mmobits.

com /2020/08/08/swtor-beginner-tips-and-advice-which-class-should-you-play/

SWTOR Beginner Tips and Advice – Which Class Should you

Play?
Xam Xam ⋮ ⋮ 08/08/2020

Are you a new or returning player to Star Wars The Old Republic? Having trouble deciding which class to
play? Well, I’m here to help!

There are multiple questions to consider when choosing which class to play in The Old Republic. These
can be boiled down into three broad categories.

Do you want to choose your class based on combat ability or proficiency? Or do you want to choose a
class based on Star Wars story and/or lore? Or do you want to choose a class based on aesthetics? Or
even a mix of all three?

Before we delve into the various questions, lets quickly breakdown how classes work in The Old
Republic.

What is a Class?

There are a total of 8 base classes in The Old Republic. Four per faction with two force-user classes and
2 non-force user classes. Unlike most MMO’s, class names and abilities look different based on the
faction you choose.

The base classes per faction.

Imperial

Sith Warrior
Sith Inquisitor
Bounty Hunter
Imperial Agent

Republic

Jedi Knight
Jedi Consular
Trooper
Smuggler

Each base class has two advanced classes to choose from. Note you must now choose your advanced
class during character creation (in earlier updates, you chose your advanced class at level 10).

Imperial

1/15
 Sith Warrior
Sith Marauder
Sith Juggernaut
Sith Inquisitor
Sith Sorcerer
Sith Assassin
Bounty Hunter
Powertech
Mercenary
Imperial Agent
Operative
Sniper

Republic

Jedi Knight
Jedi Guardian
Jedi Sentinel
Jedi Consular
Jedi Sage
Jedi Shadow
Trooper
Commando
Vanguard
Smuggler
Gunslinger
Scoundrel

Each advanced class then has three Disciplines to choose from. These disciplines are either a Tank, Heal
or Damage based.

Sith Marauder (DPS)

Annihilation
Carnage
Fury
Sith Juggernaut
Immortal (Tank)
Vengeance (DPS)
Rage (DPS)
Sith Sorcerer
Corruption (Heal)
Lightning (DPS)
Madness (DPS)
Sith Assassin
Darkness (Tank)
Deception (DPS)
Hatred (DPS)

2/15
Powertech
Shield Tech (Tank)
Pyrotech (DPS)
Advanced Prototype (DPS)
Mercenary
Bodyguard (Heals)
Arsenal (DPS)
Innovative Ordinance (DPS)
Operative
Medicine (Heals)
Concealment (DPS)
Lethality (DPS)
Sniper (DPS)
Engineering
Marksmanship
Virulence

Jedi Sentinel (DPS)

Watchman
Combat
Concentration
Jedi Guardian
Defence (Tank)
Vigilance (DPS)
Focus (DPS)
Jedi Sage
Seer (Heal)
Telekinetics (DPS)
Balance (DPS)
Jedi Shadow
Kinetic Combat (Tank)
Infiltration (DPS)
Serenity (DPS)
Vanguard
Shield Specialist (Tank)
Plasmatech (DPS)
Tactics (DPS)
Commando
Combat Medic (Heals)
Gunnery (DPS)
Assault Specialist (DPS)
Scoundrel
Sawbones (Heals)
Scrapper (DPS)
Ruffian (DPS)
Gunslinger (DPS)

3/15
 Saboteur
Sharpshooter
Dirty Fighting

Now that you have a breakdown of Class structure in SWTOR, you’re probably wondering, how on earth
am I supposed to pick a class? Well, I’m here to help you make that choice! Alternatively, you can skip to
the end to see my recommendations, if you prefer.

Choosing a Class Based on Combat Ability

This section is for experienced gamers. If you’re not all that familiar with or experienced with gaming or
are more interested in lore and aesthetics, you can skip down to those sections.

There are plenty of combat-related questions to draw on when considering which class to play based on
your previous gaming experience.

Do you prefer melee or ranged classes?

