Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes – Designer Q&A Highlights for Pirate King Hondo Ohnaka

The galaxy’s most charismatic smuggler has stepped into the spotlight again. In a lively Designer Q&A, the development team behind Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes pulled back the curtain on Pirate King Hondo Ohnaka’s new Galactic Legend kit—and the answers are as cheeky as the character himself.

Here’s everything you need to know from the Q&A, from strategy insights to Hondo’s own brand of wit.

---

Hondo Isn’t Just a Jedi or Sith Counter

While Hondo’s kit includes plenty of anti-Jedi and anti-Sith tricks, the designers made it clear his crew is far from one-dimensional. Lightning Raid—his signature move—lets him slip past Taunts and eliminate key enemies no matter who’s on the other side. Whether you’re facing mercenaries, droids, or even an angry Wookiee, Hondo and his pirates will still “find a way to profit.”

---

Ultimate Charge: Profitable Loopholes

Hondo gains Ultimate Charge whenever allies gain Profit, and allies begin each battle with stacks of it. That means, yes, Hondo starts fights with pre-loaded Ultimate progress—exactly what you’d expect from someone who lives to exploit loopholes. It’s a clever twist that makes his Galactic Legend ultimate ability ready to fire earlier than most.

---

Mastery Gains: Why Flat Beats Percent

When asked why Hondo’s Mastery gains were set as flat rather than percentage-based, the developers revealed that percentage scaling made him almost untouchable. With his natural dodge mechanics, percentage boosts turned him into “smoke with a net”—impossible to hit. Flat gains still let him build power without breaking the game’s balance.

---

Key Ability Insights

• Lightning Raid: Allows the pirate crew to ignore Taunts for one (or two) turns at the start of battle. The design team calls this a true pirate strike—quick, targeted, and gone before defenders can react.
• Profit Mechanic: Profit stacks fuel Hondo’s Ultimate and his team’s damage output. Any time Hondo takes any damage—even from Damage over Time (DoTs) or exposes—his pirates gain Profit.
• Team Playstyle: Pirates thrive on turn meter (TM) swings and critical strikes. Teams with heavy anti-TM control, like Jedi Master Kenobi squads, can slow them down, but it takes serious effort.

---

Offense or Defense? Hondo’s Preferred Role

Though capable on defense, Hondo shines brightest on offense, where players can personally choose targets for Lightning Raid and time Profit-fueled attacks. His own words? Offense is where he “makes the holotables sing.”

---

Fun Extras from the Q&A

The developers—and Hondo’s voice—shared a few playful asides:

• If Hondo played Warhammer 40k, he’d pick Freebooterz.
• In Magic: The Gathering terms, he’s “Grixis all the way”—calculating chaos with a pirate’s heart.
• When asked about his faithful friend Melch, Hondo teased that “friendship is the greatest treasure… but credits are a very close second.”

---

When to Expect the Pirate King

The team confirmed that Pirate King Hondo Ohnaka will officially arrive on the Holotables September 17th. Get your pirate crew ready to sail into the new Galactic Legend event and stack Profit like never before.

---

Final Takeaways

This Q&A confirms what longtime fans already know: Hondo Ohnaka is as clever and unpredictable in Galaxy of Heroes as he is in Star Wars lore. His kit rewards players who can balance turn meter manipulation, Profit stacking, and precise offensive strikes. Whether you’re hunting Sith or ambushing scoundrels, Hondo guarantees there’s always profit—and mischief—to be had.

Stay connected with the galaxy’s latest updates!

Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest for exclusive content, mod guides, Star Wars gaming news, and more. Your support helps keep the Holonet alive—one click at a time