Clone sharpshooter

The Clone Specialist, another name for the clone sharpshooter, was a specialized clone trooper within the Grand Army of the Republic. Their role was that of a sniper or marksman. These Clone Specialists excelled in engagements at extended ranges, but were more vulnerable when forced into close-quarters combat. While any clone trooper could be tasked with sniping duties if necessary, clone sharpshooters received dedicated sniper training. Because of this training, they could effectively engage targets at substantially greater distances when compared to regular troopers.

Throughout the Clone Wars, diverse units within the Republic Military employed Clone Specialists. They utilized both Phase I clone trooper armor and Phase II clone trooper armor. Clone Specialists typically wielded a Valken-38x sniper rifle, a DC-15A blaster carbine, or a DC-15A blaster rifle. To hone their skills, clone sharpshooters and snipers practiced on modified training remotes used as targets on shooting ranges.

Initially, Clone Specialists within the 7th Sky Corps were issued Phase I armor featuring the standard orange markings. They utilized helmet-mounted electrobinoculars and sometimes wore an orange pauldron on their left shoulder. When the 7th Sky Corps upgraded to Phase II armor, the Clone Specialists had two variations. One variant only used electrobinoculars, but displayed different orange markings. The other type of Clone Specialist in the 7th Sky Corps kept the unit's standard orange markings, and used an orange pauldron on their left shoulder, in addition to electrobinoculars. Advanced Recon Force Scout Troopers within the 212th Recon Division of the 7th Sky Corps also included Clone Specialists. These specialists used desert camouflaged Phase I ARF armor with some orange markings.

Clone Specialists in the 41st Elite Corps initially used Phase I armor bearing the unit's standard green markings and electrobinoculars. The Phase II armor worn by the 41st Elite Corps' Clone Specialists featured different green markings along with electrobinoculars. Clone Specialists in the 41st Ranger Platoon were equipped with Phase I armor in forest camouflage, an optional black pauldron, and electrobinoculars. They later transitioned to Phase II armor with forest camouflage, an optional black pauldron, and electrobinoculars. However, Clone Specialists of the unit without the pauldron were further identified as specialists with dark green markings over their forest camouflage. Clone Specialists serving as clone scout troopers in the 41st Scout Battalion were visually the same as other clone scout troopers, except for the dark green markings over their forest camouflage.

The 181st Armor Division also deployed Clone Specialists, who exclusively used Phase II armor. Their armor was defined by green markings and dual stripes, electrobinoculars, and an optional green pauldron. Clone Specialists in the 87th Sentinel Corps were equipped identically to those in the 181st, but featured red markings and an optional red pauldron. The 91st Mobile Reconnaissance Corps, which included standard clone troopers and Biker Advanced Recon Commandos, had two types of Clone Specialists. One type wore Phase I armor with the 91st's red emblems and red electrobinoculars, while others used a red pauldron on their left shoulder and had additional emblems. They later upgraded to Phase II armor, keeping the additional emblems, electrobinoculars, and pauldron. The other Clone Specialist variant used by the 91st were Biker Advanced Recon Commandos. These BARC trooper Clone Specialists had their unit emblem on their helmet and chest armor, along with red electrobinoculars.

The 104th Battalion also deployed Clone Specialists. As with other units, Phase I Clone Specialists wore two armor configurations. One configuration included a gray pauldron on the left shoulder, electrobinoculars, and helmets dominated by the battalion's gray color scheme and markings. The other type of Phase I armor only had electrobinoculars, with the unit's colors and markings being less prominent. Similarly, Phase II Clone Specialists also had two armor configurations. The first featured electrobinoculars, a pauldron, and more of the unit's colors. The second configuration removed the pauldron and most of the color scheme, but had a ripped pattern at the top of the chest armor.

The 327th Star Corps deployed Clone Specialists, who wore various sets of clone armor. One armor set was Phase I armor with light yellow markings and electrobinoculars. Another set was Phase I armor with electrobinoculars, a pauldron on the left shoulder, and mustard and dark-yellow markings. The 327th later upgraded to Phase II armor, which included mustard and dark yellow markings along with a pauldron on the left shoulder and electrobinoculars, while another set was identical except for the markings, which were a lighter shade of yellow and slightly different.

The 501st Legion utilized Clone Specialists, whose Phase I armor featured the legion's standard blue markings and electrobinoculars. The Phase II armor retained these features, but had upgraded blue markings and a small, sandy-brown emblem on the chest. The Coruscant Guard's Clone Specialists used Phase I armor with the unit's red colors and markings, along with electrobinoculars. The Phase II armor that was later used was upscaled with red markings, as the chest was mostly covered in red. Additionally, the Coruscant Guard's Phase II Clone Specialist armor featured a gray kama with a red border.

Clone Specialists without a unit affiliation were simply equipped with standard white Phase I armor, electrobinoculars, an optional left-shoulder pauldron, an optional equipment bag slung across the chest, or an optional right-shoulder small pauldron. Standard Phase II armor included the white armor and electrobinoculars. Clone Specialists could also be identified by Phase II armor with red markings, a kama, a red pauldron, and electrobinoculars.

Clone Specialists, grown on the planet Kamino using the DNA of Jango Fett, a bounty hunter who served as the template for the clone trooper army, were a specialized version of the standard Republic trooper. They participated in the Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, and were deployed by numerous army units. A pair of Clone Specialists in Phase I armor fought on the planet Felucia, and by the time of the Battle of Mon Calamari, Clone Specialists had upgraded to Phase II armor.

When the Galactic Republic transitioned into the Galactic Empire, Clone Specialists were automatically re-designated as Stormtrooper snipers. Eventually, clone troopers, including clone sharpshooters, were gradually replaced by regular human conscripts.

The clone sharpshooter made its initial appearance in the 2016 game, Star Wars: Force Arena. Later, in 2020, it was formally identified as the Clone Specialist in the Star Wars: Legion expansion pack, Phase I Clone Troopers Upgrade Expansion.