With Mandalorians are among the most formidable non-Force s in the Star Wars galaxy. The weapons, the armor, the fighting capability, the gadgets, and even the culture are all key identifying features that make a Mandalorian a fun and unique archetype to roleplay as in a tabletop D&D setting.
With all these aspects, D&D players could take inspiration and bring their own Mando-esque character to the table. There are a few classes in 5e that could help players enjoy this flavor, as well as mechanically achieving what Mandalorians are seen doing in the shows and movies. Each of these classes can offer different ways to approach the prospect.
Cleric
In The Mandalorian, the scenes in the Mandalorian Enclave put on display the devotion to the idea of the Mandalore; a mighty warrior who once lived and who defeated fearsome, monstrous foes. The rituals and customs done in tribute to the Mandalore are akin to something almost religious. For this angle, the 5e Cleric works.
While the classic D&D Cleric may be seen more as a , there are plenty of options that allow for a more aggressive combat style. With the right Domain, players can get access to heavy armor proficiency as well, allowing them to emulate the iconic Beskar armor. The Forge domain seems best suited for playing as a Mandalorian Cleric, as the idea of forging armor and weapons is highly important in Mandalorian culture. This class would be excellent for playing a character more in the vein of someone like the enigmatic Armorer, played by Emily Swallow, who offers wisdom and helps guide Mandalorian protagonist, Din Djarin, on his path.
Ranger
One flavor typically associated with Mandalorians is that of the bounty hunter, and there have been many in Star Wars canon that deserve their own spin-off. These Mandalorians are wayward space-faring guns for hire collecting heads for coin. This is indeed the same line of work both Din Djarin and Boba Fett have found themselves in at some point in their career, emulating a sort of Man-With-No-Name from the Dollars Trilogy vibe. A class that suits itself for that kind of role well is the Ranger.
In D&D 5e, the Ranger has access to features that allow the player to locate and hunt down creatures. Additionally, taking a subclass like Hunter can open up different options for ranged combat that allow players to fight off hordes of enemies or take down a large foe. What this class lacks is access to heavy armor proficiency, but the medium armor range does have options like half-plate which could suffice.
Artificer
In of flavor in how their abilities manifest, the D&D Artificer class seems very in line with a Mandalorian, as much of their abilities are based on more advanced, technological gadgets. And, if players take the Armorer subclass available from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything they would get access to heavy armor proficiency, as well as a magical suit of armor they can customize and upgrade.
With the Artificer spell list, players can fly (emulating the classic Mandalorian jetpack), cast a flamethrower-like cone of fire, and fire missiles. The class has more of an intellectual lean, relying more on gadgets and technological know-how than physical combat effectiveness, however. While there hasn’t yet been a Mandalorian like this in any of the live-action Star Wars material, players could use Artificer to take a slight twist on the Mandalorian aesthetic while accurately replicating the classic moves associated with the archetype.
Paladin
Paladin is one of the classes known for its heavy armor, which is a key feature of the Mandalorian aesthetic. In fact one of the inspirations for Boba Fett’s original design and by extension the design for Mandalorians in general is the Knights of old, hence the gladiator-esque visored helmet. Paladins also get their power from some sort of code they adhere to, emblematic of the Mandalorian honor code.
The oft-spoken phrase “this is the way” in The Mandalorian certainly evokes this concept. Even Boba, who is not as strictly Mandalorian as others, seems to follow some sort of code of honor as shown so far in his appearance in The Mandalorian as well as so far even in just the first episode of The Book of Boba Fett. One drawback for using Paladin, however, is that outside of a few spell options, the Paladin ends up a bit lacking in ranged attacks.
Fighter
Mandalorians are fearsome warriors known throughout the galaxy for their prowess in combat, and they tend to be some of the best fighters in their respective mediums. A Mandalorian brings with it the flavor of a badass who strolls into a situation armed to the teeth and ready for a fight. For this, look no further than the Fighter class.
Fighters can wear heavy armor and are able to use every weapon effectively. This is an important factor, as versatility with weapons has been displayed by Din Djarin, Boba Fett, and other Mandalorians. Din Djarin has his long-range laser rifle and Beskar spear, and Boba Fett has his short rifle but is able to hold his own with the Tusken Raiders and learns quickly to use their unique club well. Whether it be close quarters or long-range, the Fighter is able to cover it all, and the same can and should be said for any true Mandalorian.