Do you prefer to play as a Tank, Healer or DPS (Damage)?
Do you want your abilities to be Force (magic) based or weapon-based abilities?
Do you prefer to deal DOT (damage over time) damage or direct damage?
What end-game content do you want to do?
Would you rather play an underdog class or an OP class?
Would you prefer to start out with an easy class to play and learn or a harder class?

Tables

Melee and Ranged Classes

Here are lists of all classes/advanced classes based on if they are melee or ranged. For melee classes,
you generally have to be within 4-10 metres of the target to affect it. For ranged classes, you generally
have to be within 30-35 metres of the target to affect it. There is some overlap, of course, but broadly
speaking here is how the classes are categorised.

Imperial Melee

Sith Warrior – all advanced classes and disciplines

Sith Assassin – all disciplines
Powertech – all disciplines
Operative – all disciplines

Imperial Ranged

Sith Sorcerer – all disciplines

Mercenary – all disciplines
Sniper – all disciplines

4/15
Republic Melee

Jedi Knight – all advanced classes and disciplines

Jedi Shadow – all disciplines
Vanguard – all disciplines
Smuggler – all disciplines

Republic Ranged

Jedi Sage – all disciplines

Commando – all disciplines
Gunslinger – all disciplines

Tank, Heal or DPS?

Here is a list of all advanced classes and disciplines based on if they are a Tank, Heal or DPS role.

IMPERIAL

Tank
Juggernaut – Immortal
Assassin – Darkness
Powertech – Shield Tech
Heal
Sorcerer- Corruption
Mercenary – Bodyguard
Operative – Medicine
DPS
Marauder – All Disciplines
Juggernaut
Vengeance
Rage
Sorcerer
Lightning
Madness
Assassin
Deception
Hatred
Mercenary
Arsenal
Innovative Ordinance
Powertech
Pyrotech
Advanced Prototype
Operative
Concealment

5/15
 Lethality
Sniper – All Disciplines

REPUBLIC

Tank
Guardian – Defence
Shadow – Kinetic Combat
Vanguard – Shield Specialist
Heal
Sage – Seer
Commando – Combat Medic
Scoundrel – Sawbones
DPS
Sentinel – All Disciplines
Guardian
Vigilance
Focus
Sage
Telekinetics
Balance
Shadow
Infiltration
Serenity
Commando
Gunnery
Assault Specialist
Vanguard
Plasmatech
Tactics
Scoundrel
Scrapper
Ruffian
Gunslinger – All Disciplines

Force or non-force user?

Here is a list of all force and non-force user base classes. Each base class has its own type of resource
to manage based on whether they are force or non-force users.

Force Users

Sith Warrior/Jedi Knight

Sith Inquisitor/Jedi Sage

Non-Force Users

6/15
 Bounty Hunter/Trooper
Imperial Agent/Smuggler

DOT or Direct Damage

Here is a list of all Disciplines based on whether they primarily have DOT or direct damage abilities.
There is, of course, some overlap with some of these classes abilities’.

DOT DAMAGE IMPERIAL

Marauder – Annihilation
Juggernaut – Vengeance
Sorcerer – Madness
Assassin – Hatred
Powertech – Pyrotech
Mercenary – Innovative Ordinance
Operative – Lethality
Sniper – Virulence

DIRECT DAMAGE IMPERIAL

Marauder – Carnage
Marauder – Fury
Juggernaut – Rage
Sorcerer – Lightning
Assassin – Deception
Powertech – Advanced Prototype
Mercenary – Arsenal
Operatie – Concealment
Sniper – Marksmanship
Sniper – Engineering

DOT DAMAGE REPUBLIC

Sentinel – Watchman
Guardian – Focus
Sage – Balance
Shadow – Serenity
Vanguard – Plasmatech
Commando – Assault Specialist
Smuggler – Ruffian
Gunslinger – Dirty Fighting

DIRECT DAMAGE IMPERIAL

Sentinel – Combat
Sentinel – Concentration

7/15
 Guardian – Vigilance
Sage – Telekinetics
Shadow – Infiltration
Vanguard – Tactics
Commando – Gunnery
Smuggler – Scrapper
Gunslinger – Sharpshooting
Gunslinger – Saboteur

What Endgame Content do you want to do?

