Picking Your First Star Wars: Legion Army

Star Wars: Legion combines detailed miniatures with tactical gameplay, letting you command iconic forces from across the galaxy. With multiple factions and dozens of units to choose from, it can be hard to know where to begin. This guide walks you through how the armies differ, what kind of player each suits, and how to start building a collection that you will actually enjoy painting and playing.

Understanding the Basics of Star Wars: Legion Armies

Before you decide on a faction, it helps to understand how armies are put together and what expectations the game sets for balance and structure.

Army Building in Brief

In standard games of Star Wars: Legion, each player assembles an army by selecting units within a points limit and following rank requirements defined by the official rules. According to the publisher guidelines, a typical force includes at least one commander and several corps units, with optional specialists, vehicles, and operatives added on top.¹ While you do not need to memorize every rank, you should know that:

• Your commander shapes your army’s overall strategy through command cards and special abilities.
• Corps units form the backbone of the force, capturing objectives and holding ground.
• Special units (like operatives and heavy vehicles) give your army unique tricks but cost more points.

Legion is designed so that each faction has viable army builds that can compete with one another; official tournament rules and errata aim to maintain this balance over time.² That means you can safely pick based on theme and playstyle, rather than chasing the “strongest” faction at any given moment.

What Actually Matters When Choosing a Faction

When you are picking an army, three factors matter more than anything else:

1. Playstyle: Do you like aggressive assaults, patient gunlines, or flexible combined arms?
2. Models & theme: Are you excited to paint clones, stormtroopers, droids, rebels, or Mandalorians?
3. Budget & availability: Can you find the units you want and expand over time without breaking the bank?

Your enjoyment of the game will come from how strongly those three line up with your faction.

The Four Core Factions at a Glance

Star Wars: Legion features four main factions, each with its own identity, unit roster, and learning curve. The table below summarizes their general feel on the tabletop.

Galactic Empire: Disciplined Firepower and Fear

The Galactic Empire is your archetypal oppressive regime: organized, ruthless, and built around heavy armor and elite troops. On the table, they reward measured aggression and board control.

How the Empire Tends to Play

• Strong ranged fire: Many Imperial units excel at mid- to long-range shooting, forming a reliable gunline.
• Durable units: Heavier armor and good defense saves mean they can soak up punishment if positioned well.
• Iconic force multipliers: Commanders and operatives often enhance nearby troops or impose penalties on the enemy.

An Imperial army typically advances methodically, chipping away at the opponent while leveraging cover and overlapping fields of fire.

Who Will Enjoy Playing Empire?

The Empire is a strong match if you:

• Like armies that feel tough and reliable, with fewer but stronger units.
• Enjoy controlling key fire lanes and forcing your opponent to make risky moves.
• Want access to iconic villains and heavy vehicles from the original trilogy.

Collecting and Modeling Considerations

Imperial models tend to feature clean armor plates, sharp edges, and consistent uniforms. This makes them relatively straightforward to paint in batches. If you enjoy subtle weathering and realistic military schemes, the Empire offers a lot of room to experiment.

Rebel Alliance: Mobile Skirmishers and Heroic Gambits

The Rebel Alliance leans into the fantasy of scrappy freedom fighters taking on a superior enemy through clever tactics and daring heroics. Rebel armies often feel more fragile, but they get paid back in mobility and tricks.

How the Rebels Tend to Play

• Hit-and-run tactics: Many Rebel units are faster or more nimble, allowing you to reposition and control objectives.
• Defensive tech via cover: Rebels often rely on cover and special rules to survive rather than raw armor.
• Hero-driven plays: Characters can pull off dramatic moves, swinging a game if timed correctly.

Rebel armies reward players who are comfortable trading space, pulling back, and then striking at the right moment.

Who Will Enjoy Playing Rebels?

Consider Rebels if you:

• Like playing the underdog and making daring moves instead of grinding attrition.
• Enjoy skirmish-style games where positioning and objectives matter more than raw firepower.
• Want to field an eclectic mix of alien species, irregular troops, and iconic heroes.

Collecting and Modeling Considerations

Rebel forces are visually varied, with different gear and outfits that allow for creative paint schemes. If you enjoy personalizing models with unique colors and markings rather than uniform ranks, the Rebel range is especially rewarding.

Galactic Republic: Synergy-Driven Clone Formations

The Galactic Republic represents the height of clone army professionalism backed by Jedi leadership. Their strength lies in units that perform extremely well when they work together.

How the Republic Tends to Play

• Shared benefits: Many clone units gain advantages when standing near allies or sharing tokens, encouraging tight formations.
• Elite troops: Clones are generally more expensive but capable, making each unit important.
• Strong commanders and Jedi: Heroes often anchor your strategy, combining offense, defense, and support abilities.

Republic lists favor a deliberate, synergy-focused approach where positioning your troops relative to each other is as important as where they are relative to the enemy.

Who Will Enjoy Playing Republic?

Republic armies are a good fit if you:

• Enjoy armies built around synergy and precise coordination.
• Like making tactical decisions about when and how to share resources between units.
• Are excited to field Jedi on the table alongside disciplined clone troopers.

Collecting and Modeling Considerations

Clone armor is relatively uniform but offers many canon paint schemes for different legions. This can be fun for hobbyists who like cohesive color patterns with small variations—such as distinctive markings for different squads or commanders.

Separatist Alliance: Droid Swarms and Calculated Sacrifice

The Separatist Alliance foregrounds massed battle droids backed by a small number of powerful pieces. You will often outnumber your opponent, but individual models are expendable.

