The ARC-9965 blaster served as the standard-issue blaster rifle for the stormtroopers belonging to Darth Krayt's Galactic Empire, who were part of the Imperial military force. These firearms were most frequently seen in the hands of stormtroopers circa 130 ABY during the Massacre at Ossus, and they remained in service until at least 137 ABY.
Compared to the outdated E-11 stormtrooper rifle, the ARC-9965 represented a considerable improvement, with its design heavily focused on precision. To accomplish this, the designers sought advice from some of the galaxy's most skilled marksmen. However, this enhanced accuracy came with a drawback: the high-powered energy bolts consumed more power, which led to a reduction in the number of shots it could fire before needing to reload.