The final Era Character in the new-look Star Wars Galaxy of Heroes of 2025-2026 is here in the form of Darth Vader (Duel’s End), and it is time to review mods for this new Era unit. During my time with Gaming Fans I started the “best mods” series of articles which turned out to be what put the site on the radar of the community and with EA Capital Games. While my days with Gaming Fans are well behind me, I have been writing mod guides like this one since the early days of mods when they were added to SWGoH in 2018. Fortunately, writing these mod guides continues to be a way for me to continue to enjoy Galaxy of Heroes now that I have been playing this game for over a decade. I will seek to keep the same high quality content going as I continue the “best mods in SWGoH” series today with the Best Mods for Darth Vader (Duel’s End).
The newest character in Star Wars Galaxy of Heroes, Darth Vader (Duel’s End) is an Era Unit Marquee character who joined the game in late January 2026. Darth Vader (Duel’s End) is a Dark Side Attacker who fits into the Sith & Empire factions. Let’s take a look at how we want to focus the mod stat gains for Darth Vader (Duel’s End) in Galaxy of Heroes.
Note that I have learned that I get a bit wordy in these Best Mods articles, so as a result the TL;DR on mods for Darth Vader (Duel’s End) is below. Also, I added a new(er) format on the recommendations below which I hope will help make these best mods articles easier to decipher.
Main Mod Stats to focus on…
Darth Vader (Duel’s End) is the 7th and final Era Unit in the new cadence of new character additions in SWGoH, joining Stormtrooper Luke, IG-90, Yoda & Chewie, Asajj Ventress (Dark Disciple), Inquisitor Barriss and the Legendary Maul (Hate Fueled). Used initially in the new Coliseum game mode, which limits players from using the character in any other game mode for months, Darth Vader (Duel’s End) is a Sith and Empire character who is designed to work well with Emperor Palpatine. He takes on the Burning debuff at the start of each battle and when he takes Burning damage, all Empire allies gain 20% stacking Offense. If used in an all-Empire lineup, Darth Vader (Duel’s End) grants the tank additional taunting, assists on Emperor Palpatine’s uses of special abilities, and Darth Vader (Duel’s End) gains +50% Critical Damage. Given all of the push to using Darth Vader (Duel’s End) with Emperor Palpatine as the leader, this will also grant Empire and Sith allies +35% Potency and +35% Max Health.
Looking at the stats to enhance with mods, he starts with a strong Physical Offense, so anything that enhances attacks is a plus. In addition, he applies debuffs and should land a lot of crits, so added Potency and CC/CD is wise. Like the original Darth Vader, this version will also be modded for Potency and Offense or CD, and as you will see below, I am leaning toward Critical Damage. Looking at survivability, Darth Vader (Duel’s End) will gain Max Health from Emperor Palpatine’s (probable) lead and Defense Up from his I Am What Remains unique, so I would look to add both through secondary stats.
Which Mod Sets to use & Dev Recommendations for Darth Vader (Duel’s End)
The way these new Era Units are added to the game, we will not have any ability to use them for quite some time from the start of the Era outside of the Coliseum game mode. As a result of this, it will be February 2026 before Darth Vader (Duel’s End) is available to use in other areas of SWGoH, which is not as bad for this character, but for others who have been in the game for 2-3 months, it seems like a big waste of time. My initial thoughts are to go with Potency/CC and CD sets for Darth Vader (Duel’s End) to start, but when the devs chime in with their mod recommendations, I will gladly compare and make any needed adjustments. Until then, I see Darth Vader (Duel’s End) being modded very much like the original Darth Vader in SWGoH, so here are my recommendations for the best mods for Darth Vader (Duel’s End):
- Transmitter (Square) – The Transmitter mod always has a primary focus on offense.
- Recommended Mod Type: Potency
- Recommended Secondary Stats: speed, offense, potency and health or defense
- Receiver (Arrow) – The Receiver mod can have a primary focus on several stats including speed, critical avoidance, accuracy, health, protection, defense and offense.
- Recommended Mod Type: Critical Damage, Speed focus
- Recommended Secondary Stats: potency, offense, defense and critical chance or health
- Processor (Diamond) – The Processor is always going to have a primary focus on defense.
- Recommended Mod Type: Critical Damage
- Recommended Secondary Stats: speed, offense, potency and health or defense
- Holo-Array (Triangle) – The Holo-Array is a very specialized mod that can have a primary focus on critical chance, critical damage, health, protection, offense and defense.
- Recommended Mod Type: Critical Damage mod, Critical Damage focus
- Recommended Secondary Stats: speed, offense, potency and health or defense
- Data-Bus (Circle) – The Data-bus mod always has a primary focus on either health or protection.
- Recommended Mod Type: Critical Damage mod, Health focus
- Recommended Secondary Stats: speed, offense, potency and health or defense
- Multiplexer (Plus) – The Multiplexer (plus or cross) mod can have a primary focus on potency, tenacity, health, protection, defense or offense.
- Recommended Mod Type: Potency mod, Offense or Potency focus
- Recommended Secondary Stats: speed, offense, defense and health or critical chance
Darth Vader (Duel’s End) Mods TL;DR
- Square – Potency mod with speed, offense & potency
- Arrow – Critical Damage mod, Speed focus with offense, health & potency
- Diamond – Critical Damage mod with speed, offense & defense
- Triangle – Critical Damage mod, CD focus with speed, offense & potency
- Circle – Critical Damage mod, Health focus with speed, offense & potency
- Plus – Potency mod, Potency focus with speed, offense & potency