Depending on what endgame content you wish to do, you may have better luck or an easier time getting
into that content depending on the role or class you choose.

If you want to get into endgame raiding, obviously Tank and Healer classes are going to be in more
demand than DPS. Tanks and healers indeed becoming increasingly more scarce and harder to fill for
raid groups. When it comes to DPS it comes down to knowing your class in pulling high numbers and
currently you can’t away with

In PvP, however, things are a little different. DPS and Healers are obviously useful but tanks, not so
much. Instead, skank tanks are favoured as they can taunt and guard while being able to deal a good
amount of damage.

In the game in its current state, you can get into endgame content with pretty much any class. If you take
the time to know and understand your class, you will do well.

Underdog and OP Classes

Now, this is a bit more subjective than all the other queries so far. But this should give you an idea of
what classes are desirable or not so desirable in certain types of content. Just because a class is
considered to be an underdog class doesn’t mean it can’t perform well in the right hands.

When it comes to PvP it’s a bit more of a mixed bag. For unranked PvP, any Discipline can do really well.
In Ranked PvP however, where DPS and utility are extremely important, it is very punishing for certain
Disciplines to participate in Ranked. But ultimately to be successful in PvP you need to know your class
inside and out and that takes practice.

PvE OP Classes

DPS
Powertech/Vanguard – Both DPS Disciplines
Sorcerer – Lightning/Sage – Telekinetics
Tank
Assassin – Darkness/Shadow -Kinetic Combat
Heals
Mercenary – Bodyguard/Commando – Combat Medic

8/15
 Operative – Medicine/Scoundrel -Sawbones

PvP OP Classes

DPS
Sniper – Marksman or Engineering/Gunslinger –
Powertech – Advanced Prototype/Vanguard – Tactics

PvE Underdog Classes

DPS
Marauder – Carnage/Sentinel – Combat
Sniper – Marksman/Gunslinger – Sharpshooter
Heals
Sorcerer – Corruption/Sage – Seer

PvP Underdog Classes

DPS
Juggernaut – Vengeance/Guadian- Vigilance
Sniper – Virulence/Gunslinger – Dirty Fighting
Operative – Lethality/Scoundrel – Ruffian

Easiest and Hardest Classes to Learn and Play

Some classes are easier to pick up and learn than others. If you’re looking for an easier time, combat
wise, while exploring the game, these are the best choices

Easiest Classes

Mercenary – Arsenal / Commando – Gunnery

Sorcerer – Lightning / Sage – Telekinetics
Powertech – Advanced Prototype / Vanguard – Tactics

Hardest Class

Some classes, however, are a bit more complicated, complex or take a longer than other classes to learn
and master. Here is the hardest class to learn and play.

Mercenary – Innovative Ordinance / Commando – Assault Specialist

Why Innovative Ordnance/Assault Specialist? This discipline, in particular, has the most complex optimal
rotation in the game and most difficult resource management of any class in the game.

Choosing a Class Based on Star Wars or Old Republic Era Story and Lore

Here are a bunch of lore questions to consider when picking a class to play.

9/15
 Do you want to play a character that fulfils an iconic role from the Star Wars Movies or TV Shows?
Do you want to mimic a particular Star Wars character?
Do you want to play a Republic or Imperial character?
Sith or Jedi?
What are the best class stories in SWTOR?
Which is the best class story to play if you’ve played KOTOR 1 and 2?

Iconic Star Wars Roles and Star War Characters

Most of these are pretty straight forward and there’s some subjectivity, seeing as some of these
characters can fit into more than one class role. But it should give you some ideas at least. This isn’t an
exhaustive list but I attempted to select a variety of characters from the movies and TV shows that fairly
easily fit into various SWTOR class roles.

