The breastplate was the strongest part of the armor, offering the greatest protection from shrapnel, projectiles, flames, and various corrosives, and was sturdy enough to disperse across the surface area of the armor's plasteel all hits from blaster and other handheld energy weapons barring close-range direct impacts. Although standard armor lacked the durability to make the wearer immune to cannon fire, it could partially deflect or disperse energy from low-, medium-, and high-energy blaster bolts though the wearer may be incapacitated, survival would allow the trooper to receive advanced medical treatment that could return him to service. It also provided limited protection against radiation, as the body glove maintained cellular integrity in the presence of a catastrophic reactor leak. The body glove provided insulation and cushioning while also regulating body temperature during periods of exertion, and could also act as a compression sleeve to stem bleeding if a stormtrooper was injured.

The armor, and the body glove worn beneath, were designed to disperse the energy of a blaster bolt and insulate the wearer, lessening injury. The most obvious function of the armor was protection against weapons fire and battlefield hazards. Han Solo and Luke Skywalker in stormtrooper armor, without helmets, in 0 BBY ' Our body armor isn't able to withstand direct blaster shots, but it is designed to survive the most extreme conditions.' вЂ• TK329 Private ownership of stormtrooper armor was strictly forbidden by the Empire. In certain situations, stormtroopers wore camouflage armor to help them blend in with different environments. Rank was indicated with colored pauldrons. The Imperial Army acquired the use of the armor in the later years of the Galactic Empire. The body glove allowed for operation in warm or cold climates however, it could protect the trooper from almost any environment, from total vacuum to extremes in cold and heat for a very limited time. The armor significantly reduced damage to the wearer from a blaster bolt, but it could be completely penetrated by a more powerful cannon blast. It also protected the troopers from very harsh environments as well as projectiles and kinetic-energy weapons. Aside from the obvious physical advantages in combat, stormtrooper armor also acted as a form of psychological warfare: The armor was designed to be without distinctions, to ensure that foes and citizens alike saw only a united and implacable force, lowering enemy morale during combat operations. In fact, the casual first-time observer sometimes mistook stormtroopers for a form of battle droids. The complete set of eighteen pieces completely encased the body and typically had no individually distinguishing marking outside of rank. Stormtrooper armor was a distinctive white plastoid body armor over a sealed black body glove worn by Imperial stormtroopers, and in this respect appeared similar to their Clone Wars Phase II clone trooper armor predecessors, having acquired its color from the austere tastes of its Kaminoan creators. ' How about you get into this armor and try to see out of this damn helmet?' вЂ• Alpha-956

Why are stormtroopers so weak