We already have some of the information found in this guide posted previously, so I provided some links to my previous articles as well.

Those who wish to follow in the bootsteps of Han Solo, live life on the outside of the law or simply want to carve their own, fast-paced, independent way across the galaxy will want to investigate the Smuggler class in Star Wars: The Old Republic. A snarky sense of humor and oodles of self-belief will also get you off to a solid start.

Looking in the Mirror & Choosing a Species

So, you’ve decided to live life dangerously as a charming and stylish Smuggler? Good choice! After selecting your class the next thing you’ll need to do is choose a species. Options for the Smuggler are as follows; Cyborg, Human, Mirialan, Twi’lek and Zabrak.

Species has no bearing on your stats and only affects the Racial Ability (basically an extra emote) you are given. Also note that the Cyborg species is basically a human with metal bits grafted onto its face. The Cyborg Racial Ability, Scan, is quite fun though.

Primary Attribute

The Smuggler’s Primary Attribute is: Cunning.
Whenever possible, this is the stat you want to boost when upgrading your gear.

Game Quote:

“Cunning increases the damage and critical chances of the Smuggler’s Ranged and Tech powers. This remains so for both the Gunslinger and the Scoundrel Advanced Classes, while the Scoundrel’s Cunning additionally increases the effectiveness of healing powers.”

Armor, Stylish Vests & Equipment

A Smuggler wears Medium Armor and favors a look featuring a variety of leather leggings, multi-pocketed shirts and knee-high boots. Nothing screams “Back off corporate line-tower” more clearly than a nice, low-slung holster and a puffy cargo vest. Am I right?

Game Quote:

“They don’t wear fancy armor or carry high-powered blaster rifles, but Smugglers are outfitted for action nonetheless. Wearing comfortable, flexible clothing with some custom modifications, Smugglers are able to stay light on their feet and quick on the draw. Usually carrying a fast-firing blaster or two, Smugglers have everything they need to shoot their way out of trouble. Though style is rarely their intent, it seems to come naturally to Smugglers, and their dashing duds generally compliment their roguish charm.”

Starting Skills

The first three damage-producing skills you’ll have right off the bat are; Flurry of Bolts, Charged Burst, and Sabotage Charge.

You’ll also have a buff called Lucky Shots – which increases your Critical Hit chance by 5% – a self-heal called Recuperate and the ability to Take Cover (more on this shortly). Remember to use Recuperate liberally. After every battle if necessary.

At Level 2 you’ll obtain an up-close melee skill called Blaster Whip allowing you to clock mobs over the head with your pistol.

At level 3 you’ll obtain Thermal Grenade which damages up to five targets in an eight-meter radius. You will enjoy Thermal Grenade, trust me.

At level 4 you’ll learn Dirty Kick – hands down, the greatest single skill in SWTOR. Yes, Dirty Kick is a melee boot to an enemy’s groin. Humanoid or droid – they’re going down when you apply the ‘Kick! Ooof!

Level 5 brings in the Vital Shot ability. Vital Shot causes your target to bleed internally (dealing 124 damage over 15 seconds). This is a good thing. You want all of your enemies to be bleeding internally. Yessireebob.

More abilities: Here

Cover System

As a Smuggler you’ll need to find cover and use it to your advantage. You can dish out a whole lot of hurt but you aren’t the toughest toon on the block when it comes to soaking up damage.

When you have an enemy selected you will see a green silhouette appear next to an object (boulder, crate, tree, etc.) that can be used as cover. Click the Take Cover icon on your skill bar or hit the “F” key and you will stylishly roll into cover.

If you click Take Cover and there is nothing nearby to hide behind you will simply “take a knee”. Your cover-dependent abilities will then become available.

In later levels a Gunslinger can obtain a handy Portable Cover option which you’ll thank your lucky stars for.

Energy System

Smuggler skills work on an Energy system and it plays out something like this. Each time to you fire off a blaster shot or toss out a grenade you use up a bit of the Energy on your yellow, Energy bar. When your Energy bar is depleted you will no longer be able to use skills that require Energy to function.

Thankfully, right out of the starting gate, you have the Flurry of Bolts blaster shot which is free to use – costing no Energy. This is your bread-and-butter, basic fighting attack which you’ll rely on time and time again to pull your Smuggler hindquarters out of the frying pan.

Game Quote:

“Your energy regenerates faster at higher energy levels. As your energy decreases, so does the rate at which it recovers. To maintain a high amount of energy, use Flurry of Bolts regularly to allow your energy to recover.”