Force Users

Obi-Wan – Jedi Guardian

Anakin Skywalker – Jedi Guardian
Ahsoka Tano – Jedi Sentinel
Yoda – Jedi Sage
Luke Skywalker – Jedi Guardian
Kanaan Jarus – Jedi Guardian
Darth Maul – Sith Assassin
Asajj Ventress – Sith Assassin
Count Dooku – Sith Juggernaut
Kylo Ren – Sith Juggernaut

Non-Force Users

Han Solo – Smuggler

Lando Calrissian – Smuggler
Sabine Wren – Mercenary
Hera Syndulla – Smuggler
Agent Callus – Operative
Commander Cody – Vanguard
Din Djarin (The Mandalorian) – Powertech
Cara Dune – Commando

Republic or Imperial? Sith or Jedi?

Both factions stories mimic tropes and ideals portrayed in the more well known Star Wars mediums.
However, the main difference between the Old Republic era and the Skywalker era is, you get to
experience the Star Wars galaxy with the Sith and Jedi in somewhat equal numbers fighting each other.
This forms the core conflict of the overall story, broadly speaking, in the game.

10/15
The Sith Empire mimics a lot of the ideals/traits you see in the Galactic Empire in the original trilogy.
However, the difference is, in the Old Republic, you get to experience the Empire more or less at its peak
in a time where the Sith were plentiful. You get to see a side of Star Wars that isn’t always portrayed in
the main Star Wars media and indeed more fully experience certain background/minor character roles.

Likewise, the Republic mimics a lot of the ‘stereotypes’ and tropes of the Republic seen the prequels with
elements of the Rebellion in the original trilogy as well. You get to experience the idealism and the
corruption, the hope and the desperation. You also get to experience the Jedi as well who, in some ways,
aren’t that much different to their counterparts in the Prequels and the Clone Wars.

So to sum up, if you want to experience Republic politics and the Jedi play a republic character. If you
would like to see the galaxy from the Empire’s perspective, instead of always seeing the story from the
‘good guys’ perspective, play the Imperial side.

What are the best Class Stories in SWTOR?

This is, of course, subjective but there are some stories that are consistently placed at the top or the
bottom of class story rankings by players. Here is a general ranking of all the Class Stories in SWTOR.

Imperial Agent
Sith Warrior/Jedi Knight
Sith Sorcerer
Bounty Hunter/Trooper/Smuggler
Jedi Consular

In terms of the overall lore and story of the game, some Class Stories have more of an impact and make
more sense than the others especially once you start getting into various expansion storylines. If you
want to get the full lore experience, I would highly recommend the following two class stories.

Sith Warrior
Jedi Knight

Playing both of these stories is crucial to the overall lore of the game. Both classes have characters and
moments in their class stories that have a significant impact on the game. Both of these classes also fit
better than the other classes in expansion storylines.

Which Class Story to play if you played Knights of the Old Republic 1 and 2?

The Jedi Knight storyline is widely regarded as the KOTOR 3 story. It follows in the footsteps of Revan
(after Chapter 1 anyway) so fits perfectly with KOTOR 1 and 2.

Choosing a Class Based on Aesthetics

What weapons would you like to use?

What are ability animations like between the factions?
What species can I play as?

11/15
Weapons

Depending on your class, you are restricted on the weapons that you CAN use and it does not always
mirror for the opposite faction, especially for non-force users.

Force Users

Sith Marauder/JediSentinel – two lightsabers or two Vibroswords

Sith Juggernaut/Jedi Guardian – one Lightsaber or one Vibrosword
Sith Sorcerer/Jedi Sage – one Lightsaber or one Vibrosword
Sith Assassin/Jedi Shadow – one Double-bladed lightsaber or one Electrostaff

Non-force users

Imperial
Powertech – Blaster Pistol
Mercenary – Two Blaster Pistols
Operative – Blaster Rifle
Sniper – Sniper Rifle

Republic
Vanguard – Assault Rifle
Commando – Assault Canon
Smuggler – Blaster Pistol
Gunslinger – Two Blaster Pistols

Ability Animations

The vast majority of abilities in The Old Republic look completely different depending on what faction
you’re playing. It would be quite impossible for me to fit in every single ability animation in the game in
this guide. Instead, I’ve selected 8 (4) abilities to demonstrate shown side by side with the opposite
factions mirror ability.

