Star Wars: Imperial Assault is a strategy board game within the canon storyline, brought to you by Fantasy Flight Games. It was first available on December 15, 2014. The campaign mode supports a group of two to five players, with one player taking command of the Imperial forces, while the remaining players, up to four, each control a distinct Rebel hero. As they play, both sides will see their characters and abilities evolve over multiple missions and play sessions. A skirmish mode is also available for two players, typically pitting an Imperial player against a Rebel player, although team-based matches are also an option. Skirmish teams are built prior to the game, much like in the Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game, and each session is a standalone experience.
In addition to the base game, the main box contains two expansion packs: the Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader Ally and Villain Packs. These expansions introduce additional skirmish and campaign missions, along with new 28mm miniatures and cards. Additional ally expansions can be purchased separately. Game reviewers online, such as Tom Vasel from the Dice Tower series, have noted the game's mechanics are "very similar to Descent" and have praised the game's Star Wars theme.
The campaign game offers an asymmetrical experience designed for a group of 2 to 5 players. One player assumes the role of the Empire, deploying troops and expendable units to confront the Rebels. The other players each control a unique Rebel character. Throughout the campaign's missions, both sides gain opportunities to enhance their abilities and resources. This style of gameplay is similar to many roleplaying games, where one player acts as the Game Master (in this case, the Empire). However, Imperial Assault leans more towards a tactical skirmish game with progression, rather than a story-driven experience.
Rebel players take turns activating their characters. During an activation, a Rebel can perform two actions, such as moving, attacking, resting, or interacting with the environment. At the start of each mission, Rebels are given a specific objective, like destroying terminals, escaping with information, or defending a location for a set amount of time. The information available to the Rebels is limited, which helps to create a sense of narrative and gives the Empire a strategic advantage.
The Empire's gameplay is similar to the Rebels' in that the player deploys units and each unit gets two actions. However, the Imperial player has access to more behind-the-scenes information. When Rebels trigger specific events, such as opening doors or interacting with terminals, the Imperial player can reinforce their forces or impose negative effects on the Rebels. At the end of each round, the Imperial player can summon new troops by spending "threat," a resource that accumulates over time. The Empire's goal is often to defeat the Rebel heroes or to delay them for a specific number of rounds.
The sense of progression between missions is driven by three resources. Both the Empire and Rebel players earn XP for completing missions. Additionally, Rebel players receive Credits, while the Imperial player receives Influence. These resources are awarded after each mission, with the side that achieved its objective receiving greater rewards. Players may also receive Reward cards for completing specific missions.
Each Rebel hero has a class deck containing skill cards that cost between 1 and 4 XP. After each mission, the Rebel player can spend XP to permanently acquire these skill cards.
The Imperial player selects a set of Class cards before each mission. After the mission, the Imperial player can use XP to buy cards from this set, similarly to how the Rebels acquire cards for their heroes.
Each Rebel hero earns 100 credits for the team after completing a mission, and potentially more depending on their actions. These credits are added to a shared pool. The Rebels then draw items from the Tier level matching the mission (1 to 3) and collectively decide what to purchase, usually new weapons and equipment.
After a mission, the Imperial player draws four cards from an Agenda deck that was created before the Campaign began. The Imperial player can then choose to purchase any of these cards. Many of these cards are secret and provide one-time abilities. This adds to the feeling of immense power and secrecy that is unique to the Imperial side.
Fantasy Flight has designed expansions with content which can be used in both the campaign and skirmish game modes of the base set. Ally and Villain Packs are each designed with either the rebel players or Imperial player in mind. Each Ally and Villain Pack includes plastic figures to replace the printed tokens which were included in the Core Set, new missions, and new cards. Larger expansions are also planned and will include several new figures, new map tiles, new missions, and more.
