Thanks LenoraLupin. I was able to get Zeb's potency up to 59.92%, but it was at the cost of speed (126 now).
I've done several runs at Tier VII and you can tell how underleveled my Phoenix characters are in the last battle (at most, I was able to knock out one trooper), e.g., Kanan was taken out with Thrawn's first fracture in at least one try. Aside from the incremental increases in stats when another gear piece is added, does jumping a gear level from Gear VIII to Gear IX add more to the health or protection bars? As soon as I hit level 74, I can get Ezra to Gear IX; I may be able to do the same for Hera; and I should be able to get Chopper to Gear IX.
