Troopers belonging to the Shinra's Public Security Division. Protected by reinforced armor developed by the Advanced Weaponry Division, and capable of inflicting heavy damage with their beam sword and heavy machine gun. As they are some of the most elite troopers in the military, they are tasked with guarding Shinra's HQ.
Enemy details
The Armored Shock Trooper is an enemy in Final Fantasy VII Remake and "Episode INTERmission". They are heavily armored combatants capable of dealing high amounts of damage from both close and long-range. They are the elite forces of Shinra Electric Power Company's Public Security Division. They are fought in Professor Hojo's lab in the Shinra Building during "Operation: Save Aerith", and in the Shinra Combat Simulator during "vs. 3-C SOLDIER Candidates". They are also fought in "Covert Ops" during "Episode INTERmission", in the Materia Research Facility of Scarlet's Advanced Weaponry.
He is actually two enemies in one, as if he ejects his armor, he transforms into the Enhanced Shock Trooper.
Armored Shock Trooper (Defense) is also a grounded unit in the Fort Condor minigame in INTERmission, won off Wedge. When this unit is defeated, it spawns an elite shock trooper unit.
Stats[]
Abilities[]
Abilities in italics lack names in-game and, hence, have unofficial names.
= Physical damage- = Magic damage
= Magic damage| Ability | Range | Description | Block | KBKnockback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Circular Slash
|
Melee | Spins laser blade around self. | ||
| Eject
|
Ranged | Triggers when half of HP is depleted. Armor explodes, emitting a wide-radius shockwave. Turns into an Enhanced Shock Trooper. | ||
| Machine Gun Fire
|
Ranged | Shoots target with machine gun. | ||
| Moving Machine Gun Fire
|
Ranged | Moves machine gun around while shooting target. | ||
| Skewer
|
Melee | Charges forward and sends party members flying into the air. |
Battle[]
The Armored Shock Trooper is the strongest type of Shinra Public Security troop alongside the Armored Magitrooper faced in "Episode INTERmission", being fully armored and equipped with heavy machine gun and an energy sword, capable of attacking from virtually any range. The armor limits his movements, and he walks slowly towards his targets. He boasts very high HP and attack power, as well a formidable defense and natural resistance to physical attacks, and also cannot be interrupted. His magic defense is low.
The Armored Shock Trooper uses his machine gun against opponents that are further away, dealing heavy damage unless blocked. When in close combat, he'll perform a spin attack with the beam sword, as well the Skewer ability, where he'll charge at his opponents, dealing heavy damage and knocking them down.
Once half of his HP is depleted, he'll use the Eject ability, dealing massive area-of-effect damage, and revealing the pilot inside the armor: the Enhanced Shock Trooper (this will not happen when fought in the VR combat arena).
Much like the vast majority of mechanical-type enemies, the Armored Shock Trooper is weak against 
Lightning.
Hard mode[]
On the hard difficulty, the Armored Shock Trooper will use his abilities more often, and will be overall more aggressive.
Strategy[]
While Armored Shock Trooper cannot be interrupted even when stuck by 
Thunder, his elemental weakness to it, plus his low magic defense, makes him a vulnerable target.
It is recommended to fight the Armored Shock Trooper head on, as he'll use his heavy machine gun if his opponents are too far away. Abusing his slow movement speed and running around him to attack from behind is effective. Both his sword attack and Skewer are telegraphed with a noticeable startup, giving the player enough time to react and dodge. Cloud is especially effective thanks to his counter-attack while in Punisher Mode. He can equip a 
Lightning Materia with a linked 
Elemental Materia in his sword to deal more damage with each strike.
With enough focused damage output, it is possible to stagger and destroy the Armored Shock Trooper before he can use Eject, preventing the Enhanced Shock Trooper from taking the field.
Episode INTERmission[]
Using Lightning Ninjutsu and throwing Yuffie's shuriken to then synergize and attack with magical ninjutsu to the trooper's weakness works well to build ATB for Synergized Art of War. Sonon can also have Synergy Materia paired with lightning materia, making him cast a free Thunder spell whenever Yuffie uses an ATB ability, such as the ranged Windstorm.
Gallery[]
Etymology[]
Shock troops are formations created to lead an attack. "Shock troop" is a calque, a loose translation of the German word Stoßtrupp. Military units which contain assault troops are typically organized for mobility with the intention that they will penetrate through enemy defences and attack into the enemy's vulnerable rear areas.