Dark Side Corruption in SWTOR

Reaching in to the dark side of the Force can grant the user incredible power, but its malevolent enegy takes a toll on the user’s mind and body. Flesh and bone lack the endurance needed  to channel the immense power of the dark side for long periods of time, and over time, any creature that leans too far in to the dark side will become physically corrupted by its power. In this video, we’ll be going over how the dark side of the Force will change the appearance of your character in Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Updated for 2022!

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How to Earn Dark Side Points

Players often ask, what’s a quick way to earn Dark Side points to get full dark side corruption?

After a recent update to the game, the only way to get alignment points is to run missions that have a dark or light side decisions in them, or by running Diplomacy missions.

• Diplomacy
• Flashpoints (The Esseles/Black Talon)
• Certain Heroics
• Any story missions that have dark or light decisions

How to Earn Dark Side Points in SWTOR

Dark Side Corruption In-game

As you play the game, you’ll notice your character earns dark side and light side points – these most noticeably come from making dark or light choices in cutscenes during the story with your character. You can also earn dark side points from many other sources based on a toggle found on the bottom right of the screen – you declare your character’s allegiance to the dark side or the light side, and almost any activity in game will earn you dark or light points, including most missions and defeating any enemies.

Allegiance toggle, near the minimap

Your dark side or light side ranking usually does not have a big effect on the story, as your character always gets to make their own decisions independently of their alignment. There are a few cool instances however like in the Sith Inquisitor story, where there are minor variations depending on your character’s alignment. The biggest effect your alignment has on your character is your appearance – as your move towards the dark side of the dark side of the Force, your character will become visually corrupted – their eyes will change, their skin will become paler and lose its color, and the veins of your character’s face will become more visible. This dark side corruption can be toggled on and off in the character panel, which can be opened with C on your keyboard, then by clicking the tiny symbol of an armor set near the numbered tabs at the top, and the setting is called “Show Dark Side corruption” at the bottom.

This panel is also where you can see your current alignment, and how many dark side points you have, by rolling over the alignment bar.

How does Dark Side Corruption look?

Your character’s dark side corruption increases as you gain more dark side points, and will change when your dark side level goes up or down.

Humans

Aliens

Species

Dark Side Corruption Progression

Imperial Zabrak Dark Side Corruption

Twi’lek Dark Side Corruption

Chiss Dark Side Corruption

Nautolan Dark Side Corruption

Mirialian Dark Side Corruption

Togruta Dark Side Corruption

Sith Pureblood Dark Side Corruption

Rattataki Dark Side Corruption

Cathar Dark Side Corruption