1 , 001st stormtrooper division The 1 , 001st stormtrooper division , known as the Knighthunters , were an elite group of stormtroopers serving in the Imperial Army of the Galactic Empire of the One Sith , an order of Sith Lords under the leadership of Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Krayt , during the Second Imperial Civil War . As Krayt and his Sith assumed control of the Empire , the One Sith enacted a purge of the New Jedi Order , eliminating Jedi throughout the galaxy . The Knighthunters became a key part of the Sith ' s purge . The specialized stormtroopers who comprised the Knighthunters fell under the direct command of the Sith . To aid their commanders in their crusade , the stormtroopers of the 1 , 001st division underwent specialized training to aid in the capture or killing of Jedi . They were armed with lightsaber - resistant phrik - laced electrostaffs and protected by jet - black armor based on that of the Coruscant Guard of Palpatine ' s Galactic Empire . History . At the conclusion of the Sith – Imperial War between the Sith - backed forces of the Fel Empire and the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances , the Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Krayt led a coup that merged his One Sith with the deposed Emperor Roan Fel ' s forces into a single Sith Empire . Simultaneously , the Sith enacted a galaxy - wide purge of the New Jedi Order , forcing any surviving Jedi to go into hiding . To aid the Sith , the soldiers of the Imperial Army ' s 1 , 001st stormtrooper division were drafted to hunt down the remaining Jedi and capture them — or kill them , if necessary . Command of the Knighthunters , as they came to be known , was transferred from the Army hierarchy and placed into the hands of the Sith . Personally trained by Sith Lords , the Knighthunters learned to defend themselves against any trick a Jedi was capable of . By the completion of their advanced training , the elite stormtroopers were more than able to block lightsaber attacks , negate the effects of Force powers , and counter the extreme athleticism of Jedi and similar foes . However , this training was not without its risks — Knighthunter training boasted a high fatality rate . Regardless of the hazardous training they received , Knighthunters performed exceptionally well at their job . Upon the discovery of a Jedi ' s location , a Sith Lord would procure a detachment of Knighthunters to accompany him or her in confronting the Jedi . The Knighthunters ' presence increased the odds of capturing or killing their opponent ; likewise , it also decreased the odds of the Jedi either escaping or killing the Sith . The elite troops would do whatever was necessary to complete their objective . Armor and equipment . Like other elite units , Knighthunters had access to an assortment of equipment that standard stormtroopers did not . Their durable armor , painted jet - black , was modeled after that of the Coruscant Guard , which watched over the Imperial capital world Coruscant during the days of Palpatine ' s Galactic Empire . It also combined elements of storm commando armor . Knighthunters ' helmets also featured a special device capable of disrupting Force mind influences : a small connector located at the base of the neck sent electrical impulses , which negated the effects of Force mind tricks , into the wearer ' s brain and spine . To stay true with their philosophy of swarming Jedi with a flurry of melee attacks , the Knighthunters utilized weapons that would provide adequate when fighting a lightsaber - equipped opponent . The elite stormtroopers ' most commonly used weapon was an electrostaff , laced with phrik so as to deflect lightsaber attacks . When forced to engage in ranged combat , the Knighthunters employed sonic weapon s rather than traditional blasters , as lightsabers were not able to deflect the output of sonic weapons . Behind the scenes . The Knighthunters first appeared in 2009 ' s " Legacy Era Campaign Guide " , published by Wizards of the Coast .