How the Separatists Tend to Play

• Large unit counts: Droid units are relatively cheap, letting you flood the board and pressure objectives.
• Order control: Managing how orders pass through your army becomes a central skill.
• Few high-impact units: Leaders and specialized units provide the precision and punch that droids lack.

Separatist forces reward players who are comfortable losing models as part of a plan and who enjoy the puzzle of keeping their command network running smoothly.

Who Will Enjoy Playing Separatists?

Try Separatists if you:

• Like swarm-style armies where numbers and board presence matter.
• Enjoy planning ahead and managing activation order carefully.
• Are drawn to the aesthetic of battle droids and sinister leaders.

Collecting and Modeling Considerations

Battle droids can be more delicate to assemble because of their thin limbs, but they paint up quickly in batches. If you like seeing large formations on the table and do not mind some repetitive painting, Separatists can be satisfying to collect.

How to Match a Faction to Your Preferred Playstyle

To narrow down your choice, start from how you like to think and act in strategy games generally. Do you prefer steady control, creative gambles, or complex combos?

Identify Your Tactical Personality

Consider these questions:

• Do you prefer to react or to dictate? Reactive players might gravitate to Rebels or Separatists, while proactive, control-oriented players may favor Empire or Republic.
• Do you value simplicity or depth? Empire and basic Rebel lists can be more straightforward, while Republic and intricate Separatist builds demand more planning.
• Do you enjoy high-risk plays? Rebel heroes and certain Separatist pieces reward bold, high-impact decisions.

Quick Playstyle–Faction Guide

Budget, Availability, and Starter Products

Beyond playstyle, it is practical to look at how easy it will be to get your army on the table. Official starter products typically provide a cost-effective way to begin, bundling multiple units, dice, terrain, and rules into a single package.¹ From there, you can expand with individual unit boxes that match your preferred style.

Cost-Saving Tips When Starting Out

• Begin with a starter set: Starters usually contain enough to play learning games and give you a feel for the faction.
• Build up in 500–800 point steps: Rather than rushing to full-sized games, gradually add units as you learn.
• Double-duty purchases: Focus on versatile units that fit many lists rather than niche pieces.

Wargaming can be a significant hobby investment, but a gradual approach makes it manageable and allows you to discover what you like before committing too heavily.³

Theme, Lore, and Aesthetic: Playing the Faction You Love

Star Wars is as much about story as it is about strategy. Your connection to the era and characters matters. Research on hobby motivation suggests that immersion and identification with a game’s theme strongly enhance long-term engagement.⁴ If you feel attached to the Clone Wars or original trilogy, that emotional pull is a valid and important factor when choosing your army.

Questions to Ask Yourself

• Which movies, shows, or characters make you want to put models on the table?
• Do you prefer clean armor, worn-out gear, alien squads, or massed robots?
• Would you rather paint a few highly detailed heroes or lots of rank-and-file troopers?

There is no wrong answer. Pick the faction whose models you will be excited to unbox and paint—that excitement will carry you through assembly, painting, and learning the rules.

Practical Steps to Choose and Start Your Army

If you are still undecided, use this simple process to move from interest to your first painted force.

Step 1: Shortlist Two Factions

From the descriptions above, pick two factions that appeal to you either for playstyle or theme. Do not worry about making a final decision yet.

Step 2: Watch a Few Games

Look up gameplay videos or official tutorial materials that show how those factions operate. Seeing models move and dice roll gives a clearer sense of pacing and complexity than reading profiles alone.

Step 3: Check Local Players and Stores

If you have a local game store or club, find out which factions are popular. Choosing something different from the majority can ensure varied matchups, but picking the same faction as someone else can make borrowing and learning easier. Both approaches have advantages.

Step 4: Decide on a Starter Purchase Plan

Plan your first few buys, aiming for:

• A starter product for your chosen faction.
• One or two additional units that match the way you think you will enjoy playing (more corps for a swarm, elite support for a compact force, etc.).
• Basic hobby supplies: cutters, glue, primer, and a small paint palette.

Step 5: Play Small and Learn

Begin with smaller games using the units you have assembled, adding complexity as you go. Many tabletop communities recommend learning with streamlined forces first to avoid cognitive overload while you are still getting used to the rules.⁵ As you gain experience, you will quickly discover what you want to add next—additional infantry, armor, or more heroes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is any faction a bad choice for beginners?

All factions are playable for new players. Some, like the Galactic Empire and Rebel Alliance, may be a bit more intuitive because their units function in relatively straightforward ways. Galactic Republic and Separatist Alliance offer more synergies and order-management puzzles, which some beginners love and others find challenging. Ultimately, your enthusiasm for the theme is more important than raw complexity.

Will choosing the “wrong” faction make me lose more games?

Not in a lasting way. Official balance updates and tournament rules aim to keep factions competitive over time.² Early results are more likely to depend on your familiarity with the rules and basic tactics than on which symbol is printed on your cards.

What if I like more than one faction?

That is common in miniature wargames. Start with one faction you are most excited to paint and play. Once you have a solid collection and understand the game, you can add a second faction later, often by trading or splitting boxes with friends.

Do I have to paint my miniatures in canon colors?

No. While many players enjoy matching on-screen schemes, you are free to invent your own battalions, rebel cells, or droid detachments. Painting custom colors is a good way to make your army feel truly yours and stand out on the table.

How long will it take to get a playable army ready?

That depends on how much time you can commit. As a rough guideline, assembling and painting a small force for introductory games may take several evenings of focused hobby time. Building toward full-sized games will naturally take longer, but working in small goals—such as finishing one unit at a time—keeps the project manageable.