Most worlds in the Empire have frozen polar regions and a few are entirely covered in ice and snow. Because of their general inaccessibility, these frozen zones frequently house Rebel hideouts, smuggler ports, and pirate coves. In response, the Empire has established a special elite corps of stormtroopers trained and equipped to operate in these environs; these troops are known as Blizzard Force snowtroopers. 

A snowtrooper wears the typical black, two piece body temperature control glove that all stormtroopers employ. His 18-piece outer shell has been altered to include more powerful heating and personal environmental units, and an airtight fabric oversuit covers the trooper's armor for additional protection from the cold. To facilitate breathing in bitter climates, a breather hood envelops the face plate and feeds into the suit liner. 

Depending on their designation (Ice Storm, Snow Hawk, Wind Riders, etc.) each subunit wears slightly modified and personalized armor. Each trooper, regardless of his unit designation, is equipped with terrain-grip boots, standard utility belts containing high tension wire, grappling hooks, ion flares, additional blaster packs, and a survival kit containing water, food, medical supplies, and a Garlostar heat absorbing tent. Snowtroopers carry a personal blaster pistol, a blaster rifle and two concussion grenades. 

Blizzard Force snowtroopers are trained to work in tandem with AT-AT walkers. These vehicles are ideally suited for the extreme temeratures and icy terrain of the worlds snowtroopers patrol. Once walkers have secured an area, they kneel, allowing snowtroopers to disembark and clear any pockets of resistance. 

Each snowtrooper legion is assigned 10 tripod mounted, portable automatic blaster cannons. A team of three troopers operate each cannon, assembling, transporting, and firing the heavy weapon to blast strongpoint defenses or simply provide added firepower for snowtrooper shock attacks. 

There is no stealth involved in snowtrooper combat tactics. They are trained to hit a planet fast and hard, like a blizzard, crushing any opposition quickly and completely. Much of this is due to their cooperation with AT-ATs which function specifically as fron line strike vehicles. Efficient, fast, and deadly, snowtroopers are one of the most feared branches of the Imperial Forces.