Taris Side Quests

Welcome to Taris, your initial major hub in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. While the main questline will guide you through the planet's various districts, a wealth of side quests awaits, offering valuable experience, credits, unique items, and crucial opportunities to shape your character's alignment. Engaging with these optional objectives is highly recommended to bolster your party's strength and prepare for the challenges ahead.

Taris's side quests often revolve around the simmering gang warfare between the Black Vulkars and the Hidden Beks, the plight of the Undercity's inhabitants, or the general struggles of a planet under Sith occupation. Pay close attention to NPC dialogue and explore every accessible area thoroughly to uncover these opportunities.

Key Taris Side Quests & Walkthroughs

1. The Promised Land

Location: Undercity, near the entrance to the Lower City.

Initiation: Speak with Gadon Thek, the leader of the Hidden Beks, in the Hidden Bek Base in the Lower City. He will mention a group of refugees in the Undercity who are struggling. Alternatively, you can encounter the refugees directly in the Undercity and speak with their leader, Rukil.

Objective: Help the Undercity refugees find a new, safer home.

Walkthrough:

Speak with Rukil: Find Rukil in the Undercity, near the entrance to the Lower City. He will explain their desperate situation and ask for your help in finding a new home.
Find the Rakghoul Serum: Rukil believes a Rakghoul serum could help them survive in the sewers. He directs you to the Medical Bay in the Upper City.
Acquire the Serum:
- Travel to the Upper City North district and locate the Medical Bay.
- Speak with Dr. Zax. He will inform you that he has no serum but directs you to a patient, Zaxby, who might know something.
- Speak with Zaxby. He will reveal that the serum was stolen by a former patient, Zelka Forn, who now runs a shop in the Upper City South.
- Head to Upper City South and find Zelka Forn's shop.
- Speak with Zelka. He will tell you that the serum was stolen from him by the Black Vulkars.
- Retrieve the Serum from the Black Vulkars: You will need to infiltrate the Black Vulkar Base (part of the main quest). The serum is located in a footlocker in the Vulkar Base Garage, near the Swoop Bike.
- Return to Zelka Forn with the serum. He will be grateful and give you the Rakghoul Serum.
Return to Rukil: Bring the Rakghoul Serum back to Rukil in the Undercity.
Decision Point (Light/Dark Side Alignment):
- Light Side: Give Rukil the serum. He will be overjoyed, and the refugees will be able to move to a safer location. This earns you significant Light Side points.
- Dark Side: Demand payment from Rukil for the serum. He will reluctantly agree, but you will gain Dark Side points. Alternatively, you can refuse to give him the serum at all, which also yields Dark Side points.

Rewards:

Experience Points (XP)
Credits (if you demand payment)
Influence on your Light/Dark Side alignment

2. Pazaak Den

Location: Upper City Cantina.

Initiation: Enter the Upper City Cantina and approach the Pazaak table. Speak with the Pazaak Player or Garouk, the Pazaak Den owner.

Objective: Play Pazaak against various opponents to win credits and Pazaak cards.

Walkthrough:

Learn the Rules: If you're new to Pazaak, speak with Garouk to understand the rules of this popular card game.
Acquire a Pazaak Deck: You can purchase a basic Pazaak deck from Garouk or other merchants.
Challenge Opponents: There are several opponents to challenge in the Cantina, each with increasing difficulty and higher stakes.
- Beginner Player: Easy, low stakes.
- Intermediate Player: Moderate difficulty, better payouts.
- Expert Player: Challenging, significant credit rewards.
- Garouk: The toughest opponent, offering the best rewards.
Win Pazaak Cards: As you defeat opponents, especially Garouk, you can win rare Pazaak side cards that improve your deck. These are crucial for later, more challenging Pazaak matches throughout the galaxy.

Strategy Tips:

Build a Balanced Deck: Aim for a mix of positive, negative, and +/- cards. Cards like +/-1, +/-2, and +/-3 are incredibly versatile.
Know When to Stand: Don't be greedy. If you have a decent hand (17-20), consider standing, especially if your opponent has a high score.
Use Side Cards Wisely: Save your crucial +/- cards for when you're close to 20 or need to avoid busting.

Rewards:

Credits (variable, depending on wins)
Pazaak Side Cards (essential for future Pazaak challenges)
Experience Points (minor)

3. Missing Selkath

Location: Upper City North, near the entrance to the Lower City.

Initiation: Speak with Larkin, a distraught human, in the Upper City North district. He will be frantically searching for his missing Selkath friend, Gana Lavin.

Objective: Find Gana Lavin and determine her fate.

