Katarn was adept at using a variety of weapons. His training gave him great skill in using Imperial weapons. This training, along with a natural intuition, allowed him to effectively use every weapon he came across in his travels. As competent with weaponry, Katarn had great accuracy when using blasters, rarely missing his shots and using all types of blasters from different shapes and sizes, shooting several stormtroopers with pistols, rifles, and even an assault cannon. [5] Once he aquired his first lightsaber, he was immediately able to wield it thanks to the fencing lessons he took in the Academy. [14] From an early age Kyle showed big curiosity for the trade of his father, his use of tools, and displayed impressive technical and engineering talent, able to handle and troubleshoot anything in their homestead. [14] Skills he acquired from his childhood in the farm was becoming one of the few Humans in the galaxy fluent in the electronic language of droidspeak, [14] as well as a primitive binary code, considered obsolete by then, whose combinations of two sounds represented letters of an alphabt. [16]

I knew then, when we said good-bye, that he was not ready for a full commitment to the Alliance. The emotional manipulation he endured at the hands of the Empire has hardened him against causes and made the idealistic, trusting young man into a deadly efficient saboteur whose loyalty must be earned rather than bought. One thing is certain. He may not totally trust the Alliance, but he will never forgive or forget what the Empire has done to him. [...] it is this hatred of the Empire that will insure his reliability to us." ―Jan Ors [18] A few years before 5 ABY a smuggler ran weapons into an Imperial controlled sector and managed to run afoul of both the Rebel Alliance and another individual. The Alliance sent Katarn to handle the smuggler's operation, during which Katarn and a Gran bodyguard crossed paths, and engaged in a firefight that left the Gran with a blaster injury in his leg. Katarn disposed of the smuggler's operation soon after. [23] New Republic [ ] Kyle Katarn appears as one of the hero character units in Empire at War and is one of few Expanded Universe characters in the game. His special abilities are " thermal detonator" and "sprint." He has no Force powers since the game takes place before his discovery of his connection to the Force. After the dinner he went to the Corellia Room to reunite with the Donars playing with Calrissian; soon after he ran into a familiar face. Their eyes met and recognized it was the Rebel girl from the asteroid. She turned away and Kyle tried to follow her among the crowd; not only to arrest her, but also to seek revenge, and also some answers. Catching on a moving walkway, he started jogging, and into a lift tube. He realized that the level below was off limits to passengers and he used the emergency ladderway; once he landed, he was immobilized by Rosco Ross, an accomplice of the girl who was waiting for him, and was led into a storeroom. After the brief brawl, Ors pointed out that he had spared their lives earlier; in turn Katarn also felt another connection with Ors, not the hatred he expected. After exchanging names, Ors agreed to let him live, if he promised that they would part ways and not do anything against them. Kyle felt a desperation and along his promise he asked to talk to her. [3]Before the Storm of Chaos, Katarin mostly remained aloof in the Ice Palace with very few of her subjects ever actually seeing her in person. [1d] Storm of Chaos An arch marked the entrance to the Valley of the Jedi which Kyle explored; he saw effigies of Lord Hoth and Tal. He climbed a tall tomb, and from the elevated location he spotted Jan tied to a column. I want you to remember, son, when you're at the Academy, how very proud I am of you." ―Morgan's words to Kyle the day they parted [14]

After the end of the invasion, Katarn heard a rumor that the Sith still existed. Due to his personal experience on Dromund Kaas, Katarn investigated, following clues from Ord Sedra in the Clacis sector first to Yaga Minor, and then halfway across the galaxy to the Cloak of the Sith, near Roon. Katarn went missing there; his fate resembled that of Daye Azur-Jamin, who had been missing since early in the Yuuzhan Vong war. [15] it is precisely his experience in Imperial service that has turned him solidly against the Empire, and will, I believe, eventually convince him of the necessity of the Alliance." ―Jan Ors, to Mon Mothma [21]

It is unknown what role, if any, Master Katarn played during the Jedi's assault on the Lost Tribe on Coruscant. He was among those present in Senator Wuul's office during the Council meeting to discuss further military action against the Lost Tribe and their new master, Abeloth. He expressed concern about Abeloth's origins, and was the only Master present to take Wynn Dorvan seriously when he said he killed Abeloth. When Tekli and Lowbacca informed the Council about the origins of Abeloth, Katarn gave several theories about what her endgame would be, and how Ben Skywalker figured into those plans. The Council meeting ended shortly after that when it was discovered that Ben had been captured by Abeloth and was fleeing Coruscant. [46] Although Jan and Kyle owed their lives to each other (several times) Katarn was initially oblivious to her romantic feelings; It was not until the quest for the Valley of the Jedi when finally the pair declared their love, which had to pass through turbulent phases, not only through danger and death, but also coping with Kyle's dark mood swings; at some point his close bond with Mara Jade disrupted their relationship. [19] Angered by his partner's "death," Katarn regained his Force powers by using the power of the Valley of the Jedi, once again treading dangerously close to the dark side. He went to the Jedi Academy to retrieve his blue-bladed lightsaber he had left with Skywalker, where he then learned that Desann was a fallen student of Skywalker's. Katarn was forced to work again with his old Master, [15] and set out with Skywalker across the galaxy to bring Desann to justice.