Legendary

Emperor's Demise

How to Unlock Emperor Palpatine

How to get Emperor Palpatine in SWGOH. Complete Emperor's Demise Legendary Event walkthrough — the 5 Rebels at 7★ (Phoenix Squad: Hera Syndulla, Kanan Jarrus, Ezra Bridger, Chopper, Garazeb Orrelios), tier-by-tier enemies, the Tier 7 Palpatine + Vader + Royal Guards finale, total rewards (330 shards + 350 crystals + 2.95M credits), and why killing Palpatine first matters more than burning Vader.

You earn

Emperor Palpatine

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Total rewards

shards330
crystals350
credits2,950,000

Requirements

1Player Level 60 minimum (one of the easiest entry events in SWGOH).
2Five Rebel characters at 7★. The community-meta team is Phoenix Squad — Hera Syndulla, Kanan Jarrus, Ezra Bridger, Chopper, Garazeb "Zeb" Orrelios — because Hera's leader bonus + Phoenix synergy give the team enough Tenacity and turn meter generation to survive Palpatine's Shock chains in Tier 7.
3Stars ramp per tier (1★ → 7★) so you can already start clearing tiers I-V while you finish farming.

Garazeb "Zeb" Orrelios7★

Tier breakdown

Tier 1

1★ required

Enemies

Stormtroopers and Imperial Officers at low gear. Intro tier — any Rebel squad clears.

First-time rewards

25 shards

50 crystals

50,000 credits

Bring whatever Rebels you have at 1★+.

Tier 2

2★ required

Enemies

Tougher Imperial waves with Stormtroopers and TIE pilots.

First-time rewards

25 shards

50 crystals

100,000 credits

Burst priority. No real mechanics.

III

Tier 3

3★ required

Enemies

Imperial squads adding Death Trooper and Royal Guard at mid gear.

First-time rewards

25 shards

50 crystals

200,000 credits

Add a healer if your squad is fragile — Hera lead Phoenix already handles it.

Tier 4

4★ required

Enemies

Royal Guards plus a Stormtrooper Captain mini-boss. Tenacity starts to matter.

First-time rewards

25 shards

50 crystals

350,000 credits

Tenacity mods help against the Stormtrooper Captain's ability block.

Tier 5

5★ required

Enemies

Pre-final encounter with Imperial Officer + Royal Guards. Phoenix synergy carries.

First-time rewards

45 shards

50 crystals

500,000 credits

Speed mods on Hera and Ezra so they out-pace the Imperials.

Tier 6

6★ required (Tier I only)

Enemies

Royal Guards + Death Trooper at near-elite levels. Save your cooldowns for Tier VII.

First-time rewards

85 shards

50 crystals

750,000 credits

Same plan. Don't waste Kanan's taunt early.

VII

Tier 7

7★ required

Enemies

Final wall: Emperor Palpatine (boss) + Darth Vader + three Royal Guards at Gear 11. Palpatine's Shock chains stun-lock your team if he gets free actions. Hera leader, Kanan zeta-taunt to soak Vader's burst, focus down Palpatine FIRST to stop the Shock spam.

First-time rewards

100 shards

50 crystals

1,000,000 credits

Tier VII the wall. Hera leader. Open Kanan taunt to soak Vader's Force Crush, Ezra burst-snipes Palpatine, Hera + Zeb assists chain damage. Once Palpatine drops, the Shock chain stops and the rest is cleanup. Kill order: Palpatine → Royal Guards → Vader.

Strategy tips

→Phoenix Squad is also a separate Legendary unlock (Grand Admiral Thrawn / Artist of War) — farming them double-dips.
→Tenacity mods on every Phoenix character — Palpatine's Shock will lock you down without it.
→Speed primary on Ezra and Hera so they act before Palpatine spreads his Shock.
→Kanan Jarrus zeta on his leader is a quality-of-life upgrade but not mandatory for the unlock.
→Kill Palpatine BEFORE Vader. If you focus Vader first, Palpatine wipes your team with chain Shock + stun.

Emperor's Demise

Requirements

Tier breakdown

Strategy tips

More GAC counters

Discussion

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