Star Wars: 13 Thrilling Shadow Trooper Theories After Bad Batch Episodes 6 & 7

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 3, episodes 6-7

Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 3 has debuted a new and exciting version of the Imperial shadow trooper, leading to multiple theories for the show’s final episodes. These Imperial shadow agents are already the deadliest enemies Clone Force 99 has ever faced and may very well be their downfall as the Empire continues to hunt Omega. The unique skills and fanatical loyalty the shadow troopers possess may also bring down the early incarnation of the Rebel Alliance.

However, there is also a great deal of mystery surrounding the shadow troopers in The Bad Batch, questions that the final episodes may answer. The shadow troopers from the Star Wars Legends continuity and later in the canon timeline also raise several fascinating possibilities of the threat they pose. 13 shadow trooper theories have presented themselves following the most recent episodes of The Bad Batch, making it essential for them to return.

13
The Bad Batch Will Face Their Evil Shadow Trooper Doppelgängers

The Empire has access to their DNA

With the Empire experimenting with so many clone blood types at Mount Tantiss, it stands to reason that they could create shadow troopers based on Clone Force 99’s unique mutations. Shadow trooper CX-2 rivaled Crosshair’s skill as a sniper and Hunter’s hand-to-hand combat, so new clones could mimic Wrecker’s strength or Tech’s exceptional mind. An evil version of the Bad Batch would make compelling antagonists for the final season of The Bad Batch.

12
The Shadow Trooper Hunting Clone Force 99 Is Really Tech

Star Wars characters tend to come back from the dead

Unlike the shadow trooper captured by Rex’s men, CX-2 never removed his helmet, which could be hiding his identity as an existing character. One of the most intriguing theories is Tech, who was presumed dead in The Bad Batch season 2 but could have somehow survived his fall. It wouldn’t be the first time Star Wars revealed that a popular character was still alive, or the first time a member of The Bad Batch was revived and reprogrammed by the Empire.

11
Shadow Trooper “CX-2” Is A Direct Clone Of Crosshair

The Empire had access to Crosshair at Mount Tantiss

Shadow trooper CX-2 was just as good a sniper as Crosshair, but this may be more than a coincidence. The Empire would have had access to Crosshair’s DNA and could have made an exact copy with the genetic mutations that made him an excellent shot. Crosshair was an excellent soldier when he was loyal to the Empire, who may have wanted to replicate that trait after Crosshair’s betrayal.

10
Commander Cody Is A Shadow Trooper

Cody hasn’t been seen since going AWOL

Another theory suggests that Commander Cody is the shadow trooper hunting the Bad Batch. Despite going AWOL in season 2, Cody has not been seen since, even though he would have been a perfect ally for Rex. Just as his inhibitor chip forced him to comply with Order 66, the Empire may have programmed him as a shadow trooper.

9
One Of Rex’s Clones Is A Shadow Trooper Sleeper Agent

Any clone could have been brainwashed

Crosshair explained that the clones who survived the Empire’s reconditioning came out changed, completely loyal with all traces of their identity erased. Rather than sending a shadow trooper to fight Rex’s men, the Empire may also have inserted an undercover agent who may not know they’re a traitor until activated. This would mean that any of Rex’s surviving men could betray the Rebellion at any moment.

8
The Shadow Troopers Are Why Rex Leaves The Rebellion

Rex was retired in Star Wars Rebels

Rex, Gregor, and Wolffe had all retired in Star Wars Rebels, and their experience with the shadow troopers may be why. Losing so many of his brothers may have caused Rex to agree with Hunter about not being able to defeat the Empire, especially once their accelerated aging kicked in. The Empire’s ability to brainwash the clones may also have become a liability the Rebellion felt they couldn’t afford.

7
The Shadow Troopers Will Set The Rebellion Back By Decades

Why did the Rebel Alliance take decades to form?

The Bad Batch has focused on the Rebel Alliance’s origin story, and the shadow troopers’ assassination skills may reveal why the Rebellion took decades to form. Former Republic and Separatist senators began taking action with the help of Rex and the clones, only for the shadow troopers to target both groups. Imperial agents that could be anywhere and take out anyone would have made it impossible to convince the galaxy to rebel against Palpatine.

6
The Shadow Troopers Will Turn Wolffe Against The Empire

Wolffe is beginning to doubt the Empire

Star Wars Rebels confirmed that Wolffe eventually removes his inhibitor chip and joins Rex, and the shadow trooper’s actions likely pushed him to this decision. Wolffe wanted to take his brothers alive and was shocked by the shadow trooper’s ruthless tactics, and he agreed to let the Bad Batch go when he saw they were hunting a child. Realizing that shadow trooper reconditioning may be the fate of all clones could make Wolffe decide to betray the Empire.

5
The Imperial Remnant Will Use Shadow Troopers In The Mandalorian Era

Another connection between The Bad Batch and The Mandalorian

Palpatine’s Project Necromancer connects The Bad Batch to the Imperial Shadow Council in The Mandalorian season 3, but this may not be the only tool the Imperial Remnant brings back. The Shadow Council could revive the shadow trooper program to fight the New Republic, or Grand Admiral Thrawn could find shadow troopers kept in stasis at Mount Tantiss. Shadow troopers who operate behind the scenes would be a perfect fit for a secret group called the “Shadow” Council.

4
Hemlock Will Create A Force-Sensitive Shadow Trooper

This was a type of shadow trooper in Star Wars Legends

Dr. Hemlock has been studying M-count replication for Palpatine and may discover how to create a Force-sensitive clone. In the Star Wars Legends timeline, Lord Hethrir’s Empire Reborn created stormtrooper-Dark Jedi hybrids called shadowtroopers, a trait that could carry over to canon. Legends also had Jedi Covenant shadow agents who had their identities erased and hunted Sith artifcacts, something Palpatine would find particularly useful.

3
Shadow Troopers Are The Key To Palpatine’s Return

Palpatine needs successful Force-sensitive clones

Palpatine needs Omega’s blood for a successful M-count replication, but a Force-sensitive shadow trooper may be the next step in creating a clone of himself. Hemlock wouldn’t risk damaging Palpatine’s clone bodies without making sure the procedure worked, making the shadow troopers perfect test subjects. Sending a Force-sensitive shadow trooper into the field would be the perfect way for Palpatine to observe their abilities in action.

2
The Shadow Troopers Will Use Cloaking Devices

Star Wars: Battlefront (2015) had cloaked shadow troopers

The shadow troopers in Star Wars: Battlefront are known for using portable cloaking devices to turn invisible, something the shadow agents haven’t done in The Bad Batch. However, this would be a great twist for an episode, with the heroes thinking they’re ready but ultimately unprepared for an invisible shadow trooper. This would make the shadow troopers an even deadlier threat, as no one in the Rebellion would know how to detect them.

1
The Shadow Trooper “CX-2” Will Kill Crosshair

A sad yet fitting end to Crosshair’s arc

Crosshair was nearly killed by shadow trooper CX-2, which may foreshadow his death in the final episodes. Despite the terrible things he’s done, Crosshair’s redemption has been one of the show’s best arcs, so it would be tragic for the others to lose him after getting him back. It would also bring his story full circle, sacrificing himself to save his friends, especially if CX-2 turns out to be his doppelgänger. Either way, the shadow troopers are sure to return in Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 3, making sure the series goes out with a bang.