in September 2018 According to
Star Wars lore, Imperial stormtroopers are men and women who have been recruited (or conscripted) at a young age to serve as expendable foot soldiers of the Empire, gradually replacing
clone troopers as their accelerated aging forces them to retire. These recruits are trained at Imperial Academies spread out across the galaxy where they undergo intense conditioning that instills fierce loyalty, strict discipline and ruthless efficiency while removing any sense of individualism or empathy. As the backbone of the Imperial Army, stormtroopers are dreaded for their brutality, carrying out atrocities in the name of
Emperor Palpatine, and their fanaticism, engaging the enemy with no regard to casualties. Inevitably, some use their position for personal gain against a civilian population too terrified to resist. However, inconsistencies in academy standards led to stormtroopers of varying combat skill and ability compared to the superior clone troopers, which, among other things, can be seen in the stormtroopers' mainly variable, sometimes even weak, ability to hit the target in firefights. They are especially inept at hitting main characters in the movies. After subduing any remaining
Separatist holdouts left over from the
Clone Wars, stormtroopers primarily serve as an
internal security and
peacekeeping force until the
Galactic Civil War where they start to engage the
Rebel Alliance in large-scale battles.
Equipment Standard Imperial stormtrooper armor is white and has a utility belt and a helmet.
Vehicles Weapons The standard firearm for Imperial stormtroopers is the BlasTech E-11
blaster rifle, described in
Star Wars sources as combining excellent range and firepower in a compact and rugged design. Features include a telescopic range-finding sight, accessory mounting rail, power setting adjuster, three-point
folding stock, magnatomic adhesive
pistol grip, and advanced cooling system. Plasma cartridges provide enough gas for 500 shots, though a standard power cell which energizes the gas to produce blaster bolts will last for approximately 100 shots. In addition to the E-11, stormtroopers employ a variety of different weapons as seen in the
Star Wars films and other media. Examples include
thermal detonators,
sniper rifles,
crew-served heavy repeating blasters, and mortars. Both firing and non-firing prop models of the E-11 were based on the Mk 4
Sterling submachine gun, with approximately 20 models built for the first
Star Wars movie
A New Hope. External modifications to the Sterlings to transform them into blaster rifles varied based on the parts available but most were similar in design. This included an American Mk38 azimuth tank scope and a Hengstler industrial counter box affixed to the top and left side of the receiver respectively. The Sterling would continue to serve as the basis for or inspire other blaster rifle designs in the rest of the
Star Wars films. Background literature explains how the First Order's stormtroopers were armed in secret by the Sonn-Blas Corporation, a subsidiary of BlasTech Industries and Merr-Sonn Munitions created to circumvent the
New Republic's
disarmament treaties. Building on classic design templates, they are meant to possess greater battlefield accuracy, ammunition yields and operational lifespans. Examples include the F-11D blaster rifle, SE-44C blaster pistol, and FWMB-10 repeating blaster cannon. For subduing civilian populations, First Order stormtroopers will also carry
ballistic riot shields and
riot control batons.
Armor As established in the original
Star Wars trilogy of films, the troopers' most distinctive equipment is their white battle armor, which completely encases the body and typically has no individually distinguishing markings. According to in-universe reference material, this armor was developed and manufactured by the Imperial Department of Military Research, and consists of 18 white plastoid armor plates magnatomically attached to a black body glove. These plates are generally impervious to most projectile weapons and blast shrapnel, and will protect against glancing hits by other blaster rifles though a direct hit will penetrate. The armor also provides protection against inhospitable environments, including the vacuum of space for a short period of time. Their helmets are fitted with filtration systems for polluted environments, with hookups for incorporating an external atmospheric tank while operating in space or to filter potent toxins. The helmets also include built-in communication system and multi-frequency targeting and acquisition system linked to
in-lens displays that provide tactical information, protection from excessive brightness, and vision modes for seeing through smoke, fire and darkness. A 2004 lawsuit by Lucasfilm against one of the original prop designers, Andrew Ainsworth, who had been selling helmet replicas, confirmed the design to be under copyright in the US. Within the
Star Wars setting, this armor is described as being an improvement over the previous iteration, including better joint design for greater flexibility, stronger betaplast armor plating, and upgraded helmet communication and targeting systems. and the TV show
Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The elite 501st designation is resurrected by
Grand Admiral Thrawn, who in the
Thrawn trilogy is charged with the defense of the "Empire of the Hand" Imperial Remnant forces. Thrawn's 501st is composed of aliens and humans. The Legion's name is based on a
fan organization of the same name; their inclusion in the official continuity was based on the worldwide organization's dedication to
Star Wars fandom.
