Red Imperial Guard

How good would the red guards do in battle? Would they be more formidable than regular stormtroopers.

It is too bad we don't see them in action...

 

The Imperial Guard would indeed be much more formidable in battle than regular stormtroopers. The EU says that they are all/most Force talented, trained in some of the arts of the Force but not fully trained. To become a Imperial Guard one has to be the best of the best in the Stormtrooper Corp.

Their loyalty is to the Emperor first, the Empire second.

 

would they then be considered dark jedi then?

 

I would say no, they are not dark Jedi. Being a Jedi implies having Force talent with extensive training. I don't think they have been trained like that. They basically know just enough about the Force to enhance their combat skills, both armed and unarmed.

And they are damn cool

 

I don't know if they have Force talent, but they do carry Force pikes, (a cut scene from ROTJ was a guard killing an Imperial officer with a pike). They are cool though.

 

They are very cool. I'd love to see them in action.

 

I think they would do excellent in combat, with all of their training and they know some martial art called Echani. They even have to fight to the death against one another before becoming a full fledged Royal Guard.

Some of them had force talents (Not all of course), but as Errant said would not be considered a Jedi. Considering the EU the Soveriegn Protectors who are higher ranking Red Guards, I believe all of them are force sensitive. I know that they are taught the force talent to heal if or when the Emperor is hurt.

 

Kir Kanos There's some action for you.

 

Red is hot.

 

They are lethally trained for an instant death strike.

 

Going by EU (there isn't much else to go on), yes. They're incredibly fanatical and would rather fight to the death than retreat. As said above, they're also selected from the elite of the stormtrooper corps and some even have training in the Force.

In other words, they're faster, stronger, never give up, and, last but not least, shoot straighter.

 

What does a force pike do?

 

It's a sort of sonic weapon.

 

It's basically an axe, except the blade vibrates incredible fast, which lets it cut through almost anything.

The guards also have blasters to attack foes from long distances.

 

Um, too right Bib. I read about it ages ago in Essential Weapons & Technology. But doesn't the weapon have a sonic quality to it's function?

 

Also in the EU it is mentioned they they are constantly rotated through the ranks of regular stormtroopers to keep their skills up plus as well to spy on the other troopers to see if anyone is plotting anything against the empire.