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Whether you’ve played Fallen Order or this is your first rodeo with a lightsaber, the adventure with Cal vs the Empire is an action-adventure experience with many possible pitfalls for the Padawan in spirit. While Cal may be an experienced fighter, a Jedi Survivor beginner’s guide may be just what you need before your playthrough. Even if you aren’t exactly bushy-tailed and bright-eyed going into this game, it has been some time since Jedi: Fallen Order. Below we have a Jedi Survivor beginner’s guide to help you duck, roll, dodge, and slash your way through Star Wars Jedi: Survivor for the first time.
Use The Force
We know it seems obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people tend to not use the Force as often as they can during their first playthrough. Probably because lightsabers are so shiny and flashy and such, they forget they have telekinetic powers at their disposal. The Force is one of the most versatile weapons you have on your person. Not using it would be a waste.
It comes with its own skill tree, so developing it and understanding as much as possible about the Force can help you maneuver well among enemies. Throughout the game, you can use Cal’s skill with the Force to invest in different abilities. You can also use a few points to improve your overall maximum Force, which is a great step if you don’t know what to do next. You can use the Force to do all kinds of things, like throw objects or grenades at enemies or use their own weapons against them.
Consider How You Weild Your Lightsaber
While it may seem slightly more heroic to wield your lightsaber with just one blade, there is no right or wrong way. While that dual look may be reminiscent of a few enemies throughout the series, it’s still a legitimate way to hold the saber if you so choose. The dual-wield style is less defensive and has considerably less range but makes up for it with almost double the speed of the standard, one-bladed lightsaber. When swinging around a lightsaber for the first time or for the first while after some time away, consider taking some time toward figuring out which style is best suited for your unique playstyle.
Throughout the story, you can have two lightsaber techniques equipped to Cal at a time. There are a total of five in the entire game, each something you pick up along the way. While you can only use two at a time, consider taking that pacing time to learn which one works right for you. Each style is equipped to emphasize a different aspect of combat, giving the game some excellent gameplay versatility, not to mention replayability.
Utilize the Rest Mechanic
Resting is a mechanic that acts as a bit of a double-edged sword. While it allows you to restore your health, stims, and Force, it will also reset the enemies around you. That means if you’ve managed to take out some pretty big bad guys, they’ll be back as soon as you’re done with that rest. Meditation points throughout the game act as your natural rest stops. While it can be intimidating to reset the enemies around you, consider the benefits you have to gain from taking a rest.
You’ll have a replenished resource pool with which to fight them again and continue to learn how they function, attack, and move. Additionally, if you reset the enemies, you can also stand to gain more exp from that area. This can help you level up your skill points quickly to become stronger. So, if you’re up for fighting enemies, utilize these meditation points and rest as often as you can for the next battles ahead.
Explore As Often As Possible
Just as it’s good to rest as often as you can to reset enemies and take on the environment with your best foot forward, it is important to explore the world as much as you can. Exploring leads not only to enemies to gain exp from but items and hidden places to find too. Jumping over boxes or into hidden areas could mean secret items for you. Throughout the game, there are plenty of collectibles and loot, as well as upgrades, for the player to search around for and find. Maintaining your curiosity and keeping a quick hand on that save button can help more than hinder you.
Exploring can reward you with new equipment and cosmetics, as well as XP from force echoes. Essences are also hidden throughout the world. If you find them, you can use them to upgrade either Cal’s max Force or health. These collectibles, in particular, can be critical for getting a leg up on enemies. Essences also help Cal by improving his stim count, which he replenishes after each rest. So if you explore hard and rest just as hard, this can only lead to improvement in your character. If you see a yellow area on your map, that’s a place you haven’t explored yet.
Fight With Companions
One of the new parts of Jedi Survivor is that you can have companions help you in battle. Keep in mind, though, even though this is a fresh new addition to this game, it isn’t always available. However, when you can, fighting alongside a companion can make hard battles that much easier to handle. Companions fight like you and deal some considerable damage. Depending on what companion you’re fighting alongside, they each have different tactics, fighting styles, and damage outputs.
Some may be better for different situations than others, so don’t be afraid to experiment. If you want to have more control over your fighting friend, you can command them to target specific enemies. Or, you can even command them to distract an enemy while you go on the offensive with a sneak attack. It’s a big world out there in Jedi Survivor, so use companions to lighten the load as often as possible for the safest journey.
Make Use of Fast Travel and Shortcuts
Navigating is just part of the game in Jedi Survivor. Each planet may seem a bit like a maze, but once you understand the ins and outs of navigation through ziplines and other faster travel, it shouldn’t be a hurdle. While taking a look around each new area, try to keep an eye out for advantageous shortcuts. Things like zip lines, doors, ropes, and other pathways can help you reach secret paths in short order. While exploring, keep in mind that fast travel is a new addition to the game. You can travel between meditation spots across the planet. This makes things more convenient if you want to go back to a previous area to scout for collectibles.
Learn How to Parry
It wouldn’t be a proper Jedi Survivor beginner’s guide without a small note on strategy. While any good offense can be a great defense, there are other mechanics to be had throughout Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Blocking and parrying are necessary movements in combat, both of which take you on the defensive. If you’re taking on the game at a higher difficulty setting, blocking and parrying becomes not just a suggestion but a rule. And if you’ve jacked up the difficulty pretty high, that window for parrying effectiveness gets smaller and smaller. Parrying ranged shots will result in the bullet going back toward the enemy, while parrying a melee attacker depletes their stamina, leaving them open for attack.
How’s your playthrough going so far in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor? Was our Jedi Survivor beginner’s guide helpful in changing your perspective on how the game works?