Dragon troopers were Wookiee soldiers on horseback, specifically troopers who rode fearsome Katarns and utilized devastating flamethrowers in combat. These specialized troopers excelled in assaults against fortified structures like walls and buildings. Training for dragon troopers occurred at troop centers, but required the presence of an animal nursery to supply the necessary mounts for the Wookiee warriors.
Dragon troopers saw action during the conflict on the moon of Alaris Prime, a war fought between 39 BBY and 36 BBY between the Wookiee colonists (who rightfully owned the land) and the forces of the Trade Federation. At one base, the Wookiee leader Chewbacca prepared his forces to attack a Trade Federation outpost; to that end, two troop centers were constructed for training dragon troopers, alongside bowcaster troopers and grenade troopers. A group of twelve Wookiee warriors, including Chewbacca, embarked on transport ships and traversed a river to reach their objective. The dragon and grenade troopers employed their specialized weaponry to breach the light wall protecting the outpost and its central troop center, while Chewbacca and the bowcaster troopers neutralized the B1-series battle droids guarding the perimeter.
A lone dragon trooper was stationed at Chewbacca's camp when it came under attack by a Trade Federation strike force under the command of LUH-989. Dragon troopers also participated in the attack on a Trade Federation listening array and the Battle for Alaris Prime, which resulted in the Trade Federation's complete expulsion from Alaris Prime. Later, during the Battle of Kashyyyk, a dragon trooper on Kashyyyk rode past the Jedi Yoda and Quinlan Vos as they discussed the potential death of the Separatist General Grievous and the conclusion of the Clone Wars. Dragon troopers also saw action in the Liberation of Kashyyyk during the Galactic Civil War.
The dragon trooper unit was introduced in Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds, the 2001 video game developed by LucasArts, representing the mounted unit for the Wookiee civilization. Initial designs considered using banthas as mounts for the Wookiee troopers, but ultimately, katarns were selected instead.