Star Wars Outlaws Tips - 20 Things To Know Before You Play

Star Wars Outlaws takes you from the bright lights of Canto Bight to the sunscorched deserts of Tatooine. As Kay Vess, it's your job to find talented experts that will help you pull off an unforgettable heist. Naturally, not everything will go according to plan, and there will be a few twists along the way. Here's our guide to help you with several tips as you begin your journey in Star Wars Outlaws.Star Wars Outlaws beginner's guide - 20 tips you need to know before you playOur Star Wars Outlaws beginner's guide starts off by discussing several general gameplay mechanics, namely stealth and combat-related concepts. We then discuss faction reputation, minigames, intel gathering, and cosmetics. Make use of Nix's capabilities in stealth sectionsYour trusty pet, Nix, has many tricks up his furry paws. In countless situations, you'll make use of Nix's unique functions. These include:Stealing from a target or fetching an item.Distracting a target so they turn around, giving you an opportunity to move without being spotted or to do a stealth takedown.Attacking a target to give you time to strike.Opening distant vents, some of which have generators that you can shoot.Sabotaging mechanisms, such as explosive canisters and alarm panels. Understand the differences between stealth gameplay objectivesThere are usually two notable requirements that you'll see in sections that require a stealthy approach:Don't get spotted - You should only approach enemies when they have their backs turned, as there might be an opportunity to do a silent takedown. Shooting them with weapons is often not allowed. If you do get spotted, it leads to a game over and your last autosave will be reloaded.Don't raise the alarm - You can get spotted by enemies. However, you must beware of anyone who'll attempt to raise the alarm. This is denoted by a red icon above a hostile mob. Take them out immediately to prevent an abrupt game over and reload. If all else fails, punch everyone to deathOne of the most important Star Wars Outlaws tips we can share is that it's sometimes better to just go in with fists blazing, not guns. As long as the "don't get spotted" restriction isn't enforced, you can just get up close to your foes to knock them out with melee punches. Most enemies in the game only require three quick punches to get taken out. The only exceptions are tougher Gamoreans, Dark Troopers, and droids. Bacta Vials will save you, but you have to avoid getting hitBacta Vials are your healing potions in Star Wars Outlaws. When used, they fully regenerate your lost health over time. However, this regeneration can get interrupted if you take damage during the process. As such, it's advisable to use a Bacta Vial and stay crouched behind obstacles and barriers until you're back in tip-top condition.Note that there are outfits, charms, and abilities that increase Kay Vess' health, and some even prevent the regeneration process from being interrupted. Know which blaster shot to use against certain enemy typesKay's primary weapon is her blaster, which has three configurations:Plasma - Effective against most enemies; includes a fully-automatic fire option.Ion - Shoots an electrical discharge that's effective against droids and shielded Stormtroopers.Power - Charges a blast that's great against clustered groups or tougher foes, such as Dark Troopers and Gamorreans.As you continue firing your blaster, though, watch out if it overheats. When the gauge appears on your screen, press the corresponding button at the "sweet spot" to supercool your weapon, which allows you to keep shooting. Pickup weapons are plentiful but you can't bring them with you everywhereThere are numerous "pickup weapons" in Star Wars Outlaws--i.e. long guns, rifles, and launchers. These have limited ammo but they deal tremendous damage, so try to make each shot count.Moreover, pickup weapons can't be brought to various areas due to restrictions--perhaps there are no backpacks in the galaxy? Instead, they're automatically dropped if you climb up ladders, hop on your speeder, crawl through ventilation shafts, and all sorts of actions. Funnily enough, Kay will drop these armaments once a cutscene triggers, too. Build up your meter and unleash your Adrenaline Rush ultimateAs you eliminate foes through various means, you build up your adrenaline gauge. Once full, you can activate your Adrenaline Rush ultimate. This slows down time temporarily, allowing you to mark several targets. Think of it as akin to Cassidy's High Noon ability in Overwatch.At the end of this sequence, Kay will shoot and kill everyone that's marked. The only exceptions are elite or tougher