Stormtrooper armor Stormtrooper armor was the standard armor worn by the Imperial stormtrooper . A white plastoid composite worn over a black body glove , the armor represented some of the best in the Empire and was dreaded by rebel freedom fighters . Description . Developed by the Imperial Department of Military Research , stormtrooper armor was the standard issue armor of the Imperial Army ' s Stormtrooper Corps , and was manufactured on planets such as Gilvaanen . It was introduced sometime after the conclusion of the Clone Wars , and was intended to replace the Phase II clone trooper armor . It was made up of 18 individual , overlapping plastoid composite plates and synth - leather boot s which allowed for mobility , while also dispersing energy , protecting the wearer from glancing blaster bolts . A reinforced alloy plate ridge assisted the user ' s upper thigh , and a sniper position knee protector plate over a wearer ' s left knee helped improve accuracy when crouching . While most armor was fitted for humans , other forms were manufactured to fit other body types . A soft click would inform the wearer of whether or not they had correctly attached the armor . The armor was also resistant to projectile weapons and blast shrapnel . However , the plating made running difficult , and was vulnerable to hits at the non armored parts , even against arrows . If the trooper was shot on the shoulder , it was possible he still went down . This meant that it was possible for a trooper to survive direct hits , and after a quick bath in bacta , he was ready for service again . However even this advanced armor often couldn ' t always save its wearer from direct blaster shots and troopers were still often killed by enemy fire . The armor offered relatively little protection against blunt weapons . Some blows to the head with a club , or stones could lead to unconsciousness , or even death due to brain trauma and damage . Its reinforced combat helmet featured an integrated comlink , audio pick - up , two artificial air - supply hoses , and a broadband communications antenna powered by a single power cell . The helmet featured built - in filtration systems that extracted breathable atmosphere from polluted environments . The helmet ' s visual processor assisted the wearer in seeing in darkness , glare , and smoke , though it limited the wearer ' s field of vision . When firing a blaster , the helmet ' s visor polarized against the glare . A built - in heads - up display also provided targeting diagnostics , power levels and environmental readings at the corner of the wearer ' s eyesight , and one could access data on various military subjects and civilian organizations on the helmets display . In addition , motion sensors alerted the wearer to any enemy the soldier might have missed . Seeking to discourage nonessential chatter which was strictly off - limits while on - duty , stormtrooper helmets recorded everything that was said by the user , sending it to monitors to review after downloading the data off of the armor ' s memory . Stormtrooper armor was capable of protecting its wearer in extreme environments , including desert s , forest , icy wastelands , and limited exposure to the vacuum of space . The armor ' s torso plating featured environmental controls on its midsection , its black body glove was vacuum - sealed and made of a smart material that could adjust to the wearers body heat and external temperature . Though a rebreather pack was required for extended use in environments that lacked a breathable atmosphere or to filter potent toxins . Troops in the field were allowed additional ammunition and comprehensive survival equipment , with backpacks that could feature field communicator sets , mortar launchers , and blaster components . It was a punishable offense to utilize the armor ' s internal cooling options in noncritical situations due to its power drain , however many Imperial cadets still attempted to do so . Stormtroopers were also expected to remain in uniform at all times , with the rule considered essential for maintaining the public trust and representing the Empire in a positive , professional manner . By wearing one ' s armor , one represented the Empire , not the individual . Utility belts were equipped with a variety of features including a compact toolkit , power packs , energy rations , and a holster for an E - 11 blaster rifle . The belts may have also featured a backup C1 personal comlink , macro binoculars , and a grappling hook . One BlasTech N - 20 Baradium - core thermal detonator was given to each trooper , and was placed on the back of their utility belt . The controls to the detonater were not labeled , to prevent enemy troops from using them . While detonators were not usually used within ships or bases , troopers carried a full complement of such field gear to be prepared for any situation . Higher ranks were signified with a color coded pauldron worn over the right shoulder . The rank of commander was represented with an orange pauldron , though one soldier who served under the Grand Inquisitor had his colored red . Black identified enlisted soldiers . Several black pauldroned stormtroopers accompanied Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin to the planet Lothal , and later came aboard his flagship , the " Sovereign " , to serve as reinforcements when it was infiltrated by a band of rebels . White pauldrons represented the rank of sergeant . Blue pauldrons were used to identify stormtrooper sniper s . Despite small aesthetic variations in stormtrooper armor during the Age of the Empire , the changes were not large enough to denote a new phase of armor like the previous Galactic Republic ' s phase I clone trooper armor and phase II clone trooper armor . As a result , Imperial armor changes were largely due to production purposes .