What Became of the Clone Troopers After the Prequels?

The Clone Wars: A Defining Chapter in the Star Wars Saga

The Clone Wars have become one of the most captivating elements of the "Star Wars" universe. What began as a simple line spoken by Obi-Wan Kenobi in 1977 has evolved into a pivotal moment in the saga’s timeline. This galactic conflict is explored through various media, including films, television, novels, and comics, illustrating how a crumbling Republic succumbs to the seductive promises of fascism. The clones themselves represent this societal decline: despite their nonviolent principles, the Jedi willingly participate in the creation and acquisition of slave soldiers, designed to be ideal on the battlefield and loyal subordinates to their commanders.

It is no surprise that after the clones fulfill their purpose, supporting the newly formed Galactic Empire and eliminating the Jedi under the orders of Sheev Palpatine, they are quickly discarded. In real-world conflicts, military veterans often face neglect, and "Star Wars" reflects this harsh reality with its portrayal of how militaristic governments treat their former soldiers.

Transition from Clones to Stormtroopers

The shift from clone troopers to recruited stormtroopers did not happen overnight, but it occurred more swiftly than expected within the current canon. However, the old "Star Wars" Expanded Universe offers a different narrative about what happened to the clones following the prequel trilogy.

In canon, clone troopers were gradually phased out. The animated series "Star Wars: The Bad Batch" explores the aftermath of Order 66, focusing on a group of specialized troopers who were unaffected by the command. To limit access to cloning technology, the Empire destroys Kamino’s Tipoca City and the cloning facilities. This act also prompts the Senate to pass a military recruitment bill, aiming to create an army from citizen recruits. This approach serves two purposes: it is more cost-effective than cloning perfect soldiers and ensures greater loyalty from occupied worlds.

The Rise of TK Stormtroopers

The first wave of non-clone Imperial troopers, known as TK stormtroopers, was recruited shortly after the Empire’s establishment. These soldiers were trained by clone veterans through an initiative called Project War-Mantle and wore armor similar to both the final generation of clone armor and the eventual design seen in the original trilogy.

Despite efforts by some galactic representatives, like Senator Riyo Chuchi of Pantora, to implement legislation for clone veterans, former troopers still faced significant challenges. The accelerated aging of their genetic programming led to health issues, and the psychological trauma of carrying out Order 66 affected many. In "Obi-Wan Kenobi," a homeless clone is shown begging on the streets of Daiyu.

Clones in the Early Years of the Empire

In the early years of the Empire, clones continued to play a crucial role in military operations. For example, in "The Bad Batch" Season 2, a squad including Commander Cody and former Clone Force 99 member Crosshair is deployed to the Separatist holdout world of Desix. In "Andor" Season 1, Cassian Andor has a flashback to the days after the war, where a company of clones visits the distant planet Ferrix to enforce loyalty to the new regime.

Within just a few years, most of the military was replaced by recruited soldiers from across the galaxy. Imperial academies, such as the one Luke Skywalker mentions in the original "Star Wars," were established throughout the Empire, offering adventure and stable work for those struggling after the Clone Wars. This kind of propaganda is evident in other projects like "Star Wars Rebels," where an academy is built on Lothal, and at the beginning of "Solo: A Star Wars Story."

Clones and Their Defection

Some clones, like the Bad Batch themselves, manage to avoid Imperial service. They become mercenaries, and some even join the Rebel Alliance. Captain Rex removes his inhibitor chip after Order 66 is triggered with the help of his longtime friend and comrade Ahsoka Tano. Rex works with the early rebellion to assist clones in defecting. Later, in "Star Wars Rebels," he and fellow clone veterans Wulff and Gregor join Phoenix Squadron. Rex fights the Empire until the end of the Galactic Civil War.

The Legends Timeline: A Different Path

The clones’ story takes a different turn in the old Expanded Universe. It doesn’t always make sense because, when external texts like Karen Traviss’ "Republic Commando" novels emerged, the "Clone Wars" animated series hadn’t yet addressed how Order 66 worked. In these books and the story mode for "Star Wars: Battlefront II," it seems that the clones were aware of what was coming before the actual command was given by Palpatine. This was later retconned in Season 6 of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," which is part of both the modern canon and the non-canon Legends timeline.

In Legends, clone troopers remained active in the military for much longer than in canon. Since there are so many types of stormtroopers, all of whom generally stay masked in the movies, it was difficult to determine who was and wasn’t a clone. While cloning activities declined during the Imperial era, the transition from clone troopers to stormtroopers was not as abrupt. Cloning technology was then redirected to other secret projects, as seen in "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II." The 501st Legion, known during Imperial rule as Vader’s Fist, remained entirely composed of elite clone troopers.