Star Wars Legion Command Cards vs Upgrade Cards Explained
By Super Anime Store | Published: 2026-10-31
Category: Comparisons
Command cards drive your order of battle; upgrade cards reshape individual units. Compare the Galactic Empire Command Card Pack and Upgrades Card Pack to pick the right one.
Quick answer
Buy the Galactic Empire Command Card Pack if your Empire army needs updated command and unit rules; buy the Upgrades Card Pack if you want more generic upgrade options to build out any faction. They solve different problems, so check your list before choosing one.
What command cards actually do in Star Wars Legion
Command cards are the orders you and your opponent reveal each round to set initiative and unlock a commander's special abilities. They are tied to your faction and your commander, so they shape how your whole army activates rather than how one unit fights.
That means a command card pack is only useful if you already play the faction it supports. The Galactic Empire Command Card Pack is built for Imperial commanders, and its 88 updated Unit, Upgrade and Command Card rules replace or supplement older card text.
Why upgrade cards are a different purchase
Upgrade cards attach to individual units: a squad, a vehicle, or a commander. They add gear, training, comms, or force powers that change what that unit can do, and they are not tied to one faction.
The Upgrades Card Pack contains 191 non-faction, non-unit-specific upgrade cards, which makes it a shared toolbox for any army you build. If you are still deciding what to play, this pack gives you options across factions instead of locking you into one.
The trade-off: depth versus breadth
The Command Card Pack is narrow but deep: it only helps Imperial players, but it updates the core rules that make an Empire force function. The Upgrades Card Pack is broad but generic: it works for everyone, yet it does not fix faction-specific command problems.
Neither pack is a starter set. Both assume you already own the miniatures and core rules you need to play, and neither supplies dice, rulers, or tokens. If you are brand new, sort out your core army first and come back to these packs once you know what your list is missing.
Command Card Pack vs Upgrades Card Pack trade-offs
- If you play Galactic Empire: Choose the Galactic Empire Command Card Pack. Its 88 updated rules target Imperial Unit, Upgrade and Command cards, so it directly supports Empire lists and commanders. Check whether your current Empire cards are already the updated versions before buying.
- If you play multiple factions or are undecided: Choose the Upgrades Card Pack. Its 191 generic upgrade cards work across factions, so your purchase stays useful even if you switch armies.
- If you want both eventually: Start with the pack that matches the army you are actually building now. Adding a faction-specific pack before you own that faction's miniatures gives you cards you cannot use yet. Buy for the list on your table today, not the one you might build later.
Product facts
- Star Wars Legion: Galactic Empire Command Card Pack: Contains 88 updated Galactic Empire Unit, Upgrade and Command Card rules for Star Wars: Legion. Imperial players get current card text in one place instead of tracking down individual errata.
Star Wars Legion: Galactic Empire Command Card Pack - Star Wars Legion: Upgrades Card Pack: Adds 191 non-faction, non-unit-specific upgrade cards covering Command, Training, Gear, Comms, Programming, Generator, Force and Grenade types. One purchase expands list-building options for every faction you own, not just one.
Star Wars Legion: Upgrades Card Pack
Which pack fits your army
Best for
- Imperial players who need updated command, unit, and upgrade rules for their existing army
- Players building a flexible upgrade pool for several factions at once
Not for
- New players who do not yet own a core army or the Legion core rules
- Anyone expecting miniatures, dice, or tokens in either pack
