Star Wars: Legion 501st – History, Top Units, Tactics & Buying Guide

The 501st Legion—Anakin Skywalker’s elite clone troopers who later become “Vader’s Fist”—is one of the most iconic formations in the Star Wars universe. In Star Wars: Legion, the 501st Legion Battleforce lets you field a fast, hard‑hitting, hero‑led army that feels like the Clone Wars on your tabletop: coordinated infantry pushes, precision special forces, and surgical mobility from speeders and transports. This guide covers the 501st’s background, their best units, how the battleforce plays, whether it’s competitive, and what to watch for in upcoming releases.

Who Are the 501st? (Lore in Two Minutes)

The 501st Legion begins as a clone formation fighting under Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker during the Clone Wars. They’re famous for disciplined assaults on worlds like Christophsis, Teth, and the brutal campaign on Umbara—missions that require courage, initiative, and unflinching teamwork. Across the war they fight alongside leaders such as Captain Rex and (at times) Anakin’s Padawan, Ahsoka Tano. When the Republic falls and the Empire rises, the 501st’s armor turns darker and their reputation harder—they become Vader’s Fist, the Emperor’s scalpel for impossible jobs.

Why the 501st Is So Popular

• Clear identity: hero‑led, elite clone infantry that pushes objectives with precision.
• Fan‑favorite commanders: Anakin Skywalker and Captain Rex headline many lists.
• Table presence: blue‑striped armor, ARC recon specialists, and speeders make for a striking, thematic army.
• Playstyle fit: rewarding for players who like tight order control, coordinated fire, and timely objective plays rather than brute‑force attrition.

The 501st in Legion – What You Can Field & How It Works

The 501st Legion Battleforce is a themed Galactic Republic roster. It emphasizes elite corps supported by Special Forces, with character‑driven command cards that keep your clones coordinated and resilient. In practical terms, that means:

• Commanders & leaders: Anakin Skywalker and Captain Rex are your marquee options. A Clone Commander can also anchor smaller games.
• Corps backbone: Clone Trooper Infantry as your line units, with Clone Trooper Marksmen options for long‑range pickoffs.
• Special Forces punch: ARC Troopers for high‑skill plays and ARF Troopers for scouting and utility.
• Mobile support: BARC Speeders and AT‑RT walkers add speed and flexible firepower; Clone Commandos give you surgical tools.
• Heavy delivery: The LAAT/le Patrol Transport provides insertion, extraction, and objective tempo—the kind of mobility that wins close missions.

Battleforce‑specific command cards reinforce this identity—exact effects vary by card, but in general you’ll see tools that help you hand out orders efficiently, maintain aim/dodge economy, and keep your best units in the fight when suppression stacks up.

Top 5 501st Units (Lore + Why They’re Good)

1) Anakin Skywalker (Commander)

Lore: The Chosen One, battlefield prodigy, and the figure around whom many 501st stories turn. On campaign after campaign, Anakin’s bold tactics and personal bravery set the tone for the Legion.

On the table: Anakin brings force powers, brutal melee, and command flexibility. In 501st lists he’s the centerpiece who creates a threat your opponent can’t ignore, enabling your corps and Special Forces to take ground safely. Use him to break stalemates or to punish overextended anchors.

2) Captain Rex (Commander)

Lore: The 501st’s moral compass and tactical brain, Rex is the consummate clone officer—calm under fire, fiercely loyal to his troops, and always looking for the smart play.

On the table: Rex is a force multiplier. He helps your clones trade up, keeps orders flowing, and pairs beautifully with ARC Troopers and BARC Speeders. If you prefer a slightly more conservative, control‑oriented build, Rex is your go‑to commander.

3) ARC Troopers (Special Forces)

Lore: Advanced Recon Commandos are the best of the best—small teams that scout, disrupt, and finish. Legends like Fives and Echo hail from ARC units.

On the table: Think toolbox unit—accurate fire at key ranges, fantastic objective pressure, and access to iconic named upgrades. ARC teams reward precise positioning and timing; once you master them, they’ll win games with surgical plays.

4) Clone Commandos (Support in the 501st Battleforce)

Lore: Specialized squads trained for the dirtiest jobs: hostage rescues, sabotage, and deep strikes.

On the table: In the 501st battleforce, Commandos give you compact, elite fire teams that can hold ground or run precision missions. They shine when you need a small package of reliability—objective flips, cleanup duty, or crack‑shot fire support.

5) LAAT/le Patrol Transport (Heavy)

Lore: The Republic’s workhorse airframe—part gunship, part shuttle—used to insert units where they’re needed most.

On the table: The LAAT/le is your tempo fixer: it lets you deliver a key unit (Anakin, a commando team) safely into the midboard and threatens flanks your opponent thought were safe. In missions where time and distance matter, that swing is priceless.

Honorable mentions: BARC Speeders (fast objective play and chip damage), ARF Troopers (recon utility), and Clone Trooper Marksmen (reliable long‑range pressure).

Mechanics & Game Plan – How the 501st Plays

• Orders & timing: Your command cards are your engine—use them to ensure the right units activate at the right time. Don’t leave your best pieces waiting in the token stack.
• Token economy: Aim and dodge tokens keep clones efficient and alive. 501st command tools help you generate and retain the right tokens to win trades.
• Suppression management: Your hero presence and battleforce tools help you keep suppression under control so key units keep taking actions.
• Range control: Use BARC/LAAT mobility to set the terms of engagement; ARC Troopers clean up exposed pieces; corps hold what you take.
• Objective discipline: You don’t have unlimited bodies—every move should relate to an objective. Trade space for time when necessary, then hit hard where it matters.

Are the 501st Competitive?

Short answer: Yes—with practice. Republic lists remain solid choices in many metas because they mix durability with precision tools. The 501st battleforce skews toward elite, hero‑anchored play, which rewards players who like tight order control and smart objective timing. If you want a forgiving “spam bodies and roll dice” army, 501st isn’t that. If you enjoy clean plays, decisive pushes, and synergy, it’s one of the most satisfying forces to run.

Starter & Upgrade Path (Practical Buying Advice)

• Start with leaders + corps: Anakin or Rex plus two to four corps units is a stable foundation. Practice issuing orders and managing tokens at small points before you scale.
• Add Special Forces: ARC Troopers turn good turns into decisive turns. They also give you a ton of agency in close games.
• Layer mobility: Pick either BARC Speeders or a LAAT/le based on your local missions. BARC for multiple small plays; LAAT for one big play that flips a flank.
• Season to taste: Drop in Clone Commandos if you want elite, compact squads that hold or steal objectives without fuss.

Upcoming & Possible Future Releases (What to Watch)

Atomic Mass Games has been actively refreshing Legion with new rules documents, battleforce updates, and preview roadmaps. For 501st‑curious players, this mainly means better on‑ramps for new commanders and rebalanced tools for Republic lists. Official roadmaps have highlighted new starter sets, fresh sculpts, and additional battleforces across factions (with more to come). As always, check the latest rules/battleforce PDFs to confirm current legality for themed lists.

Speculation, not confirmation: Given the 501st’s prominence in Clone Wars storytelling, future releases could plausibly explore additional named clone teams, alternative loadouts for ARC/ARF elements, or mission packs that lean into 501st campaigns (e.g., Umbara). Treat this as hobby wish‑listing rather than a promise—official transmissions will have the final word.

Link to Shop

Ready to build your 501st? Explore Legion products, restocks, and accessories on our Star Wars: Legion page. We keep Canadian stock and ETAs up to date.

FAQs – Star Wars: Legion 501st (tap + to expand)