Star Wars Zero Company: Resonance, Explained

One of the most important mechanics you will encounter while fighting the Infinite Coil in Star Wars Zero Company is Resonance, which is a stacking effect that can make infected enemies increasingly dangerous and trigger a powerful Plague Surge.

At first this can be very difficult to deal with, if you don't understand how it works. So, if you want to understand Resonance better, here’s a complete guide explaining how it works and the best ways to counter it.

What Is Resonance in Star Wars Zero Company

Resonance is a stacking effect associated with the Infinite Coil's Shadow Plague. Coil enemies can accumulate Resonance during combat, and those stacks can build over time, which makes individual enemies much more dangerous.

The important part of the mechanic is that Resonance does not disappear when an infected enemy is defeated. Instead, when an infected unit carrying Resonance dies, its Resonance stacks are transferred to the nearest surviving Infected unit. This creates a unique situation where killing an enemy can actually make another enemy stronger.

Resonance Effects, Explained

Resonance can build up to three stacks on an infected Coil unit. Reaching the third stack can trigger a Plague Surge, which significantly enhances the affected enemy. Here’s a breakdown of how Resonance Stacks work.

When an enemy reaches 3 Resonance stacks, the Shadow Plague Surges. A Surge is much more than a simple stat increase. The Surge can grant additional abilities or buffs, depending on the type of Coil unit. Below, we’ve listed all the effects that Surged Coil enemies can gain.

• Significant Health recovery
• Increased combat effectiveness
• Retaliation effects
• Attacks capable of bypassing cover
• Becomes invincible until revealed

Likewise, when an Infected Coil enemy carrying Resonance is defeated, its Resonance can be transferred to the nearest surviving Infected unit. So, before killing an Infected enemy, check who will receive its Resonance. Then, kill the infected enemy by either isolating it from other infected enemies or clearing multiple targets with AoE damage.

How To Counter Resonance in Star Wars Zero Company

Resonance can quickly make Coil encounters difficult if it is left unchecked, especially when enemies are close to triggering a Plague Surge. Below, we’ve mentioned some efficient ways to counter Resonance in Star Wars Zero Company.

Prioritize Enemies With 2 Resonance

Enemies with two Resonance stacks should usually be treated as high-priority targets because they are one transfer away from a Surge. However, do not blindly attack them without checking the battlefield. So, the best way to avoid the Surge is to reposition another infected enemy first to prevent an unwanted transfer.

Plan Your Kill Order

Kill order is the most important part of fighting the Infinite Coil. While fighting other enemies, killing the weakest target first is the best strategy. However, when you are facing Coil enemies, that approach can backfire. Instead, look at the Resonance levels of every Infected enemy and analyze how each kill will affect the others.

If you want to manage Resonance effectively, first identify the enemy closest to triggering a Surge and determine which Infected enemy would receive the Resonance from your next kill. Reposition enemies if necessary, then eliminate the most dangerous target. 

Use Burst Damage

Burst damage is extremely valuable against Resonance because it allows you to finish dangerous enemies before they get another opportunity to benefit from the mechanic. High-damage attacks from Operators such as Hawks, Cly, Kabb, and Tel-Rea can be particularly useful when you need to eliminate a target immediately.

The goal is to avoid situations where several Coil enemies are left at low Health while you continue attacking other targets. Every additional enemy death can strengthen another enemy. If you have enough AP and Advantage to finish an enemy, it is often better to commit to the kill rather than leave the target alive for another turn.

Control Enemy Positioning

Because Resonance transfers to the nearest surviving Infected unit, positioning can directly affect the outcome of your kills. This is where abilities such as Tel-Rea's Force Push and Force Pull become useful.

You can use Push to move an enemy away from another Infected unit or Pull an enemy into a more favorable position. This gives you greater control over the battlefield before committing to a kill.

Don't Ignore a Surged Enemy

Once an enemy reaches three Resonance and Surges, you should reassess the battlefield. A Surged enemy can recover Health and gain additional combat capabilities. If you can eliminate the Surged enemy safely, commit to it.

However, in certain situations, it is better to control the Surged enemy temporarily while eliminating another Coil unit that is close to reaching another Surge. So, decide based on the enemy's abilities, Health, position, and the number of remaining Infected units before committing your turn.

Best Operators to Counter Resonance in Star Wars Zero Company

There is no single Operator that completely shuts down Resonance, but several characters and Specializations can make Coil encounters easier. Below, we’ve listed all the best Operators and Specializations for countering Resonance effectively.