Star Wars: Empire at War Galactic Conquest and campaign beginner guide
Connect planetary income, production and battles into a sustainable offensive.
Edition covered
Original Empire at War campaigns and mechanics. Steam Gold Pack also includes Forces of Corruption; its Zann Consortium and expansion units are outside these base-game guides.
Secure the route before expanding
A captured planet is useful only if you can defend its orbit and ground. Advance along a manageable front so the fleet does not leave several exposed production worlds behind it.
| Layer | Control | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Galactic map | Planets, fleets and production | Choose where to fight and what to build |
| Space battle | Orbital forces | Remove enemy fleets and stations |
| Ground battle | Land troops and landing zones | Capture the planet surface |
| Planet construction | Buildings and upgrades | Support income and recruitment |
Build the right army for the layer
Space units win orbital battles while transports bring land troops for invasion. A strong fleet cannot substitute for infantry, armor and heroes once combat moves to the surface.
| Check | Question | Useful preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Orbit | Can the fleet defeat the defenders? | Bring balanced ship roles |
| Ground army | Can it answer infantry and armor? | Load a mixed invasion force |
| Production | Can losses be replaced? | Protect nearby recruiting planets |
| Front line | Will another planet be exposed? | Leave appropriate defenses |
Use planet information
Check income, building slots, bonuses and available construction before choosing a production hub. Specialized worlds can be worth defending even when another planet is closer to the next mission marker.
Read campaign restrictions
Story campaigns unlock units and missions in a controlled order. Galactic Conquest setups use their own starting planets and technology, so a campaign opening is not a universal build order.
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| Publisher game and edition listing | store.steampowered.com |
| LucasArts original manual transcription | pdfcoffee.com |