Star Wars: Why Is the Mythosaur So Important to Mandalorians?

Warning: this article contains full spoilers for The Mandalorian: Season 3, Episode 2! If you haven’t already, check out IGN’s review of “The Mines of Mandalore.”

The Mandalorian episode “The Mines of Mandalore” offers some exciting new insight into Mandalorian culture, including a major first for the franchise. This episode marks the first time we’ve seen the fabled Mythosaur in the flesh. Previously the stuff of myth and legend, it turns out this enormous beast hasn’t quite gone extinct, even after the terrible events of the Great Purge of Mandalore.

At this point, you might be wondering what makes the Mythosaur so important to Star Wars lore? What are these massive creatures, and why do Mandalorians revere them so much? Let’s break down what The Mandalorian has revealed so far.

What Is a Mythosaur?

Mandalore is a harsh world, and that means it’s home to some of the toughest beasts and mutants the galaxy has to offer. But none of them hold a candle to the Mythosaur. These dragon-like creatures are so massive they’re basically the size of a skyscraper. Surviving an encounter with one is difficult enough, to say nothing of actually trying to kill something that massive.

But that’s where Mandalore the Great comes in. The first of the many leaders to unify Mandalore’s people under a single banner, Mandalore the Great is renowned for having managed to tame and ride a Mythosaur. That inspired many legends and stories. Even centuries later, many Mandalorians wear images of the Mythosaur skull on their armor (including Boba Fett) or tattoo it on their bodies. There’s even a type of weapon called a Mythosaur Axe that’s modeled after the skull shape.

Mythosaurs were believed to have gone extinct long ago at some point before the final war against the Jedi that left Mandalore’s surface scarred and desiccated. But as we learned in the final moments of “The Mines of Mandalore,” at least one of these creatures has survived and somehow remained hidden in the pools below the city of Sundari.

The Mythosaur in Star Wars Legends

Disney’s Star Wars canon doesn’t contain a great deal of information about the Mythosaur. Most of what we’ve learned about the species has come in The Mandalorian itself, like when Nick Nolte’s Kuill reminded Mando of his people’s habit of taming and riding Mythosaurs.

However, Mythosaurs used to be referenced more often in the classic Legends/Expanded Universe timeline. The creature was actually introduced in Marvel’s first Star Wars series, way back in 1982’s Star Wars #69. There, a Mandalorian character attempts to build a theme park featuring a replica Mythosaur skeleton. A later reference book also established what these creatures looked like when they still dwelt on Mandalore.

The Expanded Universe mythology diverges from the current canon in that a helmet, not the Darksaber, is the artifact that signifies a person’s right to rule Mandalore. That helmet is carved from a Mythosaur bone and, like the Darksaber, is passed down from one ruler to the next through honorable combat.  

Will Din Djarin Tame a Mythosaur?

The ending to “The Mines of Mandalore” strongly hints that Din Djarin and Katee Sackhoff’s Bo-Katan are about to become the first Mandalorians to encounter a living Mythosaur in centuries. Somehow, at least one of these creatures has managed to stay alive and hidden in the mines, despite its enormous size. 

Given all the reminders about Mandalore the Great’s impossible feat, we have to assume the series is foreshadowing the fact that Din will attempt to tame the Mythosaur, just like his ancestor did. It’s sure to be a pivotal moment for our hero, who thus far has been very reluctant to accept the responsibility that comes with the Darksaber. If he manages to tame a Mythosaur on top of that, he may have no choice but to become the leader his people so desperately need.

However, there’s always the possibility that it won’t be Din who manages to tame the Mythosaur. What if Bo-Katan is the one who saves the day? What would that mean for her claim to the throne? Her followers may have deserted her, but even the Darksaber may turn out to be small potatoes compared to a Mandalorian who tames a Mythosaur. At that point, Din’s journey wouldn’t be about becoming a leader, but helping Bo-Katan rally their people again.

Either way, expect a lot of Mandalorian vs. Mythosaur action in Episode 19.

For more on The Mandalorian, see our biggest burning questions from the Season 3 premiere and our hands-on impressions of a $700 Mandalorian helmet.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.