Skill Rotation

Let’s talk about a series of fighting actions which will help you battle your way through levels 1-10. This plan of attack may not be perfect but it worked well for me in early game.

Firstly, Take Cover. Throw out a Sabotage Charge at an enemy (preferably an enemy standing beside a few evil buddies).

Shoot the enemy with Vital Shot to get it bleeding.

Tab-Target the next enemy and throw a Thermal Grenade, Vital Shot for bleeds, fire off Charged Burst then use Flurry of Bolts as many times as needed.

Note that Sabotage Charge has a short cooldown period after use so you won’t be able to throw out these timed explosives more than once every 30 seconds. Also, keep in mind that Sabotage Charge can only be used when in cover.

To simplify even further; Cover, Sabotage Charge, bleeds, thermal grenades and flurry of shots to finish off any remaining.

Origin World: Ord Mantell & Leveling Like A Pro

You’ll first set down and begin your adventures on the wartorn planet of Ord Mantell. You’ll be assisting the local Republic troops in a battle against rebellious Separatists. The first tasks you’ll be asked to assist with include destroying some remote control stations and disabling some signal jammers. Rest assured, the local Seps will attempt to stop you.

Smugglers will also meet and learn to hate a dastardly thug who looms large in their personal story. I won’t spoil what goes down but you will be given ample reason to chase this fiend across the galaxy – beyond your Origin World beginnings.

TIP One: Grab up every side mission you uncover and get them completed before you leave Ord Mantell. You’ll enjoy the credits, gear and extra experience points they provide. There’s also plenty of fun story to be enjoyed.

TIP Two: Grab all Bind Points you come across. You will be able to use your Quick Travel ability to jump to any Bind Point you have unlocked previously.

You can grab a good Smuggler leveling guide here. It’s definitely worth checking out!

First Companion

Yeah, I know. You’d like a Wookiee as your faithful co-pilot, bodyguard and companion. Don’t worry – good things come to those that wait. Until then, you’ll be running with your first companion, a Heavy Armor-wearing fellow with a Southern American accent known as Corso Riggs.

Riggs ties-in closely with your story and Origin World play and he even helpfully provides you with your first, blue-quality blaster. Now, if we can just get him to wear a Wookiee mask we’ll be all set.

Advanced Classes: Gunslinger or Scoundrel

By the time you finish up your questing on Ord Mantell you should find yourself around level 10 or 11 (depending on how many side missions you completed). At this point you’ll be given a mission which sends you off to Carrick Station on the Republic Fleet. Here, the game really opens up before you and the galaxy is your oyster.

When you arrive at the Fleet talk to Sammo Kob and he’ll send you on your way to the Advanced Class trainers. You’ll be able to choose from one of two Advanced Classes; Gunslinger or Scoundrel.

Those inclined toward causing massive damage will want to select Gunslinger. Smugglers who prefer stealth and healing will want to opt for Scoundrel.

Game Quote:

“Gunslinger: Master of the trick shot, the first to dive for cover and able to take advantage of every opportunity, the Gunslinger and his dual blasters are the perfect team. There’s a right target for ending every disagreement, and the Gunslinger knows enemy vulnerabilities like the inside of his ship.

All Gunslingers learn how to fire two blasters at once, specializing in long-range combat and methods to keep enemies at a distance. Gunslingers can also opt to learn the skills of the saboteur, using grenades and demolitions technology that cause fire damage and ignore enemy armor; the Sharpshooter, shooting from cover and focusing on precise, high-damage attacks; and Dirty Fighting, crippling and bleeding opponents using underhanded tactics.”

“Scoundrel: The Scoundrel doesn’t have time for polite and doesn’t do fair fight. In addition to a trusty blaster, the Scoundrel packs a stealth belt, a scattergun and a medpac—everything you need to get in, knock the enemy for a loop and get out alive.

All Scoundrels learn how to move stealthily—sneaking past or surprising enemies—and various close-quarters fighting techniques that do damage at short range and prevent an enemy from fleeing. Scoundrels can also opt to learn the skills of the Scrapper, using scatterguns to deal even more damage close-up; the Sawbones, applying medicine and damage prevention techniques to heal and protect allies; and Dirty Fighting, crippling and bleeding opponents using underhanded tactics.”

Conclusion

Alright, Smuggler that should get you off to a running start in an exciting world full of new adventures. Remember to shoot first, leave ‘em with a sly wink and a snappy one-liner and hightail it to the next system before they can pick up your trail.

