Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic: Complete Guide

A full guide to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) on PC: character creation, classes and feats, the d20 combat system, party building, a planet-by-planet walkthrough outline, missable content, Light/Dark side choices, and how to run the 2003 game well on a modern PC.

Researched September 2026 — current as of the Steam PC version (no recent official patches; the remake announced in September 2021 moved from Aspyr to Saber Interactive in August 2022 and has no announced release date). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.

Quick Start

• Pick Scoundrel or Scout for more skill points, Soldier for easy combat. You'll become a Jedi after Taris either way.
• Intelligence gives skill points. It matters most early; many players raise it for Computer Use, Repair, and Persuade.
• Persuade is the best skill for story options. It unlocks extra dialogue, rewards, and outcomes.
• Combat is round-based d20 (D&D rules). Pause (Space) and queue actions; it's a tactical RPG in real-time clothing.
• Save often in multiple slots. Some choices are permanent and some quests are missable.
• You're heading for Jedi training on Dantooine. After that, the four Star Map planets (Tatooine, Kashyyyk, Manaan, Korriban) can be done in any order.
• Light and Dark side choices affect Force power costs, companions, and the ending.
• Build a balanced party: a tank, a Force user, and a ranged or tech support.

Controls (PC)

Action | Key

Move | W A S D

Pause combat | Space

Action menu / queue | Mouse (click targets and the action icons above the portraits)

Inventory, character sheet, map, journal, party leader switch, solo mode | Each has a default hotkey; see Options, Keyboard Mapping

All keys can be rebound in Options. Look up the party-leader switch and solo-mode keys early: you'll use them constantly to put your best skill user in front for terminals, locks, and mines.

Character Creation

Classes

Class | Strengths | Notes

Soldier | Most HP, feats for weapons and armor | Easiest early combat

Scout | Balanced, more skill points | Good all-rounder

Scoundrel | Most skill points, Sneak Attack | Great for Persuade/Stealth builds

After Taris you become a Jedi and add a Jedi class:

Jedi class | Focus

Jedi Guardian | Lightsaber combat, most HP

Jedi Sentinel | Skills and defenses

Jedi Consular | Force powers

Attributes

• Strength: melee attack and damage.
• Dexterity: ranged attack and defense.
• Constitution: HP.
• Intelligence: skill points.
• Wisdom: Force points and Force power strength.
• Charisma: Force points and Persuade.

Build archetypes

• Guardian lightsaber tank: Soldier early, then Jedi Guardian; high Strength and Constitution; feats in Dueling or Two-Weapon Fighting.
• Consular Force caster: Scoundrel or Scout early, then Jedi Consular; high Wisdom and Charisma; Force powers like Force Wave and Stun.
• Sentinel skill hybrid: Scout or Scoundrel early, then Sentinel; high Intelligence for skills.

Party Members

Companion | Role | Notes

Carth Onasi | Ranged soldier | With you from the Endar Spire escape to Taris

Mission Vao | Scoundrel | Stealth, security, computers

Zaalbar | Wookiee melee | Tanky

Bastila Shan | Jedi | Battle Meditation; key story role

Canderous Ordo | Heavy soldier | Mandalorian; great tank

T3-M4 | Utility droid | Repair, computer, security

HK-47 | Assassin droid | Purchased on Tatooine; excellent ranged damage

Jolee Bindo | Gray Jedi | Joins on Kashyyyk

Juhani | Jedi | Optional; recruited on Dantooine if you spare her

Walkthrough Outline

• Endar Spire — tutorial escape pod sequence.
• Taris — recruit Carth, Mission, Zaalbar, T3-M4, Bastila, and Canderous. Complete the swoop race and sneak into the Sith Base. Taris is your last chance for certain items; clear side quests before the big escape.
• Dantooine — Jedi training, then the Ruins and the first Star Map. Juhani's quest decides if she joins.
• Star Map planets (any order):
• Tatooine: Sand People and Krayt Dragon; buy HK-47 in Anchorhead.
• Kashyyyk: Wookiee politics; Jolee Bindo joins.
• Manaan: underwater Kolto facility; courtroom-style choices.
• Korriban: Sith Academy; best for Dark side paths.
• Leviathan — a mid-game capture sequence with a major story reveal.
• Unknown World (Rakata Prime) — after all Star Maps; tribal choices and the Temple.
• Star Forge — final dungeon and boss.

