Phase Zero dark troopers represented an early iteration of stormtroopers encased within exoskeletons, a result of the Galactic Empire's Dark Trooper Project. These troopers served as forerunners to the experimental combat droids known as Dark troopers.
To address the lack of seasoned troops, the Phase Zero dark troopers were conceived in the initial years of the Galactic Empire. Lieutenant Rom Mohc was in charge of the program, which was based on the Empirical, a clandestine space station positioned within the Dominus system. He designated the initiative as Dark Trooper Phase Zero.
To restore veteran Clone Wars soldiers to prime fighting form, their original limbs and organs were surgically removed and substituted with cybernetics, employing much of the same technology that transformed Darth Vader into a cyborg. In certain instances, over 70% of a clone's organic body was replaced. The units that successfully deployed, enhanced with years of combat experience and cybernetic augmentations, proved exceptionally effective. At its peak, the Dark Trooper program branched into specialized classes, including the dark trooper commander and the elite dark trooper.
However, given the forced recruitment into the project, numerous Phase Zero Dark Troopers struggled to reconcile with their transformation into more machine than human, leading to suicide attempts. The project was ultimately discontinued as the Empire's influence expanded and the recruitment of non-clones increased. Despite its termination, the project paved the way for the Dark Trooper Project, again under the direction of Rom Mohc, who had by then achieved the rank of General.
Leading up to the Battle of Yavin, a contingent of Dark Troopers saw action on various battlefronts. Their equipment included blast cannons, SE-14r light repeating blasters, thermal detonators, ARC casters, and commando blaster pistols. They also utilized a jump pack for enhanced mobility. Rumors circulated suggesting that these heavily armored and deadly figures were not merely humans or droids, but rather enhanced cyborgs.
The Phase Zero Dark Troopers made their debut within the Star Wars: Battlefront video game series, serving as the Empire's specialized unit. In the initial game, they were armed with blast cannons and blaster pistols as a sidearm, while in Star Wars: Battlefront II, they wielded the ARC caster alongside commando blaster pistols as their secondary weapon. To facilitate rapid movement across the battlefield, they were also equipped with jump packs.