Those who are interested in learning more about Star Wars would not have to try too much before they came across the clone troopers, the soldiers in the Grand Army of the Republic. Featured in many Star Wars projects, such as the hit show Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the clones are a core part of Star Wars lore. They are directly involved in one of the biggest conflicts in the franchise, which just so happened to be named after them. With various individual clone characters, clone units, and larger clone divisions, there is no shortage of lore to dive into regarding them or the larger Clone Wars conflict.
One specific variation of clone trooper is the ARC trooper, which is short for Advanced Recon Commando. The name alone implies their advanced qualifications and training. Only a few clone troopers who display the ability to handle such circumstances can undergo this training. Taking on some of the most difficult and dangerous missions in the Clone Wars, the ARC troopers are a very important unit in the clone army. Understanding their role, as well as the stories of some notable clones in the ARC training program, is essential to the lore of the Star Wars canon.
What Are ARC Troopers?
Perhaps the most advanced single unit in the Grand Army of the Republic, ARC troopers are the best of the best. They were so good, in fact, that they were in charge of training many of the high-ranking clone commanders. Captain Rex was one such clone, who received extensive ARC training that served him well in the war. Appearance-wise, ARC troopers wore an experimental version of Phase I armor early on in the war. This armor resembled a cross between Phase I and the later Phase II clone armor.
ARC troopers were selected to go on the toughest missions in the war, where their skills and expertise could be put to use completing high-stakes objectives for the Republic. When they weren’t on the battlefield, however, ARC troopers would often oversee the training of the clone army to make sure it was up to the correct standards, and to see that the clone troopers being trained were ready to enter the war upon graduating on Kamino. During their combat training, Domino Squad had ARC troopers present to monitor their results.
Notable ARC Troopers
Across Clone Wars-based media, viewers have been treated to the sight of ARC troopers in combat on more than one occasion. When Echo and Fives of the 501st were tasked with defending Kamino from Separatist attackers, they were under the command of ARC trooper officers Blitz, Havoc, Colt, and Hammer, who led Rancor Battalion in the fight to protect the clones’ home city. While two of the four ARC troopers perished during the battle, their leadership allowed the city to hold out long enough to repel their attackers in the end.
Following the defense of Kamino, Echo and Fives, who put up a valiant effort against the Separatists, were recognized by Captain Rex and Commander Cody for their skill and made ARC troopers themselves. Over the course of the war, Echo and Fives would engage in many important missions, such as the infiltration of the Citadel on the planet of Lola Sayu. Echo seemingly ended up being killed in the ensuing battle, but the success of the Republic’s forces that day could not have occurred without his assistance in drawing Separatist fire away from the heroes. Fives would go on to participate in the Battle of Umbara, one of the most violent in the whole war.
Fives, who eventually uncovered the inhibitor chips which would allow Order 66 to happen, went rogue in an effort to get the information to the Jedi while evading law enforcement. The resolve his ARC training provided him with allowed him to remain safe while on the run for some time, before encountering Captain Rex and Anakin Skywalker, who he attempted to explain the details of the sinister plot to. Unfortunately, before he could do so, he was killed by Commander Fox and the forces of the Coruscant Guard.
In Star Wars Legends
While there are many great ARC trooper tales in the Star Wars canon, there are also many noteworthy troopers from the old Star Wars expanded universe, now known as the Legends timeline. In Legends lore, the creation of the ARC troopers was directly overseen by Jango Fett and the Mandalorians, who wanted strong individual units that would be able to manage high-stress, high-risk combat situations and missions.
The Muunilinst 10, a group of elite clone troopers that earned their title from their achievements at the Battle of Muunilinst, included four ARC Troopers, one of which was the famous ARC Captain Fordo. Fordo was identifiable by the red markings on his armor, which included Jaig eyes similar to those on Captain Rex’s helmet. When the attack on Coruscant was being carried out and the threat of the Chancellor's capture was imminent, Fordo was present in the city fending off waves of battle droids.
In summary, ARC troopers were about the last clone units a battle droid would ever want to encounter in battle. Across both the new Star Wars canon and Star Wars Legends, ARC troopers were elite, battle-hardened soldiers bred for only the most intense combat. Their skill shows in the notable clone troopers who had the privilege of receiving ARC training, and their feats live on throughout all forms of Star Wars media.