Death Troopers Are the Best Variation of Stormtrooper in the Disney Era

To be honest, I’m not a big fan of Disney Star Wars. The new trilogy just didn’t feel right to me—it’s like Star Wars lost what made it special. 

But not everything Disney has done is bad. They’ve introduced some cool new characters, and one of the best additions has to be the Imperial Death Troopers.

So, I put together a list of the coolest things about these elite soldiers.

The Eerie Sounds That Make Death Troopers Even More Terrifying, but in a Cool Way

If you’ve seen Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, you know exactly what I’m talking about—that eerie, garbled chatter that makes them sound like some nightmare cyborg soldiers.

Their helmets are equipped with advanced voice scramblers, letting them communicate with each other while keeping everything encrypted.

According to StarWars.fandom, this unique “Death Trooper encryption” was a language designed specifically for the Empire’s elite soldiers. 

The voice scramblers made sure their transmissions were impossible to decipher, adding another layer of intimidation to their already terrifying presence.

But that’s not all. These helmets also come loaded with advanced sensors and targeting systems, giving Death Troopers total situational awareness of their surroundings—whether it’s tracking enemies, coordinating with allies, or controlling the battlefield.

The Apex of Imperial Military Design

If I ran a poll on social media comparing the coolness of the Death Troopers to any other military force in Star Wars, I’m pretty confident the Death Troopers would come out on top. Their design, their vibe—it’s just unmatched.

Even the actors seem to think so. In an NME interview about Andor, Denise Gough, who plays Dedra Meero, shared her excitement about seeing them on set:

“So I wasn’t all, ‘Oh my god, I’m in Star Wars!’ until I got on set and there were Death Troopers and stuff and then it was like, ‘Oh yeah, ok, that’s quite cool.’”

And if you’ve watched the behind-the-scenes footage of Rogue One, you’ll know how they came up with the idea for these elite troopers. The concept was to create something fresh while staying true to the essence of Star Wars. 

They took the classic Stormtrooper design, painted it black, and—just like that—the Death Troopers were born. Even the costume design team was blown away by how incredible they looked

Battle of Scarif Showing How Baddass the Death Troopers

I bet if you’re a fan of Death Troopers, the battle on Scarif’s beach is etched in your memory. This is where we first got to see them in action on screen, and they didn’t disappoint.

When Director Krennic ordered the Empire to take back control of the beach, a squad of nine Death Troopers was deployed. 

Facing off against the Rebel fleet, they immediately stood out as the Empire’s elite. Sure, they had support from Shoretroopers and an AT-AT, but with the Rebel X-Wings swooping over the base, it wasn’t an easy fight.

What’s really worth mentioning is how those nine Death Troopers managed to push back the Rebel forces. They cornered them, cutting through the opposition with precision, and came so close to victory—until Chirrut Îmwe stepped in with his unforgettable “magic.” 

Death Trooper Armor Is a Major Upgrade Compared to Stormtrooper Gear

Death Trooper armor is a clear upgradWe’ve seen how strong Death Troopers are in battle, so it makes sense to take a closer look at their armor to see what exactly makes them so cool.e compared to the standard Stormtrooper gear, offering features designed for elite operations. 

For starters, the armor is coated with reflec, a special polymer that distorts electromagnetic signals, making Death Troopers harder to detect on enemy sensors.

On top of that, the armor is environmentally sealed, allowing Death Troopers to operate in hazardous conditions without missing a beat. 

These enhancements make their gear more advanced, stealthier, and far more versatile than the standard issue worn by regular Stormtroopers.

They Carry the Best Weapons in the Empire

We’ve talked about their helmets and their armor—so what’s left? Their weapons.

These elite soldiers are equipped with a variety of weapons tailored to their missions and specialties, giving them an edge on the battlefield. 

They commonly wield the E-11D blaster carbine, a more powerful and efficient version of the standard Stormtrooper E-11, and the SE-14r light repeating blaster for close-quarters combat.

For heavier firepower, they use the DLT-19 and DLT-19D heavy blaster rifles, capable of laying down suppressive fire or dealing with heavily armored targets.

Death Troopers also carry specialized explosives like the C-25 fragmentation grenade, baradium thermal detonators, and the devastating thermal imploder. 

If things need to get even more intense, they’re known to deploy Smart Rockets or the Sonic Imploder for larger-scale destruction. 

To ensure they’re always prepared, their armor includes an IM-40 three-slot ammunition and tool pouch right on their chest, keeping their gear within easy reach.