Star Wars Zero Company recruit Operators through the Recruitment Facility at The Den, using Credits to hire Custom Operators who appear in a rotating recruitment pool. Authored Operators join naturally through the story, while Custom Operators are recruited directly by the player and can be altered after joining the company.
The recruitment pool changes every Cycle, but it can also be manually refreshed if the available choices do not suit your squad. Custom Operators arrive with their own name, Talent, Primary Specialization, weapon type and backstory, all of which can be adjusted after recruitment.
| Recruitment feature | How it works |
|---|---|
| Recruitment location | Recruitment Facility at The Den |
| Currency | 100 Credits per Operator (Patch 1.2) |
| Recruit type | Custom Operators |
| Pool refresh | Every Cycle |
| Manual refresh | Yes |
| Roster Capacity | Limited initially |
| Custom Operator pool | Can be created from the main menu |
| Authored Operators | Join through story progression |
How to Recruit Operators in Star Wars Zero Company
To Star Wars Zero Company recruit Operators, visit the Recruitment Facility at The Den.
New Custom Operators can be hired there using Credits.
Each Cycle generates a selection of available recruits. Every recruit arrives with several characteristics already assigned:
- Name
- Talent
- Primary Specialization
- Weapon type
- Backstory
Once hired, those Custom Operators can be further customized through The Den.
This makes recruitment a mixture of choosing useful starting traits and then shaping the Operator into the character you want.
What Are Custom Operators?
Custom Operators are recruited squad members rather than authored story characters.
Star Wars Zero Company divides its roster into two broad categories:
| Operator type | How they join |
|---|---|
| Authored Operators | Join naturally during the story |
| Custom Operators | Hired through Recruitment |
Authored Operators such as Trick, Tel-Rea Vokoss and Cly Kullervo have established stories and personalities.
Custom Operators are much more flexible and can have their appearance, clothing, voice, name and other details changed after recruitment.
Does the Recruitment Pool Change?
Yes.
The Star Wars Zero Company recruit Operators pool refreshes every Cycle.
A Cycle advances when you complete a Tactical Mission, meaning the available recruits can change as the campaign progresses.
That matters because an Operator currently available may not remain in the pool forever.
However, you do not necessarily have to wait for another Cycle if you dislike the current options.
Can You Refresh the Recruitment Pool?
Yes.
EA confirms that players can refresh the available recruitment choices at will.
That means you are not permanently stuck with one disappointing group of recruits until the next Cycle.
If none of the current Operators fit your squad, refresh the pool and look again.
This makes recruitment much less dependent on accepting the first characters the game presents.
How Much Does Star Wars Zero Company Recruit Operators Cost After Patch 1.2?
Custom Operators are purchased using Credits. From Patch 1.2 onwards, every new recruitment costs 100 Credits, regardless of how far you’ve advanced in the campaign.
Credits are one of the main campaign resources in Star Wars Zero Company and can be earned from Operations, Tactical Missions and other rewards.
Patch 1.2 sets recruitment at a flat 100 Credits per Operator. The cost no longer increases with campaign progression, so each new Custom Operator costs the same amount after installing the October 15 update.
The price applies at the Recruitment Facility in The Den and doesn’t replace Roster Capacity. You still need space for the Operator, even when you can afford the 100-Credit fee.
What Is Roster Capacity?
You cannot recruit unlimited Operators from the start.
The Den begins with limited space for new members, represented by Roster Capacity.
Once you reach that limit, you need to increase the company’s capacity before adding more recruits.
EA confirms that opportunities to expand Roster Capacity become available during the campaign.
| Roster system | Details |
|---|---|
| Starting capacity | Limited |
| Can be increased | Yes |
| Relevant facility | Recruitment |
| Purpose | Limits total company size |
This means recruitment is not simply a question of having enough Credits.
You also need room in Zero Company.
What Is the Maximum Roster Size?
EA has confirmed that Zero Company’s roster can expand to 20 Operators.
The company starts much smaller and grows through upgrades, story progression and authored characters joining the team.
That gives players considerably more choice than the four Operators normally deployed during a Tactical Mission.
You therefore build a larger company and rotate squad members depending on injuries, abilities and mission requirements.
Can You Create Your Own Recruitment Pool?
Yes.
One of the more flexible parts of the Star Wars Zero Company recruit Operators system is the ability to create Custom Operators from the main menu.
Those characters can then appear in the recruitment pool during a campaign.
This allows you to create characters in advance rather than relying entirely on procedurally presented recruits.
It also means a Custom Operator can be designed outside a specific save and then recruited later through the normal Recruitment Facility.