opponents that are likely to get staggered instead. Note that there are perks that boost Adrenaline Rush further, too.Lastly, there's no mechanic that allows Kay to shoot while driving her speeder. As such, you have to rely on Adrenaline Rush to eliminate hostile pursuers. The Empire will chase you down based on your Wanted levelStar Wars Outlaws has a Wanted system that's somewhat akin to Grand Theft Auto. If you keep attacking the forces of the Galactic Empire, a pop-up will tell you that your Wanted level has increased. Initially, this will cause Stormtroopers to appear as reinforcements. Later, you might even get hunted by Dark Troopers.If you're being pursued, the best course of action is to hop on your speeder to avoid your pursuers. You can also use the aforementioned Adrenaline Rush to take out as many targets as possible. If your character perishes, however, you'll lose a few credits as a penalty for your failure.Related: Speeder upgrades guide Explore planets and unlock fast travel optionsExcluding Canto Bight, which is the first area in the campaign, you get to visit four worlds: Toshara, Kijimi, Akiva, and Tatooine. Each world has several settlements, numerous landmarks, and countless opportunities. As you explore, you also unlock fast travel points in specific locations. If you wish to return to a particular planet while avoiding the takeoff and landing cutscenes, all you need to do is open the Map menu and fully zoom out. The galactic map lets you select any world with at least one fast travel point unlocked.Apart from the planets themselves, you can also fly your ship, the Trailblazer, all the way to space. This region around the planet's orbit tends to have some shipwrecks and debris, which can net you a few resources. However, do watch out for enemy vessels, which you have to shoot down with turrets and missiles.Related: Ship upgrades guide You can disable the lockpicking and slicing minigamesThere are two minigames that you'll have to contend with throughout the campaign and as part of regular exploration:Lockpicking - Look at the flashing lights or listen to the beeping sound. Press the button at the correct time.Slicing - This is akin to Wordle in that you have to punch in the correct code sequence.While Kay Vess is an accomplished slicer (i.e. hacker), there are just too many of these minigames, sometimes up to six or more in multiple areas. If things get too frustrating, you can always open the Gameplay Settings menu to disable them completely. Manage your reputation when dealing with factionsOne of the key features in Star Wars Outlaws is the faction reputation system. You're able to undertake missions from four criminal organizations that are vying for control of the dark underbelly of the galaxy. These are the Pyke Syndicate, Crimson Dawn, Hutt Cartel, and Ashiga Clan.The contracts that you complete help you earn reputation. The better your standing, the cooler the benefits, which include lower merchant prices, freedom to explore faction settlements, cosmetic items, and full armor sets.Related guide: Faction reputation rewards Finish the campaign and all important objectives before you do faction contractsOne Star Wars Outlaws tip we'd like to impart to new players is that it's better to focus on the campaign and main missions first, well before you try the faction contracts. This is because certain events transpire during main missions, which can cause you to lose reputation with a certain group. Some objectives even take you to faction territories. If they're hostile--and they most probably are--that can lead to further reputation drops if you're caught trespassing in their settlements or attacking their members.As such, finishing the campaign and important expert NPC quests ensures that you're done with the crucial parts of progression. After that, you can just prioritize a specific faction to boost your reputation and acquire top-tier rewards. Then, focus on the next until you obtain more goodies. Take note of armor set bonuses and the transmogrification featureArmor sets consist of a chestpiece, belt, and pants/boots:Each gear piece has a passive effect if worn.If all three gear pieces from a set are equipped, you gain a set bonus. For instance, the Survivalist set lets you regenerate depleted health segments over time. The Gunslinger set, meanwhile, prevents all adrenaline from being consumed when you activate Adrenaline Rush.Likewise, the game has a transmogrification system. By pressing the corresponding button or keybind, you can change the look of an outfit to something else that you already own. Unlock abilities by recruiting expertsStar Wars Outlaws does not have a traditional skill tree or