STAR WARS™: The Old Republic™ News

Dynamic Encounters

Dynamic Encounters is new world content that offers a variety of missions for players to experience. They are meant to breathe life into the planets they inhabit, giving players a sense that something is always happening at any given time. As players explore planets, they will naturally come across Dynamic Encounters or they can find active Encounters on their map. Missions can range from taking out Hidden Chain forces to herding escaped Banthas running amok in a space port. These Encounters will debut on Hoth and Tattoine with 7.6.

Hidden Chain Invasions are special Dynamic Encounters where players are tasked with stopping Heta Kol’s forces as they continue to wreak havoc in the galaxy. These Encounters can take place on Hoth and Tattooine, but can also be found on several other planets.

As players complete Dynamic Encounters, they can receive special rewards like unlocking various Achievements, obtaining the Freckled Loth-cat Kitten pet and Hidden Chain and Electric Gaze armor sets. Completing the meta-achievents of each planet will grant the themed Frozen Peaks and Desert Sand Mounts.



The Propagator Core XR-53 Lair Boss

A new Operation boss will be coming with 7.6. The Propagator Core XR-53 originated from one of the many broken pieces when the Emperor's Fortress crashed onto Ilum. The XR-53 is a Rakatan droid replicator trying to fix itself by harvesting resources. Story and Veteran Modes are now live!



Augments

Three new tiers of augments have been released with 7.6! Read the details on how to obtain them here. For a full list of schematics and their requirements, read here!

Planet and Character Modernization

Our modernization efforts continue on with Game Update 7.6. Character models, specifically heads, will also see improved fidelity across the game! Players will see updates to their character via updated character textures, along with ocular specularity and with lighting, and shader improvements. Our goal is to improve the fidelity of characters across the game while keeping your character uniquely yours.

https://youtu.be/WN7JD4pTpks?si=SkA8U7m85k6YEAjf

PvP Season 7

Season 7 “The Path to Mastery” begins with 7.6! For a full breakdown of the new season and its rewards, click here!

Life Day

Our winter seasonal event begins today! The the Ornate Life Day Robes has been added to the list of rewards that can be earned! The Tirsa G1-F7 mount can be found on the Cartel Market.



Cartel Market Offerings

New outfits, weapons, customizations and dyes are now available in the Cartel Market. Alongside Star Wars: Skeleton Crew™ inspired items, players can get their hands on Shae Vizla’s Battle Scarred armor and unique Remote Trading Outpost Decoration Bundle inspired by Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge™. See everything available here!



Additionally, a highly requested long hairstyle will be made available for players for free! This customization will automatically be added to the hair character slider.




Character Customization in the Appearance Designer is 90% off until January 7, 2025.


Best View in SWTOR winners

The Best View contest winners have been selected and their framed decorations can be found on the Anniversary vendor. Congrats to this year’s winners!

Twitch Drops

For the next 28 days, the Amethyst Vulptilla Mount Twitch Drop will be active. In order to obtain it, make sure that you go to your account page on swtor.com, and link up your SWTOR account and your Twitch account. Watch live SWTOR content on Twitch for four hours in order to unlock the mount!



Companion Mount Subscriber Reward

Players who have an active Subscription between now and January 4th will receive SWTOR’s first ever companion AND mini pet compatible vehicle mount.



We’re releasing character names!

We’ve been looking for opportunities to release inactive character names, and we have selected 7.6 launch as the time to begin this process. Please read through this blog in its entirety to understand how you can keep your character name if it was impacted.

Master the Fight: Starbolt Bundle

This limited time offer Master the Fight: Starbolt Edition Bundle includes:

• 180 Days Subscription Time + 600 Cartel Coins per month
  
• 5500 Cartel Coins
  
• Vectron 240R Starbolt Mount
  
  • Rideable at level 1
  • Base speed as fast as Speeder Rank 5 (130%)
  • Gives players a speed boost while mounted
    
• Primary Metallic Yellow Dye (x5 per character)
  
• Secondary Metallic Yellow Dye (x5 per character)
  
• Bundle is priced at $99.99 USD
  

This bundle will be available until January 14, 2025.

