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Heroes and commanders
Fifteen heroes are available in Early Access, and three co-op commanders. The hero is the RPG half of ZeroSpace's hybrid — an on-field unit that levels, unlocks and follows you between every mode.
How the hero system works
Three things make heroes matter more here than in most RTS games:
- They fight from minute one. A hero is a combat unit on the field, not a commander portrait. Early on, that is real defensive value while your army is thin.
- They persist. Levels, gear and unlocks carry between matches and across modes — Galactic War progress follows you into skirmish and versus.
- They are a third of your loadout. Faction, mercenary group and hero together define your win condition, and a hero that fights your faction's plan wastes a slot.
Picking a hero to fit your loadout
The useful question is not "which hero is strongest" but "what is my army missing":
- Playing a faction that wants early map presence (Grell) — a hero that can survive alone and contest ground pays for itself.
- Playing a faction that trades constantly (Legion) — a hero that amplifies a mass of cheap units beats one that duels well.
- Playing combined arms (Protectorate) — a hero that adds a tool you lack (mobility, burst, sustain) rather than more of what you have.
Then pick your mercenary group to cover whatever is still missing. The three slots are supposed to be read together.
Heroes in the campaign
The campaign treats heroes as characters, not loadout entries. You recruit specialist heroes to your crew, build relationships through dialogue, and those choices shape the story's outcome. Hero loyalty missions are part of the full campaign design; the Early Access build ships 11 missions overall.
Frequently asked
Questions people actually ask about this, pulled from the Steam discussion boards and search data.
How many heroes are in ZeroSpace?
15, per the official Development Roadmap for Early Access. The store listing describes over 14 heroes available to lead multiplayer games, with 10 specialist heroes appearing in the campaign.
Do hero levels carry between game modes?
Yes. Hero progression persists across matches and modes, so Galactic War and co-op time advances the same commander you take into skirmish and versus.
How many heroes can I bring to a match?
One. Your loadout is one main faction, one mercenary group and one hero.
How many co-op commanders are there?
3 in Early Access, across 10 co-op missions. More commanders and missions are listed as 1.0 items.