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.
These tips go beyond the basics. They're the strategies experienced players use to play more efficiently, the hidden mechanics most people miss, and the optimizations that compound over a full playthrough. If you're just starting, check our beginner's guide first.
Essential Tips
1. Choose your origin story for the writing, not the combat
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.
2. The Imperial Agent story is widely considered the strongest of the eight, with the Sith Warrior and Jedi Knight close behind
The Imperial Agent story is widely considered the strongest of the eight, with the Sith Warrior and Jedi Knight close behind. If you only play one character to the end, pick on that basis rather than on class power.
3. Set your companion to the healing role for solo play and keep raising influence with gifts
Set your companion to the healing role for solo play and keep raising influence with gifts. A high influence healer companion makes almost every solo story fight comfortable even in mediocre gear.
4. You can level to the cap on class story missions plus a handful of planetary quests
You can level to the cap on class story missions plus a handful of planetary quests. Grinding every side quest on every planet is the fastest way to burn out before the story pays off in its final chapters.
5. Subscribing for a single month unlocks the expansions permanently for that account and drops you to Preferred status afterwards with most of the content still accessible
Subscribing for a single month unlocks the expansions permanently for that account and drops you to Preferred status afterwards with most of the content still accessible. It is the cheapest route into the full story.
6. Spacebar through cutscenes only if you have already seen them
Spacebar through cutscenes only if you have already seen them. The voiced dialogue is the entire reason this game exists, and the choices you make in conversations change companions, rewards and later story beats.
7. Run Hammer Station repeatedly in group finder if you want fast levels
Run Hammer Station repeatedly in group finder if you want fast levels. It is short, popular and awards a large chunk of experience, and the queue pops quickly at nearly any hour.
8. Legacy perks are account wide, so unlocking travel conveniences and experience boosts on your first character makes every subsequent one measurably faster
Legacy perks are account wide, so unlocking travel conveniences and experience boosts on your first character makes every subsequent one measurably faster. Buy the ship droid and quick travel perks early.
9. Level sync means old planets stay dangerous, so do not assume a level 80 character trivialises Taris or Balmorra
Level sync means old planets stay dangerous, so do not assume a level 80 character trivialises Taris or Balmorra. Your abilities carry over but the numbers get scaled, and a group of three enemies still needs actual cooldowns.
10. Operations come in Story, Veteran and Master difficulty, and Story mode is designed for players who have never raided
Operations come in Story, Veteran and Master difficulty, and Story mode is designed for players who have never raided. Eternity Vault and Karagga's Palace remain the gentlest introduction to eight player content.
Advanced Strategies
Build Optimization
The difference between an average build and an optimized one is massive. See our builds guide for full breakdowns.
For Jedi Knight (A-Tier):
- Focus on Origin story and Combat Style split combinations for maximum output.
- Core gear: Lightsaber
- Stat priority: Offensive stats first
For Sith Inquisitor (A-Tier):
- Versatile approach that handles any situation.
- Core gear: Double bladed lightsaber
- Stat priority: Balanced stats
Mechanic Interactions
Understanding how STAR WARS: The Old Republic's systems interact is where the real optimization lives. Our combat guide covers this in detail.
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. Combined with Level sync across planets, entering a lower level planet scales your character down to its intended range while keeping your abilities.
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. When 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.
Group content ladder scaling: 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.
Equipment Efficiency
| Equipment | Best Use Case | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lightsaber | Tanking disciplines and Force casters who need an offhand slot for defensive or healing stats. | The single saber used by Guardians, Juggernauts, Sages and Sorcerers. |
| Double bladed lightsaber | Stealth players who want to open fights on their own terms and escape when they go badly. | The Assassin and Shadow weapon, a saberstaff that fits stealth based melee. |
| Blaster pistol | Non Force characters wanting either the cover based ranged game or mobile close range damage. | The Smuggler, Gunslinger, Scoundrel, Mercenary and Powertech weapon, used singly or in pairs. |
| Blaster rifle | Vanguard and Powertech style play where you fight at short to medium range in heavy armour. | The Trooper and Imperial Agent standard, and the entry weapon for Vanguard and Operative disciplines. |
| Assault cannon | Republic players who want ranged healing or sustained ranged damage without leaving heavy armour. | The Commando weapon, a heavy repeating cannon that supports both the Gunnery damage discipline and the Combat Medic healing discipline. |
Location Efficiency
Tython (Levels 1 to 10): The Jedi starting world, where Knights and Consulars begin training among the ruins of the order's ancient home. Short, focused and the cleanest introduction to the Republic side of the story.
Dromund Kaas (Levels 10 to 16): The Imperial capital and the second world for Sith Warriors, Inquisitors, Bounty Hunters and Agents. Storm lashed jungle around the Citadel, and the point where the Empire stories properly begin.
Nar Shaddaa (Levels 20 to 24): The smuggler's moon, shared by both factions. Neon vertical cityscape, a casino, and some of the best written side content in the early game for Agents and Smugglers in particular.
Tatooine (Levels 24 to 28): The desert planet, and the first world large enough that you genuinely need a speeder. Sand people, Jawas, and long treks between quest hubs that level sync keeps relevant at 80.
Ossus (Level 70 to 80 content): Endgame territory added late in the Onslaught era, where Republic and Empire fight openly over a rediscovered Jedi world. Daily areas here feed directly into current gearing.
Mistakes Even Veterans Make
- Picking a class purely for its combat abilities, then discovering the story attached is the one you least wanted to play through.
- Leaving companions at low influence and set to damage, which makes solo story fights far harder than the designers intended.
- Completing every side quest on every planet, arriving overlevelled and bored long before the class story finishes.
- Playing free to play without ever subscribing a single month, which locks out expansions and adds restrictions on inventory, credits and hotbars.
- Skipping the Legacy perks that speed up travel and experience, then wondering why the second character feels as slow as the first.
Pro Quick Tips
- 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.
- The Imperial Agent story is widely considered the strongest of the eight, with the Sith Warrior and Jedi Knight close behind. If you only play one character to the end, pick on that basis rather than on class power.
- Set your companion to the healing role for solo play and keep raising influence with gifts. A high influence healer companion makes almost every solo story fight comfortable even in mediocre gear.
- Start with Sith Inquisitor, switch to Jedi Knight when ready
- Invest in Lightsaber above everything else
- Clear areas in order: Tython → Dromund Kaas → Nar Shaddaa → Tatooine → Ossus. See our maps guide
- Origin story and Combat Style split + Level sync across planets together are stronger than either alone
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 Weapons Guide
- STAR WARS: The Old Republic Combat 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
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