Each of the four main factions in Star Wars Legion will get a refreshed starter set this year, packed with all the models, cards, and tokens needed for a player to field a 600 point 'Recon' starter army - and today we're delving into the Rebel Alliance pack, with insights from Atomic Mass Games' (AMG) Creative and Development VP Will Shick, and Game Development Director Will Pagani.
The new Star Wars Legion starter sets will all retail for $95 in the US - the Rebel Alliance starter is commanded by Luke Skywalker, who leads a force of 22 Rebel Troopers, seven Rebel Commandos, and six Wookie Warriors. Though the release date hasn't been confirmed yet, it's on the Star Wars Legion roadmap for fall this year.
Wargamer: What does the Rebel Alliance starter set specialise in?
AMG: The Rebel Alliance starter set plays a more cagey and 'long game' style than the other starter sets. Using the defensive keywords is key to the rebel units' survival! Stay in cover and sneak onto the objectives once you've whittled down your opponent's forces.
What does Luke Skywalker bring as the leader of this force?
Luke Skywalker is a great jack-of-all-trades: He'll easily beat most units in melee combat and can contribute to range fights with his blaster. He has access to the very powerful Force Power upgrades as well as a Command upgrade. With Inspire he supports his troops well by keeping them from being suppressed or panicked.
How do the basic Corps infantry in this box stand out from the other sets?
Rebel Troopers gain their durability from their keywords rather than their defense dice. Layer Cover and an ample amount of dodge tokens over each other to create some seriously durable units!
Which units are heavy hitters?
The close combat prowess of the Wookiee Warriors is unmatched amongst the starter set units. They'll handily beat any other unit in melee that isn't holding a light saber - and they'll hold their ground against even those characters!
What's this starter set's big weakness?
This starter set requires a lot of patience and careful positioning of its units, and cover is very important. For example, getting the Wookies into combat will yield excellent results - but be careful, they can be taken out rather quickly by concentrated fire! Striking at the right time to disrupt your opponents plans can be tricky, but very rewarding.
Because Luke Skywalker is so good in so many areas it means that he's not spectacular in any. He'll lose close combat fights with most of the other starter set commanders, his ranged attacks may not contribute enough to turn the fight if you cannot also leverage other parts of his rules, and with only one Force Power upgrade available to him you cannot combo the different powers together - you must choose which it is you'll use! This can make him tricky to play.
What's a good way to expand from this set to make a more rounded list?
This list is lacking in long ranged anti-armor options. Finding some ways to get that is important to a well balanced list! Rebel Alliance forces usually get this through some of their vehicles - the AT-RT or the X-34 Land Speeder can provide some solid options here.
If you want to double down on the starter set's strengths, what do you need?
The Rebel Sleeper Cell is an excellent addition to this force. They move up the table quickly and quietly and pack a huge amount of firepower at close range. Accompanied by their droid they can even hold down an objective while the rest of your army swoops in to secure it!
Thanks guys!
If you find the Dark Side of the Force to be more tempting, Will and Will answered our questions about the Galactic Empire starter set - and we'll publish their insights into the other two starter sets here on Wargamer soon.
Are you hoping to start building your forces for Star Wars Legion with one of the new starter sets? Are you an established player just waiting for some older kits to get re-released? We'd love to chat about the game with you in the official Wargamer Discord community.
If you want a tactical Star Wars experience that comes in one box and doesn't require assembly, check out Wargamer's guide to the best Star Wars board games.