The AT-ST is smaller than the AT-AT however they are far more agile. The AT-ST was designed primarily for reconnaissance missions. For reconnaissance and scouting missions, AT-STs are often deployed alone. AT-STs are also excellent patrol vehicles. They are used for scouting, perimeter defence, anti-personnel hunting, support for Imperial Ground Troops and AT-AT support. This walker is being used in growing numbers as direct reinforcements for front-line, on-foot battles, for cover fire for advancing troops and often they move along side AT-AT formations to clear out enemy ground troops who believe that they can take safety beneath or behind advancing AT-ATs. On top of that, their manoeuvrability allows them to cover the AT-AT flanks. They have earned a reputation as quick and manoeuvrable escorts for ground-based attack forces.

    The walker can be quite devastating in combat, they particularly do well against infantry and light repulsorlift vehicles. While AT-ATs crush main Rebel defensive emplacements, AT-STs ferret out small pockets of Rebel soldiers. When as used per original design specifications, the AT-ST consistently outperforms comparable repulsorcraft. Its flexibility and its firepower make the AT-ST a strong addition to the battlefield. Due to the great speed of this lightweight walker, heavy armour is not needed. Speed is the AT-ST's primary defence. Almost impossible to flee on foot from the AT-ST, the sight of them patrolling strikes fear into isolated ground troops. Unfortunately the AT-ST is too small to carry an onboard full-power generator, the AT-ST uses uses disposable high-intensity power cells to feed its power-intensive systems. However, these power cells limit the range of the AT-ST.

    Armour plating protects the entire command cabin, it also has closable view ports for the Pilot and the Co-Pilot. However, the AT-ST does maintain thick durasteel armour for maximum protection against small scale blasters, but repeating blasters and other large scale weapons have sufficient power to cause body damage. Just like in the mighty AT-AT, the AT-ST has a holographic targeting system that provides a 360 degree view of the battlefield as well as range and targeting information. On either side of the command cabin are a sensor pod, which are located behind the weapons. The two-legged drive system allows for greater speed, however they are more unbalanced than the AT-AT's drive system. With an expert pilot at the helm, an AT-ST can move with remarkable agility across a wide variety of terrain. Its powerful gyro stabilizer coupled with a complex locomotion system allows the AT-ST to mimic the walking movements of a living creature. While the computer can guide the walker over even ground, an expert human pilot must balance the wide variety of data input and control the craft's walking in difficult terrain. Sophisticated shock-absorbing systems within the legs of the walker keep it stable and feed balance data into the navigation computers. Also ground impact sensors in the footpads offer detailed feedback on the terrain ahead, reading the density and contour for precise foot placement.

    The major flaw of the AT-ST is its easily upset balance, which was exploited by the combined Ewok and Rebel Force at the Battle of Endor. However, when used in their support role, the speed and formidable firepower more than makes up that weakness. The port and starboard weapons are particularly useful against ground troops. The single drive system that powers the legs is unfortunately entirely exposed to enemy fire, however enemy troops must get close enough for pinpoint targeting to take advantage of this weakness. An advanced gyro system maintains balance, however the unit is susceptible to damage or collapse. The AT-ST is able to walk through denser terrain with greater ease, travelling through small canyons or forests that would stop an AT-AT. While excellent on the open ground, it can be slowed by dense foliage, uneven terrain or by hidden traps. These traps could be covered pits, trip-wire explosives and water or oil filled trenches that could be set ablaze. Because AT-STs can fall prey to these traps, troops on foot usually move into battle areas first to check for such defences.

    The drive unit allows these walkers to work through terrain that would stop traditional repulsorlift vehicles. The "head" can turn independently from the drive and leg system to fire in all directions. It is difficult to target the AT-ST since it is very hard to get one to sit long enough to make it possible to hit one. For the Battle of Hoth the AT-STs that participated at that battle were somewhat modified for cold weather environment. The access hatch is located on top of the command cabin. The crew can climb up the side of the walker by using a series of handholds to get to the access hatch, however at military bases the crew would use the loading platform to gain access to the AT-ST. Between the two forward view ports is the forward sensor. Behind the access hatch is the cockpit cooling system. And behind the pilots in the cabin, is the weapons power converts and behind that is the locomotion computer. The gyro system is what connects the "head" to the rest of the walker. In the aft section, below the "head" of the walker are located two radiators and the exhaust. This section also holds the power cells on either side of it.