leveling system akin to some action role-playing games. Instead, you're encouraged to look for NPCs known as experts. Once you meet them, you're presented with a side quest that you need to complete. Doing so causes them to appear in your Abilities panel. There, you'll find more perks and talents that can be unlocked.Some of these skills boost Kay's survivability, while others improve her blaster or speeder. A few even grant upgrades for Nix's functions, and some are tricks that can be used in minigames.Related: Expert locations and abilities guide Gather intel about the world and its secretsKnowledge is power. This statement holds true everywhere in the galaxy, especially in Star Wars Outlaws. Many of the game's points of interest will be unknown to you at the start. You'll only learn of them by collecting intel, which usually comes from the following sources:Listening to rumors in a city's cantinaAsking NPCs in settlementsReading datapads that have been left lying aroundTransferring intel from the terminals you've hackedThese can then be checked in your Journal menu. Some are also part of intel chains, such as the locations of multiple keycards that will, eventually, allow you to unlock a faction's well-guarded vault. Find out the favored Fatier through intelIn the capital cities of each planet, you might come across datapads or intel that contains info regarding that world's Fatier racing club. Read the contextual clues well, because these tell you which of these mounts will likely win the upcoming races. If you bet a lot of credits, you might just win big. Pass the time playing SabaccWhile the lockpicking and slicing minigames are a little too egregious, the Kessel Sabacc is one that might just pique your interest. These card games are played in capital cities and settlements, so be on the lookout for potential matches.The goal of Kessel Sabacc is to have two cards with the lowest values (i.e. the closer to zero, the better). Cards are also divided into two types: blood (red) and sand (gold), and you can only have a single one of each at any given time. Here's an example:Red card with +1 (good value) and gold card with +5 (bad value).To replace the +5 card, you'll want to draw from the gold pile.If you get a +3 gold card, then you should be able to discard your +5 card from earlier.If you don't want to draw anymore, you can just wait until the third round for all the players to show their hands.The difference between the two values will be your final total. In this case, you'd have +2 points. If no other player has a +0 or +1 combination, then you'll win the match.Note that there are more mechanics in Kessel Sabacc. Some of these even allow you to trigger cheats in the middle of matches. Just try not to get caught. Pay attention to Nix's shenanigansFrom time to time while you're exploring, you might hear Nix squeaking happily. This is usually followed by Kay asking Nix if he wants to check something out.This clues you in that you're in a dig site point-of-interest. Follow Nix and look for pathways that help you traverse the area. At the very end, you should find a mound that contains a cosmetic item for Nix. Alternatively, it might be a key item that can be exchanged for cosmetics. Be on the lookout for events like Pirate RaidsWhen roaming in open-world regions, you might get a notification that an event is underway. It's up to you if you want to continue to your objective, or if you wish to check what's going on. "Pirate Raids" is a good example of one such event that frequently occurs. Your goal is to reach a location so you can open three marked containers, which usually have several materials.But, that's not all: the area is actually a battleground where bandits and Stormtroopers are engaged in a firefight. It's your call whether you want to high-tail it to grab all the resources quickly, or if you want to take out both hostile groups first. Piece together the Outlaw LegendsThe Outlaw Legends in your Journal pertain to the adventures of a crew whose heist has gone awry. However, they've left behind several hints with regard to the location of their vaults. One device even shows a hologram depicting a large rock formation with a nearby tower. From this discovery, you might learn of what befell the crew, while collecting a bunch of goodies along the way.Related: Outlaw Legends - Jet Kordo's Legacy guideThat does it for our Star Wars Outlaws beginner's guide. We hope our tips help you on your adventures across the galaxy.Star Wars Outlaws takes you to the Outer Rim where criminals and scoundrels run amok, all while the Empire continues to grasp for power. For more tips and tactics, you can visit our Star Wars Outlaws guides hub.