Dynamic Encounters

Dynamic Encounters is new world content that breathes life into planets and offers a wide variety of repeatable activities that rotate their availability over time. This content makes its debut with Game Update 7.6 and can be found on Tatooine and Hoth.

When players make their way to either of these planets with the Galaxy Map, they can immediately see which Encounters are active.



As players venture out and explore, they will see unique icons pop up on their map indicating that a Dynamic Encounter is currently active. Once a player is close enough to the Encounter, the mission tracker will update with a description of the Encounter and what requirements need to be fulfilled in order to complete the Encounter. All encounters can be completed solo or in a group. There are two different types of encounters: those that share progress normally (only with others in your group) and those that share progress between all active players in the encounter area--even if you aren't in a group. These use different icons to let you know which is which.



What kind of Dynamic Encounters are there?

Though you may be tasked to take down enemy NPCs and mini bosses, not every Encounter requires combat! On Hoth, you may need to calm some anxious Ice Kittens or carry baby Tauntauns up a hill just so they can happily run down it and back to their mother. On Tatooine, you may come across a Cantina band experiencing travel woes and you need to help repair their vehicles or become an Ad Gonk droid and market their show to patrons.

Hidden Chain Invasions are unique Dynamic Encounters that can occur on Tatooine, Hoth, Rishi, and Ilum. Stop Heta Kol’s forces from wreaking havoc in the galaxy by summoning friendly NPC faction forces to take down the Hidden Chain and earn rewards for doing so.

What are the rewards?

There are a number of rewards that can be earned as Dynamic Encounters are completed! Alongside numerous Achievements, players can earn Conquest Commendations, Tech Fragments, Mounts, a unique decoration, and armor sets!

Hidden Chain Invasions Encounters will drop pieces of the Hidden Chain armor set and various Encounters on Hoth and Tatooine will drop pieces of the Electric Gaze armor set.



Completing specific (and also rare) Dynamic Encounters on Hoth may drop the Everglade Zakkeg mount and the Hoth Snowcap decoration.



A rare and unique Freckled Loth-cat Kitten pet can be obtained upon completing kitten related Dynamic Encounters on Hoth.



Upon completing the meta-Achievement for Hoth, players will receive the Frozen Peaks Mount. Completing the meta-Achievement for Tatooine will yield the Desert Sand Mount. Both mounts come with mini-pet functionality!



We look forward to creating more missions for other planets in the future!



The Propagator Core XR-53 Operation Boss on Story and Veteran Mode!



The Propagator Core XR-53 originated from one of the many broken pieces when the Emperor's Fortress crashed onto Ilum. The XR-53 is a Rakatan droid replicator trying to fix itself by harvesting resources. As players explore an abandoned production lab on Ilum, they may find themselves the XR-53’s newest targets to be collected.


(Complete Construct enemy NPC)

There are two ways to begin the encounter. Players can:

• Fly to Ilum and approach the phase gate located in the main base camp
  
• Use the Group Activity Finder window and choose “Relentless Replication” for Story Mode
  
  • For a limited time, Relentless Replication will be the only Encounter listed in the window
    

Players are encouraged to jump into a 8-player group and take down XR-53 not only for the excitement of a challenging fight, but also because this boss drops the needed components to craft new augments!

Three new tiers of augments have been introduced with 7.6:

• Augment 83 (Item Rating, 296 Prototype)
  
  • The tradeable Schematic to craft these will drop from the XR-53 fight on Story Mode
• Augment 86 (Item Rating 302, Prototype)
  • The tradeable Schematic to craft these will drop from the XR-53 fight on Veteran Mode
• Advanced Augment 86 (Item Rating 310, Artifact)
  • The schematic is only available by deconstructing Augment 86.

