Which should I pick? Starter Sets for Star Wars Legion
The new starter sets are out, and I think it's a great time to compare them to one another. First off, I started with the original trilogy starter set for Star Wars: Legion. Since then, the game has continued to evolve. I think the new starter sets are the best so far, and they set a new gold standard for getting started with an army-sized wargame.
Let's see what's great about them in general before looking at each of them individually.
1. They focus on one faction alone. It’s been standard in wargaming for a long time that starter sets include a rulebook, two armies, plus dice, tokens, etc. which is.... fine. It still has that nostalgic feel of opening a box and discovering the contents. However, it’s always been a bit of a clunky experience. First off, it’s difficult to split it 50/50 with a friend. Usually, the tokens, dice, and rulebook come in uneven numbers, and you have to decide who gets what. The new Legion starters are better in this regard: I pick my favorite army, and my friend picks theirs. Done!
2. No outdated rulebook. The rulebook for Legion is a “living” document available as a download on AMG’s website. While it’s nice to have a physical copy, it’s much more convenient to always be up to date and not have to buy new books. It’s a money saver. Plus, you can still print it if you like.
3. They give you the army-sized feel without overwhelming you. This point might be a bit subjective, but I think the army size of 36–42 miniatures is ideal because it’s still manageable to build over a few sittings, and at the same time, it provides you with the feeling of playing an army game rather than a skirmish-level one.
4. Having (almost) everything in one place. The starter sets come with a 600-point recon force. Six hundred points make for a smaller game that plays faster and fits on a 3x3 map. It’s perfect for people with limited time or space for a standard game. Many games include a smaller introductory mode that you’re supposed to move on from once you’ve learned the rules. Having played Recon a few times, I can assure you that’s not the case here. Recon offers a tactically and strategically deep gaming experience that doesn’t get boring anytime soon.
The cool thing is that the starter sets give you a fixed list so you can jump into your first game right away without any list-building. However, there’s one thing I have to critique: you’re supposed to play with six pieces of terrain, but no terrain is included. While I think this decision was made purely to keep the buy-in cost as low as possible, I still miss the barricades from the old starter sets. Of course, you can always proxy terrain with soda bottles and cans just like the wargaming ancestors did!
Rebel Alliance Starter Set
The Rebel box has the most diverse cast among the starters, which makes sense since the Rebels are a patchwork army united by their cause despite all cultural and anatomical differences. You get Luke Skywalker, Rebel Troopers, Wookiee Warriors, and Rebel Commandos. What I really like about this box is the number of options to build aliens. You get Twi’leks, Mon Calamari, Duros, and Wookiees. The old starter set mainly featured humans, so this one offers more options and personality, in my opinion. I did notice that only the humans get helmets. Is there a lore reason for that? That being said, at the moment, this set can be considered the weakest balance-wise. It’s not game-breaking by any means, but the Wookiees could use a buff. Still, this shouldn’t deter you, as Atomic Mass Games regularly provides balance updates.
Choose this starter if you like...
- Horde armies with lots of activations
- Hit-and-run tactics
- Hard-hitting but fragile units (glass cannons)
- Defensive positioning and dodge generation
- Independently moving rebel cells
- Painting a colorful, patchwork army
What do the Rebels offer with future purchases?
- Plenty of cheap but impactful heroes
- Lots of tricky units like Tauntauns, the Speeder Truck, Mandalorians, and the Laser Cannon Team
- Strong melee options with Wookiees, the Sleeper Cell, and Mandalorians
- Access to many mercenaries, such as Ewoks, Din Djarin, Boba Fett, and the Bad Batch
- Plenty of classic Original Trilogy charm
Galactic Empire Starter Set
The Empire starter goes the other way. Fewer tricks, more armor. You get Darth Vader, a squad of Stormtroopers, and Scout Troopers. Naturally, they look like a real professional army compared to the Rebel militia. No patchwork, no nonsense. It’s a fantastic sight on the battlefield to see all these highly specialized troops in perfect uniformity.
Choose this starter if you like...
- Straightforward (beginner-friendly) gameplay
- Tough, hard-to-kill units (lots of red saves)
- Painting a lot of white (with room for creativity!)
What does the Empire offer with future purchases?
- Strong gun lines with consistent ranged damage
- Tanky, heavily armored units
- A roster full of ruthless bounty hunters
- Numerous infantry options
Galactic Republic Starter Set
The Republic starter gives you Obi‑Wan Kenobi as your Jedi commander, backed by ARC Troopers, ARF Scouts, plus Jedi Guardians and Clone Troopers. What I really like about this starter is that you can choose between Phase I and Phase II clone helmets. I chose Phase I because I love the design. The Jedi Guardian is also customizable; he can wield either a standard lightsaber or a twin blade. You can even give him a hood, just like a proper Jedi.
Choose this starter if you like...
- Synergy between units (token sharing)
- Few but elite units (hard‑hitting and tough)
- Staying close together
- Smaller but efficient dice pools
- Jedis (you get two!)
What does the Republic offer with future purchases?
- More Jedis! (The Republic is the Jedi faction)
- Lots of token generation (Aim, Surge...)
- Rewarding gameplay through tactical positioning
Separatist Alliance Starter Set
If you think the Rebels are a horde army, you haven’t seen the droids yet! The Separatist starter gives you General Grievous, a horde of B1 Battle Droids, the excellent B2 Super Battle Droids, and Droidekas. Building the droids can be a little finicky becausr some parts are really small. This can be a bit overwhelming for beginners, but once you’re done, you’ll be rewarded with an imposing sight: a flood of droids advancing across the battlefield.
Choose this starter if you like...
- A true horde army
- Throwing lots of dice
- Losing plenty of models to enemy fire (and still having more to spare)
- Being rewarded for staying close together (AI coordination)
What do the Separatists offer with future purchases?
- Excelling at objective-driven play
- Big and heavy droid options like Crab Droids and Spider Droids
- Lots of lightsabers (Dooku, Maul, Ventress)
- Plenty of clever tricks with command cards and tactical droids
The Downsides of the Sets
Honestly, there aren’t many. But if I’m being nitpicky, I’d point out three things:
- The miniatures are monopose, and there are duplicates (meaning two minis that look exactly the same).
- No terrain is included.
- The new upgrade cards no longer feature card art.
How Do the Old Starter Sets Hold Up to the New Ones?
I think the Clone Wars starter still holds up fairly well. Sure, the new miniatures look much crisper and more dynamic thanks to the new hard plastic, but the old ones are still legal to use and look good enough too. Plus, the old Obi-Wan miniature stands in his iconic two-finger dueling pose! However, the rulebook, cardboard components, and cards are outdated. The same applies to the even older Original Trilogy starter set, which was the very first Star Wars: Legion product. The miniatures look okay-ish, but they can’t really compare to the new starter sets. The good thing is that both of the older sets include barricades. I’d suggest picking up the old ones only if you can find them cheap; otherwise, the new sets are the way to go.
Final Verdict: The new starter sets are great and an excellent way to begin your journey into Star Wars: Legion. Even if you don’t expand your collection right away, the contents of the sets offer plenty of replayability. The new minis look crisp and dynamic, and you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck. I highly recommend these sets.
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