Originally written as a guide to get into PvP by Shaake (Stack), this guide proved useful in PvE and PvP, alongside being adapted to be more inclusive of all gameplay aspects.
The purpose of this is to try to create an easy entry way for new players that want to jump some of the learning curve without having to search for resources.
Armor
There are 4 types of armor.
- Innate armor: Teras Kasi Master
- Recon armor: Smuggler, Rifleman, Pistoleer
- Battle armor: Pikeman, Swordsman, Fencer, Carbineer, Creature Handler, Doctor, Combat Medic
- Assault armor: Bounty Hunter, Squad Leader, Commando
Professions will reduce the encumbrance of these armors when going up the tree.
There are plenty of options for armor, "End game armors" are considered end game because of their higher durability. They last longer which increases the usable time of your investment. Ensure you're buying armor with sockets.
When an armor chest plate is made, it can have a stat "baked" in. For example, 14 ranged general, 14 melee general.
All armor pieces that offer protection can also have health added to them.
Innate Armor
- This type of armor is from the Teras Kasi Master profession, and provides armor when no armor is being worn
- I would not recommend this at all for end-game PvP or PvE as armor will have more protection depending on the protection focus
Recon Armor
- Look for the highest durability, there should be some new top tier ones from the heroics such as Ghost/Infiltrator/Black Sun
- Do not choose Ubese Armor, as the chest piece includes left and right biceps which reduces the amount of tapes you can use
- Can have Peko feathers, which can provide up to a maximum of 175 health increase for a full suit of recon armor
Battle Armor
- Look for RIS armor, as it offers the highest durability and will last you the longest out of all the battle armor
- Can have both Peko feathers and Krayt scales, which can provide up to a maximum of 700 health increase for a full suit of battle armor
Assault Armor
- Look for Crafted Bounty Hunter armor, as it offers the highest durability and will last you the longest out of all the assault armor
- Can have Peko feathers, which can provide up to a maximum of 175 health increase for a full suit of assault armor
Talking to an armorsmith to create a custom suit will be your best bet instead of trying to find them on vendors.
SEAs/Tapes
These are Skill Enhancing Attachments, these are one of the largest and costliest upgrades. They are also commonly called tapes instead of SEAs.
250k credits is the usual for maxed tapes. You can buy lower ones for less credits when starting out, but ultimately you'll want the best ones. You can also do custom ordering.
You will buy 12 total tapes, 3 exotics and 9 regulars.
These are split into 2 groups, Exotics and Regular tapes.
Exotic tapes can be added to weapons, shirts, and chest armor - their skill mods are different from regular tapes.
For your 9 regular tapes, for most combat characters, go for: Melee OR Ranged General / Defense General / Opportune Chance.
For your last 3 Exotic tapes, make it based on your weapon e.g.: Two-Handed Weapon Accuracy 17, Two-Handed Weapon Speed 17, Two-Handed Melee Action Cost 3. Remember to also add a specific Exotic +35 bangle that has your weapon's stats e.g.: Two-Handed Defense 35.
A strong character build, capped armor, 9 regular and 3 exotic tapes, and with a jewelry set from the
Heroic Jewelry Sets, you will be
very strong. And we have not discussed foods/drinks/stims/spices yet!
Example of a maxed exotic tape:
You'll attach exotic tapes to:
-Weapon
-Shirt
-Chest
Regular tapes will be added to the rest of your armor. These are regular because they have regular skill mods in comparison to the exotic tapes.
Example of a maxed regular tape would be 35 defense general, 35 melee general, 35 toughness boost.
The following picture is not maxed but can be an affordable alternative when starting out:
These can be added to:
-Left and Right Bicep
-Left and Right Bracer
-Boots
-Pants
-Gloves
-Helmet
-Personal Shield Generator
Slicing
You can slice any armor with protection including your personal shield generator(psg)
This includes all armor excluding gloves and boots, as they do not provide protection.
Armor Slicing:
There are a number of different slices that can be completed, the customization will total 100%:
Current PvP and PvE meta is:
- 75% armor break reduction for 60%
- 40% drop resilience for 25%
- 1% absorption for 15%
Weapon slicing:
There are a number of different slices that can be completed, the customization will total 100%:
Current PvP and PvE meta is:
- 8% damage slice for 60%
- 2% speed slice for 20%
- 3% critical shot chance for 20%
If you're still with me, your armors should look something like this:
Personal Shield Generator (PSG):
Helmet:
Chest:
Weapons
You need a custom weapon made by a weaponsmith to be viable, currently kinetic weapons are the strongest in pvp, but either energy or kinetic works for pve. For the example, we'll follow the PvP meta.