Specialists Within the
Star Wars franchise, several types of "
military occupation specialist" stormtrooper units are seen. These include:
Imperial variants •
Sandtroopers are first seen on the desert world of
Tatooine during
Star Wars (1977). They are trained to
serve in arid environments and their armor is equipped with cooling units, anti-glare lenses, extra rations, and water supplies. Sandtroopers can be distinguished by their colored
pauldrons which indicate rank: black for enlisted, white for sergeants, and orange for unit leaders. Sandtroopers that ride
Dewbacks are known as
Dewback riders. •
Snowtroopers, also known as
cold weather assault stormtroopers, are first seen during the battle of
Hoth in
The Empire Strikes Back (1980). Their armor is insulated against cold weather and modified with polarized snow goggles, a heated breather mask, insulated belt cape and ice boots. Battery packs can keep their systems powered for up to two weeks, while additional cold-weather gear is carried including grappling hooks, ion flares and homing beacons. •
Scout Troopers are first seen on
Endor in
Return of the Jedi (1983). They are trained in advanced
reconnaissance and with an unusual degree of independence so they can serve as scouts and
snipers far from Imperial support. Their armor is lighter than standard stormtrooper suits, with protection only covering the upper body and head, while their helmets incorporate a boosted communication system and enhanced macrobinocular viewplate for spotting targets at long range. On Endor, scout troopers piloted swift 74-Z
speeder bikes to patrol the area around the
Death Star II's shield generator. •
Shock Troopers are an upgraded variant of the Clone Shock Troopers, the red-armored
clone troopers, who first appeared in
Revenge of the Sith (2005). They patrol government facilities and serve as bodyguards for Emperor Palpatine and those closest to him. •
Death Troopers are elite soldiers of Imperial Intelligence who make their first appearance in
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016). Undergoing rigorous training and receiving top-secret augmentations which boost their performance beyond human limitations, death troopers are assigned to defend
VIPs such as Commander-in-Chief Darth Vader,
Grand Moff Tarkin, Director
Orson Krennic, Grand Admiral Thrawn and Moff Gideon, and take part in operations involving stealth and espionage. Their black, classified armor monitors
biofeedback implants in their bodies and can stimulate sensory organs for increased performance, features targeting systems far superior to standard stormtrooper versions, and is sprayed with a polymer called "reflec" that warps electromagnetic waves to defeat enemy sensors. Death trooper helmets have built-in vocal scramblers that enable their wearers to communicate in an encrypted language intelligible only to other death troopers. The in-universe origin for their name is that it was specially chosen by Emperor Palpatine to play on rumors of an Imperial project to reanimate dead tissue. The
Star Wars novel
Death Troopers, part of the non-canon
Legends continuity, revolves around the outbreak of a
zombie virus aboard an
Imperial Star Destroyer. •
Shoretroopers, also known as
coastal defender stormtroopers, are introduced in
Rogue One, where they are seen patrolling the beaches and bunkers of
Scarif. They are described as uncommon stormtrooper specialists trained for combat in coastal environments on tropical worlds. Their armor is flexible and lightweight, designed to withstand corrosive aquatic environments and repel excess moisture, and can be modified to operate underwater. Shoretroopers are generally of sergeant rank or higher and command squads of other stormtroopers during instances of seaside combat. Shoretroopers returned in "
Chapter 15: The Believer" of
The Mandalorian, in which they serve in an Imperial remnant stationed at a mining facility on Morak. as well as appearing in Episode 7 of
Andor on the planet Niamos •
Combat assault tank pilots and
commanders, also known as
tank troopers, operate the Empire's arsenal of armored
repulsorlift vehicles, from troop transports to heavily armored hovertanks. Combat drivers are lightly armored, relying instead on the thick skin of their vehicles to protect them in battle. The commander stays in contact with his crew and with headquarters to keep updated on changing combat conditions. This type of troopers were introduced in the 2016
Han Solo comic book series and made their on-screen debut in
Rogue One. •
Patrol Troopers are
enforcement-based stormtroopers, commonly found in large cities with particular strategic importance where they take the place of local security forces. The urban counterpart to scout troopers, they ride speeder bikes much like them. Patrol troopers are first seen in
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), where one such trooper briefly pursues
Han Solo and
Qi'ra on
Corellia. •
Swamp Troopers, also known informally as
mudtroopers, are Imperial Army troopers assigned to fight on
swampy, war-torn worlds. Army troopers are regular infantry who fight alongside stormtroopers; many were members of planetary forces before being conscripted into Imperial service. Mudtroopers wear water-resistant clothing, partial armor with respirator masks, and polarized goggles. Swamp troopers are first seen on the planet
