In the final episode of Season 2 of The Mandalorian, the star character Din Djarin won the Darksaber from his opponent Moff Gideon. When the Mandalorian, or Din Djarin, returned in The Book of Boba Fett, he had that very Darksaber with him.
But does the Mandalorian actually own the Darksaber?
Yes and no. He owns it more than others do now. Yet, it is better to say that he is trying to own, or possess, it. It will take some time for him to actually own it, and he may not succeed.
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A Matter of Control
Although Din Djarin did win the Darksaber, he does not fully control or own it. In The Book of Boba Fett, the Mandalorian was challenged in combat by Paz Vizsla, another Mandalorian, for possession of the Darksaber.
Din Djarin did manage to retain the Darksaber against this challenger. However, while battling with Paz Vizla, Din Djarin struggled to control the Darksaber.
An intriguing aspect of the episode “Return of the Mandalorian” in The Book of Boba Fett is that Din has trouble controlling the Darksaber. He wields it, but not very well.
He even comments on how heavy the blade feels. It seems he has not connected enough with the Darksaber. Hence, while he does have it, he does not control, or fully own, it.
In order to fully possess this special lightsaber, it must become a part of the wielder. The blade and the wielder need to become one.
The Origins of the Darksaber
The Darksaber was originally created by Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian brought into the Jedi Order, way back in 1032 BBY. After Tarre Vizsla died, the Darksaber was hidden in the Jedi Temple.
During the fall of the Old Republic, those belonging to House Vizsla–a Mandalorian faction–stole the Darksaber from the Temple. With the symbolic power of the Darksaber, House Vizsla united the Mandalorians.
This black-bladed lightsaber was then passed along through generations by the ancestors of House Vizsla. The Darksaber remained with this family into the phase of the New Mandalorians, who had moved to pacifist beliefs over warrior ones.
The Darksaber Changes Hands
By 21 BBY, Pre Vizsla, a descendant of Tarre Vizsla, had taken hold of the Darksaber. He formed a group known as the Death Watch to overthrow the pacifist turn of the Mandalorians.
Pre Vizsla met his end, though, at the hands of Darth Maul, who took the Darksaber from him. Soon afterwards, Darth Sidious, or Chancellor Palpatine, battled Maul and the latter lost the Darksaber.
After spending some time as a prisoner, Darth Maul regained the Darksaber once more. Maul used it in several battles, including against General Grievous. Once we get into the Imperial era, the Darksaber changed hands yet again.
This time, Sabine Wren got hold of it. As a Mandalorian weapons expert, Sabine also took on training on how to wield the Darksaber. She was taught by Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus, and Wren used the Darksaber to aid the rebellion.
The Darksaber was next given to Lady Bo-Katan Kryze to lead the Mandalorians. Once the Empire attacked the Mandalorians, known as the Great Purge of Mandalore, Bo-Katan lost possession of the Darksaber.
It was eventually taken by Moff Gideon, the leader of the left-over Imperialists that appear in The Mandalorian series.
Controlling the Darksaber
When Din Djarin rescued Grogu in the final episode of season 2 of The Mandalorian, he bested Moff Gideon in combat and acquired the Darksaber. Yet, he was reluctant to hold onto it.
Din Djarin tried to give it to Bo-Katan Kryze, the female Mandalorian leader who previously was in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. She became a live-action character in The Mandalorian.
Bo-Katan did not accept the Darksaber, though. As Moff Gideon explains, “She can’t take it. It must be won in battle.” So, Din Djarin is the “owner” then.
Bo-Katan also indicates that the Darksaber would interfere with her right to the throne and leadership of the Mandalorians. So, for that reason too, Din Djarin is stuck with the Darksaber, whether he likes it or not.
Yet, he does not quite own it, since he is not skilled at using it. He will need to train and become one with it to fully own it.
Owning the Darksaber
After his duel with Paz Vizsla, Din Djarin is expelled from the Children of the Watch, a religious-split-off group within the Mandalorians. Din Djarin takes the Darksaber with him.
He comes back with it in The Book of Boba Fett. We know that the Mandalorian is skilled with using weapons. Yet, it will be a different task to make that Darksaber a part of himself.
Without that mind-body-energy connection, Din Djarin may not be able to continue his claim to the Darksaber.
Through The Book of Boba Fett series, we may one day see him actually own the Darksaber. Especially by training with the Mandalorian Sabine Wren, or his companion Grogu, Din Djarin could become a full owner of the Darksaber.
Or, as in the past, we may see the Darksaber transferred to other hands. It will depend on the Mandalorian’s training and attachment to the Darksaber.
Todd Wahlstrom is a creative and analytical freelance writer and life-long Star Wars fan. He has covered such topics as Darth Vader, the Jedi, Boba Fett, and AT-AT Walkers. Todd has published a non-fiction book, holds a Ph.D. in history, and enjoys hiking, running, and reading about science.