Expansion Combat Styles FAQ

Combat Styles are a new way of being able to choose how you fight with your character in combat in Star Wars: The Old Republic, introduced in the 7.0 Legacy of the Sith expansion.

Before the expansion, you were limited to two Advanced Classes depending on which Class you picked – for example, if you chose the Jedi Knight as your Class, you could only choose to fight as a Guardian or Sentinel as your Advanced Class. Combat Styles are shaking up these restrictions by separating your story from the way you fight in-game, for example, in the expansion you can now play a Jedi Knight as a Shadow with a double-bladed lightsaber, or even as a Sorcerer, and use Force Lightning, all while playing the Jedi Knight origin story. Force users will be restricted to Force-using combat styles, previously known as Advanced Classes, and Tech users are restricted to tech-using Combat Styles.

There’s also an additional restriction when it comes to dark-side and light-side Combat Styles when it comes to Jedi and Sith – when creating a character, you won’t be able to pick up dark-side combat style as a Jedi unless you have also unlocked the Dark V achievement though your legacy, and you’ll need the Light V achievement if you want to choose a light-side combat style for your Sith character. Tech users are able to choose from all eight Combat Styles right away – for example, you can easily play as a Trooper Sniper from level 1! You will have all the combat abilities of your chosen Combat Style – for example, if you choose to play a Sith Inquisitor but choose the Juggernaut Combat Style, you wont’ have any Force Lightning when you go into combat, even if you use it in cutscenes in the story.

Creating Characters / Existing Characters

Will the new character creator seen on the PTS be in the expansion at launch?

Developer Answer: Yes!

Can a brand new free to play player creating a Jedi Knight origin story choose the Sentinel, Guardian, Sage or Shadow Combat Styles right away at level 1 in character creation, or are there any restrictions? (I think the answer is yes they can create.)

Developer Answer: Yes they can.

Can a brand new free to play player creating a Jedi Knight origin story choose the dark-side Marauder, Juggernaut, Sorcerer, and Assassin Combat Styles right away at level 1 in character creation, or are there any restrictions? (I think the answer is no, they would need to unlock the Dark V achievement first.)

Developer Answer: No, they must first unlock Legacy of Sacrifice to be able to choose those Combat Styles from Character Create (Dark V unlock). Once it is unlocked, those options are available for all future characters in the Legacy at Character Create.

Can an experienced player who has unlocked the Dark V achievement on their server create a Jedi Knight origin story and choose the dark-side Marauder, Juggernaut, Sorcerer, and Assassin Combat Styles right away at level 1 in character creation, or are there any restrictions? (I think the answer is yes they can. I do not know if this happens in the character creator or elsewhere.)

Developer Answer: Yes, they will have all options available to them at Character Create.

Can an existing character change their existing combat style, example a former Trooper Vanguard change their Vanguard style to Operative?

DevTracker Answer: We originally planned to allow players to switch their primary combat style with existing characters upon loading up 7.0, unfortunately we discovered some technical hurdles that will prevent us from supporting that. So upon login, existing characters will maintain their existing Advanced Class, which will be converted into their first Combat Style. And eligible players will still be free to choose their second Combat Style.

Will I be able to fight like one Combat Style (Advanced Class) but use the weapons of a different one? For example, fight like a Marauder but use a double-bladed lightsaber? Or be a Guardian with two lightsabers?

Swtorista Answer: You will be restricted to the weapon of your chosen Combat Style.

  • Single Lightsaber: Guardian, Juggernaut
  • Dual Lightsabers: Sentinel, Marauder
  • Double-bladed Lightsaber: Shadow, Assassin
  • Ceremonial Lightsaber, held off to the side: Sage, Sorcerer
  • Dual Blaster Pistols: Gunslinger, Mercenary
  • Single Blaster Pistol: Scoundrel, Powertech
  • Blaster Rifle: Vanguard, Operative
  • Assault Cannon: Commando
  • Sniper Rifle: Sniper

Will I be able to combine my two chosen Combat Styles together, for example use Force Lightning and Force Choke at the same time as a Sorcerer / Marauder?

Swtorista Answer: No. You can only have one combat style active at a time. You can just swap between them, not combine them.

If I choose Sith Inquisitor for the story and use Force Lightning in the cutscenes, will I still be able to use some lightning if I choose the non-lightning-related Juggernaut or Marauder combat styles?

Swtorista Answer: No. If there is a specific ability you want to be able to use, you must choose the Combat Style related to it. Yes, it is strange you will get lightning in the story but not when fighting.

Will I be able to use some “dark side” and some “light side” abilities at the same time? Example Force Choke and Force Sweep and pick which ones I want?

Swtorista Answer: No. You can only use the abilities of your current active Combat Style. But you could choose Guardian as your first combat style and then choose Juggernaut as your second, and you could swap between the two, some fights dark-side abilities and other fights light-side abilities – just not at the same time in the same fight.

Can I be a pistol-wielding Jedi?

Swtorista Answer: No.

Second Combat Style

When can a brand-new subscribed player add a second combat style to their character? (I believe the answer is after their class story chapter 3 is completed, so they have to wait a while.)

Developer Answer: After they complete their Chapter 3 Origin Story. Then they will be able to immediately choose a second Combat Style via a Mission in their Mission Log and Mission Tracker.

