Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for The Mandalorian season 3, episode 4.

The Mandalorian season 3, episode 4 included some details about Mandalorian ranks and titles in the Star Wars universe. Throughout The Mandalorian, more aspects of Mandalorian culture have been divulged than in any other Star Wars property through the Children of the Watch. In The Mandalorian season 3, episode 4, specifically, the customs of the Watch were showcased more heavily than in previous seasons of the show.

At one point at the beginning of the episode, Din Djarin placed Grogu in a Mandalorian sparring match. Bo-Katan questioned if it was a good idea before Din replied with something very interesting about Mandalorian culture. He stated that, if Grogu wished to rise to become an apprentice from a foundling, he would need to learn how to fight like a Mandalorian. With many Mandalorian characters in The Mandalorian season 3 ranging from different statuses, it is interesting to explore the different levels, ranks, and titles that permeate their culture.

Mandalorian Foundling

The first and lowest rank of the Children of the Watch is a Mandalorian foundling. The concept of foundlings was first introduced in The Mandalorian season 1, episode 1, and has since been shown to be very important to the Mandalorian Creed followed by the Children of the Watch. A foundling is defined as any abandoned child who has been returned to a Mandalorian covert to learn the Way of the Mand'alor. Foundlings are often bound to the Mandalorian that found them, with that Mandalorian responsible for raising, teaching, and training the child in the ways of the Creed.

According to the Armorer in The Mandalorian season 3, episode 4, saving a foundling is the highest honor of the Mandalorians. This shows how important foundlings are to Mandalorian culture, as they often define the future of the Creed. Mandalorian foundlings are given their armor once old enough to speak the Creed, often from Beskar donations made by other of their Mandalorian covert.

Mandalorian Apprentice

The next Mandalorian rank was first mentioned in The Mandalorian season 3, episode 4, in which Din stated Grogu would need to rise from a Mandalorian foundling to a Mandalorian apprentice. While not a lot of details have been disclosed about what a Mandalorian apprentice is, some aspects can be gleaned from other Star Wars properties. It is most likely that a Mandalorian apprentice is dictated by their age and armor. For example, if a Mandalorian foundling became of age to speak the Creed, was given their helmet, and was old enough, they would be considered an apprentice.

One such case of this is Sabine Wren from Star Wars Rebels. Sabine is around 15 years old at the start of Rebels, and would likely be classed as a Mandalorian apprentice should she have lived among other Mandalorians. Ragnar Vizsla, the son of Paz Vizsla, is probably still be classed as a foundling given his young age, despite speaking the Creed and earning his helmet. It can be inferred that a Mandalorian apprentice is either dictated by hitting a certain age threshold or taking a series of tests to see a foundling grow into the status.

Mandalorian

The next level of Mandalorian culture is the most commonly found: simply a Mandalorian. With a Mandalorian apprentice likely ranging from around 16 years onwards, it is similarly likely that hitting the age of 25, for example, sees an apprentice grow into a Mandalorian. Characters like Din Djarin, Boba Fett, Bo-Katan Kryze, and Paz Vizsla all hold the simple rank of Mandalorian, a member of the Children of the Watch responsible for upholding the ways of the Creed - at least in Din, Paz, and now Bo's case.

Mandalorians uphold the Way by following the rules of the Creed. The biggest is a Mandalorian not removing his or her helmet in front of another living creature. This was shown in The Mandalorian to result in the culprit being ostracized from the Children of the Watch, with only bathing in the Living Waters of Mandalore resulting in forgiveness. Mandalorians are also defined by their armor and weapons, with these elements holding great importance to them. If another person dons Mandalorian armor, this is seen as a crime against their religion, as shown in Din Djarin's first encounter with Cobb Vanth.

Mandalorian Armorer

Another interesting level of Mandalorian culture is the Armorer. Not a rank every Mandalorian can obtain, the Armorer is more of a spiritual leader of the Mandalorian people. Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, the co-creators of The Mandalorian, have explained the Mandalorian Armorer as more of a shaman and lore keeper. The Armorer is responsible for ing the knowledge of the Creed on to other Mandalorians, making sure the Way is being upheld by those in their covert. In The Mandalorian, the Armorer is a female played by Emily Swallow, though Favreau and Filoni have stated they believe others have held this title before her.

The duo likens the Armorer to the wizard Merlin from Arthurian legend. Merlin is responsible for giving King Arthur his quests, like guiding the latter to Excalibur, for example. Yet Merlin does not wield Excalibur; Arthur does. Favreau also mentioned that the Armorer is more like a High Priest as opposed to a king, with the creator clearly being influenced by ancient mythology when deg the ranks and titles of Mandalorian culture.

Mand'alor

On the flip side of the Armorer's coin is Mand'alor, who acts as the political leader - or war chief - of Mandalorians alongside the Armorer's spiritual leadership. In Star Wars canon, Mand'alor is the title given to the sole leader of the Mandalorians. After the reign of Tarre Vizsla, a Mandalorian Jedi who crafted the Darksaber and held the title of Mand'alor, the role was often linked to the weapon. Since that point, it is stated in Mandalorian culture that whosoever holds the Darksaber shall be known as Mand'alor, with the right to lead the Mandalorian people.

In "modern" Star Wars, meaning from the time of the prequel era onwards, there have been two Mand'alors. The first was Pre Vizsla, the leader of Death Watch during the Clone Wars who usurped Duchess Satine's rule of Mandalore. The second was Bo-Katan herself, who held the Darksaber and the title shortly before the time of the original trilogy. With Mand'alor being the highest honor among the Mandalorian people, it will be interesting to see whether the return of the The Mandalorian season 3 heralds a new leader, and who it will be.

New episodes of The Mandalorian release every Wednesday on Disney+.