Species

To start out with, you are limited on the Species you can play as per Class. Once you level a character of
a particular species to level 50 eg. a Jedi Knight Twi’lek, you will then automatically unlock the species for
all other Classes.

Here is a list of base classes and what species you can play as. A couple of things to note

12/15
Access to Species varies between Free to Play and Preferred accounts. Species that are
accessible to preferred and subscribed players will be indicated as (Pref).
Zabrak species appearance varies depending on faction. This means, for example, you have level
a ‘dark side’ Zabrak to be able to play a dark-side Zabrak on a Republic Class.

Sith Warrior
Human
Cyborg
Zabrak
Sith Pureblood (Pref)
Sith Inquisitor
Human
Cyborg
Zabrak
Rattataki (Pref)
Sith Pureblood (Pref)
Twi’lek (Pref)
Bounty Hunter
Human
Cyborg
Zabrak
Chiss (Pref)
Rattataki (Pref)
Imperial Agent
Human
Cyborg
Zabrak
Chiss (Pref)
Rattataki (Pref)

Jedi Knight
Human
Cyborg
Zabrak
Miraluka (Pref)
Mirialan (Pref)
Twi’lek (Pref)
Jedi Consular
Human
Cyborg
Zabrak
Miraluka (Pref)
Mirialan (Pref)
Twi’lek (Pref)
Trooper
Human

13/15
 Cyborg
Zabrak
Mirialan (Pref)
Smuggler
Human
Cyborg
Zabrak
Mirialan (Pref)
Twi’lek (Pref)

Three additional species have been released since launch but they are only available via the Cartel
Market.

Cathar
Togruta
Nautolan*

*Was free for subscribers for a limited time prior to Onslaught’s launch in October 2019.

Some species that are available to other classes will have character customisation options only available
to certain classes. For example, a Human Trooper has different Tattoos to a Human Sith Warrior.

My Class Recommendations

Now that I’ve gone over some questions to consider when deciding which class to pick, here are some of
my Class recommendations!

In terms of DPS, the first class I ever played was a Jedi Sentinel, Combat discipline. It is still one of my
favoured DPS classes (along with Carnage Marauder too) even though it is underperforming these days.
Other DPS classes I enjoy include.

Powertech – Pyrotech
Sorcerer – Lightning/Sage – Telekinetics
Sniper – Engineering

Lightning/Telekinetics is currently my favourite DPS class in PvP.

What I am more well known for, however, is being a Mercenary/Commando Healer. It has been my
favourite class since 1.0 and is still my go-to for all content, especially PvP. I have played the other
healing classes as well but I always come back to my Mercenary.

In terms of the class stories, I find almost all of them to be decently enjoyable for various reasons. There
are good and bad elements to all these stories but the Sith Warrior makes the top of my list. The only
class story I don’t find that enjoyable is the Jedi Consular. Here is how I rank the class stories.

Sith Warrior
Imperial Agent
Jedi Knight

14/15
 Bounty Hunter
Smuggler
Trooper
Jedi Consular

So what do I personally recommend?

For healing go with Mercenary/Commando.

For DPS I recommend Lightning/Telekinetics, Pyrotech, Engineering and Carnage/Combat. All of these
classes cover various playstyles and most have good class stories as well.

Final Tip – if you don’t like the ability animations of the class you’re playing, check out the mirror class on
the other faction to see if you like their ability animations better.

In the end, the choice of what class to play is ultimately yours and it can be for any reason you like! My
first character was a Jedi Sentinel purely because I wanted to have two lightsabers.

15/15