What to Know About Planet Mandalore Before "The Mandalorian" Season 3

"The Mandalorian" is set to head somewhere it's never been in season three: Mandalore itself. After removing his helmet multiple times, Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) must go to the Mandalorian home world to atone for what he believes is a sin. Plus, he now has possession of the Darksaber, which, historically, gives someone the ability to lead Mandalore and the Mandalorians who have always called it home.

However, Mandalore itself is in ruins, mostly abandoned and decimated. How did that happen? Ahead, we break down the planet's complex history and why Mandalorians are scattered throughout the galaxy.

Mandalore the planet made its big entry into the Star Wars canon in the "Clone Wars" animated series, which covers the time between "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith." At that time, the planet is led by Duchess Satine, who's trying to keep it out of the conflict between the separatists and the republic. But many of the Mandalorian people don't agree, believing that war and fighting — not pacifism — are key to Mandalorian culture. Those dissenters include Duchess Satine's sister Bo-Katan Kryze. The strongest opposition to Satine's reign comes from Deathwatch, a terrorist group; their leader, Pre Vizsla, even has the Darksaber. They eventually ally with the Sith Lord Darth Maul to take back the planet.

But the alliance between the two groups crumbles, and Maul kills Pre and takes the saber. Satine is also killed. Bo-Katan then teams up with Obi-Wan Kenobi and the Republic to take back the planet, but after she's installed as regent, she's ousted by Imperial-backed forces.

The story picks up again in the "Rebels" animated series when Sabine Wren gets the Darksaber. She decides to give it to Bo-Katan so she can lead Mandalore once more.

Unfortunately, the Empire always strikes back. During the Great Purge of Mandalore, they attacked the planet and killed everyone there. Bo-Katan and her Nite Owls survived, but most Mandalorians perished, and the ones left are now scattered throughout the galaxy. Din is from a group called the Children of the Watch who lived on a moon and, thus, were able to avoid the purge. It's not clear how many Mandalorians are left in the galaxy. In the present day of "The Mandalorian," the planet seems to be mostly in ruins.

Mandalorians usually live in different clans, identifiable by insignia on the helmets that are part of the armor that almost all Mandalorians wear. Traditionally, their culture focused heavily on fighting, but some have fought against that. Mandalorians also have a deep tie to the metal beskar, which they use to create their armor and sometimes weapons. Beskar is only found on Mandalorian worlds.

Yes, Mandalorians can be Jedi. The Darksaber itself was made by the first Mandalorian Jedi, Tarre Vizsla. No other Mandalorian Jedi has ever been mentioned in Star Wars, but that doesn't mean there aren't more.