The Emperor's Shadow Guard represented the Galactic Empire's most specialized and skilled operatives. This unit, drawn from force-sensitives who were originally Sun Guard mercenaries (defeated and then recruited), served within the Royal Guards. Their formation occurred during the Great Jedi Purge, and they received training directly from Darth Vader. Their allegiance was to the Galactic Empire.
The origins of the Shadow Guard, an elite special operations force within the Emperor's Royal Guard, remained shrouded in mystery for most. These silent and mysterious warriors operated under direct orders from Emperor Palpatine himself, frequently tasked with eliminating suspected Jedi and other Force users. Primarily, the Emperor's Shadow Guard served as protectors of the Emperor, also known as Darth Sidious.
The guards' own demonstrations of Force abilities led to speculation that they were former Jedi, captured, tortured, and brainwashed by Palpatine, though this remained unconfirmed. Within the Empire, the Shadow Guards commanded significant respect, often leading squads of Imperial Stormtroopers against the Emperor's most formidable enemies. Typically, Shadow Guard members were protected by their own detail of Imperial Navy Commandos or stormtroopers, and sometimes by members of the standard Royal Guard, though they were easily defeated during encounters with Starkiller.
Their Force abilities included a range of powers such as Force lightning, Force Repulse, Force Push, Force Choke and Force Maelstrom.
As the Clone Wars neared their conclusion, Count Dooku, a Sith apprentice, commanded his subordinate Asajj Ventress to eliminate the majority of the Sun Guard. Some of the most loyal Sun Guards were integrated into Palpatine's Red Guard, later becoming part of his Royal Guard. Those exhibiting Force sensitivity were considered for recruitment into the Emperor's Shadow Guard.
Around 17 BBY, two Shadow Guard members were dispatched to a Golan space defense platform orbiting the planet Byss, to assist Inquisitor Valin Draco in a training exercise. During the Battle of Byss, the station came under attack from the Alderaanian Resistance, and the Shadow Guards engaged several Resistance agents who had boarded the station.
A lone Shadow Guard, accompanied by several Imperial Navy commandos, was sent to Nar Shaddaa after Starkiller's disruptive search for Jedi Master Rahm Kota at the Undertow bar. Starkiller eliminated the Shadow Guard by using a Force Maelstrom to eject him from the bar. Following this, Starkiller proceeded to Cloud City on Bespin.
Four Shadow Guards, accompanied by a squad of stormtroopers, were sent to Cloud City with orders to assassinate Starkiller and Master Kota. They engaged Starkiller in multiple duels, during one of which their Force lightning attacks clashed in a test of strength. Despite their efforts to direct the energy towards Starkiller, he overpowered them easily. Starkiller then struck the last guard with his own lightning and the guard's, killing him instantly.
At least one Shadow Guard was stationed on Kashyyyk and attempted to prevent Starkiller from reaching the Imperial skyhook. However, Starkiller defeated and killed him, using the guard's own lightsaber pike.
One Shadow Guard was present at the Imperial Ore Facility on Raxus Prime, but this was actually PROXY using a Shadow Guard simulation to try to kill Starkiller. Later, the apprentice encountered a real Shadow Guard at the Ore Cannon Control. Starkiller trapped him in a Force Grip and threw him into the ore cannon, incinerating him.
A final known Shadow Guard commanded the last defense of Palpatine's watchtower on the Death Star I, supported by four Royal Guards wielding lightsaber pikes. Starkiller grappled with the guard, broke his neck, and killed him.
The Shadow Guard's appearance mirrored that of the Royal Guard, but with inverted armor and visor colors: black armor and robes with a red visor. The armor provided significant protection, serving both functional and ceremonial purposes.
Their primary weapon was a lightsaber pike with a red energy blade. They also carried a heavy blaster pistol and a utility belt containing a medpac. Additionally, they possessed a miniaturized, encrypted, long-range comlink with holo capabilities. Some also utilized cloaking devices.
In the Wii and PS2 versions of The Force Unleashed, Galen Marek fought a real Shadow Guard on Raxus Prime, because PROXY fighting against Galen Marek was omitted from the Raxus Prime mission. Upon being defeated, Marek telekinetically threw him into the ore cannon, incinerating him.