Phase III dark trooper
The Phase III dark trooper was the last and most powerful dark trooper exoskeleton/droid. It dwarfed even the Phase II dark trooper, and was intended to be the armor of the next generation of stormtroopers. It was sometimes even classified as a bipedal tank.
Characteristics
Had the project come to full realization, it would have produced the perfect battlefield infantry unit—an amalgam of a clone's creativity, unpredictability, and initiative combined with the resilience and firepower of a heavy battle droid. The exoskeleton provided its wearer with increased firepower, strength, and durability.
The Phase III trooper's standard weapon complement included a large handheld assault cannon and two shoulder-mounted seeker missile launcher racks that were hidden under the suit's shoulder plates when not in use. They were issued additional fragmentation grenades, thermal detonators, and concussion grenades. Phase III Dark troopers wore black armor made of the nearly indestructible metal phrik, mined on the moon Gromas 16. It provided superior protection against enemy fire including energy weapons such as lightsabers.
Some of the Phase III Dark Troopers also were equipped with an array of integrated weaponry, including a pair of dual blaster cannons, two in each wrist, and six PLEX rocket tubes located under the shoulder plates, three per shoulder.
History
Only a small number of Phase III dark troopers were ever constructed; one was the armor of General Rom Mohc, who used it as an exosuit in single combat against Kyle Katarn during a battle onboard the colossal factory ship Arc Hammer. However, Mohc was defeated and Arc Hammer was destroyed, costing the Empire billions of credits and thus bringing the Dark Trooper Project to a premature end.
Behind the scenes
In Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption, these droids can only be created on a planet if Arc Hammer is placed above that specific planet. They were also featured in some of the story missions.
Like several other people and things in the Star Wars universe, the Phase III dark trooper's appearance evokes the Samurai motif, an acknowledged inspiration of Star Wars, by bearing a strong resemblance to Samurai armor.
Appearances
- Star Wars: Dark Forces (First appearance)