The initial design in the dark trooper initiative was the Phase I Dark Trooper.
This droid consisted primarily of a barebones frame, equipped with a vibrosword affixed to its right side and a blast shield on its left, and had rudimentary artificial intelligence.
While its precise function within the military remains unclear due to its absence from combat, it is documented that it served as a security unit in several Imperial facilities, such as the mines on Gromas 16 and Ice Station Beta situated on Anteevy.
Following the destruction of the Arc Hammer by Kyle Katarn, the Dark Trooper Project was terminated by the Galactic Empire.
Within Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption, these droids can only be constructed on a planet if the Arc Hammer is positioned above that specific planet. They also featured in several story missions.
Hasbro released Phase I Dark Trooper figures in 2009.
The Phase I Dark Troopers also make an appearance in the 2001 video game Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds and its 2002 expansion, deployed with an Imperial fortress during gameplay, alongside the Phase II dark troopers.