Keep in mind what one famous Smuggler once said and you’ll never go wrong:

“Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.”

Don’t miss this comprehensive Smuggler guide if you want to learn more about this class!

Contents:

• Advanced Classes
• Companions
• Species & Appearance
• Leveling
• Stats & Equipment
• Crew Skills
• Heat System
• Skill Rotation & Combat

The Bounty Hunter brings a lot to the table, and has the opportunity to play any three of the major class roles; they can Tank, Heal, and DPS (the ‘Trinity’). Being able to fill all three vital spots of the Trinity leaves a lot of choice for your character, as if you do decide to roll a Bounty Hunter you will have some freedom before you decide your Advanced Class and which direction you’ll take.

Advanced Classes

As with all classes in SWTOR, at level 10 you will have to select your Advanced Class. The Bounty Hunter can choose from the Powertech which favors Tanking and DPS or the Mercenary which specializes in Healing and DPS.

Each AC has two unique Talent Trees, different specializations, and different ‘Cylinders’. You can only have one Cylinder activate at a time, and each provides different “buffs” for your character – They basically function like ‘stances’ in other MMOs. Each Advanced Class gains two unique Cylinders along with corresponding Talents to enhance them. Both ACs gain access to Combustible Gas Cylinder at level 4, which has a chance to add a damage-over-time effect to enemy targets with each attack.

The Powertech gains access to Ion Gas Cylinder which increases damage and threat-generation against enemies while also lowering total damage taken, providing increased Armor, and increases shield generation chance – this is mostly for Tanking. The other unique Cylinder for Powertechs is High Energy Gas, which increases all elemental damage dealt, this Cylinder would be used mostly for DPS.

Mercenaries gain access to High Velocity Gas, increasing Armor Penetration for more DPS and also Combat Support Cylinder which increases all damage & healing output, and allows you to shoot your allies in the face to apply some minor healing. It does take a little getting used to your Rapid Shots healing allies while Combat Support Cylinder is activated, but it is handy indeed.

Companions

Companions are also an important part of picking any character in SWTOR, and the first companion your Bounty Hunter gets is Mako, a pretty little lady who will heal up your wounds and follow you around with the utmost vigor.

(**Slight Spoiler Note: She tends to enjoy ‘good’ choices, although she loves her credits – so some Dark-side choices she will surprisingly agree with, but in general she tends to disagree with very evil moral choices)

Mako is the first legit Healing Companion that any of the classes get in SWTOR, which is also an added perk. If you decide to go Powertech or DPS Mercenary Spec then Mako will be a very handy addition to your adventuring.

The combination of any class role with a nice healing Companion pretty early in the game makes the Bounty Hunter a fine choice for the indecisive and Newbie MMO player. The combination of the Cylinder system with exciting abilities revolving around explosions, fire, and missiles lend itself to an aesthetically exciting character that also proves to be very versatile. Even once you pick your Advanced Class option, you’re still left with either Tanking/DPS (Powertech) or Healing/DPS (Mercenary) – a nice combo of options.

Species & Appearance

The Bounty Hunter can be played by five of the playable species in SWTOR; Humans, Zabraks, Rattataki, Chiss, and Cyborgs. Ultimately, species and appearance have no effect on your character, but it adds plenty of flavor and each race has its own unique emote which also adds some distinction. Feel free to play around with each, and make sure to choose something that you enjoy and makes you feel like a Bounty Hunter who’s ready to conquer the galaxy.

In terms of the Racial Emotes, my personal favorite for the BH is probably the Cyborg’s ‘Scan’ emote, as it adds some nice Bounty Hunter-eqse flair to your character.

Leveling

Starting off as a Bounty Hunter will land you on Hutta, which is a planet rife with plenty of greed and immoral activity for any up and coming Bounty Hunter. Your quest is to become a contestant in the ‘Great Hunt’, which is pretty much the Superbowl for Bounty Hunters. You’re competing, in usually not a nice way, against various other Bounty Hunters and attempting to win the favor of a Hutt who can make your dreams come true.

While on Hutta you’ll naturally deal with Hutts, but also the Empire, find your first Companion and complete plenty of mayhem for filthy credits. It’s also important to take a break from ruthless Bounty Hunting and remember to pick up the Datacrons on Hutta as well for some permanent stat increases. As far as I’ve been able to discover, there are 3 available Datacrons on Hutta, one for a bonus to Aim, one for Presence, and a Blue Matrix Shard.

