Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card – Expert Strategies for Mastering Kessel Sabacc

Today marks the exciting release of Star Wars Outlaws’ first story pack, Wild Card, for Xbox Series X|S. Dive into a thrilling Kessel Sabacc game on the casino cruiser Morenia, which features a unique board and a fresh set of rules that are sure to test your strategic prowess. Developer Thibaut Machin shares some insider tips to help you gain the upper hand and seize victory.

To get stuck into the Wild Card story pack, players will need to wrap up the Gunsmith quest and The High Roller quest for Lando Calrissian. In Wild Card, Kay Vess receives an intriguing mission from Toshara’s Governor Thorden. She must infiltrate a high-stakes Kessel Sabacc game to secure a prized reward, yet there’s another secretive game unfolding in the shadows. This exclusive game is one of many adventures awaiting players in Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card. However, gaining access is no easy feat—it requires Kay’s cunning and charm to find and secure an invitation.

Kessel Sabacc in Wild Card still revolves around the familiar concept: opponents square off, drawing blood and sand cards to craft the winning hand. Each match spans three rounds, and once your chips run out for drawing new cards, you’re out of the game. But this particular version is a bit different from what regular players might expect. It’s hosted by Protocol Droid EY-E9, the owner of Morenia, who introduces her own house rules—for instance, shift tokens are banned. Typically, these tokens give players an edge, but EY-E9’s aim is to keep the competition fair.

While cheating isn’t completely off the table, you need to be sly about it. Star Wars Outlaws lets players engage in some crafty tactics using magnetic dice, Lando’s double draw trick for pulling two cards, and sneaky peeks at opponents’ hands with Nix. However, in Wild Card, Nix’s usual trickery is hampered by the bustling, open environment. Yet, he still packs a punch with a new ability: planting cards on opponents to make EY-E9 throw them out for “cheating.”

Players will also encounter cheating from opponents, so it comes down to Kay remaining vigilant and subtly tipping off EY-E9 when rivals step out of line. This will help her raise suspicion against them, potentially clearing the field for Kay.

The stakes are higher as Kay faces off against a larger crowd—six players instead of the usual four—on the Morenia cruiser. EY-E9 will keep a watchful eye over proceedings, adding pressure and excitement to the match.

In crafting your winning strategy, Thibaut Machin, the game director at Ubisoft Paris, offers valuable advice on navigating these new challenges.

The double draw technique, as Machin explains, is an essential skill learned from Lando. This involves drawing an extra card, and instead of discarding it, using Nix’s card-planting skill to possibly expel a competitor from the game.

Moreover, gathering intel on fellow players by exploring Morenia can arm you with information about their cheating habits. This knowledge is invaluable for exposing rivals during the game.

Building a good reputation with the various syndicates present on the cruiser aids Kay’s navigation and influences her journey in the story pack. Machin suggests that alliances with these groups are crucial.

Machin encourages players not to rush. Take your time, soak in the lively table atmosphere, and strategically manage your eight chips over several rounds. Paying attention to conversations and interactions could offer crucial insights, not to mention that it adds a dose of humor to the intense game setting.

Ready to channel your inner scoundrel? Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card is available now on Xbox Series X|S! Keep your eyes on Star Wars Outlaws’ official channels for future updates and content releases.