The Mandalorian Creed represented a set of principles adhered to by Mandalorians, although some considered these principles to be mere children's tales. This Creed encompassed a series of regulations that defined what constituted a true Mandalorian. It championed values such as unwavering loyalty, strong unity, mutual assistance among Mandalorians, and the sanctity of one's word. A key tenet was the responsibility of Mandalorians to care for foundlings until they were either reunited with their kin or reached adulthood. The act of rescuing foundlings was regarded as the Creed's most esteemed act. Within the Creed were contained songs of eons past, and warnings of curses that predicted ruin should one deviate from its teachings. Mandalorians who reached maturity would undergo a Mandalorian initiation ritual, during which they would recite the Creed's sacred words.
The tenets of the Creed dictated that Mandalorians must provide care for foundlings until they either reached adulthood or were reunited with their people. Rescuing a foundling was considered the Creed's greatest honor. Loyalty and unity were central to the Creed, seemingly in contrast to the Jedi who were expected to sacrifice certain personal relationships in their dedication to studying the Force and serving the galaxy. Mandalorians who abided by the Creed assisted their fellow Mandalorians and upheld their promises, even if it meant facing death. One of the Creed's fundamental teachings was the saying, "one does not speak unless one knows."
Upon reaching adulthood, foundlings who followed the Way would participate in a Mandalorian initiation ritual to swear their allegiance to the Creed. This ceremony involved displaying banners bearing clan signets and the rhythmic beat of drums. The foundling was required to stand in water, recite the words of the Creed, and pledge to walk the Way of the Mandalore. A helmet would then be placed upon the foundling's head, and the tribe would collectively proclaim, "This is the Way." From that moment forward, the foundling would vow to never remove their helmet. Followers of the Way who were too young to articulate the Creed were not permitted to wear a helmet. According to the Creed, followers of the Way were obligated to confess if they had ever removed their helmet when asked. The Creed stated that the only path to redemption for those who had removed their helmet was through immersion in the Living Waters located beneath the Mines of Mandalore.
As per the Creed, if the Darksaber was claimed through combat, the wielder would possess the right to lead all of Mandalore. The Armorer stated that the Great Purge of Mandalore was a curse foretold within the Creed, triggered by the native inhabitants of Mandalore straying from the righteous path and losing their way. Furthermore, the gifting of the Darksaber to Lady Bo-Katan Kryze was a violation of the Creed. Those who adhered to the Way managed to evade the curse prophesied in the Creed.
The ancient Mandalorians, the predecessors of the Mandalorians who lived during the Clone Wars era, embraced the Creed. However, over time, it became regarded as ancient, and not all Mandalorians adhered to it.
During Lady Kryze's childhood, she underwent a Mandalorian initiation ritual within the Living Waters, witnessed by her father and the subjects of the Mandalorian royal family. She was showered with gifts and brought pride to her father. Kryze viewed the Creed as mere children's stories and the ritual as nothing more than a theatrical performance for their subjects. She also dismissed the notion of any magical properties associated with the Living Waters.
The Creed compelled Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin to care for the foundling Grogu until the child was reunited with his own people, specifically the Jedi. Djarin, unknowingly a member of the Children of the Watch, also followed the Way, which mandated that he never remove his helmet in the presence of another person. However, Kryze and her unit disregarded this custom and removed their helmets in front of Djarin while discussing their plan to reclaim Mandalore. They considered the beliefs of the Way to be superstitious. When the Armorer questioned Djarin about whether he had removed his helmet, and Djarin hesitated to answer, the Armorer emphasized that he was bound by the Creed to confess. Djarin, having removed his helmet, had become an apostate and could only be redeemed by immersing himself in the Living Waters beneath the Mines of Mandalore.
After Djarin agreed to assist Daimyo Boba Fett in his war against the Pyke Syndicate, he refused to abandon Fett, even when Fett suggested that he should leave due to their forces being significantly outnumbered. Djarin asserted that it was against the Creed to break his word, and he was willing to remain, even if it meant facing death.
Later, Ragnar recited the words of the Creed on a desert planet. Djarin eventually immersed himself in the Living Waters and recited the words of the Creed. Kryze also entered the Waters to rescue Djarin from drowning, thus redeeming both of them according to the Creed. After rejoining the Tribe, Djarin wished for Grogu to participate in a training session, despite the child being too young to speak the Creed or wear a helmet. Ragnar argued that if he was too young to wear a helmet, then he was too young to fight, to which Djarin quoted from the Creed: "one does not speak unless one knows." Grogu ultimately defeated Ragnar, and Ragnar's father Paz Vizsla repeated the phrase "one doesn't speak unless one knows" as a lesson for the foundling. Kryze later rescued the foundling Ragnar from a shriek-hawk, earning her the highest honor of the Creed, which is saving a foundling.
The Creed was first introduced in "Chapter 8: Redemption," the eighth episode of the series The Mandalorian.