STAR WARS Zero Company
ADV Pool and Backup Combat Explained
The shared Advantage pool caps at 10 and refills from every hit. Call for Backup is a free action that never misses. Most players waste both. Here is the exact turn loop the community runs.
ADV max 10
Backup = free action
Assist never misses
The core mistake: Players treat ADV like a precious emergency meter and skip Call for Backup because the tutorial undersells it. That wastes free damage, Bond XP, and extra actions. ADV caps at 10, every hit after that is wasted. Backup is free, once per turn, and the assist shot never misses if the helper has line of sight.
Core Mechanics
What You Are Actually Managing
ADV (Advantage) Pool
One shared pool for the whole squad, max 10. Every successful damaging hit adds +1. Scout tools can dump extra points in. Specials and most ultimates spend ADV instead of AP, so they stack on top of a full 3-AP turn.
Call for Backup
A free action (no AP, no ADV). Each turn, one operator nominates a teammate. On that operator's next basic weapon attack, the helper fires an extra shot. The assist cannot miss if they have LoS. Also grants Bond XP (~10 per use, capped per pair per mission).
Hawks' AP gift: Hawks can spend ADV once per turn to refresh 1 AP on any squadmate (Pico-5 / AP gift). This is one of the best sinks when the pool is high. Give it to someone who can actually spend the extra AP.
Turn Loop
How to Run a Turn
1
Check ADV and Backup at the start of the squad turn. If ADV is 8-10, plan a spend this turn. Sitting at 10 while you keep shooting is the most common expensive mistake. If Backup is available, assign it immediately, empty Backup is almost never correct.
2
Assign Backup before the attack, not after. Pick who attacks and who assists first, then move people so both have LoS on the same target. Best assisters: Scoundrel with longarm and on-hit mods, whoever you still need Bond XP on, or anyone with stacking on-hit mods. Do not Backup into Overwatch, Overwatch eats remaining AP and does not get the extra guaranteed shot.
3
Generate ADV on purpose, then spend it. Scout Combat Recon plus a grenade on a cluster can flood the pool on turn 1. Grenades that hit multiple targets are ADV printers. Then spend on mid-cost specials, Hawks' 1-AP gift, or ultimates when a pack or elite actually needs them.
4
Order of actions: Move into LoS, set Backup, basic attack (assist fires, never misses), spend leftover AP, then spend ADV abilities after AP is gone. If someone needs one more AP to fire a 2-AP weapon or finish a kill, Hawks gifts that AP from ADV.
5
Use Backup even on the last enemy. Use it every turn for Bond XP even when the extra damage is overkill. Bonds cash out as Cross Train bonuses for both operators.
Quick Reference
Decision Table
| Situation | Spend ADV? | Use Backup? |
|---|---|---|
| Pool at 9-10, still have easy hits left | Yes fire a special or Hawks AP gift | Yes |
| Elite / high-cover target, low hit chance | Maybe hold for ult or Ambush | Yes assist cannot miss |
| Need one more AP on a specific shooter | Hawks gift from ADV | Pair the shooter with your best assist |
| Setting Overwatch as last action | Fine to spend ADV first | No Backup does not add an Overwatch shot |
| Only trash left, fight almost over | Dump cheap specials so you don't cap | Still use it for Bonds |
Who gets Backup matters: The assister's weapon, on-hit effects, and assist-damage talents all apply. A longarm Scoundrel assist is not the same as a pistol Medic assist. Pick the assister for LoS plus on-hit value.
Watch It In Action
Video Breakdown
Community-circulated combat breakdown. Backup chapter starts around 7:21, Advantage pool around 5:15.
Common Mistakes
What Not to Do
x
Holding ADV "for the boss." The pool refills from ordinary hits. Overflow at 10 is free damage you never get back.
x
Skipping Backup because "I don't need the damage." You still need the Bond XP and the guaranteed hit.
x
Setting Backup then Overwatching instead of taking the basic attack. Overwatch does not trigger the assist shot.
x
Giving Hawks' extra AP to someone who cannot spend it. Already at 3 AP, or holding a 2-AP weapon with only 1 point left.
x
Assisting with the wrong person. Ignore LoS and you get nothing. Ignore weapon and on-hit mods and you waste the guaranteed shot.
x
Letting Scout sit unused when a cluster is on the map. Combat Recon is how you refill after a big spend.