Character Progression

Mastering character progression in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is crucial for your journey from a Republic soldier to a powerful Jedi. This section will guide you through optimal attribute distribution, skill selection, feat choices, and strategic class progression to ensure your protagonist and companions are battle-ready and capable of tackling any challenge the galaxy throws at them.

Starting Attributes: Laying the Foundation

Your initial attribute spread at character creation significantly impacts your entire playthrough. While personal preference plays a role, certain builds are demonstrably more effective. We recommend the following for a balanced, powerful Jedi Guardian or Sentinel:

Strength (STR): 14. This provides a solid boost to melee attack and damage, essential for early game combat before you fully embrace the Force.
Dexterity (DEX): 10. While not a primary stat for Guardians, a base of 10 ensures you're not overly penalized for ranged attacks or defense. Sentinels might consider a slightly higher DEX if they plan on using blasters more frequently.
Constitution (CON): 14. High Constitution is vital for increased hit points and improved Fortitude saves, making you more resilient against debilitating effects. This is a non-negotiable stat for any build.
Intelligence (INT): 10. A base of 10 is sufficient for most builds, allowing for a decent number of skill points. If you plan on being a skill-heavy character (e.g., a Scoundrel/Consular), you might invest more here.
Wisdom (WIS): 14. This is paramount for Jedi, as it directly influences your Force points, Force power effectiveness, and Will saves. Prioritize this after CON.
Charisma (CHA): 14. Charisma boosts your Persuade skill and the effectiveness of certain Force powers. A high CHA is incredibly useful for dialogue options and can make many encounters easier.

Strategy: As you level up, prioritize increasing your primary attack attribute (STR for melee, DEX for ranged) and your Force-related attributes (WIS and CHA). Aim to increase your chosen primary attribute by at least 2 points by the end of the game, and your WIS/CHA by 2-4 points.

Skill Selection: Beyond Combat

Skills offer utility outside of combat and can unlock new dialogue options, bypass obstacles, and improve your overall experience. While you won't be able to max out every skill, focus on those that complement your playstyle and provide essential benefits.

Persuade: This is arguably the most important skill in the game. Max it out as soon as possible. It opens up countless dialogue options, often leading to peaceful resolutions, additional experience, or unique rewards. You'll find opportunities to use Persuade in almost every major location, from Taris to the Star Forge.
Repair: Essential for repairing droids, particularly HK-47. A high Repair skill allows you to fully upgrade HK-47, turning him into a formidable companion. You'll need at least 17 ranks (including equipment bonuses) to complete all his upgrades.
Computer Use: Useful for bypassing security systems, disabling turrets, and extracting information. A moderate investment (around 10-12 ranks) is usually sufficient.
Treat Injury: While medpacs are plentiful, a higher Treat Injury skill makes them more effective, saving you valuable healing items. Keep it at a respectable level, especially if you're playing a less durable class.
Awareness: Helps detect mines and hidden enemies. A few ranks are beneficial, but your companions can often cover this.
Demolitions: Useful for disarming and setting mines. Similar to Awareness, companions can often handle this.
Stealth: Only invest in this if you're playing a Scoundrel or have a specific stealth-focused build in mind. Otherwise, it's generally not a high priority.

Actionable Tip: When you gain a level, always put at least one point into Persuade until it's maxed. Then, prioritize Repair for HK-47's upgrades. Distribute remaining points based on your immediate needs or preferred utility skills.

Feats: Shaping Your Combat Prowess

Feats are crucial for defining your combat style and enhancing your abilities. Choose them wisely to maximize your effectiveness in battle.

General Feats for All Jedi

Two-Weapon Fighting: Absolutely essential if you plan on dual-wielding lightsabers (highly recommended for Guardians and Sentinels). Take all three ranks (Two-Weapon Fighting, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Master Two-Weapon Fighting) as soon as they become available.
Conditioning: Provides a bonus to all saving throws, making you more resistant to Force powers, poisons, and other debilitating effects. A solid choice for any character.
Implant Level 1/2/3: Allows you to equip increasingly powerful implants, which offer significant attribute bonuses, skill boosts, and defensive improvements. Invest in these as soon as you can equip better implants.

Guardian-Specific Feats

Guardians excel in direct combat and lightsaber mastery.

Flurry/Power Attack/Critical Strike: Choose one of these combat styles and invest heavily in it.
- Flurry: Offers an extra attack at a slight attack penalty. Excellent for maximizing damage output.
- Power Attack: Sacrifices accuracy for increased damage. Good for enemies with low defense.
- Critical Strike: Increases your critical hit chance. More situational but can be devastating.
Recommendation: For most Guardians, Flurry is the most consistent and powerful choice. Take all three ranks (Flurry, Improved Flurry, Master Flurry).
Weapon Focus/Specialization (Lightsaber): These feats provide attack and damage bonuses with lightsabers. Take them as soon as you can.

