star wars zero company scoundrel specialization guide

What is the Scoundrel specialization

Scoundrel is a utility and damage Specialization that prepares one enemy for the rest of the squad. Its tools work through Defense penetration, Vulnerable targets, and Assist damage rather than a long sequence of independent attacks. Choose it when the team can focus fire and wants to make one important target easier to finish.

Scoundrel is one of eight standard Specializations. The class uses the normal structure of one Ultimate, one Standard ability, and two Passives. Its broad setup loop is clear, while exact Defense values, rank behavior, and some Critical interactions remain To be confirmed.

Scoundrel ability kit

Defense Penetration is the core Passive. Scoundrel attacks can partially ignore a target’s Defense, which can help a lower base damage weapon reach a durable enemy. The amount ignored and its rank progression have not been fixed in the game.

Identify Weakness is the Standard ability. It marks one enemy as Vulnerable so a following attack can become a Critical hit, with the final rank behavior still under review. Use it before the Operator whose attack gains the most from a guaranteed critical window rather than spending it on a target the squad cannot reach.

Easy Mark is the Scoundrel Ultimate in the class overview. It marks an enemy so the next ally to attack can trigger a Scoundrel Assist, creating a direct handoff from setup to damage. The Ultimate uses shared Advantage instead of Action Points, and one snapshot lists 7 Advantage at rank I and 5 at rank III, with those values still To be confirmed.

How to play Scoundrel

Choose the priority target before using a setup action. Vulnerable and Assist effects have more value when the next Operator can attack immediately, while a mark that sits through several turns may lose its practical advantage. Check line of sight, cover, range, and the target’s remaining health first.

Scoundrel can act early in a turn to prepare the attack that follows. A Sharpshooter can then use a precise long-range shot, a Gunslinger can spend several pistol attacks, and a Soldier can convert the opening into direct damage or a grenade. The right follow-up depends on the target and the number of Action Points still available.

Defense Penetration helps Scoundrel contribute even when the setup target is not ready to die. It does not remove the need for cover or a safe position, because an Operator who exposes themselves to make a low value attack can still lose the exchange. Keep the Scoundrel close enough to help and far enough away to survive the response.

Scoundrel pairings

Scoundrel and Sharpshooter have a named synergy in the class overview. Identify Weakness applies Vulnerable, allowing the Sharpshooter’s next attack to critically hit. This is the clearest pairing for a player who wants one prepared target to disappear from a protected firing position.

Hawks is associated with a Sharpshooter and Scoundrel build in the authored recommendations. Zero In can build a precision setup, while Identify Weakness prepares a critical attack, and Hawks’ Pico-5 can provide a clutch support action. The exact Talent ranks and ability order remain To be confirmed.

Luco Bronc is also recommended with Sharpshooter and Scoundrel. Zero In and Identify Weakness create the critical setup, while Combat Gas strengthens later attacks. The combination is less useful when the map restricts long range options or makes the firing position impossible to protect.

Scoundrel can also support Assault and Gunslinger. Assault can follow a Vulnerable mark after moving into range, and Gunslinger can use the opening to start a kill chain. Neither pairing is mandatory, since the squad may need Medic recovery, Scout information, or Heavy protection more urgently.

A target setup sequence

Start by deciding whether the squad needs a Critical window or an Assist chain. Identify Weakness prepares Vulnerable for the following attack, while Easy Mark sets up a Scoundrel Assist after the next ally attacks. Use the action that matches the Operator who is already in position to follow up.

A Sharpshooter can stay behind cover and use the Vulnerable window for a precise shot. A Gunslinger can take the mark into a sequence of Pistol attacks, and an Assault can use the opening after moving into close range. The setup has little value when the next ally cannot see the target or must spend the turn crossing the map.

Defense Penetration helps the Scoundrel contribute when the target survives the first attack. It does not remove the need to manage enemy attention, because the Scoundrel still has to spend an Action Point and remain in a safe lane. Let Heavy or Trick control the response when the setup requires the Scoundrel to expose itself.

Weapon and Talent choices

Weapon Class is separate from Specialization in the class overview. The four named weapon types are Longarm, Repeater, Rifle, and Pistol, and the source describes them as independent from class selection. Scoundrel therefore does not force one weapon, although the final weapon interaction table is To be confirmed.

Talents form another build layer. Authored Operators keep their fixed identity Talent when they change standard Specializations, while custom Operators select from Universal Talents. A custom Scoundrel can choose a combat Talent or an economic Talent such as Espionage or Thievery, accepting the lost combat option in exchange for campaign resources.

A second Specialization unlocks later in the campaign through the Focus Tree. It lets one Operator carry abilities from two standard classes, and the same class cannot fill both slots. Scoundrel works well as either the main setup role or the secondary package on a precision or mobile damage Operator.

Scoundrel compared with other classes

Scoundrel prepares one target, while Scout prepares the squad by revealing enemies and generating Advantage. Medic protects a team after damage, and Heavy protects it by drawing attacks. A squad that already has strong information and recovery may gain more from Scoundrel’s focus fire than from another generalist.

Soldier supplies direct blaster, grenade, melee, and rocket pressure without the same target preparation loop. Gunslinger can produce more individual shots, while Sharpshooter can convert a clean line of sight into stable long range damage. Scoundrel sits between those roles by making another Operator’s attack better.

What remains To be confirmed

The exact Defense Penetration amount, every Vulnerable rank effect, and all Assist damage rules are To be confirmed. The visible Easy Mark prices are also To be confirmed. Do not publish a final percentage or rank ceiling until the current game confirms it.

Scoundrel’s practical answer is clear. Pick the target, apply the mark, and make sure the next ally can use the opening from a safe position. Exact rank values, weapon modifiers, and the complete late game Focus Tree are To be confirmed.