Star Wars Battlefront 2 alpha leak indicates new heroes and abilities, including Grievous

Star Wars Battlefront 2 is the latest game to reinforce the old wisdom: where there's a PC test, there are copious leaks to be found. Reddit user uninspired_zebra tore apart their alpha client and found all kinds of interesting stuff, including some looks at how new heroes will play, and even some unannounced characters like General Goddamn Grievous. Oh yeah, it's like 2005 all over again. I'm ready for it.

Star Wars Battlefront 2 new hero descriptions

Check out the Reddit post to see all the stuff uninspired_zebra found, or read on for a look at how the new heroes will play. The text from the code is presented as-is in italics with some analysis from myself afterward. Note that all of this was pulled from a pre-release version of the game and definitely isn't final - for instance, the code includes references to Captain Phasma but not Finn, even though both were confirmed as free DLC heroes at E3 2017.

General Grievous

GENERAL GRIEVOUS'S LIGHTSABERS: Lightsabers from the jedi General Grievous has slain.

All the leak indicates about good ol' General Grievous is that he'll be in the game and still using his saber trophies. But we can look at how he fought in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2005) for some hints. Grievous has a huge, robotic body that looks pretty slow and cumbersome - until he pops out four arms, each with its own lightsaber, and becomes a whirling dervish of laser sword death. He isn't a Force user so he won't be doing any remote pushing or choking, but he should be able to get by just fine (barring any untimely coughing fits).

Phasma

PHASMA'S F11D: The F-11D blaster rifle was a blaster rifle manufactured by Sonn-Blas Corporation. This ranged weapon was the successor of the older E-11 blaster rifle used by the Galactic Empire.

Just like with Grievous, the leak doesn't have much to reveal about Captain Phasma. And we barely saw her do anything in Star Wars: The Force Awakens other than look shiny and get captured so it's a bit tougher to guess at her in-game abilities. It would be cool if they played up her leadership role, letting her buff nearby allies with some kind of tactical aura. We'll have to wait and see.

Rey

Rey's survivor instincts give her an expanded awareness of the battlefield which she uses to ambush her enemies and confuse them with mindtricks. Her saber skills allow her to finish them off up close.

REY'S LIGHTSABER: Originally constructed by Anakin Skywalker, Rey found this lightsaber in Maz Kanata's castle.

INSIGHT: Rey senses her surroundings, revealing all nearby enemies to her.

DASH STRIKE: Rey charges forward with her lightsaber, dealing damage to enemies on the way.

MIND TRICK: Rey causes nearby enemies to be dazed and confused for a brief duration.

Rey's Star Wars Battlefront 2 incarnation will play up her burgeoning skills as a Force-powered manipulator. Er, that sounds a bit "Dark Side", but remember that a mind trick was the very first power Rey ever (intentionally) used in The Force Awakens. Her environmental awareness and enemy-disrupting abilities - coupled with her lightsaber, of course - could make Rey an ideal flanker and assassin.

Kylo Ren

Kylo is a master of controlling his enemies with the force, freezing them or pulling them to him so that he can finish them with his aggressive light sabre attacks.

KYLO REN'S LIGHTSABER: Crossguard lightsaber based on a ancient design from the Gret Scourge of Malachor. The lateral vents divert the extra power from this powerful weapon.

FORCE PULL: Kylo uses the force to pul enemies ahead off their feet and towards him.

FORCE FREEZE: Kylo freezes all enemies in front of him, immobilising them for a duration.

SABER CHARGE: Kylo charges forwards and performs a spinning, 360 degree sabre attack when the ability button is pressed again.

Kylo Ren's Force Freeze is another powerful control ability like Rey's Mind Trick, but he's more geared for head-to-head fights with large groups of enemies. A room-clearing Saber Charge should be the perfect way to make a dramatic entrance.

Darth Maul

Maul uses his expert saber skills and aggressive Force powers to quickly assault and overrun the enemy, one at a time.

DARTH MAUL'S LIGHTSABER: Darth Maul crafted his double-bladed lightsaber to exact vengeance upon the Jedi.

SPIN ATTACK: Darth Maul goes into a high velocity lightsaber spin attack and leaps forwards.

FURIOUS THROW: Darth Maul hurls his lightsaber, damaging all enemies it touches.

CHOKE HOLD: Darth Maul chokes a few enemies and throws them to the ground.

The description (which, remember, almost definitely isn't final) says Maul fights enemies "one at a time", but those powers are ideal squad killers. Each one has the potential to damage or disrupt multiple enemies at once. Best way to escape a fight as Darth Maul? Over your enemies' smoldering bodies.

Yoda

Yoda is an expert at turning defence into attack, using the force to repel blaster fire, heal his wounds and protect him from harm while using his light sabre to inflict damage.

YODA'S LIGHTSABER: Shoto-style lightsaber using a kyber crystal from the icy caverns of Ilum.

FORCE ABSORB: Yoda channels the force, absorbing blaster fire before channeling it into a wave of force power that can damage and knock over enemies.

DASH ATTACK: Yoda leaps forwards, dealing damage to enemies he hits on the way. He cah perform the move 3 times in quick succession.

Not sure on name: Yoda becomes one with the force, instantly removing any negative effects from him and healing him of his wounds.

I'm glad DICE isn't going full "prequel trilogy tiny Force ninja" Yoda in Star Wars Battlefront 2. It looks like this incarnation of the wrinkly green fella will work well with others - let the bad guys start a full-scale assault only for to Yoda jump in front and turn their attacks against them with Force Absorb. Take a little too much heat? No worries, fall back into the rear ranks and use that healing move.

For more updates, read our full Star Wars Battlefront 2 round-up article and our wishlist for unsung heroes and villains who should get a shot in Star Wars Battlefront 2.