Sentinel-Specific Feats

Sentinels balance combat with Force powers and are highly resistant to Force effects.

Two-Weapon Fighting: Still highly recommended for Sentinels who want to engage in melee.
Conditioning: As above, a strong defensive choice.
Implant Level 1/2/3: For accessing powerful implants.
Toughness: Provides additional hit points per level. Sentinels, while more durable than Consulars, benefit from extra HP.

Consular-Specific Feats

Consulars are masters of the Force, relying heavily on their powers.

Force Focus: Increases the difficulty class (DC) of your offensive Force powers, making them harder for enemies to resist. Absolutely essential.
Force Immunity: Provides resistance to certain Force powers.
Conditioning: For improved saving throws.
Implant Level 1/2/3: For attribute-boosting implants.
Two-Weapon Fighting: While not their primary focus, dual-wielding can still be useful for Consulars in a pinch.

Feat Progression Strategy: Prioritize Two-Weapon Fighting early if you plan on dual-wielding. Then, focus on your chosen combat style (Flurry, Power Attack, or Critical Strike) or Force Focus for Consulars. Integrate Conditioning and Implant feats as they become available and beneficial.

Jedi Class Selection: When to Transition

The optimal time to become a Jedi is a critical decision that impacts your entire playthrough. You gain your Jedi class on Dantooine after completing the Jedi Enclave trials.

Level 2 (Scoundrel/Soldier/Scout) to Level 8 (Jedi Guardian/Sentinel/Consular): This is the recommended progression. By transitioning around level 2, you gain access to Jedi powers and feats much earlier, allowing you to develop your Force abilities throughout the majority of the game.
Level 4 (Scoundrel/Soldier/Scout) to Level 6 (Jedi Guardian/Sentinel/Consular): A slightly later transition, providing a few more base class feats and skills before committing to the Jedi path.
Level 7 (Scoundrel/Soldier/Scout) to Level 3 (Jedi Guardian/Sentinel/Consular): This "min-max" approach maximizes your starting class feats and skills, but significantly delays your access to powerful Force powers. This is generally only recommended for experienced players who know exactly what they are building.

Recommendation: For a first-time or balanced playthrough, aim to become a Jedi between levels 2 and 4. This provides a good balance of early game combat prowess and sufficient time to develop your Jedi abilities.

Companion Progression: Supporting Your Journey

While your protagonist is the star, your companions are invaluable. Here are some key considerations for their progression:

Carth Onasi: A Soldier, excellent with blasters. Focus on feats like Rapid Shot/Power Shot, Two-Weapon Fighting (if dual-wielding blasters), and Weapon Focus/Specialization (Blaster Pistol/Rifle). Equip him with the best blasters you find, such as the Mandalorian Heavy Pistol or the Sith Assault Rifle.
Mission Vao: A Scoundrel, excels in stealth and skills. Max out her Stealth, Demolitions, and Security. Give her a good vibroblade or short lightsaber for melee, and equip her with the Mission's Vibroblade once you find it.
Zaalbar: A Wookiee Scout, strong in melee. Focus on Flurry/Power Attack and Two-Weapon Fighting if you give him two melee weapons. Equip him with a good vibro-axe or the Bacca's Ceremonial Blade.
Bastila Shan: A Jedi Sentinel. Focus on Force powers that complement your own, such as Force Valor, Stasis Field, and Energy Resistance. Give her a double-bladed lightsaber.
Juhani: A Jedi Guardian. Similar to your own Guardian build, focus on Flurry/Power Attack and Two-Weapon Fighting. Equip her with a good lightsaber.
HK-47: A Combat Droid. Max out his Repair skill (with your protagonist's help) to unlock all his upgrades. Focus on feats like Rapid Shot/Power Shot and Weapon Focus/Specialization (Blaster Rifle). Equip him with the best heavy blaster rifles available, such as the Heavy Repeating Blaster.
Canderous Ordo: A Soldier, a tank. Focus on Toughness, Flurry/Power Attack, and Two-Weapon Fighting (if using two melee weapons). Equip him with heavy armor and powerful melee weapons.
T3-M4: A Utility Droid. Max out his Computer Use, Repair, and Demolitions. He's excellent for bypassing security and disarming mines.

By following these detailed guidelines, you'll craft a formidable protagonist and a well-rounded team, ready to face the challenges of the Old Republic and shape the destiny of the galaxy.