Leveling up for the Bounty Hunter was for the most part, a piece of cake. Once you pick-up Mako and have a Healing Companion – you’re able to tackle many of the more difficult tasks, quests, and even Heroic Two-mans become pretty manageable.

The important thing to remember in SWTOR is to follow your main class story line. It will present you with everything you need, for the most part. Following the quest will you lead on the path to get your Companion, join the Great Hunt, “acquire” a ship (which is an awesome quest-line, mind you), and get you to the hub where you’ll be able to select your Advanced Class.

Stats & Equipment

As with all the classes, Bounty Hunters have a Primary Stat which functions as the definitive, most useful stat for them. Aim is the key stat for Bounty Hunters, as it adds damage to Tech skills (yellow damage), standard range damage (white damage), and Healing Tech skills (green). It also increases the Critical Strike chance on these types of abilities as well. Endurance is the second primary stat for most BH gear, increasing hit points and health regeneration.

There are plenty of other secondary stats that will become important to your Bounty Hunter later on, such as Accuracy, Alacrity, Expertise and the like; with stats like Willpower and Strength being much less important, to almost useless for a Bounty Hunter. Accuracy will be an important secondary stat for Hunters, as much of the time they will be attacking from Range – so making sure you hit is of added benefit.

Bounty Hunters also seem to be reliant on Critical Strikes, so secondary stats boosting Crit Chance and Crit Damage will be important as well. But for the most part in early game you’ll find yourself focusing on Aim and Endurance. Also, once you get upgraded to Heavy Armor when you select your AC, don’t forget to swap out/upgrade your Medium Armor gear for the better, Heavy Armor.

Crew Skills

If you’re a big crafting fan, you’ll want to pick up your Crew Skills or Trade Skills as soon as possible and the best opportunity is probably once you reach the Imperial Fleet at around level 10. There are plenty of good crafting options for the Bounty Hunter. The two main skills that stick out are Armortech and Armstech in terms of gear construction, depending on whether or not you want to be able to craft Armor or Weaponry for your character.

The Bounty Hunter uses various guns & assorted weaponry and Medium/Heavy Armor, So Armortech & Armstech are the natural selection if you’re interested in crafting some of your own gear.

If crafting equipment isn’t your thing, then Biochem or Cybertech may be good alternatives to those skills, as having extra ‘Consumables’ on hand or crafting gear for Droids can always come in handy if you’re a big fan of the non-Organic. Depending on what crafting skills you’ve selected, you’ll most likely want to choose the complimenting ‘gathering’ Crew Skill so you will be able to provide yourself with your own materials and save your precious credits.

Below is a list of the suggest pairings of gathering skills and mission skills with the listed crafting skills above.

• Armortech – Scavenging (Gathering), Investigation (Mission Skill), Underworld Trading (Mission Skill)
• Armstech – Scavenging, Investigation, Underworld Trading, Treasure Hunting (Mission Skill)
• Biochem – Bioanalysis (Gathering), Underworld Trading
• Cybertech – Scavenging, Slicing (Gathering), Treasure Hunting, Underworld Trading

With Crew Skills in mind, remember to keep an eye on your wallet – as each mission you send your Companion out on will cost you credits. While leveling up and needing to save for a mount and pay for skills, keeping tabs on your Galactic checkbook is always helpful.

Heat System

Your Bounty Hunter uses the Heat System to execute abilities, starting off with zero Heat and slowly building Heat as you continue to use abilities, with each ability having a ‘Heat Requirement’ or Cost to use. Some abilities, like Rapid Shots (your main attack ability), do not build Heat and it will be important to use abilities that don’t build Heat inbetween the use of Heat-building skills, as to give your Heat System time to cool down.

The Heat System works on a scale of 0-100 and the system is not ‘static’ in its depletion after you’ve built heat; so the less Heat that you have, the faster your Heat will dissipate. You can see your current ‘Dissipation Rate’ to the right of your Heat Bar in-game, represented as small arrows; the more arrows you have, the faster your Heat will dissipate. With this mechanic of Heat dissipating faster the less Heat you have built up, it’s in your Bounty Hunter’s best interests to attempt ‘Heat Management’ (or keeping your Heat at a lower level) so it can continue to deplete at the accelerated rate. There will, of course, be occasions where you’re forced to build up large amounts of Heat quickly, but keep in mind that your Heat bar will not ‘cool down’ as fast as it would if your Heat was only 1/3rd full.

You also have abilities in your arsenal to either lower your current Heat level, or not build any at all. Vent Heat is a prime example of one way to get rid of some of that nasty built up Heat, by venting out 50 Heat over three seconds, although it is on a two minute cooldown so be wary with its usage.