A full breakdown of these augments can be found here.

A full list of the updated schematics and requirements can be found here.


We hope you enjoy Dynamic Encounters and the new Operation boss!

[h2]Highlights [/h2]

Dynamic Encounters

Dynamic Encounters is new open world content that offers a variety of missions for players to experience. They are meant to breathe life into the planets they inhabit, giving players a sense that something is always happening at any given time. As players explore planets, they will naturally come across Dynamic Encounters or they can find active Encounters on their map. Missions can range from taking out Hidden Chain forces to herding escaped Banthas running amok in a space port. These Encounters will debut on Hoth and Tatooine with 7.6. 

Hidden Chain Invasions are special Dynamic Encounters where players are tasked with stopping Heta Kol’s forces as they continue to wreak havoc in the galaxy. These Encounters can take place on Hoth and Tattooine, but can also be found on several other planets. 

As players complete Dynamic Encounters, they can receive special rewards like unlocking various Achievements, obtaining the Freckled Loth-cat Kitten pet and Hidden Chain and Electric Gaze armor sets. Completing the meta-achievents of each planet will grant the themed Frozen Peaks and Desert Sand Mounts. 

The Propagator Core XR-53 Lair Boss

A new lair boss will be coming with 7.6. The Propagator Core XR-53 originated from one of the many broken pieces when the Emperor's Fortress crashed onto Ilum. The XR-53 is a Rakatan droid replicator trying to fix itself by harvesting resources. Story and Veteran Modes are launching with 7.6.

Augments

Three new tiers of augments have been released with 7.6! Read the details on how to obtain them here. For a full list of schematics and their requirements, read here!  

Companion and Mini Pet Mounts

Enjoy your galactic road trips with your favorite companions and mini pets with new mounts coming in 7.6! The Meirm Cicada, inspired by Star Wars: Skeleton Crew™ and available to all players who are Subscribers between November 29, 2024 and January 4, 2025, is SWTOR’s first mount that allows you to travel with your Companion AND Mini Pet. Read more about the Meirm Cicada here. Additionally, the Frozen Peaks and Desert Sand Mounts earned via Dynamic Encounters allow players to ride in style with their favorite Mini Pet. 

Planet and Character Modernization

Our modernization efforts continue on with Game Update 7.6. Character models, specifically heads, will also see improved fidelity across the game! Players will see updates to their character via updated character textures, along with ocular specularity and with lighting, and shader improvements. Our goal is to improve the fidelity of characters across the game while keeping your character uniquely yours. 

Additionally, several planets have received major art improvements including Korriban, Tython, Hoth, and Ilum.

PvP Season 7

Season 7 “Path to Mastery” begins with 7.6! For a full breakdown of the new season and its rewards, click here! 

Life Day

Our winter seasonal event begins today! The Tirsa G1-F7 mount and the Ornate Life Day Robes have been added to the list of rewards that can be earned! 

Cartel Market Offerings

• New outfits, weapons, customizations and dyes are now available in the Cartel Market. Alongside Star Wars: Skeleton Crew™ inspired items, players can get their hands on Shae Vizla’s Battle Scarred armor and unique Remote Trading Outpost Decoration Bundle inspired by Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge™. 
  
• The Star Wars: Skeleton Crew™ tab has been added to the Cartel Market window. 
  
• Character Customization in the Appearance Designer is 90% off until January 7, 2025. 
  

Best View in SWTOR winners

The Best View contest winners have been selected and their framed decorations can be found on the Anniversary vendor. Congrats to this year’s winners!

Public Test Server Incentives

Thank you to all of the players that participated in the Public Test Server! Those who completed the incentive Achievements for Dynamic Encounters will receive your rewards upon log in. The Propagator Core XR-53 titles will be granted in a future update. 

