BioWare launched Star Wars: The Old Republic in December 2011 and put it on Steam in 2020, and its selling point has never changed: eight fully voiced class stories, four for the Republic and four for the Empire, each a standalone campaign with its own companions and villains. The 7.0 Legacy of the Sith update split those origin stories from your fighting style, so a Jedi Knight can now swing a double bladed saber as a Shadow or throw lightning as a Sorcerer. The level cap sits at 80, and level sync scales you down on old planets so every world stays playable.
Combat in STAR WARS: The Old Republic rewards knowledge over reflexes. Understanding how each mechanic works (and how they interact) is what turns a struggling player into a dominant one. New here? Start with our beginner's guide for the basics.
Core Combat Mechanics
1. Origin story and Combat Style split
You pick an origin story such as Imperial Agent or Jedi Consular for the narrative, then choose a Combat Style separately for how you actually fight. Subscribers can unlock a second Combat Style per character, and each style has three disciplines covering damage, tanking or healing.
Why it matters: This is the foundation of all combat. Everything else builds on this.
2. Level sync across planets
Entering a lower level planet scales your character down to its intended range while keeping your abilities. Tatooine stays a real challenge at level 80, and old side quests still award usable rewards rather than grey text.
Why it matters: The most underrated mechanic. Players who master this early have a massive advantage.
3. Companions and influence
Story companions fight alongside you and can be set to tank, heal or deal damage, which is why almost every solo story mission is soloable. Gifts raise influence up to rank 50, and higher influence makes a healing companion strong enough to carry difficult solo fights.
Why it matters: Unlocks a new layer of gameplay depth once understood.
4. Legacy and alt progression
Every character on your account feeds a shared Legacy that unlocks account wide perks, species options, ship upgrades and travel conveniences. Since the game is built around replaying eight different stories, Legacy is the system that makes the second and third character faster than the first.
Why it matters: The tactical edge that separates average players from advanced ones.
5. Group content ladder
Flashpoints are four player dungeons, Operations are eight and sixteen player raids, and both come in Story, Veteran and Master difficulty. Warzones and Galactic Starfighter cover PvP, with Huttball being the mode nobody else in the genre has.
Why it matters: The endgame optimization mechanic. Small improvements here compound into massive gains.
How These Mechanics Combine
Understanding how mechanics interact is where real optimization happens:
Origin story and Combat Style split + Level sync across planets
You pick an origin story such as Imperial Agent or Jedi Consular for the narrative, then choose a Combat Style separately for how you actually fight. When combined with Level sync across planets, entering a lower level planet scales your character down to its intended range while keeping your abilities. This combination is the core of every effective build.
Companions and influence + Legacy and alt progression
Story companions fight alongside you and can be set to tank, heal or deal damage, which is why almost every solo story mission is soloable. Paired with Legacy and alt progression, every character on your account feeds a shared legacy that unlocks account wide perks, species options, ship upgrades and travel conveniences. This is why the tier list favors builds that leverage both.
Group content ladder as a Multiplier
Flashpoints are four player dungeons, Operations are eight and sixteen player raids, and both come in Story, Veteran and Master difficulty. Warzones and Galactic Starfighter cover PvP, with Huttball being the mode nobody else in the genre has. This system amplifies everything else. The better your Group content ladder optimization, the more your other mechanics pay off.
Combat by Build
Each build approaches combat differently:
Jedi Knight (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Balanced combat style. Key equipment: Lightsaber Primary mechanic: Origin story and Combat Style split
Jedi Knight offers a solid combat experience. Full setup in our builds guide.
Sith Inquisitor (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Balanced combat style. Key equipment: Double bladed lightsaber Primary mechanic: Level sync across planets
Sith Inquisitor offers a solid combat experience. Full setup in our builds guide.
Bounty Hunter (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Balanced combat style. Key equipment: Blaster pistol Primary mechanic: Companions and influence
Bounty Hunter offers a solid combat experience. Full setup in our builds guide.
Imperial Agent (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Balanced combat style. Key equipment: Blaster rifle Primary mechanic: Legacy and alt progression
Imperial Agent offers a solid combat experience. Full setup in our builds guide.
Smuggler (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Balanced combat style. Key equipment: Assault cannon Primary mechanic: Group content ladder
Smuggler offers a solid combat experience. Full setup in our builds guide.
Advanced Combat Techniques
Damage Optimization
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities
- Exploit Origin story and Combat Style split for maximum damage windows
- Chain Level sync across planets and Companions and influence for combo damage
- Use Legacy and alt progression to create openings
Survivability
- Learn enemy patterns before committing to attacks
- Choose your origin story for the writing, not the combat. Since 7.0 the story and the Combat Style are separate choices, so wanting to play a Sniper no longer forces you into the Imperial Agent narrative if you would rather be a Bounty Hunter.
- Position using Origin story and Combat Style split to control spacing
- Save defensive options for guaranteed survival, not comfort
Boss Combat
Bosses test your understanding of every mechanic. See our boss guide for fight-specific strategies.
- Phase awareness: Most bosses change behavior at health thresholds
- Patience over aggression: One extra hit per opening beats dying to greed
- Build preparation: Swap gear and equipment for specific fights when needed
Common Combat Mistakes
- Button mashing: Committed attacks have recovery frames. Mashing locks you into animations.
- Ignoring Level sync across planets: This mechanic exists for a reason. Players who use it take significantly less damage.
- Wrong equipment for the situation: Check our weapons guide for situational picks.
- Not learning from deaths: Every death teaches something. If you don't know why you died, you'll die the same way again.
- Overcommitting: Trading hits works in Tython but will get you killed in Ossus.
More STAR WARS: The Old Republic Guides
- STAR WARS: The Old Republic STAR WARS: The Old Republic Overview
- STAR WARS: The Old Republic Best Builds
- STAR WARS: The Old Republic Tier List
- STAR WARS: The Old Republic Walkthrough
- STAR WARS: The Old Republic Beginner's Guide
- STAR WARS: The Old Republic Tips & Tricks
- STAR WARS: The Old Republic Weapons Guide
- STAR WARS: The Old Republic Boss Guide
- STAR WARS: The Old Republic Maps & Locations
- STAR WARS: The Old Republic Crafting Guide
- STAR WARS: The Old Republic Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy STAR WARS: The Old Republic, check out these related guides:
- New World: Aeternum Combat Guide: mmo game with similar mechanics
- Lost Ark Combat Guide: mmo game with similar mechanics
- The Elder Scrolls Online Combat Guide: mmo game with similar mechanics