The quicker degradation of Heat when your Heat level is lower is an interesting mechanic, as if you are able to manage your Heat well – you could, in theory, stay at a consistent level and keep using your relevant abilities. As a general rule, I attempt to keep my Heat below 25% or 50% to keep the dissipation rate quick. So, when jumping into your Bounty Hunter, learning Heat Management will be key for future encounters as you continue to level up.

Skill Rotation & Combat

In your early days as a Bounty Hunter you’ll be limited in your abilities, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t efficient at blowing things up. As you level up and continue your adventures, your skill rotation will depend more & more heavily upon your Advanced Class, its Class Roles and Talent Specs.

When dealing with groups of bigger enemies; start off with a Power Shot, Mako missile, Death from Above, or Explosive Dart. Proceed with Rapid Shots, Rail Shot, or Regular fire. Attempt to keep Heat low. If enemies close distance, Rocket Punch + Flamethrower or Vice Versa (with Rocket Punch as a finisher) is a good combination.

One very effective combination for groups, up until at least level 20 (as a Mercenary specifically,) was opening up with Kolto Missile, followed by Death From Above. This combo pretty much eliminated most groups, perhaps needing to throw down a little extra blaster fire at most.

For single-enemies or Rare/Elite enemies; I found starting off with Power Shot, Explosive Dart, and Unload was an effective combo to really start the damage; at that point if Rail Shot is triggered, use it – it’s always a nice boon to add some instant damage.

Overall, Combat with the Bounty Hunter is extremely fun, engaging, and if you’re into pyrotechnics – the BH is your pick.

Conclusion

That’s about it for now. Hopefully you enjoyed this introductory guide to the Bounty Hunter class in SWTOR. Stay tuned for further looks into the intricacies of the Bounty Hunter and other SWTOR-related elements!

See also: Skill rotations, leveling tricks, PvP tactics, credits making and more guides specifically written for Bounty Hunters

Jedi Guardian

A wall between the good people of the Republic and their enemies, the Guardian stands firm in the face of overwhelming odds and dares opponents to attack. Perfect concentration and use of the Force allows smooth movement even in heavy armor–making the Guardian a hard target to take down. Leaders on and off the battlefield, Guardians are known for inspiring allies to amazing feats, making them invaluable for conflicts of any size.

Primary Focus:

• Single Saber
• Melee Combat
• Maintaining Aggro Of Mobs
• Heavy armor
• Tank or heavy DPS

Skill Trees

The two Guardian skill trees are Vigilance and Defense. The shared Guardian and Sentinal skill tree is Focus.

• Vigilance – Orovides greater skill in single-blade offense and the ability to take enemies down quickly.
• Defense – Allows the Guardian to more effectively withstand enemy attacks and protect allies.
• Focus – Specializes in advanced Force techniques and the Shii-Cho lightsaber form.

Abilities

Below is a full list of the abilites that a Jedi Guardian can learn. Please note that a Jedi Guardian is still a Jedi Knight as well, so remember to see what other abilites they will learn from their Jedi Knight ability list.

Read more about Jedi Guardian (including leveling, advanced classes, quest guides, spell rotations, combat, talent trees, mechanics and more…)

Jedi Sentinel

Control and focus are the hallmarks of the Sentinel. Through years of training the Sentinel learns the art of using two Lightsabers simultaneously to create an intricate web of damage that is almost impossible to evade. Manipulating the Force, the Sentinel can see holes in the enemy defense, potential flaws in their own technique and how best to plan for both.

The Jedi Sentinel deals damage primarily through lightsaber strikes, though it does possess several Force powers, most noticeably the iconic Jedi Knight Force Charge.

Primary Focus:

• Dual Wield Saber
• Saber fighting specialist
• Melee DPS
• Temporary battle stealth

Skill Trees

The two Sentinel skill trees are Watchman and Combat. The shared Sentinel and Guardian skill tree is Focus.

• Watchman – The Sentinel masters the Juyo Lightsaber form, making him more dangerous as a fight goes on.
• Combat – Allows the Sentinel to master the Ataru Lightsaber form to rapidly dispatch enemies.
• Focus – Specializes in advanced force techniques and the Shii-Cho lightsaber form.

Abilities

Below is a full list of the abilities that a Jedi Sentinel can learn.  Don’t forget to take a look at the rest of the abilities for Jedi Knight as well.

