
Getting Started
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – Getting Started Guide for New Players
Welcome to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, the sequel to Jedi: Fallen Order. This guide is designed to help you survive your first hours as Cal Kestis. Whether you're new to the series or a returning Jedi, these tips will get you on the right path.
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First Hour Walkthrough (Spoiler-Free)
Your journey begins in media res aboard a ship, then immediately throws you into the bustling city-planet Coruscant. You'll start with basic movement and combat tutorials. This segment lasts roughly 15–20 minutes and covers:
1. Opening Cutscene – Sets up the story. You are Cal, a Jedi on the run from the Empire.
2. Linear Corridor – Follow the path, climb walls, use your lightsaber on objects.
3. First Combat Encounters – Troopers teach you attack, block, and dodge.
4. Meet Greez – Your pilot and old friend. You'll reach the Mantis (your ship) quickly.
5. Meditation Point Tutorial – Learn how to rest, heal, and spend skill points.
6. Objective: Set Course for Koboh – The main hub planet. You can explore freely after landing.
Key Tip: Don't skip the tutorial prompts – they explain parrying, Force abilities, and stances. The game expects you to master these early.
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Character Creation? None
You play as Cal Kestis, a fully defined character. There is no character creation. However, you can customize:
- Lightsaber (blade color, hilt, emitter, switch, grip)
- Cal's Outfits (clothing, ponchos, jackets)
- BD-1 Skins (droid cosmetics)
- Styx (creature) Saddle (later in the game)
Customization is purely cosmetic and unlocked via exploration, shops, and quests. Early on, you'll find a workbench on the Mantis to change appearance.
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Controls (All Platforms)
Below are the default control schemes. You can customize them in Settings > Controls.
#### PlayStation 5
| Action | Button |
|---|---|
| Move | Left Stick |
| Camera | Right Stick |
| Light Attack | R1 |
| Heavy Attack | R2 |
| Block | L1 |
| Parry | L1 (tap just before hit) |
| Dodge | Circle |
| Jump | X |
| Force Push | L1 + Square |
| Force Pull | L1 + Triangle |
| Use Stim / Heal | Up on D-Pad |
| Interact / Climb | Square |
| Map | Touchpad (or press Options) |
| Action | Button |
|---|---|
| Move | Left Stick |
| Camera | Right Stick |
| Light Attack | RB |
| Heavy Attack | RT |
| Block | LB |
| Parry | LB (tap) |
| Dodge | B |
| Jump | A |
| Force Push | LB + X |
| Force Pull | LB + Y |
| Use Stim / Heal | Up on D-Pad |
| Interact / Climb | X |
| Map | View button (left of Xbox logo) |
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Move | W/A/S/D |
| Camera | Mouse movement |
| Light Attack | Left Mouse Button |
| Heavy Attack | Right Mouse Button |
| Block | Left Shift (hold) |
| Parry | Left Shift (tap) |
| Dodge | Spacebar |
| Jump | Numpad 0 (or rebind) |
| Force Push | Left Shift + Left Mouse |
| Force Pull | Left Shift + Right Mouse |
| Use Stim / Heal | E |
| Interact / Climb | F |
| Map | M |
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UI Overview
Your heads-up display (HUD) is minimal but essential:
1. Health Bar – Top left; green. When depleted, you die. You have a few Stim Canisters (shown below it) to heal.
2. Force Meter – Blue bar beneath health. Used for special abilities (Push, Pull, Slow). Recharges slowly.
3. Stance Indicator – Top center shows your current lightsaber stance (e.g., Single, Double-Bladed, Dual Wield, Crossguard, Blaster). Switch using D-pad left/right (console) or hotkeys (PC).
4. Experience / Skill Points – Bottom center, small numbers. Gathered from enemies and exploration. Spend at Meditation Points.
5. Compass / Waypoint – Top of screen; shows direction to current objective.
6. Interaction Prompts – Appear near objects you can use (crouch, climb, open).
7. Enemy Health Bar – Above enemies when locked on (hold L2/LT).
Note: You can toggle HUD elements in Settings > HUD if you prefer a cleaner view.
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Essential Early Objectives
After the Coruscant prologue, once you reach the Mantis and land on Koboh, do these in order:
1. Settle at Pyloon's Saloon – This becomes your hub. Talk to Greez and Mosey for quests.
2. Visit the Workbench – Customize your lightsaber and outfit; equip perks (you unlock them later).
3. Upgrade BD-1 at the Workbench – Perform a free upgrade to unlock new slicing abilities (early money is tight, but this first one is free).
4. Complete the first main quest: "The Crash Site" – Follow the waypoint to find the downed ship. You'll learn to use the Ascension Cable and grapple points.
5. Unlock the second Stance – Enemies on Koboh use shields; equip the Double-Bladed stance to break them easily. Stances are unlocked via story progression.