Walkthrough:

Speak with Larkin: He will explain that Gana went to the Lower City and hasn't returned.
Investigate the Lower City: Head to the Lower City. You'll find a group of Black Vulkar thugs harassing a Rodian near the entrance to the Undercity.
Confront the Vulkars:
- Option 1 (Light Side): Intervene and defeat the Vulkars. The Rodian will thank you and tell you that he saw the Vulkars take Gana Lavin into their base.
- Option 2 (Dark Side): Ignore the Vulkars or even side with them. You might still get information from the Rodian if you intimidate him, but it will cost you Dark Side points.
Infiltrate the Black Vulkar Base: (This is part of the main quest to acquire the Swoop Bike parts). Gana Lavin is being held captive inside.
Find Gana Lavin: She is located in a cell within the Black Vulkar Base. You'll need to defeat several Vulkar guards to reach her.
Decision Point (Light/Dark Side Alignment):
- Light Side: Release Gana Lavin from her cell. She will thank you and return to Larkin. This earns you Light Side points.
- Dark Side: Demand payment from Gana for her release. She will reluctantly agree, but you will gain Dark Side points. Alternatively, you can leave her in the cell, which also yields Dark Side points.
Return to Larkin: If you released Gana, return to Larkin in the Upper City North. He will be immensely grateful.

Rewards:

Experience Points (XP)
Credits (if you demand payment from Gana)
Influence on your Light/Dark Side alignment

4. Dia's Bounty

Location: Upper City Cantina.

Initiation: Speak with Dia, a Twi'lek, in the Upper City Cantina. She will tell you that she has a bounty on her head from the Black Vulkars and asks for your help.

Objective: Deal with Dia's bounty hunter problem.

Walkthrough:

Speak with Dia: She will explain that a bounty hunter named Holdan is after her.
Find Holdan: Holdan is usually found in the Lower City Cantina.
Confront Holdan:
- Option 1 (Light Side): Persuade Holdan to leave Dia alone. If your Persuade skill is high enough, you can convince him to drop the bounty and leave Taris. This earns you Light Side points.
- Option 2 (Neutral/Dark Side): Pay Holdan to leave Dia alone. He will demand 100 credits. This is a neutral option.
- Option 3 (Dark Side): Kill Holdan. This will result in a fight, and you will gain Dark Side points.
Return to Dia: Inform Dia of the outcome.

Rewards:

Experience Points (XP)
Credits (if you paid Holdan, Dia will reimburse you)
Influence on your Light/Dark Side alignment

5. Duel Ring

Location: Lower City Cantina.

Initiation: Speak with Ajuur the Hutt in the Lower City Cantina. He runs the illegal Duel Ring.

Objective: Participate in a series of one-on-one duels to earn credits and fame.

Walkthrough:

Speak with Ajuur: He will explain the rules and introduce you to the first opponent.
Fight Opponents: You will face a series of increasingly difficult opponents.
- Bendak Starkiller (Final opponent)
Bendak Starkiller: The final and most challenging opponent.
- Strategy: Bendak is tough. Ensure you have good armor, a strong melee weapon (or blasters if you prefer ranged combat), and plenty of medpacs. Use stimulants if necessary. Focus fire and use any combat abilities your character possesses.
- Missable: If you defeat Bendak Starkiller, you will receive his unique blaster. However, if you refuse to fight him or leave Taris before defeating him, you cannot obtain this item later.

Rewards:

Credits (significant, especially from later duels)
Experience Points (XP)
Bendak's Blaster (unique item, obtained by defeating Bendak Starkiller)
- Stats: Attack Modifier: +2, Damage: 2-12 Energy, Feats Required: Blaster Pistol Proficiency
Influence on your Light/Dark Side alignment (fighting in the illegal ring generally leans towards Dark Side, but the duels themselves are not alignment-specific).

General Taris Side Quest Tips & Pitfalls

Explore Thoroughly: Many quests are initiated by simply talking to NPCs in various districts. Don't rush through areas.
Check Your Journal: Keep an eye on your quest log (Journal) for updates and reminders on your current objectives.
Save Frequently: Especially before making critical dialogue choices or engaging in challenging combat.
Light/Dark Side Choices: Taris offers numerous opportunities to gain initial Light or Dark Side points. Pay attention to dialogue options marked with (Light Side) or (Dark Side) if you're aiming for a specific alignment. For example, helping the downtrodden often yields Light Side points, while exploiting others or engaging in ruthless combat can net you Dark Side points.
Companion Influence: While not explicitly a "side quest," your actions and dialogue choices on Taris will begin to influence your companions (Carth, Mission, Zaalbar). Pay attention to their reactions, as positive or negative influence can unlock unique dialogue and even combat bonuses later on.
Missable Quests: Some quests, particularly the Duel Ring, can be missed if you progress too far in the main story or leave Taris. It's advisable to complete all desired side quests before advancing to the final stages of the Taris main questline.

By diligently pursuing these side quests, you'll not only enrich your Taris experience but also set a strong foundation for your journey across the galaxy.

Compare taris side quests inAssassin's Creed Origins