Entertainment
 

Bounty hunter

From Wookieepedia, the Star Wars wiki.

(Redirected from Bounty Hunters)
This article is about bounty hunting, a profession. You may be looking for the video game Bounty Hunter, or the Star Wars Miniatures set Bounty Hunters.

Help me, <insert name here>. You're my only hope!

This article or section is in need of referencing per Wookieepedia's sourcing guidelines.

This article needs appropriate citations. Help us improve this article by referencing valid resource material. Remove this notice when finished.

Several bounty hunters join Darth Vader aboard the Executor.
"Bounty hunters. We don't need their scum."
Admiral Firmus Piett[src]

Bounty hunters were hireable mercenaries who tracked down and captured or killed anyone with a price on their head, although they were also known for doing nearly anything for the right price including the protection of clients. The best bounty hunters were very well armed and had very effective weapons, making them even more dangerous. There were, however, plenty of incompetent specimens throughout the galaxy, lacking any real skill but wishing to get rich quickly or simply seeking adventure.

Bounty hunters usually worked alone, although they sometimes did form partnerships. Partnering with a bounty hunter could be very dangerous business, though, as they typically valued their personal gain—and survival—above that of their companions. Despite their fierce independence, their reputation as "Jedi-killers" made them valuable tools of the Empire.[1]

There were strong rivalries between bounty hunters and smugglers, most commonly seen between Boba Fett and Han Solo, respectively.

Contents

[edit] Organization

"Both infamous and anonymous at the same time, Bounty Hunters are far more than mercenaries for hire - they're heirs to a professional legacy - an ancient brotherhood with a glorious history."
―Unknown[src]

[edit] The Guilds

There were a number of guilds associated with bounty hunters, the largest and best-known being the Bounty Hunters Guild. However, it was often plagued with infighting and a general lack of cooperation between its members, climaxing with its virtual self-destruction during the Bounty Hunter Wars. There were other organizations, such as the House of Benelex, Qulok's Fist, the GenoHaradan, and the Granse Confederacy, that served the same purpose.

Most bounties were presented to a guild, unless the presenter was able to contact the hunters directly. Posted bounties would then be sent to hunters affiliated with the guild and the hunt would be on. With the exception of powerful beings like Jabba the Hutt, Prince Xizor, Darth Vader, or intermediaries like Kud'ar Mub'at, most beings contracted hunters in this manner.

During the Jedi Civil War it was possible to merely walk into a bounty office and browse current bounties, as Revan did during his stay on Taris.

[edit] Permits

During the Imperial Era, the Empire issued Imperial Peace Keeping Certificate to bounty hunters. In some cases, bounty hunters were required to lodge a B23-1-14 permit in order to collect the maximum possible bounty.

[edit] Stance

A Defel bounty hunter.
"What's the best way to find another bounty hunter?"
"Think like him?"
"No. You hire him."
Boba Fett and Mirta Gev[src]

Bounty hunters were almost always mistrusted and feared by locals around the galaxy. This was because their line of work was often very dangerous, and frightening. Many famous hunters earned reputations as fearsome as the most horrific Sith Lords and criminals. Hunters such as Calo Nord and Jango Fett became household names, though neither reached the unparalleled infamy of Boba Fett. However, there were occasional counter-examples to this viewpoint. Bounty hunters who followed government regulations and targeted dangerous criminals were often seen as on the side of law enforcement. On Haruun Kal, many Balawai children revered bounty hunters as larger than life figures.

Generally, bounty hunters remained neutral during times of galactic conflict. They were known to favor one side or another, although never officially joining any one group. For example, the aforementioned Calo Nord and Jango Fett worked with the Sith during the Jedi Civil War and prior to the Clone Wars, respectively. Boba Fett often worked for the Empire and even had a professional relationship of mutual respect with Darth Vader. The Rebel Alliance rarely dealt with bounty hunters, lacking the credits and finding the hunters' methods contradictory to their ways of battle.

Most often, however, bounty hunters were hired by individuals—particularly criminals and crime lords. The Exchange, Black Sun, the Zann Consortium, and Jabba the Hutt were particularly fond of using them, both for their effectiveness and their availability.

[edit] Bounty hunters in history

Bounty Hunter in 3,653 BBY

[edit] Old Republic era

[edit] Rise of the Empire era

[edit] Rebellion era

Bossk, Boba Fett and IG-88.
The Rodian bounty hunter, Slyder.

[edit] New Republic era

[edit] New Jedi Order era

[edit] Legacy era

[edit] Appearances

This list is incomplete. You can help Wookieepedia by expanding it.

[edit] Sources

Wookieepedia has a collection of images related to Bounty hunter.

[edit] Notes and references

[edit] See also