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.
This walkthrough takes you from your first session to endgame content. Each phase has specific goals, priorities, and milestones. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Progression Summary
| Phase | Area | Focus | Build | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Start | Tython | Origin story and Combat Style split basics | Sith Inquisitor | 1-2 hours |
| 2. Early | Dromund Kaas | Level sync across planets mastery | Sith Inquisitor | 3-5 hours |
| 3. Mid | Nar Shaddaa | Companions and influence + gear | Jedi Knight or Sith Inquisitor | 5-10 hours |
| 4. Late | Tatooine | Build optimization | Jedi Knight | 5-10 hours |
| 5. Endgame | Ossus | Min-max | Jedi Knight or Smuggler | Ongoing |
See our maps guide for detailed area breakdowns.
Phase 1: Getting Started (Tython)
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.
Level/Difficulty: Levels 1 to 10 Key Rewards: First lightsaber, starter companion, class story opening
What to Do in Tython
- Learn 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. Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
- Pick Sith Inquisitor as your starting build. See our builds guide for why.
- 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.
- Acquire your first equipment upgrade: Double bladed lightsaber or whatever's available.
- Clear all main content before moving on.
Phase 1 Checklist
- Understand Origin story and Combat Style split fundamentals
- Sith Inquisitor selected and functional
- Tython main content cleared
- Ready for Dromund Kaas
Phase 2: Early Game (Dromund Kaas)
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.
Level/Difficulty: Levels 10 to 16 Key Rewards: Class story progression, first speeder access, Imperial fleet unlock
What to Do in Dromund Kaas
- Work on Level sync across planets. Entering a lower level planet scales your character down to its intended range while keeping your abilities. This system becomes critical from here on.
- Farm for Double bladed lightsaber if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
- 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.
- Complete all objectives before pushing to Nar Shaddaa.
- Consider whether Jedi Knight might suit your playstyle better than Sith Inquisitor.
Phase 2 Checklist
- Level sync across planets integrated into gameplay
- Double bladed lightsaber acquired
- Dromund Kaas fully cleared
- Ready for Nar Shaddaa
Phase 3: Mid Game (Nar Shaddaa)
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.
Level/Difficulty: Levels 20 to 24 Key Rewards: Companion recruitment, faction neutral quest hubs
What to Do in Nar Shaddaa
- Master 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. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
- Start working toward Lightsaber. It's the best equipment and becomes accessible around now.
- 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.
- This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
- Start investing in Legacy and alt progression for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.
Phase 3 Checklist
- Companions and influence mastered
- Lightsaber acquired or in progress
- Nar Shaddaa fully cleared
- Ready for Tatooine
Phase 4: Late Game (Tatooine)
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.
Level/Difficulty: Levels 24 to 28 Key Rewards: Class story chapter, heroic mission rewards
What to Do in Tatooine
- Finalize your build. You should be running Jedi Knight or Sith Inquisitor with optimized gear.
- Lightsaber should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
- 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.
- Group content ladder optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
- Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Ossus.
Phase 4 Checklist
- Build fully optimized
- Lightsaber upgraded to max
- Tatooine fully cleared
- Ready for Ossus
Phase 5: Endgame (Ossus)
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.
Level/Difficulty: Level 70 to 80 content Key Rewards: Endgame gear tokens, daily mission currency, reputation
What to Do in Ossus
- Ossus tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
- 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.
- The endgame loop: run Ossus, optimize gear, push harder content.
- Experiment with Smuggler for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
- This is where Group content ladder mastery separates good players from great ones. See our tips guide for advanced strategies.
Phase 5 Checklist
- Endgame content on farm
- Best-in-slot gear acquired
- Ossus fully cleared
- Ready for challenge content
Common Progression Mistakes
- 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.
Key Tips for Smooth Progression
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
For more advanced strategies, see our tips & tricks guide.
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 Beginner's Guide
- STAR WARS: The Old Republic Tips & Tricks
- 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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