SWGOH We Adapt or Die: What Most People Get Wrong

You’ve been there. You’re staring at the Sector 3 Conquest screen, your stamina is draining, and that counter for the We Adapt, or Die feat just won’t budge. It’s infuriating. Honestly, it’s one of those things in Star Wars Galaxy of Heroes (SWGOH) that makes you want to chuck your phone across the room.

The feat sounds simple enough on paper: gain the "Adapt or Die" buff a certain number of times. But if you don't know the specific, somewhat finicky mechanics of Iden Versio’s kit, you’re just wasting energy. And in Conquest, energy is life.

The Iden Versio Problem

Basically, everything revolves around Iden. Specifically, her unique ability, also titled We Adapt, or Die.

Here is the thing most people miss: the buff is incredibly picky about who it hangs out with. If you have even one other character with the Leader tag in your squad—even if they aren't in the leader slot—the whole thing breaks. I’ve seen so many players throw Moff Gideon into an Iden team because, hey, he’s an Imperial Trooper, right?

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Wrong. Gideon has the Leader tag. The moment he steps onto the field, Iden’s unique ability effectively shuts down, and you can say goodbye to those buffs.

To make this work, your team needs to look like this:

• Iden Versio (Lead)
• Four other non-Droid Imperial Troopers
• ZERO other characters with the Leader tag

That means no Moff Gideon, no Admiral Piett, and no General Veers. Stick to the basics: Stormtrooper, Magmatrooper, Death Trooper, Snowtrooper, or Shoretrooper. If they don't have that "Leader" tag in their character profile, they’re good to go.

How to Cheese the Feat (The Smart Way)

Let's talk efficiency. Doing 14 separate battles to get 50+ stacks of a buff is a slog. Nobody has time for that.

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The "pro" move is to find a node that can’t actually kill you but lets you take dozens of turns. Look for an Ewok node or a Phoenix team without Sabine. Why? Because you want a team that deals low damage or has predictable patterns.

If you have the Voluntary Vanguard data disk, things get even easier. This disk forces the enemy to target your strongest character. If you mod Iden to be that character and she has her Zeta ability, she becomes an undying tank. She’ll keep reviving, and you can just keep spamming her second special, "We Can Grieve Later," which is what actually grants the Adapt or Die buff to the team.

Sometimes the AI is just too fast. If you’re getting wiped before Iden even moves, look for data disks like Initial Frenzy. It gives you 100% Turn Meter at the start of the battle. You go first, you pop the special, you get 5 stacks instantly (one for Iden and one for each of her four trooper buddies).

Why the Buff Actually Matters (Beyond the Feat)

In the actual game—outside of the Conquest grind—We Adapt, or Die is a powerhouse of a buff. It gives your troopers:

• +30% Critical Chance
• +30% Offense
• +30 Speed

But the "oh crap" factor for your opponent is the revive. If a trooper has this buff and dies, they pop right back up with 70% health. Even better? If the enemy tries to dispel it, your trooper recovers 80% health and gains 80% Turn Meter. It’s a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" scenario for the AI.

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Common Pitfalls to Avoid

I see the same mistakes on the forums every single Conquest cycle.

First, don't retreat. If you’re mid-battle and realize you’ve gained 20 buffs but you’re about to lose, don't hit that "forfeit" button. In SWGOH Conquest, if you retreat, your progress for that battle usually vanishes into the ether. You have to finish the battle—win or lose—for the feat progress to count.

Second, watch out for the "GBA" (Geonosian Brood Alpha) nodes. While Geos are often good for cheesing, GBA has an AoE (Area of Effect) attack that dispels buffs. If he wipes your Adapt or Die buffs before your troopers get a chance to use them or before the "counts" register, you’re just spinning your wheels.

Honestly, the easiest way to track if it's working is to look at the characters' heads. You should see a little icon that looks like a tactical helmet. If that icon isn't appearing when Iden uses her special, check your roster. I bet you accidentally left a Leader in there.

Actionable Next Steps

To get this finished as quickly as possible, follow this checklist:

1. Filter your roster: Open your collection, filter by "Imperial Trooper," and then manually check that your chosen four allies do not have the Leader tag.
2. Check your Zetas: Ensure Iden’s unique Zeta is active; it makes the team much more durable.
3. Find a "Pillow" Node: Locate a Sector 3 node with low-damage enemies (Ewoks or Phoenix are best).
4. Equip the right Disks: Use Initial Frenzy to go first or Voluntary Vanguard to keep Iden alive.
5. Spam the Special: Use Iden's "We Can Grieve Later" ability every single time it’s off cooldown.
6. Finish the fight: Let the timer run out or die if you have to, but never forfeit.

Get these stacks out of the way early so you can focus on the more annoying feats, like getting kills with specific low-gear characters.