Read more about Jedi Sentinel (including leveling, advanced classes, quest guides, spell rotations, combat, talent trees, mechanics and more…)

Powertech

Powertechs rely heavily on defense and advanced technology. They are able to use high-powered flame throwers to incinerate their enemies, whilst taking in tons of damage; this would make them the perfect tank in a team.

A Powertech wears heavy plating like a second skin and never balks at taking on the newest prototype technology if it means greater protection and upgraded safeguards. The best in armor shielding, smart defensive tactics and high-powered flamethrowers combine to make the Powertech an impenetrable one-man blockade, from which few enemies escape unscathed.

Primary Focus:

• Flamethrower
• Defense / Energy Shields
• Tank

Skill Trees

The two Powertech skill trees are Shield Tech and Advanced Prototype. The shared Powertech and Mercenary skill tree is Firebug.

• Shield Tech – Further boosts the Powertech’s defensive technology, allowing him to soak up attacks.
• Advanced Prototype – The latest technology makes the Powertech a versatile fighter against any enemy.
• Firebug – The Firebug concentrates on burning their opponents with missiles and technology.

Recommended: Powertech Guide

Mercenary

Mercenaries rely on taking down enemies from afar in a quick and efficient manner. Mercenaries are able to use rockets and missiles to heavily damage their enemies from great distances. Along with this, Mercenaries have the unique ability to heal their teammates.

If the best defense is a good offense, the Mercenary’s got the most intimidating defense in the galaxy. Heavily-modded blasters and deadly heat-seeking missiles make the Mercenary a mobile heavy weapons platform. There’s no problem extra firepower can’t solve, and no one who knows what he’s doing gets between a Mercenary and his target.

Primary Focus:

• Dual Wield Guns
• Missiles
• Ranged DPS
• Healer

Skill Trees

The two Mercenary skill trees are Arsenal and Bodyguard. The shared Mercenary and Powertech skill tree is Firebug.

• Arsenal – Uses advanced rocketry and specializes in taking down their targets quickly.
• Bodyguard – Gives the Bounty Hunter skills and technology to heal and restore his allies.
• Firebug – Upgrades the Bounty Hunter’s weapons to deal more damage his enemies.

Recommended: Mercenary Guide

• Jedi Sage wields a single-bladed lightsaber, has powerful telekinetics/healing and is a ranged controller with damage or healing powers.
• Jedi Shadow wields double-bladed lightsabers, and possess stealth and burst melee damage abilities. They can also tank.

Jedi Sage

The Jedi Sage’s abilities will focus on healing and removing negative effects on allies. They will also have a powerful range of force powers to attack enemies at range.

Read more about Jedi Sage (including leveling, advanced classes, quest guides, spell rotations, combat, talent trees, mechanics and more…)

Skill Trees

The two Sage skill trees are Telekinetics and Seer. The shared Sage and Shadow tree is Balance.

• Telekinetics – Affords the power to distort reality and move waves of energy, tearing apart enemies. In RPG terms, this is a Ranged DPS skill tree. The skills in this tree focus on improving the existing force abilities and conserving force points.
• Seer – Allows the Sage to master the art of the force to heal and protect allies.
• Balance – Enhances the Sage’s force attacks and augments the Shadow’s force and lightsaber abilities.

Abilities

Below is a full list of the abilities that a Jedi Sage can learn. Remember that you also have access to Jedi Consular abilities as well.

Jedi Shadow

The Jedi Shadow’s abilities will focus on dealing burst damage and stealth attacking enemies. Jedi Shadow can also tank using force powers and lightsaber defense.

Skill Trees

• Infiltration – Masters of stealth, these Shadows use positional attacks and surprise to defeat foes. In RPG terms this tree is a melee DPS tree.
• Kinetic Combat – Uses the double-bladed Lightsaber defensively to protect the Shadow and his allies. In RPG terms, this tree would be a tank.
• Balance – Augments the Shadow’s Force and Lightsaber abilities from both classes as it’s the shared skill tree.

Abilities

Below is the known list of the abilities that a Jedi Shadow can learn. Don’t forget that you also have all these Jedi Consular abilities at your disposal as well.

Leveling, advanced classes, quest guides, spell rotations, combat, talent trees, mechanics and more… You can find it all in this guide specifically written for Jedi Shadow players!

 

Learn more in: Jedi Sage guide, Jedi Shadow guide

Imperial Agents have two class specializations or advanced classes: Operative and Sniper. Below you’ll find some details on each one.

