October 15, 2025 | Written by Ben Weiner

Secrets of Power—the next set of the Star Wars™: Unlimited trading card game—ushers in a bold new chapter for the game, plunging players into the high-stakes world of galactic politics and covert operations. This set shifts the focus from the front lines of the battlefield to the corridors of power, where cunning diplomacy, shadowy manipulation, and backroom deals take center stage. If you have ever wanted to feel like a mastermind pulling the strings or a double agent that unravels the schemers' plans, here are some fun things you can try to truly embrace the Secrets of Power.

Chancellor Palpatine - The Plot Always Thickens

In Secrets of Power, Chancellor Palpatine (Secrets of Power, 1) doesn't dominate the battlefield with brute strength. Instead, he controls the tempo, the narrative, and ultimately the outcome. His power lies in the slow tightening of the noose, using Plot cards to manipulate the game state until victory is not just possible, but inevitable.

Palpatine's leader ability lets you filter through your deck for Plot cards. It's a strategic setup; every Plot you draw is a piece of a larger plan, and Palpatine ensures you always have the right tools at the right time.

The real magic happens when he deploys at 7 resources. His unit form reduces the cost of the next Plot you play by 3, resulting in a massive tempo swing of up to 10 resources worth of Plot cards.

There's a twist, as waiting until 8 resources opens up a devastating combo turn. Try this:

• Deploy Palpatine from leader to unit.
• Play Chancellor Palpatine (Secrets of Power, 82) for free and get two Spy tokens.
• Follow up with Sly Moore (Secrets of Power, 33), a 2/6 that weakens enemy units attacking your base.
• Lock down the phase with Trade Route Taxation (Secrets of Power, 126), preventing your opponent from playing their own events.

This sequence doesn't just build a board state, it shuts down your opponent's options and sets up a long-term advantage. The Palpatine leader is now in play, along with three supporting units, plus you've limited what your opponent can do for that turn.

Want to add a little flair? Jar Jar Binks (Secrets of Power, 111) might seem like comic relief, but giving Palpatine +2/+2 turns him into an 8/10 threat. It's a cheeky unexpected power play that turns the Chancellor into a devastating force.

Palpatine decks thrive on timing and misdirection. You can bait your opponent with minor plays early, then explode with value once your leader deploys. Cards like Bog Down in Procedure (Secrets of Power, 234) and Topple the Summit (Secrets of Power, 183) offer control tools that feel like political maneuvers: stopping units, disrupting tempo, and forcing bad trades.

Playing Palpatine isn't about flashy early rounds; it's about inevitability. You're always one step ahead, always setting the stage. When the curtain rises, your opponent realizes they've been playing your game all along.

Leia Organa - The Power of Disclosure

The Leia Organa (Secrets of Power, 4) leader doesn't just lead with charisma, she leads with control. Her strength lies in knowing exactly what to reveal, when to reveal it, and how to use that information to rally her forces or mislead her enemies. With the disclose mechanic, Leia turns that transparency into a weapon.

The twist with Leia's disclose ability is that you can reveal the same card multiple times. This creates a fascinating tension; your opponent sees what could be coming, but they don't know when, or if, you'll actually play it. It becomes a bluffing game.

To maximize Leia's ability, you'll want to maintain a healthy hand size. Cards like Bardottan Ornithopter (Secrets of Power, 62) help by drawing additional cards while providing a solid space unit. Mina Bonteri (Secrets of Power, 94) offers card draw upon defeat, keeping your hand full and your options open.

Because of her ability, Leia thrives with units that benefit from experience tokens. Captain Typho (Secrets of Power, 98) has Sentinel and can heal your base, and with some Experience alongside upgrades like Entrenched (Spark of Rebellion, 72), he becomes a defensive powerhouse. Naboo Security Force (Secrets of Power, 120) adds further protection, making it difficult for opponents to break through your lines.

Leia isn't just about bolstering her own forces; she's about controlling the flow of information. Cards like Bog Down in Procedure (Secrets of Power, 234) reward you for disclosing by stopping two units for just 3 resources. It's a perfect example of how revealing the right card at the right time can swing the tempo in your favor.

Pair Leia with a Cunning aspect base to lean into that disruption. Cards like Charged with Espionage (Secrets of Power, 230) let you manipulate your opponent's hand. Combine that with Jam Communications (Jump to Lightspeed, 207) or Spark of Rebellion (Spark of Rebellion, 200) to strip away their options and keep their responses limited.

Leia's gameplay is all about selective transparency. You're not just revealing cards, you're revealing intent, or at least the illusion of intent. Every disclosed card is a message: “This is what I might do.” Whether you follow through or not is up to you, and that uncertainty is where Leia shines.

If you enjoy bluffing, tactical positioning, and turning information into influence, Leia Organa offers a unique and rewarding playstyle. She doesn't just fight the battle, she controls the narrative.

Dedra Meero - Calculated Pressure

In the world of covert operations, brute force is rarely the sharpest tool. The Dedra Meero (Secrets of Power, 10) leader thrives in the margins, where every decision is a trap and every misstep is punished. She doesn't overwhelm her enemies; she outmaneuvers them, forcing them into lose-lose scenarios until their board collapses under the weight of her precision.

Dedra's strength lies in her ability to apply pressure from the very first round. With a base like Tarkintown (Spark of Rebellion, 25), she can play Reckless Rebel (Secrets of Power, 160) immediately, triggering her ability to force your opponent into an immediate difficult decision: lose a unit or give Dedra more resources to work with.

Her deployment at 4 resources opens up a punishing combo turn. Imagine this:

• Use her ability to damage a unit.
• Deploy Dedra to her unit side.
• Play Sudden Ferocity (Secrets of Power, 176) as a Plot.
• Dedra becomes a 5/5 with conditional Raid 2, ready to strike.

Her synergy with Syril Karn (Secrets of Power, 133) adds another layer of pressure. Syril's disclose ability forces opponents into another bad decision point of either taking damage or discarding, and Dedra's card draw ensures you stay ahead in hand size. Together, they create a feedback loop of punishment where every card you play makes the next one hurt more.

Pushing the damage even further, Hunting Assassin Droid (Secrets of Power, 134) gains Raid 2 when an enemy unit is damaged, a perfect follow-up to Dedra's ability. And when it's time to close out the game, Miraj Scintel (Secrets of Power, 139) can deal 3 damage to a unit and give Overwhelm to one of your attackers, letting you follow up chip damage with lethal swings.

Dedra isn't flashy, she's methodical. With her, every card you play is a scalpel, not a hammer. Her game plan rewards players who enjoy controlling the pace, forcing their opponents to make tough decisions, and watching them unravel under pressure. If you enjoy playing where every move is a setup for the next, Dedra Meero is your kind of leader.

Unleash the Secrets

Secrets of Power invites players to lean into the intrigue. Whether you're orchestrating a master plan with Palpatine, manipulating perception with Leia, or dismantling your opponent's board with Dedra, this set rewards clever play and strategic timing.

The battlefield may be quiet, but the power plays are louder than ever.