There’s an unwritten rule in the gaming industry that an open-world game is incomplete without an addictive mini-game. Many fantastic mini-games often capture players' attention, drawing them away from the main story — whether it’s Gwent from The Witcher 3 or Machine Strike from Horizon Forbidden West. Now, Star Wars Outlaws introduces another contender: Kessel Sabacc, a card game with complex, interconnected mechanics that will have players spending dozens of hours and thousands of credits on it.
Like Gwent and Machine Strike, the rules of Kessel Sabacc are on the complicated side. No one would blame you if you didn’t grasp them on the first try. While you can avoid the mini-game for most of your playthrough, there are portions of the story where you’ll have to play it, so it’s best to understand the rules. Here’s everything you need to know about Kessel Sabacc.
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Card Value and Set in Kessel Sabacc
There are two card sets in Kessel Sabacc: Sand, represented by the color yellow, and Blood, represented by the color red. Each set contains three cards for each value from 1 to 6, meaning there are six cards of each number in the entire deck. The value of a card is indicated by the symbol in the middle or on top of the card.
Additionally, there are two more card types: the Sylop Card and the Imposter Card, but we'll get into those later.
How Kessel Sabacc Works
The game can be played by up to four players, including you. The robot, also known as the dealer, will distribute one card to each player from each deck. Every player will start with two cards — one yellow and one red. The dealer will also reveal and place one card from each deck into their respective discard piles. You can take cards from any pile for one Stock — a limited resource you spend to draw cards.
The only limitation is that you must discard one card from the deck you picked from. For example, if you pick a yellow card, you'll need to discard a yellow one. The discard can be either the new card or the one you already had previously. It's important to note that you must always have one yellow and one red card at all times.
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Goal of Kessel Sabacc
The goal of Kessel Sabacc is straightforward: you need to have a pair of cards, also known as a Sabacc Hand, to win. Since you're unlikely to have a pair when the cards are initially dealt, you'll need to invest Stock (golden chips) to replace your cards. Each round consists of three turns, giving you three chances to form a Sabacc Hand. The rounds will continue until only one player has any remaining Stock.
Up to four players can participate in the game at once, and there’s no reward for second place — the last player standing wins the entire pot. The buy-in amount and final reward will be disclosed when you sit at a Sabacc table.
Ranks and Value of Sabacc Hand
Not all Sabacc Hands are created equal. In Kessel Sabacc, a hand with a lower value is actually stronger, meaning a pair of 1s from each deck will win over a pair of 2s or 3s. The best Sabacc Hand is a Sylop Sabacc, but more on that later. The ranking of pairs is as follows:
- A Pair of Sylop Cards (more on this below)
- A Pair of 1s
- A Pair of 2s
- A Pair of 3s
- A Pair of 4s
- A Pair of 5s
- A Pair of 6s
If you don’t have a Sabacc Hand, don’t worry — it doesn’t automatically mean defeat. You can still win with a non-pair hand, as long as the other players also don’t have a pair. The value of your hand is determined by the difference between the two cards. The smaller the difference, the better your chances of winning.
For example, a hand with a 5 and a 6 will win over a hand with a 1 and a 3, because the difference in the former is just 1. However, both hands will lose to any Sabacc pair, even against a pair of 6s.
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Special Cards in Kessel Sabacc
Sylop Cards
There is only one Sylop Card in each family, so there are only two in the entire game. Sylop Cards mimic the value of the other card in your hand, meaning a hand with a Sylop Card and a 2 will be considered a pair of 2s. A pair consisting of two Sylop Cards is the best possible hand in the game and cannot be defeated, even by a pair of 1s.
Imposter Cards
There are three Imposter Cards in each family, making a total of six in the game. If you have an Imposter Card in your hand, you'll roll a pair of dice at the end of the round. You can choose the value of either die as the value of your Imposter Card.