Operative

Operatives specialize heavily in stealth and concealment, with this they are able to strike at an enemy without the enemy even knowing they were there. Along with stealth, they are able to specialize in medical technologies, allowing them to heal players. An Operative could make an extremely useful teammate to have on the field.

Combining the expertise of multiple disciplines, Operatives adapt to any environment and any circumstance to ensure the Empire’s agenda is achieved. Whether emerging from stealth to ambush and eliminate enemies in close-range combat or using advanced medical technologies to keep colleagues in the fight, the Operative is able to identify the needs of any situation and react accordingly.

Skill Trees

The two Operative skill trees are Concealment and Medic. The shared Operative/Sniper skill tree is Lethality.

• Concealment – Upgrades stealth and close-ranged attacks, allowing the Agent to strike without detection.
• Medic – Advances the Agent’s keeping both his allies alive and effective.
• Lethality – Leverages the toxic power of poisons to debilitate enemies over the course of long fights.

More about Operative specialization here…

Sniper

Snipers focus on long range battle tactics, using their powerful and deadly Sniper Rifle to eliminate targets from extremely far distances. Along with the Marksmanship ability, they are also able to use probes and droids to spy on or eliminate targets. These are the recon units of the Empire.

Focused on covert tactics and eliminating sensitive targets, Imperial Snipers are the most elite and professional sharpshooters in the galaxy. After extensive training, the Sniper’s long range blaster rifle becomes a weapon of exacting precision, allowing him to target enemies’ vulnerabilities and strike at the perfect moment to turn the tide of battle.

Skill Trees

The two Sniper skill trees are Marksmanship and Engineering. The shared Sniper/Operative skill tree is Lethality.

• Marksmanship – Teaches the Sniper to strike down targets from long range and from the safety of cover.
• Engineering – Empowers the Sniper’s droids and probes to weaken the enemies and give the Empire the advantage.
• Lethality – Leverages the toxic power of poisons to debilitate enemies over the course of a long fight.

More about Sniper specialization here…

Jetpacks are also a common mainstay of a Bounty Hunters equipment due to its ability to get them into places generally inaccessible and out of the thick of fighting. Some Bounty Hunters also prefer the aerial combat option given to them by their jetpack.

The Bounty Hunter provides another unique mechanic in play style due to the need to “vent heat” thereby replenishing your action bar immediately should you become “overheated” in combat. While their action points do regenerate, this buildup, if not managed, can effectively shut down combat abilities in or out of combat.

The counterpart to the Bounty Hunter class is the Trooper. Bounty Hunters’ starting planet is Hutta, and the available species are Human and Rattataki. Available companions are Blizz. Mako, Skadge and 2V-R8. The two advanced classes are Powertech (tanks) and Mercenary (ranged DPS or healing). You can read more about the specializations in the advanced classes article.

Read more about Bounty Hunter class (including leveling, advanced classes, quest guides, spell rotations, combat, talent trees, mechanics and more…)

There are two Smuggler class specializations (advanced classes), and they are Gunslinger and Scoundrel. Below you’ll find more information on each of them.

Gunslinger

The Gunslinger focuses on ranged combat using dual pistols. The Saboteur skill tree teaches the Gunslinger the usage of explosives and advanced tech where the Sharpshooter skill tree focuses on ranged, precise high damage attacks. The shared skill tree Dirty Fighting focuses on using all sorts of dirty tricks to defeat the enemy.

More about Gunslinger spec (builds, abilities, leveling, PvP, tactics, …)

Master of the trick shot, the first to dive for cover and willing to take advantage of every opportunity, the Gunslinger and his dual blasters are the perfect team. The Gunslinger can shoot out a man’s legs to keep him from charging, blind him so he can’t get to his weapons or inflict serious injuries for maximum distraction. There’s a right target for ending every disagreement and the Gunslinger knows them like the inside of his ship.

Primary Focus:

• Dual Pistols
• Quickdraw / Fast Attacks
• Ranged DPS
• Cover

Skill Trees

1. Saboteur – Teaches the Gunslinger to use explosive and advanced tech to sustain a longer assault.
2. Sharpshooter – The Gunslinger focuses on precise, high damage attacks from the safety of cover.
3. Dirty Fighting – These tactics leave no trick off-the-table and often leave an enemy crippled of bleeding.

Scoundrel

The Scoundrel focuses on close to medium ranged combat and healing and can specialize into either Sawbones which focuses primarily on healing or Scrapper which focuses on stealth and using the scatter gun to sneak in, take out the enemy and sneak out. The skill tree Dirty Fighting is shared between the two and focuses on using all sorts of dirty tricks to defeat the enemy.

