Star Wars Outlawsis an open-world RPG with a skill tree of sorts. Along the way, players will come across specific NPCs calledExperts. These Experts will unlock those skill trees, which requires either materials or players the completion of tasks like knocking out enemies in a specific way.
OnStar Wars Outlaws’starter planet, Cantonica, Kay will meet Bram Shano. On the second planet, where the game fully opens up on Toshara, players can meet Selo Rovak and Aila Bren. These three Experts will be all players get for a good portion of the early game, so let’s go through which abilities players should strive to unlock from them as soon as possible.
8Armored Undershirt
Increase Kay’s Health
Armored Undershirtwill increase Kay’s health by one bar inStar Wars Outlaws. It’s as simple as that, and health is important in this game. While it may look like a typical shooter in an open-world, this game wants players to treat it like a stealth game.
This means enemy numbers will always outrank Kay, and they can finish her off easily, just like Agent 47 can die quickly in theHitmanseries despite his skill set. Other health-related abilities will help Kay later on, but Armored Undershirt is the best one to tackle as soon as the ability menu opens up.
7Fast-Talk
Throw Enemies Off With A Surprise Attack
Fast-Talkis a perfect skill that encompasses how outlaws work in films both inside and outside ofStar Wars. When prompted, players can raise their hands if an enemy catches them sneaking around. Then, when the moment is right, they can fire their weapon for a surprise attack.
There is an upgrade to this ability also in Bram’s Expert field called Keep Talking, which will increase the effectiveness of Fast-Talk. It’s a great move to pull out either in aFaction standstill inStar Wars Outlaws, or when confronted by Stormtroopers.
6I Know Someone
Unlock Merchant Quests
I Know Someoneis the final Bram ability worth discussing for the game’s early stages. After unlocking this ability, players have to spend a good amount of money at vendors to open up an extra option. Themerchants ofStar Wars Outlawscan give players requests, which usually revolve around trading items to get rarer items, or even equipment.
Not all vendors will have this option, but most in the first city of Mirogana do. It’s a great way to find rare items for ability or weapon upgrades, and sometimes, it’s also just fun to get an accessory for Nix.
5Treasure Hunter
Highlight Chests Using Nix
Treasure Hunteris an invaluable ability and a big reason why players should seek out the Expert Selo Rovak as quickly as possible. If players hold up on the D-Pad, at leastfor PS5 controllers, Nix will highlight enemies in a close vicinity.
Treasure Hunter is an upgrade that will highlight chests and other objects worth finding in a room as well. The ability’s range is limited, more so than other environmental highlight mechanics in games, but this upgrade is still beneficial inStar Wars Outlaws. Players still need to be vigilant about manually scanning every location they enter with their eyes though.
4Smoke Bomb
Create A Trail Of Smoke To Hide In
Every outlaw needs a smoke bomb, from ninjas operating in Japan to the variousassassins from theAssassin’s Creedseries. Kay can get theSmoke Bombability inStar Wars Outlaws,which will unlock the item for combat. A simple button prompt will cover a small area in smoke so that players can escape an intense conflict or punch out a few guards while avoiding detection.
The effect will not last long, so players will have to know exactly what they want to do before deploying the tool. Smoke Bomb is good, but there is an upgrade for this ability from another Expert that makes it even better.
3Scoundrel’s Pouch
Carry 1 More Grenade And Bacta Vial
The final ability from Selo worth discussing is calledScoundrel’s Pouch. It will increase the number of grenades and Bacta Vials Kay can carry by one. There is an upgrade for this later called Outlaw’s Pouch, which will increase the limit by one again.
Carrying moregrenades inStar Wars Outlawsis one thing, but the increase players will get for their Bacta Vial capacity is why this upgrade is necessary. Players begin the game being able to carry just two Bacta Vials, and through ability upgrades like these (and equipment), players can unlock more ways to heal during intense fights.
2Concussive Smoke
Use Smoke To Stun Enemies
Concussive Smokeis the aforementioned upgrade for the Smoke Bomb ability from Selo. This one come from Aila, and this upgrade will make the Smoke Bomb tool more effective, as it can now stun enemies as well as blind them.
This means players can potentially deploy it without setting off alarms if they want to be stealthy. It’s a good tool to use when two enemies are standing close together. The effect won’t last long, like the normal Smoke Bomb deployment, so players will have to be quick about taking down enemies before they triggeran alert inStar Wars Outlaws.
1Lightfooted
Sneak Past Guards More Easily
Aila doesn’t offer a lot of great abilities, butLightfootedand Concussive Smoke are examples of quality over quantity. Lightfooted will muffle the sound of Kay’s footsteps while moving around. This means enemies will have a harder time detecting her if she sneaks by without cover.
On metal walkways, like in Imperial bases, this is especially beneficial. Players can’t run out into the middle of a room and expect to remain hidden though, as Lightfooted only affects enemy hearing. Kay isno Solid Snake, but there are things she can do that Snake cannot as a stealthyStar Warsheroine.
