The latest updates to Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes usher in a transformative era, introducing two powerhouse squads: Lord Vader’s Imperial Clones and the Jedi Vanguard, led by Jedi Master Mace Windu. Both teams feature new marquee characters that significantly shift the game’s competitive landscape and offer fresh synergy for veteran and new players alike.
Lord Vader’s Imperial Clones: The Rise of Dark Side Synergy
Team Identity:
This team draws direct inspiration from Operation: Knightfall, with Lord Vader leading a squad of Dark Side Clone Troopers. The focus is on overwhelming offense, relentless debuff application, and surgical takedowns, particularly against Jedi and Light Side squads.
New Marquee Characters
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CC-1119 “Appo”
Appo is a high-impact attacker who supercharges Dark Side Clone Troopers under Lord Vader. His kit introduces the Dramatic Entrance mechanic, giving the team a powerful opening burst. Appo dispels all debuffs from enemies, triggers all Damage Over Time (DoT) effects, and fully heals at the start of battle, making the team resilient and hard to wear down. In Territory Battles, Appo inflicts Order 66 on all enemies and gains significant stat boosts. His synergy with Lord Vader is pivotal, especially when facing Jedi-led teams. -
Disguised Clone Trooper
A support unit specializing in stealth and disruption, Disguised Clone Trooper leverages the Ruse mechanic for enhanced effects, such as stunning and debuffing enemies—particularly Jedi. In Territory Wars, his Ruse persists for the entire battle, and when an enemy with Order 66 is defeated, Lord Vader and his clones gain bonus turns. His massive damage output against Jedi and Light Side Force users makes him a critical threat. -
CX-2
Pulled from The Bad Batch, CX-2 is a support who excels at applying Order 66 and enabling Empire allies to ignore taunt, allowing the team to focus-fire high-value targets. CX-2’s synergy with Appo is notable, as he can reapply Dramatic Entrance upon enemy defeat, maintaining team momentum. He also becomes untargetable in certain modes while Appo is active, adding survivability to the squad. -
Scorch
Scorch serves as the team’s tank, recently receiving a buff to his Following Protocol Zeta ability. At the start of encounters without enemy Galactic Legends, Scorch now inflicts two stacks of DoT on all enemies, which cannot be dispelled, evaded, or resisted. This gives the team a strong early-game advantage, especially in non-GL matchups.
Team Impact
The Imperial Clones under Lord Vader are designed to dismantle Jedi and Light Side teams with relentless DoTs, bonus turns, and targeted disruption. The new characters’ synergy ensures high damage output, persistent debuffs, and strategic control, making them a top-tier threat in both PvE and PvP.
Jedi Vanguard: Defenders of the Light
Team Identity:
The Jedi Vanguard team, anchored by Jedi Master Mace Windu, brings together iconic defenders of the Jedi Temple. So far, this squad is built around protection, cooldown reduction, and counterplay against debuffs, making it a formidable wall against Dark Side onslaughts.
New Marquee Characters
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Jedi Master Mace Windu
Now leading the Vanguard, Mace Windu’s leadership and abilities will surely be tailored for the new Jedi Vanguard tag. His kit is expected to enhance the team’s survivability, offense, and ability to withstand debuffs, making him the lynchpin of the squad. -
Jocasta Nu
As the Chief Librarian, Jocasta Nu is a support with high protection and immunity to protection disruption. She reduces cooldowns for Jedi Vanguard allies and counters debuffs effectively. In Grand Arenas, she gains full counter chance and immunity to Ability Block, and her unique transformation allows her to heal, gain damage immunity, and take a bonus turn before defeat. -
Adi Gallia
While specific kit details have not yet been released, Adi Gallia is expected to provide additional support or offensive utility, further enhancing the Vanguard’s flexibility. -
Temple Guard
The Temple Guard is a dedicated tank, focusing on taunting and damage mitigation to protect the team’s key members. His presence ensures that attackers and supports can operate safely behind his defenses.
Strategic Use of Older Jedi
Older Jedi such as Shaak Ti, Luminara Unduli, and Kit Fisto can find renewed purpose alongside the new Jedi Vanguard. Their healing, cleansing, and utility abilities complement the Vanguard’s strengths, filling gaps and enhancing overall team performance. For example, Shaak Ti’s speed and healing, Luminara’s evasion, and Kit Fisto’s counterattacks all synergize well with the protection and cooldown mechanics provided by Jocasta Nu and what we expect to see from Jedi Master Mace Windu.
Looking Ahead
The arrival of Lord Vader’s Imperial Clones and the Jedi Vanguard led by Jedi Master Mace Windu marks a pivotal shift in Galaxy of Heroes. The Imperial Clones, with Appo, Disguised Clone Trooper, CX-2, and Scorch, offer a relentless, debuff-heavy offense that excels under Lord Vader. Meanwhile, the Jedi Vanguard, featuring Jocasta Nu, Adi Gallia, Temple Guard, and Jedi Master Mace Windu, provides a defensive, cooldown-oriented counter to Dark Side threats. Both teams not only introduce powerful new characters but also breathe new life into older favorites, ensuring a dynamic and evolving meta for all players.