The Mandalorian's Villains: Ignoring the Empire's Vital Lesson Could Prove Costly

Summary

Moff Gideon's plan to create Force-sensitive clones of himself to form a new generation of clone troopers was doomed to fail due to the high cost and complexity involved.

The Empire chose to abandon clone armies due to their high cost, instead opting for more affordable and readily available human stormtroopers.

Due to limited resources and the intricate nature of his objectives, Gideon's plan would only yield a few Force-sensitive clones even if successful, rendering his project ultimately unsustainable.

Moff Gideon and his allies from The Mandalorian failed to remember the Empire's crucial lesson in building a dominant army to conquer the galaxy. Introduced in season 1 as the Imperial warlord pursued by bounty hunters searching for the Child, Moff Gideon emerged as the primary antagonist in season 2. However, his true intentions were only unveiled in season 3. The season introduced the Imperial Shadow Council, which was connected to the prominent figure Grand Admiral Thrawn. Yet, Moff Gideon had his own distinct ambitions for the galaxy's future. Season 3 revealed that he was creating Force-sensitive clones of himself, equipping them with beskar armor, and assembling a new wave of clone troopers. While this plan initially seems impressive, the Empire's history prophesied its inevitable downfall.

The Empire Abandoned Clone Armies Partly Because Of The Cost

The Empire chose to replace clone troopers with stormtroopers due to cost considerations. Prior to the Clone Wars, there was no Republic Army, making it easier for Palpatine to manipulate the Republic into using clone soldiers. Despite the suspicion surrounding the origins of the clones, the desperate Jedi Order accepted them as a quick solution. As a result, the Republic continuously funded new batches of clone troopers throughout the Clone Wars.

However, once the Clone Wars ended, Palpatine's Empire needed a more sustainable solution for its army. Clone troopers not only represented the Republic, but they were also costly. To address this, the Empire opted for regular soldiers who were recruited and trained under their rule. This proved to be a more logical and cost-effective choice. Additionally, human stormtroopers helped enhance Palpatine's Imperial propaganda. Joining the Imperial Academy became synonymous with prestige and excitement, as exemplified by Luke Skywalker in A New Hope or Han Solo's backstory. While Palpatine maintained some involvement in cloning, it was no longer on a large scale.

Moff Gideon's Dark Troopers Were Even More Expensive (& Likely Fewer In Number)

Moff Gideon's ambition to create a new generation of Dark Troopers, with clones of himself donning beskar armor, was bold yet incredibly challenging. As one of the remaining Imperial warlords, Gideon's access to the Empire's resources was likely limited. The creation of clones using a single genetic template, like the Kaminoans did with Jango Fett, is already immensely costly. Gideon had even grander aspirations, aiming to produce clones with Force sensitivity. Thus, his intention was not solely to clone himself but to master the midi-chlorians and craft Force-sensitive soldiers.

Given the complexity of this primary objective, it is understandable that there were not many Moff Gideon clones in the chamber discovered by Din Djarin. Even if Gideon's plan succeeded, he would only manage to create a small number of clones in a practical scenario. A legion of thousands of Force-sensitive clones would contradict the established lore of the Star Wars universe, indicating that Moff Gideon's plan in The Mandalorian was destined to fail regardless. Admittedly, a handful of Force-sensitive clones adorned in beskar armor would be a formidable force, but their utility would be limited for Moff Gideon. Ultimately, the exorbitant cost of such a project would have inevitably led to its downfall in the long run.