Looted weapons, and quest weapons are not enough. If you receive or find a weapon skin you like you can have that one turned into a schematic then created by a weaponsmith.
For this section we will just touch on ranged weapons, melee weapons are similar.
Example, rifles Jenkins J-1 is the current go to weapon
Your weapon base type will be Kinetic, similar to armor you will add an exotic SEA and slice the weapon as explained before.
Augments can also be added at the time of creation.
The following is an example of 225 health increase but you can also add 225 action instead of health:
Ranged Critical Chance:
Weapon Pups:
You will want to keep a pup (powerup) on your weapon at all times, the increase in performance is too much not to have.
You will be able to select damage, accuracy, or speed powerups. These have a certain amount of uses so I recommend buying a factory crate and having it on you at all times.
They are ranged or melee specific so be aware which one you purchase.
You will drag and drop these onto your weapon. Powerups will increase decay rate of the weapons.
Example of melee damage power up:
What your weapon will look like when finished:
Weapon:
Consumables
Food, this section is huge. I’m just going to list all the food available for pvp. I try to have a
factory crate of everything pertaining to the correct spec on me just in case.
You have 2 stomach meters, Food and Drink. These both go to 100%
Food fills the food meter
Drink fills the drink meter
In the next section 10 "Fill" is considered 10% capacity, you'll have a few that you will want on at all times, others will be situational for your professions and who you will be fighting, and lastly things you will be using during the fights as they have low duration.
I’ll break this up into sections of
-Always on
-Situational
-During fights
Always on:
Situational:
During Fights:
Spice and Stims:
-Booster Blue:
Must be up during combat, after the 15 minute timer you will go through 30 seconds of sickness, avoid combat for this sickness.
-Stims:
Even though you may have healing through professions, stims are an extra heal that can be used while stunned, or knocked down. Always have these available, they will save you.
-Enhancers:
These are pricey, they are for min-maxers that want every opportunity possible.
They enhance, Bacta Toss, Bacta Spray, Bacta Jab, Bacta Infusion.
Ensure you buy the proper ones for the skills you have. You can move these to a backpack to stop consuming charges. Each heal is one charge.
How to find pvpers
The galaxy is a huge place, how is anyone supposed to find a special forces player?
Get yourself a War Intelpad.
Next Check “Factional Presence”. This will show you which players are special forces (PvP flagged).
Once you find which planet they’re on open your planetary map.
Select “Galactic Civil War Factional Presence” the green pin with yellow X will give you an approximate location of where the flagged person is. The pin will be placed within 500sq meters of the target.
The pin updates around every minute so keep an eye on them. Pins do not display if they are over water, or inside a building.
Closeout/Credits/Where to buy
Just to close it out, PVP can seem intimidating but a lot of the things in this guide translate to PVE as well.
Don’t be discouraged if it seems like you can’t win. I was slaughtered dozens of times, it really does take practice. Keep dueling, keep going SF (type /pvp twice), and keep taking bounties. For me personally I had such huge adrenaline rushes that I would always click the wrong thing, or forget something, or just tunnel vision until I died, it took me weeks of practice. I think Chupa and I have a record of 15-2 in his favour (I’ll get you back).
If you want to practice you can usually find SF imperials outside of Mos Eisley Cantina.
Huge shoutout to the following who gave me lots of information and answered my questions when I was starting out in no particular order. Without them I’d still be in imperial theme park armor with a leveling pike getting slaughtered without food.
Rohlan
Volkish
Remis
Leluthien
Cabol
Abraxas
And the adorable Rebel scum, who without them I wouldn’t keep logging in to go AFK outside of Mos Eisley with my buds
Chupa
Rozay
Suma
Philmor
Jastor
Prudii
Where I get my stuff (this is out of date, please check vendor tab on Bazaar and search galaxy wide as always!):
These are not the only places to get it. We have plenty of awesome crafters across the galaxy, check the R3 trade channel for more
Weaponsmith - Caligari - Custom weapons by appointment only
Armorsmith - Ralna - Lok, Volcano Bay 3607, -5548
Slicing - Remis - Remis#132 on discord
Oasis Mall:
Food - Suma - Tatooine, Mos Eisley 3604 -5672
Stimpacks/Enhancers - Sawbones - Tatooine, Mos Eisley 3610 -5650
Armorsmith/Weaponsmith - Sena - Tatooine, Mos Eisley 3610 -5650
Spices/Pups - Sena - Tatooine, Mos Eisley 3610 -5650
SEAs/Tapes - Philmor - Tatooine, Mos Eisley 3610 -5650
Hope to see you out there, for the Empire!
-Shaake (Stack)