Inactive Character Name Release

Names from characters that have not logged in since January 1, 2024 have been released! Characters on accounts with an active subscription were not impacted, along with characters that logged in this year on F2P or Preferred accounts. Check out this news article for all of the details. For the week following the launch of 7.6, the Rename: Character Name Consumable item will be 90% off on the Cartel Market.

General

• Pets are now visible when the player character exits stealth. 
  
• Misaligned sections of the rounded countertops in the Zakuul Cantina are now fixed. 
  
• The palm trees in Darvannis are no longer missing their leaves. 
  
• Characters that have unclaimed Cartel Market items can no longer be deleted. 
  
• The clouds in Korriban’s skybox have been restored. 
  
• Voice lines for Voss and Gormak vendors found in the Interpreter’s Retreat have been restored. 
  
• The hyperlink in the Battle Record window now adds stats in the chat window when clicked. 
  
• The original version of companion Fideltin Rusk is replaced with the updated version of his character model once the player completes the Alliance Alert to recruit him back. 
  
• Fixed an issue that caused faint texture lines to appear on light terrain areas on Ilum. 
  
• The following changes have been made regarding GTN messages: 
  
  
  • GTN messages will expire in 14 days (down from 30), for "final" sale notifications (i.e. auction ended)
    
  • GTN messages for partial sale notifications will expire in 2 days
    
  • Opening (reading) a GTN message will cause it to expire in 1 hour

Missions

• Upon completing the mission “Old Wounds”, players will now receive the Darth Nul Codex Entry. 
  
  
  • Players who have already completed this mission and have not received the Codex Entry prior to 7.6 release will receive it upon next log in. 
    
  
  
• The first conversation in the “To Find a Findsman” mission will no longer be locked if a player also has the first step in the mission “Old Wounds” active. 
  
• During “Hidden Signals”, players will no longer be stuck if they cancel the conversation triggered by scanning an amplifier with the Handheld Scanners and then using the Macrobinoculars (from Shroud’s Gambit) to rescan the same amplifier.  
  
• The Disorder cinematic trailer now plays when selected in the Character Selection window using the Steam launcher. 
  
• Arn Peralun now has a scaled level of influence after being temporarily acquired during Onslaught. 
  
• Akaavi Spar now has a scaled level of influence after being temporarily acquired during Showdown on Ruhnik. 
  
• The enemies in Hoth’s HEROIC+2 Taking the Heat Mission are no longer blocked by an ice spire and can be attacked as intended. 

Combat Styles

Powertech: Shield Tech

• Using Grapple on a friendly target with Extraction Plan will no longer immobilize the target. 
  

Powertech / Vanguard

• The effects of the Specialist Package implant now function as intended.
  

Scoundrel: Scrapper

• Rolling Fists will now correctly increase the crit chance of Sucker Punch. 
  

Operative: Concealment

• Roll Knife will correctly increase the crit chance of Laceration.

Galactic Seasons

• The Season 7 Collection Plate now mentions “The Greatest Bounty”. 
  
• When Galactic Seasons: Progress is completed through the 4-day login bonus, the Stronghold Bonus is now added along with the base 3,800 Conquest Points. 

Basilisk Prototype Venture 

• The training timer that begins when B3-S1 temporarily joins the player now pauses when the player is: 
  
  
  • in a Warzone or Arena
    
  • riding a taxi
    
  • in a Group Finder Flashpoint
    
  • in a Group Finder Operation 

Flashpoints

• Players that are revived during Flashpoint encounters are now seen as in-combat by engaged enemy NPCs. 
  
• The mission [WEEKLY] Veteran Flashpoints will now properly scale to the character’s level. 
  

PvP

• Players can group up with 4 players max (down from 8).
  
• Set Bonus effects on the level 75 Spoils of War gear are disabled.

Items

• Opening an upgrade cache will now always grant an item, an upgrade to an existing item if said item has a lower Item Rating, or a similarly rated item that can be used for Deconstruction.
  
• The Praxon Trackmaster mount decoration now shows its original Silver/Red colors. 
  
