Why Did Vader Stop Boba From Blasting Chewbacca?

One of the most unforgettable moments in The Empire Strikes Back is Darth Vader ordering Han Solo to be frozen in carbonite.

Right before it happens, Chewbacca—carrying a disassembled C-3PO on his back—fights back, unwilling to let his friend be taken. In that moment, Boba Fett reacts fast, raising his blaster, ready to shoot. But before he can fire, Vader immediately stops him.

Did Vader actually want to spare Chewbacca, or was there another reason behind his decision?

I found the real answer—and yes, it’s canon.

Vader’s Larger Goal: Trapping Luke Skywalker

At this point in the movie, we know Vader’s main goal is to lure Luke into a trap. Freezing Han in carbonite isn’t just about capturing him—it’s a test run to make sure the process is safe for Luke.

For that to work, everything needed to stay under control. If Boba Fett had shot Chewbacca, who was already furious, things could have escalated fast. And let’s be real—a rampaging Wookiee in a confined space with stormtroopers and bounty hunters? That’s a disaster waiting to happen.

Vader wasn’t about to let that happen. If chaos broke out, it could have damaged the freezing chamber or even injured Han, ruining the entire experiment. This wasn’t about saving Chewbacca—it was about making sure nothing interfered with Vader’s plan to use the same method on Luke.

We can see it clearly—Vader didn’t stop Boba out of mercy. He did it because he needed everything to go exactly as planned. One blaster bolt could have derailed all of it.

Vader’s View on the Rebels’ Weakness

There’s another reason why Vader didn’t let Boba Fett kill Chewbacca, and it has everything to do with how he viewed the Rebels’ bond.

We know Vader wasn’t just a ruthless enforcer—he was a strategist. He saw the friendship between Han, Leia, and Chewbacca not as a strength, but as a weakness he could exploit. Keeping them alive gave him a psychological advantage, because he knew their loyalty to each other could be used against them.

And Vader himself confirms this. He once said:

“Good… Keep on believing it… Believe that your friends have survived this long through strength or fortune… instead of my design.”

That quote comes from Star Wars: Darth Vader #12, a comic that dives deeper into his mindset during this moment. It makes it clear—Vader wasn’t saving Chewbacca out of kindness. He saw more value in letting them live, knowing he could manipulate their emotions to serve his own goals.

Killing them wasn’t necessary. Breaking them? That was the real plan.

Vader’s Authority Over Boba Fett

Despite Boba Fett’s reputation as a notorious bounty hunter, Darth Vader maintained complete control over him during their mission. 

When hiring Fett, Vader gave specific orders: the crew of the Millennium Falcon must be captured alive, which is why he famously warned Fett, “No disintegrations.” 

Vader wanted to use the crew, Han Solo, Leia, and Chewbacca for interrogation and as bait for Luke Skywalker.

When Fett raised his blaster to shoot Chewbacca in the carbon-freezing chamber, Vader’s intervention wasn’t just about saving a life; it was about keeping his carefully laid trap intact. 

Vader couldn’t allow Fett’s impulsiveness to interfere with his plan. By stopping him, Vader reasserted his authority, ensuring that the situation didn’t spiral out of control. 

Even though Fett was deadly, his power in this scenario was limited by Vader’s command.