Wave 1
- General Weiss Villain Pack (SWI03)
- Royal Guard Champion Villain Pack (SWI04)
- IG-88 Villain Pack (SWI05)
- Han Solo Ally Pack (SWI06)
- Chewbacca Ally Pack (SWI07)
- Rebel Troopers Ally Pack (SWI08)
- Rebel Saboteurs Ally Pack (SWI09)
Wave 2
- Boba Fett Villain Pack (SWI11)
- R2-D2 and C-3PO Ally Pack (SWI12)
- Kayn Somos Villain Pack (SWI13)
Wave 3
- Stormtroopers Villain Pack (SWI14)
- Wookiee Warriors Ally Pack (SWI15)
- Hired Guns Villain Pack (SWI16)
Wave 4
- Alliance Smuggler Ally Pack (SWI17)
- Bantha Rider Villain Pack (SWI18)
Wave 5
- General Sorin Villain Pack (SWI20)
- Dengar Villain Pack (SWI21)
- Leia Organa Ally Pack (SWI22)
- Echo Base Troopers Ally Pack (SWI23)
Wave 6
- Bossk Villain Pack (SWI25)
- Agent Blaise Villain Pack (SWI26)
- Lando Calrissian Ally Pack (SWI27)
- ISB Infiltrators Villain Pack (SWI28)
Wave 7
- Obi-Wan Kenobi Ally Pack (SWI29)
- The Grand Inquisitor Villain Pack (SWI30)
- Greedo Villain Pack (SWI31)
Wave 8
- Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight Ally Pack (SWI33)
- Alliance Rangers Ally Pack (SWI34)
- Captain Terro Villain Pack (SWI35)
- Jabba the Hutt Villain Pack (SWI36)
Wave 9
- BT-1 and 0-0-0 Villain Pack (SWI41)
- Jawa Scavenger Villain Pack (SWI42)
- Hera Syndulla and C1-10P Ally Pack (SWI43)
Wave 10
- Maul Villain Pack (SWI47)
- Emperor Palpatine Villain Pack (SWI48)
- Ahsoka Tano Ally Pack (SWI49)
Wave 11
- Ezra Bridger and Kanan Jarrus Ally Pack (SWI55)
- Sabine Wren and Zeb Orrelios Ally Pack (SWI56)
- Thrawn Villain Pack (SWI57)
- Hondo Ohnaka Villain Pack (SWI58)
- Training Ground Skirmish Map (SWI38)
- Nelvaanian War Zone Skirmish Map (SWI39)
- Coruscant Landfill Skirmish Map (SWI40)
- ISB Headquarters Skirmish Map (SWI44)
- Anchorhead Cantina Skirmish Map (SWI45)
- Jabba's Palace Skirmish Map (SWI50)
- Nal Hutta Swamps Skirmish Map (SWI51)
- Mos Eisley Back Alley Skirmish Map (SWI52)
- Uscru Entertainment District Skirmish Map (SWI53)
- Tarkin Initiative Labs Skirmish Map (SWI59)
- Lothal Wastes Skirmish Map (SWI60)
- Coruscant Back Alleys Skirmish Map (SWI61)
- Endor Defense Station Skirmish Map (SWI62)
- Malastarian Outpost Raid Map (SWI63)
- The Gray Cap Cantina Raid Map (SWI64)
- " Blaster " — Star Wars Insider 153
- " Blaster " — Star Wars Insider 158
- Star Wars Fantasy Flight Games Preview: January 2016 on StarWars.com (backup link)
- " 10 Star Wars Greatest Tabletop Games " — Star Wars Insider 165
- " Prize Giveaway! " — Star Wars Insider 223
-
Imperial Assault on Fantasy Flight Games' official website (backup link)
-
Begin Your Assault on Fantasy Flight Games' official website (backup link)
-
Imperial Assault on Fantasy Flight Games' official website (backup link)
-
Star Wars: Imperial Assault Core Set on Fantasy Flight Games' official website (backup link)
-
Order Your Summer 2015 Tournament Expansion Kits on Fantasy Flight Games' official website (backup link)
-
The Swamps of Nal Hutta on Fantasy Flight Games' official website (backup link)
-
Related categories: