In The Mandalorian, the Darksaber reemerges as a powerful symbol of Mandalorian leadership and legitimacy. After the fall of the Empire, the weapon is revealed to be in the possession of Moff Gideon, who obtained it during the Imperial purge of Mandalore, known as the Great Night.
 
Gideon’s ownership challenges Bo-Katan Kryze, who once wielded the Darksaber but lost it without combat—invalidating her claim to rule under Mandalorian tradition. When Din Djarin defeats Gideon in single combat, he unknowingly earns the Darksaber, placing him at the center of Mandalorian politics despite his reluctance to lead.
 
Throughout the series, the Darksaber is shown to be difficult to wield, resisting those who lack clarity of purpose. In The Mandalorian, it represents the burden of leadership, cultural identity, and the struggle to reunite a fractured people - proving that the blade’s true power lies not in combat, but in what it demands of its bearer.