If I currently have a Trooper who has finished all her class story including chapter 3, and I have no other characters, if I go to create a new second Trooper, can I add a second combat style right away to her after I create my character without having to wait to finish chapter 3 on that new Trooper character? (I think the answer is yes.)

Developer Answer: Yes. Once you are loaded into the world after Character Create you will have the Mission to choose your second Combat Style immediately available to you.

If I currently have a Trooper who has finished all her class story including chapter 3, if I go to create a new JEDI KNIGHT (a different class/origin story), can I add a second combat style right away after I create my new Knight character without having to wait to finish chapter 3 on that new character? (I am unsure the answer, and this is the one I am most unsure about. To unlock a second combat style right away for new characters do you need to finish ch3 on any 1 character or ch3 for each class individually on your server?)

Developer Answer: Yes. Any character completing their Act 3 Origin Story unlocks the ability Legacy-wide to choose a second Combat Style immediately after Character Create (upon entering the game, the Mission is available and in your Mission Log and Tracker). One important note here: Boosting a character will not count towards this unlock (just as it doesn’t count towards Legendary status).

Can free-to-play and preferred players have a second combat style?

Swtorista Answer: No, second combat style is for subscribers only. If you were a subscriber and switch to preferred, you will be “stuck” with your currently chosen combat style until you re-subscribe.

Flipping Dark/Light

For flipping existing force using characters from Dark to Light, I will be able to flip their initial combat style as a one-time freebie in the expansion if they are aligned to the opposite side of their faction, correct? And I would only need to be Dark I/Light I to trigger the flip option? (I think yes.)

Developer Answer: Yes. You would need any amount of Dark or Light Side Points on the opposite side (A Jedi that is Dark aligned or a Sith that is Light aligned).

If I flip a character, I will be able to add a second combat style of either dark or light to that flipped character, even if I don’t have that Dark V or Light V achievement, right? (I think yes.)

Developer Answer: Yes.

For existing characters that do not have the ability to flip (they aren’t crossing faction/alignment lines), they can only add an opposite dark or light combat style if I have Dark V or Light V unlocked, correct? (I think yes.)

Developer Answer: Yes.

For new characters, if I DO NOT have Dark V/Light V unlocked, they will be able to flip after ch3 if they are the opposite alignment, correct? However if I DO have the Dark V/Light V achievement unlocked, I do not get the option to flip since I had the option to create a “dark combat Jedi” or “light combat Sith” from level 1? (I think yes.)

Developer Answer: Yes, that’s correct.

Switching Combat Styles

What are Loadouts?

Swtorista Answer: Loadouts allow you to save your settings while switching between disciplines or combat styles with the click of a button.

What settings get saved with loadouts?

Here’s the settings that get saved to your Loadouts according to some developer discord posts pre-expansion:

  • Combat Style + Discipline Choice
  • Ability Tree Choices
  • Ability Location on Ability Bars
  • Outfit Designer Chosen Outfit
  • Equipped Gear (from inventory)

When can I change from one of my chosen Combat Styles to the second one and vice versa (ex Sniper ot Mercenary)? Could I change from Vanguard to Commando between bosses in an operation? Is there a timer, or cost? In an instance? In a queue? In combat?

Developer Answer: Anytime you change Discipline (which includes changing Combat Styles or Loadouts that contain a different Discipline or Combat Style), there is a 5 second cooldown before you can change Discipline again (this is for game performance/optimization reasons). The rules are:

  • You cannot change Combat Styles or Disciplines inside an Operation, Flashpoint, PvP Warzone or Arena, or while in Combat
  • You cannot change Combat Styles or Disciplines while in a queue
  • There is no cost to change
  • You can change Combat Styles and Disciplines outside of those restrictions at any time if you have unlocked the Field Respecialization perk
  • If you have not unlocked the Field Respec perk, you can change Combat Styles and Disciplines in any Sanctuary (typically cantinas, also known as rest areas)
  • For all of the above restrictions, the same restrictions apply to switching Loadouts that would also contain the change. For example, a switch from one Loadout for a Vanguard to another with a Commando would be restricted according to the above rules.

When can I change a choice on my “tree” to a different one (ex the level 23 choice branch)? Will I be able to change tree choices easily between bosses in an operation for utility, like favoring speed over damage? Is there a timer, or cost?  In an instance? In a queue? In combat?

Developer Answer: You can change these choices at any time while not in combat. There is no timer or cost. The exception is in PvP matches – you can change between rounds but not during the match. Also important to note if you had Loadout 1 and Loadout 2, and the only difference between the two is Ability Tree choices, you would be able to swap between the two according to the same rules.

When can I change one Loadout to another? Is there a timer, or cost? In an instance? In a queue? In combat? Does it matter what is in the loadout, ex just changing tree choices, or changing between disciplines?

Developer Answer: Explained above! No cost, but the 5 second timer applies if it would switch the Discipline or Combat Style.

Will I need multiple sets of armor, since I can have 2 combat styles and 6 discplines to choose from on one character?

Swtorista Answer: Sort of. You will likely be able to get away with sharing one single set of armor between them all if you are a very casual player. Frequent players will likely want at least 2 sets if they are playing multiple roles – for example to switch between healing and tanking. Lastly, set bonuses on your armor are going away and are instead changing to be attached to your legendary implants – so you will likely want multiple different tacticals and legendary implants, one for each of the disciplines you plan to play to give you bonuses directly related to your discipline.