6. Find the first Force Echo – Scan objects with BD-1 to learn lore and sometimes get XP.
7. Activate Meditation Points – Every time you see one, rest to save, heal, and spend skill points. Also fast travel points.
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What to Do First / What to Avoid
#### ✅ Do First:
- Explore thoroughly on Koboh – there are secret areas, upgrade materials, and cosmetics.
- Practice parrying on weak troopers. A successful parry leaves enemies open for a powerful counterattack.
- Spend skill points as soon as you get them – they don't carry over if you die before resting (you keep them, but lose progress toward the next point). Prioritize Survival skills like increased health and stim capacity.
- Use BD-1's Scanner on every new object, creature, or area – grants XP and story logs.
- Upgrade Stims at a workbench – you'll find Stim Canister upgrades scattered around. They are crucial for boss fights.
- Rushing main story – You'll miss vital upgrades and become underleveled for later challenges.
- Ignoring the double-jump upgrade – It's found early on Koboh; you need it to reach many areas. Without it, you'll get stuck.
- Selling upgrade materials – Sell only when you have duplicates. You need them for lightsaber upgrades.
- Fighting every enemy – Sometimes running past is smarter, especially groups of Rancor or Bedlam Raiders while underleveled.
- Spending Skill Points on the wrong tree – Focus on Survival and Force first. Combat skills come later; you can't respec, so choose wisely.
#### ❌ Avoid:
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Early Resource Priorities
Your main resources:
| Resource | Use | Where to Get | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skill Points (XP) | Unlock skills on the skill tree | Defeating enemies, exploring, completing quests | High – spend them |
| Priorite Shards (yellow crystals) | Currency for cosmetics, ship upgrades, BD-1 upgrades | Found in chests, off enemies, sold at shops | Medium – buy stim upgrades first |
| Data Disks | Unlock BD-1 cosmetic patterns | Found in hidden chests | Low – purely cosmetic |
| Components | Upgrade lightsaber parts (damage, block meter) | Salvage from enemies, chests, workbenches | High – improves combat |
| Stim Canisters | Heal yourself | Found in the world; each one increases your healing cap | Maximum priority – find all |
| Seeds / Fish | Cosmetic rewards for a sidequest | Plant on Koboh | Low – for completionists |
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Common Beginner Mistakes
1. Button Mashing – Game punishes spam. Enemies will block your attacks and counter. Learn to parry, dodge, and wait for openings.
2. Ignoring Block Meter – Your block has a stamina gauge (shown as a small blue circle near the crosshair). When it depletes, you get staggered. Attack in bursts, not constantly.
3. Falling Off Cliffs – Cal's platforming can be floaty. Don't sprint near edges. Use BD-1's map to plan routes.
4. Not Using Force Abilities – Force Push is great for staggering, Force Pull brings enemies closer. Use them constantly.
5. Skipping Meditation Points – Always rest when you see one. You'll save your progress and refresh health/stims. But beware: resting respawns enemies.
6. Forgetting to Switch Stances – Enemies have weaknesses. Double-Bladed for crowds, Single for standard, Crossguard for heavy enemies (unlocks later).
7. Overlooking Crouch – You can hide in tall grass or crouch behind cover to sneak past enemies or get a critical hit.
8. Not Buying the "Safety Vault" Upgrade – Unlocks at the workbench; gives you a second chance when falling into pits.
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Day-One Checklist
Before you dive into the story, do these things to set yourself up for success:
- [ ] Adjust Controls – Go to Settings > Controls and remap to your comfort (especially on PC).
- [ ] Set Difficulty – Choose Jedi Knight (normal) for a balanced experience. You can change it anytime.
- [ ] Enable Performance Mode (PS5/Xbox) – If you prefer 60fps, set Graphics Mode to Performance.
- [ ] Hear Audio Cues – Turn up SFX and dialogue; parry has a distinct sound.
- [ ] Read the Tutorials – The game pauses with tips. Don't skip them.
- [ ] Find Your First Meditation Point – Save manually after the opening.
- [ ] Open the Map – Use BD-1's map to see unexplored areas (grayed out).
- [ ] Collect Your First Stim Upgrade – On Koboh, immediately after the saloon, explore the rooftop to the right for a Stim Canister.
- [ ] Spend First Skill Point – Invest in Survival > Fortitude (more health) or Survival > Endurance (larger block meter).
- [ ] Equip Your First Perk – Once you unlock them (around 2 hours in), use perks like Resilience (damage reduction) or Poised (block meter recovery).
- [ ] Talk to All NPCs – They give lore and sometimes side quests. Mosey sells cosmetics, Gulu sells upgrades.
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Final Words
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a huge game with a steep initial learning curve, but the world rewards patience and exploration. Remember: you are a Jedi in hiding – use your abilities wisely, don't be afraid to run, and always keep your lightsaber charged. May the Force be with you, young Padawan.