DICE's Battlefront II covers the prequel, original and sequel eras in one shooter, with 40 player Galactic Assault as the headline mode across 13 maps. The loot crate progression that dominated its 2017 launch was stripped out and replaced by class based Skill Points, and free content ran until the Scarif update in April 2020. It still fills lobbies on Steam, and Instant Action lets you play the whole thing offline against bots.
Starting STAR WARS Battlefront II can feel overwhelming. This guide tells you exactly what to focus on during your first hours so you don't waste time on things that don't matter yet. For the full progression path, see our walkthrough.
What Kind of Game Is This?
STAR WARS Battlefront II is a fps game built around Battle Points economy and Star Card loadouts. The core loop involves mastering these systems to progress through increasingly challenging content.
What to expect: Time investment in learning mechanics, experimentation, and gradual mastery. The game rewards patience and knowledge.
Choosing Your First Role
| Role | Beginner Rating | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Assault | Excellent for beginners | Balanced approach |
| Heavy | Excellent for beginners | Balanced approach |
| Officer | Excellent for beginners | Balanced approach |
| Specialist | Excellent for beginners | Balanced approach |
| Enforcer | Excellent for beginners | Balanced approach |
Our recommendation: Start with Heavy. It offers the most forgiving experience while teaching core mechanics.
Avoid Enforcer as your first pick. It requires deep knowledge of game systems to use effectively. Once you're ready, check our classes guide for all options.
First Session Step-by-Step
Step 1: Learn Battle Points economy
Kills, objective work and supporting teammates all pay Battle Points during a match. Reinforcements are the cheap tier, vehicles cost more, and every hero or villain costs 4,000 points in Galactic Assault regardless of era.
This is the foundation. Spend your first 15-30 minutes getting comfortable with how Battle Points economy works before worrying about anything else. Our combat guide breaks this down further.
Step 2: Head to Kamino
Tipoca City's white corridors, fought by the Republic and Separatists across narrow walkways and cloning chambers. Sightlines are short and the platform edges kill anyone who gets knocked back.
Clear the main content here before moving on. Everything teaches fundamentals you'll need later. See our maps guide for all locations.
Step 3: Get Your First Upgrade
Look for EL-16HFE: it's the most accessible early upgrade. The Assault rifle unlocked at 400 class kills, trading rate of fire for high damage per shot and clean accuracy at medium range. It punishes players who peek from cover repeatedly.
Step 4: Understand Star Card loadouts
Each trooper class carries three Star Card slots, upgraded with Crafting Parts through Common, Uncommon, Rare and Epic. Upgrade rarity is gated behind class level, so cards follow playtime with that class rather than money.
This is the system most new players overlook. Invest time here early. It pays off throughout the entire game.
Step 5: Push to Naboo
The assault on Theed, with droids pushing from the plaza through the palace hallways. It is the most consistently popular Galactic Assault map and the shortest ranged of the big ones.
Essential Mechanics Explained
Battle Points economy
Kills, objective work and supporting teammates all pay Battle Points during a match. Reinforcements are the cheap tier, vehicles cost more, and every hero or villain costs 4,000 points in Galactic Assault regardless of era.
Star Card loadouts
Each trooper class carries three Star Card slots, upgraded with Crafting Parts through Common, Uncommon, Rare and Epic. Upgrade rarity is gated behind class level, so cards follow playtime with that class rather than money.
Class weapon unlocks
Weapons unlock on kill counts with the class that owns them: 50 kills for the first, 200 for the second and 400 for the third. Attachments then unlock through further kills with that specific gun.
Reinforcement units
Enforcers, Aerials and Infiltrators sit between troopers and heroes and are bought mid match with Battle Points. Wookiee Warrior, Clone Commando, Death Trooper and Droideka are the ones that decide crowded chokepoints.
Galactic Assault phases
Galactic Assault is asymmetric attack and defend split into scripted phases, such as the AT-AT advance on Hoth or the droid push through Theed. Attackers who win a phase move up to a new objective set, and the match ends when the clock or the reinforcement pool runs out.
Common Beginner Mistakes
1. Hoarding Battle Points for a hero and dying with them unspent
This is a common trap that costs new players significant time.
2. Switching classes constantly so no weapon ever unlocks
This is a common trap that costs new players significant time.
3. Chasing kills away from the objective as Officer
This is a common trap that costs new players significant time.