Mimban in
Solo, with Han Solo having been one such trooper during his service for the Empire. Their armor is that of a standard stormtrooper but heavily customized to allow for optimal operation in the areas where they are dispatched. They can be distinguished by their grey, muddy armor, and waterproof capes. •
Range Troopers are first seen on
Vandor in
Solo. Considered to be one of the toughest branches of the Imperial Army, this type of troopers are selected from the ranks of the most skilled Imperial soldiers and usually assigned to protect valuable cargo, but sometimes can also be deployed to combat zones. Range troopers are outfitted with snowtrooper-like armor, including heavy fur-lined armor for protection against cold environments, and magnetic boots. In
Solo, a group of range troopers guard a cargo train transporting coaxium which is raided by
Tobias Beckett, Han Solo and
Chewbacca. There are multiple variants of jumptroopers, such as the
Arctic Jumptrooper, deployed in cold environments, the
Desert Jumptrooper, deployed in arid environments, and the
Forest Jumptrooper, deployed in forested areas. Jumptroopers are featured in various
Star Wars media, both
Legends and canon, with varying designs. •
Dark Troopers originated in the video game
Star Wars: Dark Forces (1995). They have since made various appearances in other
Star Wars Legends material, often with varying designs. The original Dark Troopers are cyborg clone troopers, with later iterations being dark-armored battle droids or occasionally
exo-suits, and are used in small numbers by the Empire. Dark Troopers were reintroduced in the current
Star Wars canon through the mobile game
Star Wars: Commander (2015), and made their live-action debut in the
second season of The Mandalorian (2020). •
Shadow Troopers, also known as
black hole troopers, are elite special-ops troopers featured mostly in
Star Wars Legends material. Assigned to the Empire's mysterious Shadow Guard, one of their most prominent appearances is in the video game
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, where they have shiny, reflective black armor that allows them to become invisible. Shadow Troopers returned in
Star Wars Battlefront, which reintroduced them in the
Star Wars canon. •
Purge Troopers are a specialized class of stormtroopers trained and equipped to assist Darth Vader and his Imperial Inquisitors in hunting down surviving Jedi and other Force-sensitive beings who threaten the Empire. The first purge troopers are the last generation of clone troopers activated after the formation of the Empire, with new purge troopers being non-clone humans supplanting and eventually replacing their predecessors. They appear in the comic series
Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith (2018) and the video game
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (2019). Purge troopers appear also in the 4th and 5th episodes of
Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022). •
Lava Troopers are an elite class of stormtroopers stationed at Fortress Vader on
Mustafar. They are outfitted with heat-resistant black armor. Lava Troopers are featured in the comic book series ''Tales from Vader's Castle''. •
Forest Troopers are trained to serve in forested environments. They are distinguished by their camouflaged armor. Forest Troopers have featured in the novel
Aftermath: Life Debt. •
Seatroopers specialize in underwater operations. They are outfitted with breathing tubes attached to a scuba backpack and underwater propulsion jets. Seatroopers were originally introduced in
Star Wars Legends in
Marvel Comics'
Star Wars comic book series, before being later reintroduced in the current
Star Wars canon. •
Spacetroopers are stormtroopers trained to operate in Zero-G environments. They resemble the standard stormtroopers, but are outfitted with a rebreather pack to survive the harsh conditions of space. Two spacetroopers can be seen outside the Death Star in
Star Wars (1977). They have since made appearances in a few other pieces of
Star Wars media. In
Star Wars Legends material, a different variation of space troopers with a bulkier appearance called
Zero-G assault stormtroopers, are featured. •
Flametroopers specialize in the use of
flamethrowers. They have appeared in various
Star Wars media, with varying designs. •
Incinerator Troopers are outfitted with flamethrowers and heat-resistant armor. They are distinguished by their red pauldrons and the red markings on their armor. They are likely an improved variant of the flametroopers. An Incinerator trooper is seen in the season one finale of
The Mandalorian (2019). •
Artillery Stormtroopers, also known as
mortar stormtroopers, are outfitted with mortars and heavy armor. They are distinguished by their yellow pauldrons and the yellow markings on their armor, similar to the markings of the Incinerator Troopers. A Mortar Stormtrooper is seen in "
Chapter 14: The Tragedy" of
The Mandalorian. •
Special Commando Advanced Recon Troopers, or