More about Scoundrel spec (builds, abilities, leveling, PvP, tactics, …)

The Scoundrel doesn’t have time for politeness or a fair fight. In addition to his trusty blaster the Scoundrel packs a stealth belt, a scattergun and a med pack–everything he needs to get in, knock the enemy for a loop and get out alive. Being invisible works best, but even when Sith fly through the air waving Lightsabers all they get to do is look surprised as the Scoundrel’s scattergun sends them back the way they came. The Scoundrel always shoots first.

Primary Focus:

• Blaster ‘Shot Gun’
• Stealth / Cover system / Medicine
• Burst ranged damage or Healing

Skill Trees

1. Sawbones – The Scoundrel patches his allies up using whatever medical supplies he can scrap together.
2. Scrapper – Focuses on stealth and using the scatter gun to sneak in, take out the enemy and sneak out.
3. Dirty Fighting – These tactics leave no trick off-the-table and often leave an enemy crippled or bleeding

There are two class specializations for the Sith Warrior (or otherwise known as advanced classes). They are Sith Marauder and Sith Juggernaut.

Juggernaut

Sith Juggernauts are Sith specialized in combat endurance and were known for wearing armor that provided them special protection in battle.

Sith Juggernauts were known to primarily wield one lightsaber in combat, and were frequently adept at using the Force to cause terror and despair in enemy combatants.

Primary Focus:

• Single Saber / Heavy Armor
• Fear and Darkside Auras
• Tank or Single Saber DPS

The second specialization is the Marauder.

Marauder

Sith Marauders are Sith Warriors who fought for the Sith Empire during the Great Galactic War and the Cold War that followed it circa 3,653 BBY. They specialized in dual lightsabers and dealing high amounts of damage to enemies in melee combat.

Marauders specialize in destroying their enemy; within and without. They are also able to use Stealth.

Primary Focus:

• Dual Wield Sabers / Armor
• Saber Fighting Specialist
• Melee DPS
• Temporary stealth usable in combat

Further reading:

• Sith Juggernaut guide
• Sith Marauder guide

Troopers have access to two different specializations: Vanguard and Commando. You can view both of them in action in the Trooper Progression video, or read on to find out a bit more about each.

Do not miss: Commando spec guide, Vanguard spec guide.

Commando

Commando Troopers are the warriors of the battlefield and focus more on Offense than Defense, using brute force to overwhelm enemies. Commandos are able to take out a vast number of enemies with heavy concussive blasts from their Blaster Cannons.

Commando mainly focuses on using powerful weaponry (such as rockets) to devastate the enemy. It is the “DPS” of the Trooper class and the Commando utilizes the heavier guns that are mainly held with two hands. The Commando can also serve as a healer.

Primary Focus:

• Heavy Blaster Cannon
• Grenades
• Ranged DPS
• Ranged Healing

Skill Trees

The two Commando skill trees are Gunnery and Combat Medic. The shared Commando and Vanguard skill tree is Assault Specialist.

• Gunnery – Focuses on maximizing the assault cannon’s destructive power.
• Combat Medic – Trains the Commando to provide expert first aid to wounded comrades in the heat of battle.
• Assault Specialist – Teaches explosives and grenades to complement either rifles or heavy cannons.

More about Commando spec (builds, abilities, leveling, PvP, tactics, …)

Vanguard

Vanguards go out on the battlefield with heavy armor, able to charge through extreme blaster fire and hostile environments. Their defensive tactics cause them to have a very high survivability.

Vanguards wade into battle wearing advanced heavy armor. They are the first and best line of defense in the Republic military. These steadfast soldiers ignore personal risk, deliberately stepping into the line of fire to divert danger from allies and innocents. Though their tactical role is inherently dangerous, Vanguards have an uncanny survivability due to their expert defensive tactics and the advanced technology at their disposal.

Primary Focus:

• Blaster Rifle
• Energy Shields and Defense
• Tank
• Close range DPS

Skill Trees

The two Vanguard skill trees are Tactics and Shield Specialist. The shared Vanguard and Commando skill tree is Assault Specialist.

• Tactics – Trains the Vanguard how to more effectively deal with close range combatants.
• Shield Specialist – Powers up the Vanguard’s shield generator to absorb firepower and protect their allies.
• Assault Specialist – Teaches explosives and grenades to complement either rifles or heavy cannons.

More about Vanguard spec (builds, abilities, leveling, PvP, tactics, …)