How to Draw and Stand in Kessel Sabacc
As mentioned earlier, drawing a card from a pile will cost you 1 Stock, unless you use an appropriate Shift Token (more on that below). If you're satisfied with your cards or want to save your Stock for the next round, you can choose to Stand, meaning no Stock is spent, and no new cards are drawn. It's important to note that, unlike in poker, you cannot Fold in Kessel Sabacc.
What Are Shift Tokens in Kessel Sabacc
Shift Tokens function as game modifiers, each with different effects depending on the specific Shift Token. For example, a Refund Shift Token allows a player to retrieve two previously invested Stock Chips from the pile.
At the start of each match, players can select three Shift Tokens to use during the game, but each token can only be used once per match. However, you can use them in later matches. Shift Tokens are played at the beginning of a turn and do not cost any Stock. You can acquire various Shift Tokens by winning at tables, purchasing them from the Black Market, or exploring the game world.
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Reveal Phase and Tax Overview in Kessel Sabacc
After three turns, all players reveal their cards. Players who are out of Stock will lose, while those with remaining Stock will move on to the next round. Stock for the next round depends on performance in the previous round.
If a player wins the prior round, they receive all their invested Stock back. However, players with a Sabacc Hand (a pair) who lost will be taxed 1 Stock. If a player loses without a pair, they will be taxed an amount equal to the difference between their two cards. The game continues until only one player remains with any Stock, and that player wins the entire pot.
Cheats in Kessel Sabacc
The world of Star Wars Outlaws is neither fair nor square, and you shouldn't feel obliged to be either. As the scoundrel you are, you can cheat at Kessel Sabacc, but you need to be cautious. The first cheat you'll unlock is checking your opponents' cards using Nix. You can send your huggable companion to snoop on other players' cards, allowing you to assess whether your hand is strong enough to win.
You can only perform this action at the start of your turn. However, be careful — getting caught can result in a temporary ban from that Sabacc table. As you progress through the game, you'll unlock additional cheating abilities.
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Tips to Win at Kessel Sabacc
- Use Cheats Wisely: Utilize cheats whenever possible. If you find the cheating quick-time event cumbersome, you can disable it by going to the Gameplay options in the Settings Menu and turning off the Kessel Sabacc Cheat minigame. This will allow cheats to complete automatically.
- Simplify Card Values: If you have trouble reading card values, you can switch the card header symbols to numerical values. To do this, open the Settings Menu, select Gameplay, then go to the Minigames section and set the Kessel Sabacc card header to Simple Numerals. This makes it easier to determine card values.
- Minimize Taxation: If you know you’re going to lose a round, try to minimize the difference between your cards. This strategy will reduce the amount you’re taxed at the end of the round.
- Utilize Imposter Cards: In tough situations, Imposter Cards can be valuable as they give you a 33% chance of drawing the card you need.
- Strategize Your Stand: Sometimes, standing to save your tokens for the next round is a smart strategy. Use this approach when it suits your overall game plan.
- Acquire Shift Tokens: Progress through the game to collect as many Shift Tokens as possible. These tokens can significantly impact your gameplay.
- Check for Shift Tokens: Shift Tokens that you have discovered but not yet acquired can be reviewed in the Collectibles tab. This tab also provides information on how to obtain them.
- Use Shift Tokens Sparingly: Be strategic with your Shift Tokens. Avoid using all of them in the first round, and consider targeting specific players with some of them.
- Leverage Discard Piles: Don’t forget to use the Discard Card piles. These can be useful for forming a pair.
- Review the Rules: If you're unsure about any aspect of Kessel Sabacc, you can review the rules at any time. Access them via the game’s journal by heading to the Databank tab, selecting Tutorials, and then Kessel Sabacc.
Star Wars Outlaws
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 75 /100 Critics Rec: 68%
- Released
- August 30, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Violence, Simulated Gambling, Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- Massive Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft, Lucasfilm Games
- Engine
- Snowdrop
- Franchise
- Star Wars
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action-Adventure
