Star Wars: Bounty Hunters issue #6 from Marvel. Trust me, it’s worth it.
Valance
If I just keep listing off bounty hunters hired by Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back, it might start to feel a bit predictable. So, let’s switch things up and talk about someone you might not know—Valance, or as he’s better known, Valance the Hunter. Trust me, this guy is pure badass and if you’re a fan of The Terminator, you’ll probably get the vibe just by looking at him.
If you’ve never heard of Valance, his story is like something out of a sci-fi epic.
Valance started off as a regular human from the planet Chorin. Growing up, he idolized the Galactic Empire and eventually joined as a cadet, with the code name Cadet 404-913.
Things took a turn during the infamous battle of Mimban. If you’ve seen Solo: A Star Wars Story, you’ll know how chaotic that battle was. Valance fought as a swamp trooper and was gravely injured, losing parts of his body, limbs, and even half of his face. The Empire gave him cybernetic replacements but then discharged him
Valance channeled his anger into becoming one of the galaxy’s top bounty hunters, with a reputation fierce enough to rival Boba Fett. He even teamed up with Boba on a few missions and nearly killed Bossk in a brutal fight—using nothing but his bare hands.
For me, the moment that really stands out is when Valance tore through a squad of Stormtroopers aboard the Executor. He caused so much chaos that Darth Vader himself had to step in and stop him.
You can read the full story of Valance in the Star Wars: Bounty Hunters comic series.
Fennec Shand
So far, we’ve had two aliens and a human who’s practically a cyborg on the list. This time, it’s a human female who’s undeniably one of the most famous bounty hunters in the galaxy: Fennec Shand.
What I really love about Fennec Shand is how close she came to taking down Cad Bane in The Bad Batch. That intense standoff between them while they were fighting over Omega? It’s one of the best moments in the series. She also impressed me with her hand-to-hand combat skills when she faced Hunter. Fennec knocked him out with ease, showing she’s just as deadly up close as she is from a distance.
Of course, every great bounty hunter is skilled with a blaster, but Fennec’s real standout weapon is her sniper rifle: The 785MK Firepuncher-X. One of her best sniper moments happens in The Mandalorian. When Din Djarin and Toro Calican try to capture her, they approach on speeders at full throttle. Despite Toro’s efforts to block her vision by firing blasts into the air, Fennec takes down Din’s speeder with precise shots.
Cad Bane
The last entry on this list has to be legendary—who else could it be but the mentor of Boba Fett himself? Cad Bane is, without a doubt, one of the most famous bounty hunters in the galaxy. His name is known far and wide, and his reputation is built on taking on the most dangerous and high-profile jobs.
Cad Bane was hired by the Kaminoans to retrieve Omega, proving his unmatched skill and determination. During the Empire’s reign, he worked with them to hunt down individuals with high midi-chlorian counts, including children. One example of this is in Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Season 3, Episode 10.
In this episode, Cad Bane continues his business with the Empire by targeting individuals with high midi-chlorian counts—primarily young children and infants. He delivers these captives to Imperial representatives at Imperial Station 003 above Coruscant, where they are later transported to Tantiss Base.