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Faction Tips
Don't Ignore Your Faction Standing — Ever
The reputation system is the backbone of Star Wars Outlaws and it's always running in the background. Every contract you accept, every NPC you shoot, every cargo you steal affects your standing with one or more syndicates. New players often focus entirely on the main story and then wonder why half the galaxy is hostile to them by act two. Check your faction standings regularly and be deliberate about which jobs you take.
Start with the Ashiga Clan
The Ashiga Clan on Akiva is the most forgiving faction for new players. You start at Friendly standing with them — already ahead of where you start with every other syndicate. Their contracts are straightforward, their penalties for mistakes are lighter, and the gear they unlock at Liked standing makes the rest of the game significantly easier. Make Akiva one of your first destinations.
You CAN Keep All Factions Happy — With Care
Many players assume the faction system forces you to pick sides. It doesn't — if you're careful. The key rule: never accept sabotage contracts that explicitly target a rival syndicate's shipments or personnel. Stick to jobs that operate within a faction's own territory and you can maintain positive standing across all four syndicates simultaneously. It requires attention but it's very achievable.
Save Before Major Story Choices
Several main story beats force faction reputation changes that can't be undone. Before any mission that feels significant — especially ones involving syndicate leaders — make a manual save. This lets you see the consequences of your choice and reload if the reputation hit is too severe. The game autosaves frequently but not always at the right moments for faction decisions.
Combat & Stealth Tips
Stealth Is Almost Always the Better Option
Star Wars Outlaws is built around stealth first, combat second. Kay Vess is not a soldier — she's a scoundrel. Going in guns blazing works in a pinch but it's inefficient, raises faction alert levels, and often triggers consequences you don't want. Learn the stealth mechanics early. Use cover, time your takedowns, and let Nix scout ahead. Most missions have a clean stealth path if you look for it.
Use Nix Before Every Engagement
Nix isn't just a companion — it's your most powerful tool. Before entering any hostile area, send Nix to scout. Nix reveals enemy positions, identifies patrol patterns, spots alarm panels, highlights collectibles, and can even distract guards to create stealth opportunities. Players who don't use Nix proactively are playing the game on hard mode without realizing it.
Don't Kill Faction-Affiliated Guards Unnecessarily
This catches almost every new player off guard: killing guards affiliated with a syndicate causes passive reputation loss with that faction, even during missions that aren't faction contracts. If you're clearing an Imperial base that happens to have Crimson Dawn guards nearby, non-lethal takedowns are your friend. Check who you're fighting before pulling the trigger.
Upgrade Your Blaster Early
The base blaster is serviceable but underpowered for mid-game combat. Prioritize blaster upgrades from your first vendor visits. The single biggest combat improvement for new players is the damage upgrade available at Liked standing with either the Hutt Cartel or Crimson Dawn vendors. Pick whichever faction you build first and aim for that upgrade as a priority milestone.
Exploration Tips
Explore Every Planet Thoroughly Before Moving On
Star Wars Outlaws rewards thorough exploration more than most open world games. Hidden caches, faction intel, collectibles, and side contracts are scattered throughout every environment. Players who rush the main story and plan to "come back later" often find that time-sensitive content has expired. Treat each planet as a complete experience before advancing the story significantly.
The Speeder Is Your Best Friend — Upgrade It
Early in the game the speeder feels adequate. By mid-game on Tatooine and Akiva, you'll desperately wish it was faster. Speeder upgrades — particularly speed and handling — dramatically change how enjoyable open world traversal feels. The Pyke Syndicate offers the best speeder upgrades at Liked standing. If you find ground travel frustrating, this is your fix.
Talk to Everyone in Cantinas
Cantinas and social hubs are information goldmines. Random NPCs give tips on hidden locations, faction contract availability, and occasionally provide small reputation bumps with nearby syndicates. New players who skip NPC conversations miss a significant amount of optional content that never appears in any mission log or map marker.
Economy & Upgrades
The Pyke Syndicate Pays Best — But Costs Most to Fail
If you need credits fast, Pyke Syndicate spice contracts on Kessel pay more per mission than almost any other contract type in the game. The catch: failure penalties are harsh and Kessel is dangerous for under-prepared players. Wait until you have solid stealth gear and a speeder upgrade before chasing Pyke credits. The payout is worth it — just don't go in underprepared.
Complete Optional Objectives Every Time
Every contract has optional objectives — extra tasks that appear during the mission. New players often ignore these to get in and out faster. This is a significant mistake. Optional objectives give bonus credits, bonus reputation, and occasionally unlock unique gear or intel. The extra two minutes they usually require pays dividends far beyond the mission itself.
Essential Misc Tips
Play Sabacc — It's Worth Your Time
Sabacc is Star Wars Outlaws' card mini-game and it's not just a distraction. Winning at Sabacc tables builds passive reputation with the controlling faction, earns credits, and occasionally unlocks story beats that don't appear anywhere else. Learning the basics takes about 20 minutes. It's one of the most underrated systems in the game and new players almost universally skip it.
When In Doubt — Ask
Star Wars Outlaws has a lot of interconnected systems that the game doesn't fully explain. Faction mechanics, hidden collectibles, mission branching, gear interactions — there's a lot beneath the surface. If you're stuck or unsure about something, ask. The community is helpful, and our Ask Talos AI can answer any specific question about the game instantly.
These 15 tips cover the fundamentals but every player's experience is different. If you have a specific situation — a faction you've accidentally tanked, a collectible you can't find, a mission you're stuck on — the Ask Talos AI chatbot can give you targeted advice for your exact scenario.
Faction Guides
Ready to go deeper? Our full faction reputation guides cover every syndicate in detail:
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