IDS HOLOTABLE / SQUADS & COUNTERS

Build squads that work

Learn how leader abilities, faction tags, protection, turn order and battle modes determine team performance. Includes a squad diagnosis selector, four complete team labs and four illustrated learning cores.

Galaxy of Heroes turn-based squad battle shown in an official EA screenshot
Official EA Galaxy of Heroes gameplay imagery. Interface and requirements may change.

SQUAD BUILDING / SIX QUICK CHECKS

Before you spend a single upgrade

  1. Leader bonus. Who actually benefits from the leader?
  2. First turn. Who sets up the opening move?
  3. Survivability. Who taunts, heals, dispels or revives?
  4. Finish the fight. Who delivers the damage or control?
  5. Fifth slot. Does the last character solve a real problem?
  6. Game mode. Do Omicrons or Datacrons change this matchup?

Galactic Power alone does not guarantee a win. Check the exact enemy lineup and active abilities.

INTERACTIVE TACTICAL FILE

Squad diagnosis: what is missing?

This selector identifies the next question to ask when a squad is underperforming. It does not claim to simulate a battle or provide a current GAC win rate.

Start with a compatible leader

Read the leader ability and check the allies who qualify.

Need individual character guides? View the roster links

Palpatine · Vader · Mara Jade · Hera · Rex · Grievous · Thrawn · Royal Guard · Kanan · B1 · B2 · MagnaGuard · Chopper · Sabine.

SIX COMPLETE SQUAD LABS

Choose your squad

Tap a character to explore the full team, battle plan, mods and saved checklist.

02 / FOUR ILLUSTRATIVE TEAM CORES

Four more ways to build a team

EMPIRE / CONTROL

Emperor Palpatine core

Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Mara Jade (The Emperor's Hand), and Royal Guard demonstrate a leadership/control approach. Read each kit and investment requirement before treating this as a current competitive answer.

PHOENIX / BEGINNER

Hera Syndulla core

Hera Syndulla, Kanan Jarrus, Ezra Bridger, Garazeb Orrelios and Chopper illustrate shared Phoenix and Rebel tags. Newer Phoenix variants can change the better lineup; check Captain Rex interactions in-game.

GALACTIC REPUBLIC

Padmé Amidala core

Padmé Amidala, Jedi Knight Anakin, Ahsoka Tano, General Kenobi and C-3PO provide a historical example of protection, debuffs and support interactions. Availability and current usefulness vary.

SEPARATIST / DROIDS

General Grievous core

General Grievous, B1 Battle Droid, B2 Super Battle Droid, IG-100 MagnaGuard and Droideka show a faction kit that functions as a system. Some abilities impose specific team-building conditions.

These are examples of mechanics, not universal recommendations to farm these exact five characters in October 2026. Older compositions may lose to newer units or require specific upgrades to function.

Current-season counter research

Use the GAC Counter Desk to search 16 defenders, choose 5v5 or 3v3 and open source-backed matchup records.

Prepare for three real defenders.

Review the first-turn decision walkthroughs for Geonosian Brood Alpha, Iden Versio and General Grievous before choosing an offensive squad. The files are linked to Season 84 5v5 and Season 83 3v3 records, with no invented percentages.

03 / DEFENSIVE SCOUTING

How to assess a counter without wasting a battle

  1. Identify the full enemy lineup, leader and game mode. A screenshot that hides a fifth unit or a Datacron is insufficient.
  2. Read the opening turn threats. Identify pre-battle bonuses, Taunt, damage immunity, bonus turns, turn-meter changes and dispels that determine the first move.
  3. Check your planned team for a solution to the actual threat. Speed alone may not override a bonus turn or a "cannot be resisted" mechanic.
  4. Use a documented counter only when its relics, mods, Omicrons and mode correspond to your situation. Archive counters can become obsolete.
  5. If a fight is lost, record the first decisive mistake: incorrect target, missing damage, blocked ability, or a unit who acted too late. Update your plan accordingly.
What we are not claiming

IDS does not currently maintain a verified live match-history database. This first edition deliberately avoids fabricated counter percentages and automated claims about the latest meta.

04 / INVESTMENT ORDER

Which squad should get your next gear?

When materials are scarce, complete a coherent squad for the activity you currently need before spreading upgrades across ten unfinished teams. First identify whether a needed ability is locked behind a gear, relic, Zeta or Omicron requirement. Next, confirm that the activity accepts the unit and that the upgrade changes an actual outcome. Finally, check whether the same unit contributes to a ship, event or guild activity.

REFERENCE DESK

Sources and editorial limits

These guides explain established mechanics and use illustrative teams. They are not a current win-rate leaderboard, a live-account audit, or a claim of firsthand testing. Unit kits, eligibility, upgrades and event requirements can change. Always check the game before committing rare resources.

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