Star Wars Zero Company Combat Basics & Action Points

The short combat answer

Use movement only when it improves the shot or protects the next turn. Each Operator has three AP, so check the full squad before spending a final action on Overwatch or ending the turn.

This launch archive separates confirmed official facts from editorial tactical advice. Unverified ability values, mission rewards, exact enemy statistics and definitive tier lists are not invented.

Three AP per Operator

Your entire squad acts in one shared turn, but each Operator has three AP. Movement distance, attacks, abilities, utility items and Overwatch can have different costs. A free Call for Backup action can be used once per turn by the selected Operator without reducing AP.

Improve the shot before taking it

Chance-to-Hit changes with distance, weapon range, line of sight, cover and positioning. Open the Shot Breakdown, then compare the current shot with one legal move. Flanking, high ground or moving into the weapon’s intended range may be worth more than firing twice from a weak line.

Cover protects a position, not a whole plan

Partial cover reduces the enemy’s hit chance; full cover provides more protection. Some cover can be destroyed, so keep a second route. Overwatch watches a selected area during the enemy turn and automatically attacks when a target moves or acts there.

1. 01
   Break enemy Overwatch

   Do not walk through a reaction cone without first removing or disabling it.

2. 02
   Move the exposed Operator

   Improve position before spending the shot if the current line is poor.

3. 03
   Finish with Overwatch

   Place the cone where movement is likely, because the action ends that Operator’s turn.

Advantage is the squad’s reserve

Damaging an enemy earns one Advantage, and the shared pool can hold up to ten. Advantage powers special actions without AP, so it can still rescue a turn after normal points are spent. Save it when the current fight is stable; spend it when a dangerous target or collapsing position must be solved now.

Rally before injuries become a campaign loss

A Downed Operator cannot act until a teammate uses Rally. Being Downed also causes an Injury. With permadeath enabled, three injuries remove that Operator from the squad permanently. Hawks is different: if Hawks is defeated, the mission fails immediately.

Permadeath is chosen when the campaign starts and cannot be changed for that campaign. If that rule is not the experience you want, change it before selecting Start Campaign.

Operations and Tactical Missions do different jobs

Operations take place on the Galaxy Map and can grant resources, unlock follow-up work or change relationships. Tactical Missions deploy the squad into turn-based objectives. Both can expire, while story-critical work eventually becomes mandatory.

Official sources