Star Wars Zero Company Operators Guide: Authored vs Custom Characters
Quick answer
You do not have to choose between Authored and Custom Operators. A beginner can use both: keep the authored characters whose abilities or story you enjoy, then use Custom Operators to fill role gaps in the roster.
Do not replace a character simply because a pre-release guide calls another one “the best.” Exact stats, class balance, recruitment costs, and unlock order are Retail verification required.
Authored vs Custom Operators
Authored Operators
Authored Operators are named characters with their own identities and story presence. They are useful for players who want the campaign to feel like a defined Star Wars story rather than a completely self-created squad.
Their existence does not automatically make them stronger than Custom Operators. The best use of an Authored Operator depends on the mission, the role your roster lacks, and how the retail abilities are balanced.
Retail verification required: exact authored abilities, specialization paths, recruitment timing, and comparative performance.
Custom Operators
Custom Operators let you shape names, appearances, and personal squad identity around the story you want to tell. They are especially useful when you want to fill a missing battlefield job without waiting for a specific named character.
Customization alone does not prove a gameplay advantage. Treat a Custom Operator as a flexible roster tool, not an automatic upgrade.
Retail verification required: the full creation menu, available classes, starting equipment, and progression restrictions.
What the roster limits mean
EA states that players start with a maximum of seven Operators at HQ. The current operator limit is 20, and it can be increased through The Den upgrades, story progression, and new Authored Operators joining the squad.
The standard tactical squad can reach four Operators, while certain missions may let players control additional characters. This means roster planning and deployment planning are different decisions: you can maintain a broader reserve even when only four standard slots are available.
The exact cost of upgrades, timing of increases, and mission-specific extra slots are Retail verification required.
A beginner recruitment plan
First: avoid duplicate weaknesses
When a new Operator becomes available, ask what the current roster cannot do. If every existing character already depends on holding one position, a recruit who remains useful while moving may help more than another similar damage option.
This is a planning principle, not a confirmed ranking of any class.
Second: protect role coverage
Try to keep access to four broad jobs across the roster:
- dependable threat removal;
- survival or control;
- mobility and objective pressure;
- utility, support, or recovery.
Not every Operator must perform only one job. A flexible character can cover two jobs and make the roster easier to deploy across different mission objectives.
Third: keep a reserve
Do not assume the four Operators used in one mission should be the only characters you develop. A reserve gives you options if a mission requires a different approach, a story character is mandatory, or an Operator is unavailable after injuries or other retail systems.
The exact injury, reserve, and availability rules are Retail verification required.
Hawks is a mandatory story-planning concern
Hawks is required on story missions. EA also states that a mission automatically fails if Hawks dies in combat. This makes Hawks a roster and positioning priority even if another Operator seems more specialized for a particular enemy group.
The practical rule is simple: never plan a story squad as if Hawks were optional. Keep a safe route, avoid unnecessary exposure, and make sure the rest of the squad can support the objective while Hawks remains protected.
Hawks' exact combat role, best equipment, and injury thresholds are Retail verification required.
Special cases and unique Operators
EA states that Tel-Rea is the only Jedi Padawan class Operator. This is a confirmed roster distinction, but it does not by itself prove that she is the best Operator for every mission or difficulty.
Treat unique characters as planning constraints and opportunities. If a class has only one confirmed Operator, consider how to protect that character and how the rest of the roster covers situations where the unique tool is not ideal.
The exact availability, replacement rules, and retail performance of unique Operators are Retail verification required.
Authored and Custom Operators can work together
A mixed roster is the safest pre-release recommendation. Authored Operators can provide story identity, while Custom Operators can fill missing role coverage or create a squad that matches your preferred style.
For a first playthrough:
- keep characters you understand instead of chasing an untested tier list;
- use Custom Operators to cover a clear roster gap;
- maintain at least one mobile option for movement-heavy objectives;
- do not discard a useful character just because the guide cannot yet confirm a final meta.
What not to decide before retail testing
Avoid making permanent claims about:
- the strongest authored character;
- the best Custom Operator class;
- the correct recruitment order;
- the ideal roster size for each difficulty;
- whether a specific Operator is mandatory outside confirmed story rules;
- the most efficient The Den upgrades.
All of these are Retail verification required until repeatable retail testing is available.
Confirmed now vs. retail verification required
Confirmed now
- Authored and Custom Operators are available.
- Players start with a maximum of seven Operators at HQ.
- The current HQ operator limit is 20.
- The limit can increase through The Den upgrades, story progression, and new Authored Operators.
- Standard tactical squads can reach four Operators, with additional characters in certain missions.
- Hawks is required on story missions, and his death causes automatic mission failure.
- Tel-Rea is the only Jedi Padawan class Operator.
Retail verification required
- Complete recruitment order and costs.
- Exact class, skill, weapon, and specialization values.
- Injury, reserve, and unavailability rules.
- Mission-specific extra-character rules.
- The best authored/custom combinations.
- The Den upgrade costs, timing, and most efficient priorities.
FAQ
Are Authored Operators stronger than Custom Operators?
That has not been confirmed. Authored characters provide identity and story context, while Custom Operators provide flexibility. Compare their actual retail kits before ranking them.
Should I make a full team of Custom Operators?
You can if that is the story you want, but a mixed roster may give beginners easier access to both known characters and role coverage. The exact gameplay trade-off is Retail verification required.
How many Operators should I recruit?
Recruit enough to avoid duplicate weaknesses and maintain a reserve. The confirmed HQ limits are seven at the start and a current maximum of 20, but the ideal number at each stage is Retail verification required.
Is Tel-Rea mandatory because she is the only Jedi Padawan?
No universal mission requirement has been confirmed here. She is the only confirmed Jedi Padawan class Operator, but her best use and mandatory status outside any specific story rule are Retail verification required.
Bottom line
Use Authored and Custom Operators together if that gives you the clearest, most flexible roster. Recruit to cover missing jobs, keep a reserve, and plan around Hawks' story-mission requirement.
Before publishing a character tier list or recruitment order, wait for retail evidence on abilities, costs, injuries, and mission availability.