According to non-canon sources, Shadow Guards were personally trained by Darth Vader, and were believed to be “an elite special operations unit within the Emperor’s Royal Guard” (). However, if the path to becoming a member of the Imperial Royal Guard is any indication, the steps required for Shadow Guards was likely brutal. Little is known about the training regimen that Shadow Guards were required to undergo. For these reasons, they were often sent on secret missions to eliminate suspected Jedi or Force-sensitive individuals that posed a threat to Emperor Palpatine and his Empire. Personally trained by Darth Vader, the Shadow Guard were known for their ferocity, skill, and Dark Side abilities. The Emperor’s Shadow Guard was an elite unit of Force-sensitive soldiers believed to have originated from the last remnants of the Imperial Sun Guard (a group of Jedi Knights that had pledged themselves to the Dark Side). Date Founded: 29 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin).First Appearance: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.Pictured above is a member of the elite Shadow Guard. It even served a ceremonial purpose as well, due to the loose-fitting robes and fearsome helmet that accompanied the armor.

Battle armor was fully-functional, allowing maximum mobility and superior protection against a variety of weaponry. The armor of Royal Guards is believed to have been inspired by Mandalorian uniforms, the Sun Guard, as well as the Senate Guard of the Galactic Republic. Failure, at any point, was met by swift execution from the Emperor however, a few Royal Guards were known to escape this fate by kneeling and swearing to make amends for their shortcomings ().

Others played a vital role in maintaining security for the Emperor by performing top-secret assassinations of suspected enemies, or by performing covert assaults against enemy groups. DutiesĪlthough the primary duty of the Imperial Guard was the protection of Emperor Palpatine, a few individuals were hand-picked to guard secret facilities of the Galactic Empire. The surviving individual would then go on to become a full member of the Imperial Royal Guard. By the end of training, the surviving students were forced to fight to the death as a final test before the Emperor himself.

Force unleashed shadow guard