Bounty hunter/Legends

"One who takes people for money?''" "''A bounty hunter."

- The Murakami orchid and Hestizo Trace

Bounty hunters were mercenaries for hire 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, smart and clever, and had very effective weapons, making them even more dangerous.

Bounty hunters usually worked alone, but occasionally formed partnerships. Partnering with a bounty hunter could be very dangerous business, though, as they typically valued their personal gain&mdash;and survival&mdash;above that of their companions. Despite their fierce independence, their reputation as "Jedi killers" made them valuable allies of the Galactic Empire. There were strong rivalries between bounty hunters and smugglers, most obviously seen between Boba Fett and Han Solo, respectively.

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

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 Benelex, Qulok's Fist, the GenoHaradan, and the Granse Confederacy, that served a similar 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.

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.

Depending on the jurisdiction, a person without a permit could earn a bounty, as was the norm in Lamaredd.

Stance
"What's the best way to find another bounty hunter?''" "Think like him?" "''No. You hire him."

- Boba Fett and Mirta Gev

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, Jango Fett, and Cad Bane became household names, though none neared the unparalleled infamy of Boba Fett. Bounty hunters were not universally reviled, however. Those 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 worked with the Sith during the Jedi Civil War. During the Cold War, The Grand Champion of the Great Hunt worked the Sith Empire, Jango Fett worked with the Separatists prior to the Clone Wars, respectively. Cad Bane worked with the Separatists during the Clone Wars. 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&mdash;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.

Work with the Empire
Bounty hunters were hired by the Empire, and following the Battle of Hoth in 3 ABY, a group of bounty hunters were hired to find the starship Millennium Falcon.

Other bounty hunters provided information to the Empire. One particular individual provided a tip which led to a raid to find Rebel pilot Luke Skywalker.

Non-canon appearances

 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
 * LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles video game
 * LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Han Solo Affair