Combat Styles have been one of the most anticipated features heading to the game ever since they were announced, shaking up the previous class/advanced class combos entirely and giving players a great deal of more freedom when creating new characters. It also goes hand in hand with the new Loadouts feature, which makes it easier to swap between Combat Styles. While a welcome addition, Combat Styles and Loadouts also aren’t without their bugs and potential pitfalls, so we’ll be touching on those in this guide as well - and whether or not it’s worth to pick up a new Combat Style right off the bat, or if you might want to wait with it.
What are Combat Styles?
Combat Styles are, essentially, the exact same thing as Advanced Classes were before 7.0 - the difference is, they are no longer tied to Classes, which are called Origins now. In the past, when creating a character you would pick from 8 classes (4 mirrored on each faction), which would have 2 advanced classes. For example, you would select Jedi Knight, and then either Sentinel or Guardian. You could also pick Jedi Consular, and then Sage or Shadow. You could not, however, be a Jedi Knight and a Shadow. These choices were also locked-in at character creation, and it was Specializations that you could change after the fact - these were three ability-paths found in each advanced class, and helped determining playstyle and role. With 7.0 and Combat Styles, a lot of these restrictions were wiped away. Now, classes are called Origins, and determine your character’s personal storyline in chapters 1 through 3, their voice actor, their starship model, and their initial crop of companions. Origin no longer has any effect on gameplay itself, beyond the split between Tech classes and Force classes. This means that you can be a Trooper, playing through the same Trooper story you know and love, but you are no longer restricted to just Vanguard or Commando - you can be a Sniper, an Operative, a Powertech, and so forth. However, you cannot be a Trooper and also, say, a Sage or Sentinel. For Tech classes, all Tech Combat Styles are available from the get-go. With Force classes, things get a little more complicated - there is an alignment requirement for unlocking cross-faction Combat Styles. This means that, by default, you can be a Jedi Knight or a Jedi Consular and have access to all four Jedi-related Combat Styles; Sentinel, Guardian, Sage and Shadow. However, you cannot be a Jedi Knight and also a Marauder, or a Juggernaut - those are the Sith equivalent. The reverse is also true. If you have, on any other existing character in the same Legacy has, unlocked Dark V and Light V by collecting enough Dark Side or Light Side points via the game’s moral choice system, you will unlock associated Achievements. If you have unlocked these Achievements, the previously described restriction is lifted, and you can make characters like a Jedi Knight Sorcerer or a Sith Inquisitor Guardian. To better illustrate, here’s an ordered list:
Tech Origins (Trooper, Smuggler, Bounty Hunter, Agent) Vanguard Commando Gunslinger Scoundrel Powertech Mercenary Sniper Operative Force Origins (Knight, Consular, Warrior, Inquisitor) Guardian (requires Light V if using Warrior/Inquisitor Origin) Sentinel (requires Light V if using Warrior/Inquisitor Origin) Sage (requires Light V if using Warrior/Inquisitor Origin) Shadow (requires Light V if using Warrior/Inquisitor Origin) Juggernaut (requires Dark V if using Knight/Consular Origin) Marauder (requires Dark V if using Knight/Consular Origin) Sorcerer (requires Dark V if using Knight/Consular Origin) Assassin (requires Dark V if using Knight/Consular Origin)
The really big and particularly rowdy elephant in the room is that these are all the Combat Styles for now. BioWare has stated in the past that this feature is paving the way for the addition of more, entirely new ones down the line. We’re definitely excited for that prospect.
How can I pick a new Combat Style?
The answer to this question depends on a few factors - whether or not you are a subscriber, whether or not you are starting a new character, if it is boosted and where you are in your story. It is very important to note that only Subscribers have access to two Combat Styles, and all Combat Style choices are final. When you create a new character, you select the first Combat Style according to the table laid out above. If you are a subscriber, you will get access to a second Combat Style slot upon completing the Origin story by finishing Chapter three. Once you have a second Combat Style, you can freely switch between them whenever you are not in a Phased area or in combat. The same applies to Loadouts. If you already had qualifying characters from before 7.0 went live, they’ll automatically be granted the quest for picking a second Combat Style. Because of the underlying code, for technical reasons existing characters cannot change their original, “old” Combat Style - you can only pick a new, second one. This is a wee bit limited compared to making new characters outright, who can have two chosen Combat Styles. Choosing the second Combat Style itself happens as part of a short mission, consisting of a conversation with either a Force apparition in a vision for Force origins, or with a training droid at a GSI facility for Tech origins. The conversation contains three warnings about your choices being final, so make sure you are absolutely certain about which Combat Style you want to add. If you haven’t unlocked Light V and Dark V yet, maybe wait until then before you pick the Combat Styles for your Force using characters. On paper, boosted characters should have access to a second elective Combat Style, but currently there is a bug preventing this. BioWare is aware of the issue, and working on a fix.
What are Loadouts?
Loadouts are a new system designed to make it easier to switch not just between Combat Styles, but also Specializations. Previously, one could switch specializations either by speaking to an NPC on their respective faction Fleet, or anywhere out and about with the Field Respecialization Legacy unlock - however these would both require you to redistribute your points manually each time. As of 7.0 and the introduction of Combat Styles, you can freely switch between Specializations from your characters sheet with a single click, as you can between Combat Styles. The idea behind loadouts is to make this process as quick and painless as possible each time you do it. Loadouts do not only save your ability selections from your talent tree, but also what items you have equipped - different Combat Styles and different Specs need different gear. Loadouts save your abilities, items and key binds (now that a bug affecting the latter has been fixed) and by switching loadouts, the saved items will automatically be equipped - there is one caveat though: all items associated with the saved loadout has to be in your inventory. If you are running a selection of vastly different Combat Styles and Specs, this might mean running around with several full sets of gear in your bag.
Should I pick a new Combat Style immediately?
It might be tempting, and if you have very specific ideas in mind already then go for it - but it might also be worth waiting. BioWare has stated that the Combat Styles update, having separated actual ability sets and play styles from Classes and storylines, paved the way for more entirely new Combat Styles being added to the game. Right now, when picking a new Combat Style, you are repeatedly warned that there is no going back, and no way to change your selection. Much like how existing characters couldn’t change their pre-7.0 class, we imagine this won’t change in the future when new Combat Styles are added. BioWare might add a third slot for Subscribers, or maybe as a Cartel Coin unlock, but there is no guarantee. Of course, you can just make new characters in the future for new Combat Styles, but when it comes to MMORPGs with as deep a story and character connection as SWTOR, this sort of thing could be really important to some players. Maybe in the future a new Combat Style - like a Melee Tech one, that fans have been clamoring for practically since launch - will be added that perfectly suits one of your current characters. If you don’t feel a burning need to trick out all your toons with a second style, we recommend waiting. Combat Styles are definitely the standout feature of 7.0 in Star Wars: The Old Republic - especially if you ask the fandom by the looks of things. We’re eager to see in what ways BioWare can refresh the feel of the game with potentially new Combat Styles in the future; but there are plenty of issues with 7.0 that the team ought to tackle first.