Missables and tips

• Taris side quests and loot are lost once you leave.
• Juhani only joins if you spare her on Dantooine.
• HK-47 is purchased in Anchorhead on Tatooine; don't skip him.
• Companion personal quests trigger after you gain influence and travel; talk to companions after every planet.
• Swoop racing on Taris, Tatooine, and Manaan gives rewards and credits.
• Pazaak is a card game; win rare cards and credits.

Combat System

• Round-based: actions resolve in rounds; queue up to several actions.
• Pause: use Space to plan.
• Flurry, Power Attack, Critical Strike: melee feats with different trade-offs.
• Force powers: Force Wave, Stun, Heal, Force Choke/Lightning (Dark), Force Speed.
• Grenades and mines: strong early.

Force Power tips

• Force Speed is one of the best buffs in the game.
• Heal is essential for Light side runs.
• Force Wave clears groups; Stasis Field and Stun control dangerous enemies.
• Dark side lightning and Choke are powerful but cost more if you're Light side.

Light and Dark Side

• Alignment affects Force power costs (Light powers cheaper for Light side, Dark for Dark).
• Some companions react to your alignment.
• Endings differ based on key choices near the end.
• Mastery bonus comes from reaching the extreme end of either alignment.

Skills Worth Investing In

Skill | Why it matters

Persuade | More dialogue options, better rewards, and peaceful solutions

Computer Use | Hacking terminals to bypass fights, open doors, and gain intel

Repair | Droid encounters and fixing items; also affects some quest outcomes

Security | Opening locked containers and doors

Treat Injury | Better healing from medpacs

Stealth | Sneaking past enemies; used for Scoundrel Sneak Attacks

Awareness | Spotting mines and hidden enemies

Demolitions | Disarming and recovering mines

Companions like Mission (Security, Stealth) and T3-M4 (Computer Use, Repair) can cover skills you don't want to invest in — switch the party leader to use their skills. You can only bring two companions at a time (per Wikipedia), so pick the pair that covers your gaps for each planet.

Equipment and Crafting

• Workbenches let you upgrade weapons and armor with parts you find or buy.
• Lab stations craft medical items and stims.
• Lightsabers use color crystals and upgrade crystals that change damage, attack bonus, and effects; you get your first lightsaber during Jedi training on Dantooine.
• Robes vs. armor: most Force powers suffer when you wear heavy armor; many Jedi players switch to robes after Dantooine.

Pazaak and Swoop Racing

• Pazaak is a card game played against NPCs: get closer to 20 than your opponent without going over. Buy and win side-deck cards to improve your odds.
• Swoop racing rewards fast laps with credits and prizes; hitting accelerator pads is key.

PC Setup and Fixes

• Widescreen: the Steam version supports some higher resolutions, but UI scaling is limited; widescreen and HUD mods improve it.
• Crashes: disabling Frame Buffer Effects and Soft Shadows in graphics options is a common fix, especially for the Leviathan and Star Forge.
• Frame rate: some systems benefit from limiting FPS.
• Community Patch: the KOTOR 1 Community Patch fixes many bugs and restores content.
• Mods: most KOTOR 1 mods are installed manually into the game folder; install the Community Patch first and follow each mod's load-order notes.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Leaving Taris early. You'll miss items and XP.
• Low Intelligence and no Persuade. You'll miss story options.
• Skipping HK-47 and Juhani. They add great content.
• Ignoring companion dialogue. Personal quests unlock with influence.
• Relying only on melee. Force powers and grenades make hard fights easier.
• Not saving before major choices. Some choices are permanent.

Advanced Tips

• Two-weapon fighting with double-bladed or dual lightsabers deals huge damage with feats.
• Upgrade lightsabers with crystals found across planets.
• Stack Force Speed and Flurry for boss fights.
• Use Persuade to avoid fights and gain rewards.
• Pazaak is a reliable credit source once you have good cards.

FAQ

Is KOTOR canon? It's part of Star Wars Legends continuity.

How long is KOTOR? About 30 to 40 hours for a full playthrough.

What's the best class? Soldier into Guardian is easiest; Scoundrel or Scout into Consular or Sentinel is best for skills and Force powers.

Can I play KOTOR on modern PCs? Yes. Use the Steam version with the fixes above and the Community Patch.

What about the remake? Announced in September 2021 for PS5 and Windows with Aspyr leading; Saber Interactive's European studios took over development in August 2022 (per Wikipedia). There's no announced release date as of this writing.

What order should I do the Star Map planets? Any order. Many players do Tatooine first for HK-47.

Sources

• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic on Steam
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic — Wikipedia