Mercenary / Legends A mercenary ( merc for short ) , sometimes also called soldier of fortune , hired gun , or free lance , was a soldier who fought or worked in other ways ( mostly in those involving violence ) for any faction in exchange for a desirable amount of money . Sometimes , the word " mercenary " was used as a derogatory term for someone who valued credits over other things , such as ideals or kinship . Characteristics . Mercenaries served mostly as troopers or pilots for hire , but also as bodyguards and enforcers . They worked in other military assignments as well , for example in those involving testing the equipment , liberating abducted people or retrieving , transporting and protecting valuable goods or items . Some even outfitted other beings with devices and equipment they may need . They appeared in all known eras , being especially active when conflicts erupted . Mercenaries were often said to be opportunistic and concerned only on profits and " survival to fight another day " . Mostly they had " neutral " affiliation and were hired by many fighting forces without actually joining them . In some cases though , they grew sympathetic to their clients , such as Kyle Katarn or Han Solo , who eventually joined the Rebel Alliance . Many mercenaries were also defectors from armies or ex - soldiers , often from special forces , thus having versatility and abilities very useful in their occupation . Mercenaries always were equipped with weapons , often they also carried personal armor and multiple devices allowing them to fulfill their employer ' s demands . Many civilizations were specialized in mercenary business . The Mandalorians have served the galaxy as mercenaries for thousands of years . Having complicated history behind them , Mistryl Shadow Guard dedicated themselves to serve as mercenaries to save their people . Due to their incredible brute strength and low intelligence , Gamorreans were often employed as mercenaries for less demanding . Many Rodians , Trandoshans , Ubese and Weequay were working throughout the galaxy as mercs . History . Mercenaries from several factions ( like Echani , Iridonians and Mandalorians ) were employed in the Jedi Civil War by both Sith and Galactic Republic forces . Prior to the splitting of the Mandalorians into two factions , they were among the most famous and skilled mercenaries in the galaxy . During the Clone Wars , the Separatists often hired mercenaries to perform special operations and other services that required more finesse or creativity than could be found in their droid army . The Republic was not above hiring mercenaries for many of the same reasons . Under the rule of the Galactic Empire , powerful mercenary organizations were either employed by the Empire or hunted down and wiped out , although many mercs were defectors from the Imperial service . The Rebel Alliance hired several privateers in the Galactic Civil War . Mercenary organizations . Only few large mercenary organizations existed in the galaxy . The forces of the galaxy tended to pull such organizations into conflict too regularly for mercenaries to exist in organized companies . Instead , individual mercenaries formed brotherhoods , that often existed as loose networks of contacts and contract makers . These brotherhoods provided some measure of camaraderie amongst the members of this otherwise very lonely business . Occasionally , members of the brotherhoods found themselves employed by opposite sides of armed conflicts , forcing them to fight against each other . But when the contract was over , the brotherhood took precedence . The largest of these brotherhoods was the Brotherhood Mortalis , founded during the final years of the Old Republic . Mandalorian mercenaries . Mandalorian mercenaries , known informally as Mandalorian Mercs , were regarded as some of the finest soldiers - for - hire in the galaxy , greatly due to their warrior - based culture , providing the combat training to its members even when they are very young . After the Mandalorians were defeated by the Galactic Republic during the Mandalorian Wars in the year 3960 BBY , the Jedi Knight Revan disarmed and disbanded the Mandalorian Clans , and allowed them to scatter in disheartened groups across the Outer Rim Territories . There , devoid of leadership and honor , they degenerated . A few Mandalorian Neo - Crusaders survivors returned to the Mandalore system , but many veterans , including Canderous Ordo , humbled their pride and became mercenaries for hire . The skilled Mandalorian Mercs became highly sought after in the aftermath of the Mandalorian Wars . During the Jedi Civil War and the Dark Wars , they gathered on Kashyyyk , Dantooine , Nar Shaddaa , Manaan , and many other worlds where they hired themselves out to the Sith , the Republic , and various criminal organizations such as the Exchange . Canderous Ordo returned to the former Mandalorian headquarters of Dxun and began to rebuild Clan Ordo . Through skill in arms and sheer cunning , he rose to the rank of Mandalore and began to gather the remaining Mandalorian Clans . While journeying with the Jedi Exile during the First Jedi Purge , he was able to convince several groups of Mandalorian mercenaries to give up their independence and join themselves to his cause . It is unknown how many Mandalorians Canderous eventually managed to recruit , but in any case , Mandalorian mercenaries became a traditional part of Mandalorian society and they continued to operate for millennia . Jaster Mereel , a later Mandalore , would later try to purge the dishonorable brigandage adopted into their society by superseding their old code with the Supercommando Codex , bringing honor back to their society . The Death Watch , a splinter group , opposed such change and fought the True Mandalorians in a civil war to determine their future . A later group called the Mandalorian Protectors , formed by Mandalore the Resurrector , would revive mercenary traditions and prior to the Yuuzhan Vong War , Mandalorians were once again in high demand . List of mercenary units . Mercenaries worked either as freelancers or as members of some larger military unit or mercenary guild . Some of them included : Behind the scenes . Most Star Wars mercenary units are interstellar versions of real - world , a mercenary - type , privately owned paramilitary organization that provides security detail and military support . As with Aurodium Sword , PMCs often employ retired ex - Special Forces veterans . The mercenary is an advanced class for the bounty hunter class in the " " MMO video game . This advanced class specializes in dual - wielded blasters , missile launchers , and dealing damage in battle as well as healing . The Republic counterpart for this archetype is the Commando .