Why you're playing so many bots
If your opponents feel a little robotic lately, they probably are. Here's why Force Arena Reborn matches you with bots, how to tell when you've got one, and how to beat the stronger version the team released this week.
Updated October 30, 2026 with the Reborn team's latest matchmaking changes from the official SWFAR Discord.
Why there are so many
- Fairer matches, on purpose. On October 23 the Reborn team adjusted matchmaking to be fairer, especially in the lower tiers. Instead of throwing you against a much stronger human, the game now waits a little longer and gives you a bot more often.
- The top tiers are thin. Reborn is a fan revival, and the players are spread across 17 tiers. The team said only about 30 players are at Tier 10 and up, so most high-tier matches are against bots.
- The bots just got stronger. On October 30 the team updated the bots to a slightly stronger version. Players are still winning the large majority of bot matches, but the bots punish sloppy plays more than they used to.
How the matchmaker decides
The game looks for a human first and only fills the match with a bot after a set wait. In the original game's files, that wait grew with your tier:
| Tier | Seconds before a bot fills in |
|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | 3 to 4 |
| 4 | 10 to 20 |
| 5 to 7 | 20 to 30 |
| 8 to 13 | 30 to 40 |
| 14 and up | Never |
These are the original game's settings. The Reborn team has tuned matchmaking since, so the exact numbers today may differ, but the idea is the same: the longer the search, the more likely it ends in a bot.
How to tell it's a bot
- There's no label. The game doesn't mark bots, so you can never be 100% sure.
- Watch the search time. A match that pops right at the end of a long search is usually the matchmaker giving up on finding a human.
- Think about your tier and the clock. At Tier 10 and up, or late at night for your region, assume a bot.
- Card levels can be higher than yours. One top player reported facing a level 7 Ahsoka (Fulcrum) bot with a level 4 Boba Fett. A bot isn't limited to your card levels, so don't treat it as a free win.
How to beat the stronger bots
- Defend first, then counter-push. Let the bot commit its push, wipe it near your turret, then walk your survivors straight back up the lane.
- Win the leader fight at your turret. If the bot's cards outlevel yours, fight its leader inside your turret's range so the turret makes up the difference.
- Trade energy, not health. Answer big cards with cheap ones. The tank and vehicle counters and AT-ST guide show the cheapest answers.
- Use splash on clumps. Air strikes and area damage are at their best when units bunch up on a push.
- Treat bots as practice. They're a free way to test a new deck before you take it into a real ranked match. Build it in the deck builder first.
Want more human opponents?
- Play at peak hours, when more players are queuing in your tier.
- Join a guild and play Friendly Matches. They're always against real players, card levels are set equal, and they cost no Rating Points. In JEDI there is always someone up for one.
- Queue Arcade 2 vs 2 with a partner. See the 2v2 Arcade guide.
- Vote in the team's polls. The Reborn team is asking the community about ranked 2v2, tournaments and a friends system that would make it easier to find real matches. Follow #project-announcements in the official SWFAR Discord.