Elite shock troops fanatically loyal to the Empire and Impossible to sway from the Imperial cause. They wear imposing white armor, which offers a wide range of survival equipment and temperature controls to allow the soldiers to survive almost any environment. Stormtroopers wield blaster rifles and pistols with great skill, and attack in hordes to overwhelm their enemies. Along with standard stormtroopers, the Empire has organized several specialized units, including snowtroopers and scout troopers.

During the Galactic Civil War, stormtroopers could be found aboard all Imperial vessels and were used as first-strike forces in most conflicts. Garrisons of stormtroopers were also stationed on worlds throughout the galaxy to quell uprisings and enforce the Emperor’s will. Because they could not be bribed or swayed from their dedication to the Empire, stormtroopers were also assigned to keeping a watchful eye over Imperial officers who might betray the Emperor's cause. After the Emperor’s death, stormtroopers remained a major component of the Imperial army and were instrumental in the schemes of Grand Admiral Thrawn and other villains.

A standard stormtrooper wears a white suit, consisting of 18 individual pieces of hardened plastoid composite armor, over a black body glove. These suits have temperature controls and built-in life-support systems, allowing stormtroopers to brave a wide range of hostile environments. The armor also provides limited protection from blaster fire. A stormtrooper’s helmet is equipped with polarized lenses, transmitters, and sensor arrays. Stormtrooper armor can be sealed and has a self-contained air supply, allowing these units to survive in the vacuum of space for brief periods of time.

A stormtrooper’s utility belt contains emergency batteries, extra ammunition, a swingline, and other survival gear. On the back of the belt is a thermal detonator with unlabeled code keys to prevent enemies from using stolen ordinance against Imperial forces. Each stormtrooper also carries both a blaster pistol and blaster rifle, and some stormtrooper officers wear colored shoulder pads.

While standard stormtroopers are most common, the Empire also utilizes specialized stormtrooper units, including snowtroopers, sandtroopers, spacetroopers (or Zero G troopers), scout troopers, airtroopers, seatroopers, tunneling underminers, and Magma troopers responsible for quelling revolts on volcanic mining worlds. The Storm Commandos are highly trained scout troopers who wear black armor, while rad-troopers work in radiation zones. The fearsome dark troopers are so well equipped that they constitute powerful self-contained weapons platforms. Finally, truly elite stormtroopers may be selected to join the Emperor’s Royal Guard.

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