Shadowtroopers, a fusion of stormtrooper and Dark Jedi elements, were hybrid soldiers created by the Dark Jedi named Desann and Imperial Admiral Galak Fyyar. They served Lord Hethrir's faction, known as the Empire Reborn. Desann, in a similar fashion to the creation of Reborn soldiers, utilized the Valley of the Jedi to grant Force powers to stormtroopers.
The armaments of shadowtroopers included lightsabers fueled by synthetic Sith crystals. To amplify the power derived from the valley, an Artusian crystal was integrated into the chest plate of their armor.
Furthermore, shadow armor possessed a limited form of optical stealth through personal cloaking, akin to that used by an Imperial Saboteur. However, a faint, bluish outline remained visible when the trooper was in motion. Constructed from cortosis, a scarce mineral capable of withstanding lightsaber strikes, the armor enhanced their resilience in lightsaber combat.
The artificial enhancement of their Force abilities allowed them to employ basic Force Grip and Force lightning, albeit at a rudimentary level. Lightsaber combat was their favored method of engagement. Unlike the Reborn warriors, shadowtroopers refrained from taunting their adversaries, choosing instead to maintain silence and focus on physical confrontation. These troopers were skilled duelists, surpassing their Reborn counterparts in expertise, and frequently employed the Strong Style of lightsaber combat in conjunction with other techniques. This made them more formidable opponents for Jedi.
The shadowtrooper initiative was based at the abandoned Imperial listening post on Kejim and also on Fyyar's flagship, the Doomgiver. Desann conducted experiments aimed at endowing Empire Youths, individuals with limited potential in the Force, with dark side abilities.
The shadowtroopers fulfilled their creators' expectations to such an extent that some stormtroopers grew resentful, fearing their eventual replacement. Their initial deployment occurred in the Cairn Installation during an encounter with Kyle Katarn. Additional shadowtroopers were stationed on the Doomgiver to safeguard the vessel.
The majority of the shadowtroopers were sent to Yavin 4 alongside Desann for the assault on Luke Skywalker's Jedi Praxeum. However, with assistance from Kyle Katarn, all deployed shadowtroopers were either eliminated or apprehended, and Desann was killed in action.
Following the demise of Fyyar and the destruction of the Doomgiver, the project was suspended indefinitely.
Early iterations of A New Hope included stormtroopers wielding lightsabers. Whether the shadowtroopers drew inspiration from this concept remains unknown.
In Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, an Artusian crystal would be dropped by a defeated shadowtrooper, capable of temporarily boosting Kyle Katarn's Force energy. Furthermore, disintegrating a shadowtrooper's remains with the DXR-6 disruptor rifle would yield another Artusian crystal.