What Can You Customize on a Recruited Operator?
Custom Operators can be altered extensively after recruitment.
Confirmed customization includes:
- Name
- Appearance
- Clothing
- Voice
- Species
- Specialization
- Other cosmetic details
Custom Operators also use selectable Talents rather than being permanently locked to the fixed Talent assigned to some authored characters.
This gives the recruited roster considerably more flexibility than the story cast.
Which Species Can Custom Operators Be?
Custom Operators have more species options than Hawks.
Confirmed species include:
| Custom Operator Species |
|---|
| Devaronian |
| Human |
| Mirialan |
| Neimoidian |
| Ovissian |
| Rodian |
| Togruta |
| Twi’lek |
| Weequay |
| Zabrak |
Additional recruit types such as Clone Troopers and Astromechs become available through campaign progression and Den upgrades.
Species does not provide superior weapon proficiency, so choosing one is primarily about character creation rather than gaining an automatic combat advantage.
Can You Recruit Clone Troopers?
Yes.
Clone Troopers can become available as recruitable Custom Operators once the relevant options are unlocked.
That means you can build a company containing more Clone Troopers than the authored character Trick.
Players who want a heavily Republic-themed squad can therefore recruit additional clones once that recruitment option becomes available.
Can You Recruit Astromechs?
Yes, but you first need the relevant Den upgrade.
The Upgrade Facility can construct a Droid Bay, which allows Astromech Custom Operators to be recruited.
Astromechs are not merely cosmetic companions. They function as full Operators with their own battlefield abilities and can be included in tactical squads.
| Recruit type | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Standard Custom Operator | Recruitment Facility |
| Clone Trooper | Unlock through progression |
| Astromech | Droid Bay upgrade |
Do Custom Operators Have Voices?
Yes.
Custom Operators are fully voiced rather than silent generated characters.
EA has confirmed multiple voice options, and recruited characters also have personalities that allow them to participate in conversations, mission banter and major campaign decisions.
That means recruiting a Custom Operator does not create a character who simply stands silently beside the authored cast.
They participate in the same broader squad systems, including Bonds.

Do Custom Operators Have Bonds?
Yes.
Custom Operators participate in the Bond system.
They can develop relationships with other Operators by completing missions and Operations together and through combat interactions such as Call for Backup.
This means recruited characters can earn Cross Training bonuses and Focus Points just like authored squad members.
Can You Change a Recruit’s Specialization?
Yes.
Most Operators can have their Specialization changed through the Personnel Facility.
Custom Operators begin with a Primary Specialization when they enter the recruitment pool, but that starting choice does not necessarily lock them permanently into one build.
Later campaign progression also allows Operators to gain a Secondary Specialization, expanding the combinations available.
Should You Recruit Every Operator?
Roster Capacity prevents that from being possible immediately.
With the flat 100-Credit cost, roster space and the Operator’s abilities matter more than scaling recruitment fees.
The factual takeaway is simply that you do not need to accept every recruit presented.
You can:
- Refresh the recruitment pool
- Wait for another Cycle
- Create your own Custom Operator pool
- Expand Roster Capacity later
That gives you control over when and how the company grows.
Star Wars Zero Company Recruit Operators FAQ
How do you recruit Operators in Star Wars Zero Company?
Visit the Recruitment Facility at The Den and spend Credits to hire Custom Operators.
Does the recruitment pool change?
Yes. A new selection becomes available each Cycle.
Can you refresh recruitment manually?
Yes. The current recruitment pool can be refreshed if you want different choices.
Do authored Operators need to be recruited?
No. Authored Operators join naturally through story progression.
Can you create your own Operators?
Yes. Custom Operators can be created from the main menu and placed into your recruitment pool.
Is there a roster limit?
Yes. The Den begins with limited Roster Capacity, which can be increased.
What is the maximum roster size?
Zero Company can expand to a maximum roster of 20 Operators.
Can you recruit Clone Troopers?
Yes. Clone Trooper recruitment becomes available through progression.
Can you recruit Astromechs?
Yes. Building the Droid Bay at The Den enables Astromech recruitment.
Star Wars Zero Company Recruitment Explained
The Star Wars Zero Company recruit Operators system gives players control over how the company grows beyond its authored story characters.
Custom Operators are hired from the Recruitment Facility using Credits, the available pool changes every Cycle, and unwanted choices can be refreshed. Recruits can then be customized, developed through Bonds and Specializations, and rotated into tactical squads as Zero Company expands.
Roster Capacity prevents unlimited recruitment early in the campaign, but upgrades and progression eventually allow the company to grow to as many as 20 Operators.