SCAR troopers, are an elite class of stormtroopers in the Imperial Special Forces division. Most of these stormtroopers are unique in terms of armor design, equipment, and specialization, and are deployed in small groups by the Empire, to complete tasks that require their talents. One notable SCAR trooper squad is Task Force 99, featured in the 2016
Star Wars comic book series. •
Elite Squad Troopers are specially selected soldiers from across the galaxy after the Clone Wars to allow the Empire to not be entirely reliant on clones. They are first seen in
Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021), which features a particular Elite Squad of recruited soldiers led by former Bad Batch member Crosshair. •
TK stormtroopers are an early generation of stormtroopers first seen in
Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021), introduced in the first days of the Empire as part of Project War-Mantle to replace aging clone troopers with naturally-born human conscripts and willing recruits. As part of the project, TK stormtroopers were secretly trained by clone commandos prior to their formal introduction in 18 BBY. Like their clone predecessors and their finalized successors, they wore black body gloves with white armor plating, while their helmets were repurposed from the cancelled Phase III clone trooper armor, and were armed with DC-15A blaster carbines inherited from the Republic military. TK stormtroopers that served as
V-wing pilots for the Imperial Navy also saw service, with life-support gear built into their armor; like regular TK stormtroopers, they were eventually phased out for
TIE fighter pilots. •
Storm Commandos, also known as
shadow scouts, are elite stormtroopers, trained to perform tasks that regular troopers are incapable of accomplishing. They operate in small groups and are outfitted with silver scout trooper armor to make them less visible to the enemy. Storm commandos are featured in various
Star Wars Legends material where they had access to exclusive equipment and spacecraft not part of the Imperial Navy, such as Imperial escort carriers and TIE Hunters, the latter of which was designed specifically to counter the Rebel Alliance's
X-wing. They were reintroduced in the current
Star Wars canon through the mobile game
Star Wars: Galactic Defense. •
Heavy Troopers are an elite class of stormtroopers that specialize in melee combat. They carry electrostaffs and are outfitted with special combat armor. Heavy Troopers are featured in
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, and were reintroduced in the current
Star Wars canon through
Star Wars: Galactic Defense. •
Riot control stormtroopers specialize in melee combat. They are outfitted with batons and sometimes a shield. Most riot control stormtroopers are used as a security force tasked with the dispersion and arrest of insurgents taking part in disruptive activities. A different variation appears in the
Legends game
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II, where they are outfitted with electro staffs and sport unique armor rather than standard stormtrooper armor. •
Rocket stormtroopers are stormtroopers outfitted with rocket launchers. They are usually tasked with destroying armored vehicles or buildings. Rocket stormtroopers have appeared in several
Star Wars games. •
Demolition Troopers are stormtroopers that specialize in the use of explosive weapons, such as smart rockets. They are featured in the video games
Star Wars: Battlefront (2015) and
Star Wars: Battlefront II (2017). •
Heavy Weapons Stormtroopers, also known as
heavy assault stormtroopers,
heavy troopers, or
heavy gunners, are stormtroopers that specialize in the use of large rapid-fire blasters. Heavy troopers have appeared in various
Star Wars media, with varying designs. •
Stormtrooper snipers are outfitted with sniper rifles. They can be distinguished by their visor and blue pauldron. A variant of the stormtrooper sniper, known as
Imperial sharpshooters, appears in
Star Wars: Commander; this type of sharpshooters are drawn from the ranks of elite scout troopers and outfitted with E-11s sniper rifles and a grey variant of the scout trooper armor. •
Magma Troopers are stormtroopers used by the Empire to crush revolts on volcanic mining worlds, such as Sullust and Mustafar. They are outfitted with heat-resistant armor and a respirator connected to a backpack via a tube to protect them from volcanic ash and gasses. They can be distinguished by their black pauldrons (colored for the officers) and extra armor on their legs. Magma troopers first appeared in
Star Wars: Battlefront (2015). •
Undead Troopers are Imperial Stormtroopers who have been infected by the Imperial Bioweapons Project Blackwing. They are standard troopers who have since died and been reanimated by the virus with the goal of infecting others and causing as much death and infection as possible. •
Night Troopers are stormtroopers who serve Grand Admiral Thrawn during his exile on the extragalactic planet Peridea. Their armour is unique, featuring red bandages wrapped around it, as well as a gold alloy filling in cracks. Thrawn's Nightsister allies imbue them with their magick, making them energized and faster, as well as allowing them to resurrect upon death.