4. Sniping with the NT-242 on close quarters maps like Theed
This is a common trap that costs new players significant time.
5. Placing the Heavy shield in the open instead of a doorway
This is a common trap that costs new players significant time.
First 5 Hours Checklist
- Understand Battle Points economy and Star Card loadouts
- Choose Heavy as starting role
- Clear Kamino main content
- Acquire EL-16HFE or equivalent upgrade
- Reach Naboo
- Battle Points come from objective work far faster than from kills. Arming a bomb, holding a capture point or reviving a downed teammate pays more than a streak of kills in an open field, which is why Officers reach 4,000 points before anyone else.
- Spend Battle Points early and often instead of saving for a hero. A Wookiee Warrior or Clone Commando bought three times in a match contributes more than one hero appearance in the final two minutes, and dying with a full bank wastes nothing but time.
Tips for New Players
- Battle Points come from objective work far faster than from kills. Arming a bomb, holding a capture point or reviving a downed teammate pays more than a streak of kills in an open field, which is why Officers reach 4,000 points before anyone else.
- Spend Battle Points early and often instead of saving for a hero. A Wookiee Warrior or Clone Commando bought three times in a match contributes more than one hero appearance in the final two minutes, and dying with a full bank wastes nothing but time.
- The Officer's Battle Command buffs everyone in a radius around you, so standing inside the objective circle with teammates is worth more than any weapon choice. It is also the single fastest Battle Point generator in the game.
- Weapon unlocks are tied to class kill counts, not overall level, so switching classes constantly means never unlocking anything. Commit to one class for a few hours to clear the 50, 200 and 400 kill thresholds.
- Heavy's Combat Shield is directional and blocks blaster fire from the front while your team shoots over the top. Placing it in a doorway rather than in open ground turns a losing defence into a stalemate.
- Learn the phase order of each Galactic Assault map so you can pre position for the next objective instead of walking back after it changes. On Theed, defenders who fall back to the throne room early stop the push before it starts.
- The Specialist's Infiltration ability speeds you up and highlights enemies, which makes it a repositioning tool rather than a fight winner. Use it to reach a new angle before the enemy team adjusts to the last one.
- Vehicles bought with Battle Points are usually a worse deal than reinforcements on infantry maps, because a single Heavy with an ion torpedo can delete an AT-ST. Save vehicle purchases for maps with real open ground.
- Instant Action runs full Supremacy style matches offline against bots with adjustable difficulty, which is the quickest way to grind class kills for weapon unlocks without ruining online matches while you learn.
- In Heroes vs Villains the target system means one specific player is worth extra points to kill. Protecting your team's target while hunting theirs matters more than raw duelling skill, and most losses come from ignoring the marker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Star Wars Battlefront II still worth playing in 2026?
Yes for the content, with reservations about population. The 2020 Scarif update closed out free support with 13 Galactic Assault maps and a full hero roster, and Instant Action plus Co-Op means the game works even when a specific online mode is quiet.
Are there still loot boxes?
No. The crate system was reworked in March 2018 into a class based progression where Skill Points unlock Star Cards and Crafting Parts upgrade them. Purchases are cosmetic only.
Which class should a new player start with?
Officer. It generates Battle Points faster than anything else through Battle Command and turret placement, so you can afford reinforcements and heroes while you are still learning the maps and the gunplay.
How do you unlock all the weapons?
Kill counts with the owning class: 50, 200 and 400 kills unlock the three unlockable weapons per trooper class. Attachments then need further kills with that specific weapon, so grinding one gun at a time is the efficient route.
What is the difference between Galactic Assault and Supremacy?
Galactic Assault is a 40 player linear attack and defend with scripted phases. Supremacy and Capital Supremacy are back and forth control point modes that add AI troopers and, in Capital Supremacy, a boarding phase on a capital ship.
More STAR WARS Battlefront II Guides
- STAR WARS Battlefront II STAR WARS Battlefront II Overview
- STAR WARS Battlefront II Best Builds
- STAR WARS Battlefront II Tier List
- STAR WARS Battlefront II Walkthrough
- STAR WARS Battlefront II Tips & Tricks
- STAR WARS Battlefront II Weapons Guide
- STAR WARS Battlefront II Combat Guide
- STAR WARS Battlefront II Boss Guide
- STAR WARS Battlefront II Maps & Locations
- STAR WARS Battlefront II Crafting Guide
- STAR WARS Battlefront II Classes & Characters
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