The purge trooper was an early design-result of the Imperial Dark Trooper Project meant to be used against Force-sensitives. Parts of the droid's model would later be used to create the Phase III dark trooper.
Characteristics[]
Large in stature, purge troopers stood nearly three meters tall,[2] much taller than most humanoids.[1] Extremely powerful[2] and designed to combat Force-users, their primary offensive weapon was a deadly[1] superheated energy blade that extended from their[2] left[1] wrist,[2] along with a red energy shield to block attacks.[1] The droids' duranium armor chassis was enhanced with fibers of[2] refined cortosis, an ore which reduced the damage dealt by lightsaber attacks.[1]
Purge troopers also boasted a massive,[2] high-powered, short-ranged[1] rocket launcher, providing them with a means of ranged attack, as well as magnetic tractor boots which made them resistant against being gripped or pushed with the Force-based telekinesis. The missile launcher was present on their right shoulder. They could also deploy a red energy shield in combat.
The one weakness these droids had in terms of Force-based abilities was Force lightning, which was an exploitable vulnerability.
History[]
Originally conceived by a Techno Union engineer trying to devise a more effective means to fight Jedi Generals, the plans for his design were retrieved by clone commandos after a raid on his facility killed him. The purge trooper was finalized by an Imperial Intelligence research and development team who commissioned their creation[3] as part of the Dark Trooper Project, an Imperial initiative to create various advanced battle droids.[1] These troopers were deployed in limited numbers to hunt down the remaining Jedi after the Clone Wars.[2]
Purge Troopers attacked Lord Vader's secret apprentice, Starkiller, on several occasions, including guarding the Jedi Temple when Starkiller infiltrated for his Trial of the Spirit.[1]
In about 17 BBY, an advanced purge trooper was present aboard a Golan space defense platform that orbited the planet Byss. During the Battle of Byss, a group of Alderaanian Resistance agents boarded the platform and were attacked by the purge trooper, although they were able to defeat it.[2]
In the year 0 BBY of an alternate timeline, Jabba the Hutt kept a small number of old and reprogrammed purge troopers in his palace on the planet Tatooine. When Lord Starkiller, Darth Vader's apprentice and personal assassin, sought an audience with the Hutt criminal, Jabba ordered his henchmen to kill the Dark Lord. As Starkiller navigated his way out of the palace, he was confronted by two purge troopers, both of which he destroyed before proceeding to Mos Eisley.[4]
Appearances[]
- "Jaws of the Sarlacc" – Dawn of Defiance campaign
- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (First appearance)
- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II