Star Wars Zero Company Bonds track the relationships between pairs of Operators, and increasing them provides permanent combat benefits and Focus Points used to improve characters. Bonds can increase when Operators complete Operations and Tactical Missions together or use Call for Backup, while decisions made during the campaign can also affect relationships.
Each pair has its own Bond rather than the squad sharing one overall relationship level. When a Bond increases in level, the two Operators can Cross Train and receive a permanent benefit.
| Bond mechanic | What it does |
|---|---|
| Bonds | Track the relationship between two Operators |
| Operations | Can increase Bonds |
| Tactical Missions | Can increase Bonds |
| Call for Backup | Can increase Bonds |
| Dilemmas | Choices can affect relationships |
| Bond level increase | Unlocks Cross Training |
| Cross Training | Gives both Operators a permanent benefit |
| Focus Points | Primarily earned by increasing Bonds |
| Maximum Bond | Unlocks a special Cross Training passive |
What Are Star Wars Zero Company Bonds?
Star Wars Zero Company Bonds measure how much two Operators like or dislike each other.
The system is managed through the Personnel Facility at The Den, where you can see relationships between members of Zero Company alongside their combat statistics and Focus Trees.
Relationships do not necessarily begin positively.
Operator pairs generally start with a neutral or negative relationship depending on the characters involved. That means some pairings begin their campaign already needing to improve their relationship.
As Operators spend time working together, their Bond can increase.
How to Increase Bonds in Star Wars Zero Company
Several activities are confirmed to improve Star Wars Zero Company Bonds.
Operators can build their relationship by:
- Completing Operations together
- Completing Tactical Missions together
- Using Call for Backup
- Fighting and assisting each other during missions
- Taking part in character-related quests
- Receiving support from Hawks during certain decisions
The important distinction is that Bonds exist between pairs.
Sending Trick and another Operator on repeated missions together develops the relationship between those two characters. It does not simply fill one universal Zero Company friendship meter.
Official material specifically confirms Operations, Tactical Missions and Call for Backup as ways to increase Bonds.
Do Dialogue Choices Affect Bonds?
Yes.
Some campaign decisions are presented as Dilemmas where different Operators have opinions about what Hawks should do.
Supporting an Operator’s position can improve their relationship, while decisions can also have negative effects on relationships.
PlayStation’s hands-on report confirms that Bonds can change depending on whether Hawks sides with an Operator during a Dilemma, as well as through assists, shared missions and character-driven quests.
This means Bonds are affected by both tactical gameplay and decisions made away from the battlefield.
What Is Cross Training?
Cross Training is one of the main rewards for increasing a Bond.
When the relationship between two Operators reaches a new Bond level, they can Cross Train together.
The selected Cross Training benefit applies permanently to both Operators in that pair.
Three standard Cross Training rewards have been documented:
| Cross Training | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Timing Exercises | +5% Critical Chance |
| Reflex Fire Training | +1 Overwatch Damage |
| Freeform Training | +2 Focus Points |
Players choose between the available Cross Training benefits rather than receiving a random one.
What Happens at Maximum Bond?
Reaching maximum Bond unlocks a special form of Cross Training.
Instead of receiving one of the normal stat improvements, the pair gains a Passive Ability.
StarWars.com confirms that developing Bonds unlocks support abilities and Cross Training benefits that improve Operator abilities and statistics.
The complete list of Passive Abilities available from maximum Bonds has not been officially documented, so there isn’t a factual list of every maximum-Bond reward yet.
What Are Focus Points?
Focus Points are another major reason to increase Star Wars Zero Company Bonds.
They are spent through an Operator’s Focus Tree at the Personnel Facility.
Focus Points can improve:
- Talents
- Abilities
- Passives
EA’s official Personnel information states that Focus Points are primarily earned by increasing Bonds.
That makes relationships part of character progression rather than a system that exists purely for dialogue and story scenes.
Where Do You Spend Focus Points?
Focus Points are spent through the Focus Tree at the Personnel Facility inside The Den.
Each Operator has progression available through this system.
Because increasing Bonds provides Focus Points, developing relationships between Operators directly contributes to improving their combat capabilities.
Freeform Training can provide an additional two Focus Points to both Operators when selected as a Cross Training reward.
Where Can You Check Bonds?
Bonds can be viewed and managed through the Personnel Facility at The Den.
The facility contains information about:
- Operator combat statistics
- Bonds
- Focus Trees
- Specializations
The Bond section shows how each Operator feels about other members of the team.
You therefore don’t need to judge a relationship solely from conversations between characters.
Can Bonds Start Negative?
Yes.
Pairs generally begin with an initial relationship that can be neutral or negative.
This reflects the fact that Zero Company is made up of characters with very different histories and allegiances rather than a group that automatically trusts one another.
For example, several Operators have backgrounds on opposing sides of conflicts that took place during the Clone Wars.
Working together gives those relationships the opportunity to develop during the campaign.
Can Bonds Decrease?
Yes.
Relationships can move in both directions.
Campaign decisions can negatively affect how Operators feel about Hawks and other members of the company, rather than every interaction automatically pushing the Bond upward.
This makes Dilemmas relevant to the relationship system as well as the immediate story choice.
What Is Call for Backup?
Call for Backup is a combat interaction that can contribute to Bond progression between Operators.
Using it allows characters to support one another during tactical encounters, with that cooperation contributing toward their relationship.
It is specifically listed alongside Operations and Tactical Missions as one of the confirmed ways to increase Bonds.
Are Bonds Between Two Operators or the Whole Squad?
Bonds are between individual pairs of Operators.
There is no single Bond level representing the entire company.
That means one Operator can have a strong relationship with one squadmate while having a poor relationship with somebody else.
It also means Cross Training rewards belong to the particular pair that earned them.
Do Custom Operators Have Bonds?
Custom Operators participate in the relationship system alongside authored Operators.
The game’s achievement list includes relationship requirements involving Custom Operators, confirming that player-created recruits can develop Bonds rather than the mechanic being restricted to story characters.
Astromech Operators can also form Bonds with one another.
Star Wars Zero Company Bonds FAQ
How do you increase Bonds in Star Wars Zero Company?
Completing Operations and Tactical Missions together and using Call for Backup can increase the Bond between two Operators. Assists, character quests and campaign decisions can also affect relationships.
What do Bonds give you?
Increasing Bonds provides Focus Points and unlocks Cross Training benefits for the Operators involved.
What is Cross Training?
Cross Training provides permanent benefits to two Operators after their Bond reaches a new level.
What are the Cross Training bonuses?
Confirmed standard options include +5% Critical Chance from Timing Exercises, +1 Overwatch Damage from Reflex Fire Training and +2 Focus Points from Freeform Training.
What happens when you reach maximum Bond?
Maximum Bond unlocks a special Cross Training that grants a Passive Ability.
Where can you see Bonds?
Relationships can be viewed through the Personnel Facility at The Den.
Can Custom Operators form Bonds?
Yes. Custom Operators participate in the Bond system.
How Star Wars Zero Company Bonds Affect Your Operators
Star Wars Zero Company Bonds connect the game’s relationship and character-progression systems. Operators who work together can improve their relationship, earn Focus Points and unlock permanent Cross Training benefits that apply to both characters.
Because Bonds exist between individual pairs rather than across the entire squad, each Operator can develop different relationships throughout the campaign. Those relationships can also change through Operations, Tactical Missions, combat support and the decisions Hawks makes during the story.
