Squad building guide

Build the team composition around four jobs

One Operator can cover more than one job, but every job should have a named owner before deployment.

• Anchor: survives or controls pressure at the front.
• Support: restores health, prevents Injuries, or improves allies.
• Setup: scans, removes cover, marks targets, or creates Advantage.
• Closer: converts the opening into a kill or mission objective.

A named early squad to copy

When all four are available, Hawks, Trick, Jae, and Kabb cover support, front-line control, assisted finishes, and displacement. The listed specializations and weapons are editorial recommendations based on launch footage, not an official tier list.

• Hawks: Medic into Scout, Blaster Rifle, Fearless Leader and Combat Stim priority. Buff or heal before taking a routine shot.
• Trick: Heavy into Soldier, Pistol for flexible AP or Repeater when committing the turn. Upgrade For My Brothers and hold the lane that protects Jae and Hawks.
• Jae: Assault into Gunslinger, Pistol, Final Shot priority. Stay in line of sight while allies lower enemies into her assist threshold.
• Kabb: Soldier into Heavy, Pistol or Blaster Rifle, Uppercut priority. Enter after an ally weakens or exposes the target so the finish or knockback solves the position.

Give the first turn a fixed order

• Hawks applies the needed buff or keeps AP for healing; use Call for Backup when the selected assist has a clean shot.
• Trick occupies protected central ground and draws pressure away from the back line when his tools are available.
• Jae moves into assist range before the other damage dealers attack.
• Kabb attacks an already weakened or displaced target instead of opening on a full-health enemy.
• Any Operator with no efficient direct attack ends in cover or watches a route the enemy must cross.

Replace the job, not the whole plan

• No Trick: use another Heavy or durable front-line Operator.
• No Jae: use a Gunslinger, Assault, or Sharpshooter that can confirm kills.
• No Kabb: use a Soldier, explosive carrier, or displacement specialist to remove cover and finish targets.
• Hawks locked into another role: bring a Medic or support recruit so Injury prevention is still covered.

Use Custom Operators to fill gaps

Custom Operators can be recruited with the appearance, background, talent, weapon, and standard specialization needed for an open squad role. They expand the roster without replacing named companions.

Choose who to recruit instead of filling every slot

You do not need to recruit everyone as soon as a candidate appears. The starting roster holds up to seven Operators and can grow to 20, but a normal deployment still uses no more than four. Treat roster size as coverage for missing jobs and Injuries, not as a target to reach immediately.

Released-build footage shows a flexible respec system for standard specializations: you can change the specialization and reapply Focus Points at The Den, including after dual specialization unlocks. Unique specializations and fixed character Talents are exceptions, so check the Personnel screen before rebuilding a named Operator.

• Recruit when no healthy Operator can cover a required job or when a Custom Operator enables a build you will deploy.
• Delay recruitment when Credits are needed for urgent treatment, a planned Upgrade, or equipment for the current four.
• Before buying a candidate, name the deployed Operator they will replace and the mission problem they solve.