First Order variants •
Flametroopers are first seen during the attack on the Tuanul village on
Jakku in
The Force Awakens (2015). Often deployed alongside standard First Order infantry, these specialized units flush out entrenched enemies with their
flamethrowers. They wear backpack-style propellant tanks, special helmets with slit-like lenses that reduce glare, and temperature-control body gloves beneath their armor. •
Megablaster heavy assault troopers, more commonly known as
heavy troopers, are introduced in
The Force Awakens. They carry large FWMB-10 repeating blasters and web gear loaded with extra ammunition. •
Riot Control Troopers are first seen during the battle of
Takodana in
The Force Awakens. While they resemble the standard First Order stormtroopers, these specialized units excel in
riot control and are outfitted with non-lethal betaplast shields and Z6 batons. One such trooper, FN-2199, calls Finn a traitor and fights him with a baton in the aforementioned battle before being killed by Han Solo. •
Executioner Troopers, introduced in
The Last Jedi (2017), are a branch of
military police specialists specifically founded to execute stormtroopers who are found guilty of treason. They are outfitted with BL-155 Laser axes used for execution and are distinguished by the black markings on their armor. In
The Last Jedi, a pair of executioner troopers attempt to execute Finn and
Rose Tico, before they were killed by
Vice-Admiral Holdo's attack. •
Jet Troopers are first seen on
Pasaana in
The Rise of Skywalker (2019). They are equipped with agile rocket packs, specializing in aerial and space operations. •
Treadspeeder drivers are seen on Pasaana in
The Rise of Skywalker. Reminiscent of the Imperial scout troopers, they are outfitted with lighter armor and specialize in riding speeder bikes; in this case, the 125-Z treadspeeder bike, from which they take their name. •
Electropod troopers are featured in
The Rise of Skywalker. They are outfitted with electrical staffs called "electropods", but are otherwise identical to the standard First Order stormtroopers. They are primarily used to guard prisoners. •
Raiders, featured in
Star Wars Resistance, are an elite variant of First Order stormtroopers that specialize in hunting, especially relic hunting. They are mainly used by Supreme Leader
Kylo Ren in his search for Sith relics. •
SCUBA troopers, featured in
Star Wars Resistance, specialize in underwater operations. They are outfitted with underwater blasters,
flippers, and a breathing apparatus. •
Tech stormtroopers, featured in
Star Wars Resistance, specialize in extracting, decrypting, and analyzing data from
droid memory cores or other sources. •
Walker Drivers are stormtroopers trained to operate the First Order's walker vehicles, including the All-Terrain Armoured Transport, All-Terrain MegaCaliber Six, and All-Terrain Heavy Hauler. They wear armour akin to that of the regular First Order stormtrooper or snowtrooper, with a grey jumpsuit and grey marking on their helmets.
Sith Eternal variants •
Sith Troopers are introduced in
The Rise of Skywalker. Loyal only to the Sith Eternal, the resurrected Emperor Palpatine's secret
Sith cult, these elite stormtroopers make up most of the Sith Eternal's military. As the next evolution of stormtroopers, Sith Troopers were raised by the Sith Eternal on
Exegol to be the perfect soldiers, and outfitted with highly impact-resistant armor and better equipment than the First Order stormtroopers. They are distinguished by their bright red armor, which feature a slightly more textured pattern, although the overall design is reminiscent of past
clone troopers. Sith Troopers draw their power and inspiration from the ancient Sith Order, with their armor's color meant to be reminiscent of the Sith's red lightsaber and strike fear into the hearts of their enemies. •
Sith Trooper Officers are trained to command squads of Sith Troopers. Their armor is outfitted with advanced sensor technology. •
Sith Jet Troopers are outfitted with jet packs. They closely resemble the First Order jet troopers, but are outfitted with red armor like the standard Sith Troopers. •
Sovereign Protectors serve as the resurrected Emperor Palpatine's elite bodyguards on Exegol. Outfitted with red armor and full-body capes, they are reminiscent of the old
Emperor's Royal Guard, but carry two-pronged blaster rifles instead of
force pikes. Within
Star Wars Legends material, Sovereign Protectors are the most elite variant of Imperial Guards. , 2008 ==Cultural impact==