• The Praxon Sidewinder mount has been added to the same vendor using the Teal/Orange colors.
  
• The Brynjak Leather Boots, Gloves, Bracers and the Superior Hunter Gloves now match the colors that are depicted in their Collection art. 
  
• Updated storefront images for the Credit Flip, Meditation Chamber, and Orbital Kolto Strike Toy Items. 
  
• The Dread Master HK Customization no longer makes HK-51 appear taller than intended. 
  
• Mounts and weapons now maintain proper lighting when traveling between different areas. 

Maps

• After closing the Galaxy Map, the World Map now opens as intended when using the menu bar.
  

Strongholds

• The door to the Western Exterior and Suite in the Copero Villa no longer mentions the Eastern Exterior and Suite in the map.
  
• When Personnel Decorations are moved or rotated, their new positions can now be viewed correctly by Stronghold visitors. 
  

PvP Season 7 "Path to Mastery" is coming with the launch of Game Update 7.6!  Below are general changes that players will see once the new season begins: 

• Players can group up with 4 players max (down from 8)
  
• Set Bonus effects on the level 75 Spoils of War gear are disabled
  

The season will run for 16 weeks!

Below is all the information about season objectives and new rewards players can earn or purchase from the seasonal vendors, Tullek and Giradda the Hutt.

Season Objectives

F2P and Preferred players will receive 4 Weekly Objectives while Subscribers will receive 6 Weekly Objectives upon the Weekly Reset. All players can complete up to 4 objectives per week to make progress on the reward track.

New Rewards! 

More armor sets, decorations, titles, a new emote, and an achievement will be coming with Season 7! Here’s a breakdown of all the seasonal rewards.

(PvP Season 7 Blue and Red Flag - Toys)

Titles and Emote

• Legacy Title: Pathfinder
  
• Meta-Achievement Title: Seeker
  
• Character Title: Master of Paths
  
• Emote: Honorable Bow
  

(Emote: Honorable Bow)

Armors

(Plumed Scout and Plumed Trapper Armor- earned on PvP Reward track)

(Feathered Ranger and Feathered Huntmaster - found on PvP vendor)

Decorations

(PvP Season 6 Battler Decoration, Season 7 Trophy (Large) Decoration, Season 7 Trophy (Small) Decoration, and Pathmaster’s Trophy Decoration)

Additions to the seasonal PvP vendors

(PvP vendors, Giradda the Hutt and Tullek, can be found on the Fleet in the Combat Training area)

Tullek

Tullek will update his inventory with new rewards when the season starts. Below are the items that will be available for the duration of Season 7. And at the end of the season, they will move to Giradda’s inventory:






Giradda the Hutt

Giradda’s inventory will also be updated with rewards from the previous PvP season. A collection of previous replicas and trophy decorations will still be available in the inventory rotation. Below are the items that are permanently available (new additions in bold):

























Each rotation group (A, B, C, and D) of Giradda’s inventory will be available for 1 week and then cycle out for 3 weeks during the weekly reset (on Tuesdays at 12:00 PM GMT/UTC - 7:00 AM CT).

Group A
























Group B

























Group C

























Group D

We will be taking servers down December 10th to deploy Game Update 7.6!

• Time: 7am CT / 1pm UTC
  
• Estimated downtime: 5 hours
  
  • We are estimating 5 hours of downtime due to the releasing inactive character names.
    

Other things to note!

• The Rename: Character Name Consumable item will be 90% off from December 10 to December 17.
  
• Character re-customizations will be 90% off from December 10 to January 7, 2025
  
• The 50% off Collection Unlocks sale will run from December 13 to January 7, 2025.
  
• Life Day items (except the Tirsa mount and Ornate Robes) will be 25% off from December 10 to January 7, 2025.
  
• The Double XP event will run from December 22, 2024 to January 2, 2025.
  
• More popular items on the Cartel Market will rotate through the Daily Sale with discounts between 50-80% off throughout the holiday season.