Star Wars: KOTOR Pros & Cons Of Every Class

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, BioWare's legendary RPG, arrived on the Nintendo Switch in late 2021. The game scored critical acclaim with its original 2013 release and is hailed as the forerunner of other classic RPG series like Mass Effect and Dragon Age. Just like those other BioWare RPGs, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic begins with character creation, with three classes for players to choose from.

However, as the game progresses and the main character undergoes Jedi training, they'll also be able to pick one of three Force-sensitive KOTOR classes. Although three may seem a low number by today's standards, each class in KOTOR is different enough to feel unique, and they all encourage players to try out creative builds.

Updated September 22, 2022, by John Higgs: With the much-anticipated Knights of the Old Republic remake now indefinitely delayed, fans will have to make do with the original versions of the game for the time being. Fortunately, the porting of KOTOR to mobile platforms and the Nintendo Switch has brought the game a fresh lease of life as one of the best mobile RPGs available today. Fans of Mass Effect and Dragon Age who'd like to go back and experience where BioWare's RPG success began can now do so in more ways than ever. The strength of BioWare's character writing shines in Knights of the Old Republic, and echoes of the classic companions created for the title can be found in celebrated favorites like Mass Effect's Garrus and Dragon Age's Varric.

The Starting Classes In Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic

During KOTOR's character creation players are given a choice of three starting classes. Although these first KOTOR classes will only last until the main character's Jedi training, the decision between them is still very important:

The Soldier

The Soldier is a tough fighter and the most combat-orientated of the three starting classes. It's a great pick for new players due to its survivability but does rely heavily on KOTOR's great companions for skill checks.

Soldiers start with the Power Attack and Power Blast active Feats, allowing them to perform special attacks with melee or ranged weapons respectively. These attacks take a -3 to the Hit roll but deal +5 bonus damage. Additionally, Soldiers are the only KOTOR class that can pick up Weapon Specializations in weapons other than Lightsabers, giving them a permanent +2 to damage with that weapon type.

Pros

Most Vitality per level of any class
Only class to start with Heavy Armor proficiency
Only class to start with Heavy Weapon proficiency
Gains a Feat every level
Highest Attack stat of any class

Cons

Lowest Skill points per level of any class
Only three class Skills
Slow Reflex and Will save progression

The Scoundrel

The Scoundrel is the Han Solo of KOTOR, offering a skill-focused package that is the safest shooting from range. In combat, the Scoundrel makes up for its low Vitality and limited Feats with Scoundrel's Luck and Sneak Attack.

Scoundrel's Luck grants the Scoundrel a passive bonus to Defense, and Sneak Attack allows them to add bonus damage to close-range attacks from behind enemies, from stealth, or against targets that are stunned or otherwise immobilized. The Scoundrel starts with the Critical Strike and Sniper Shot active Feats in KOTOR, allowing them to increase their chances of a critical hit with melee and ranged weapons respectively.

Pros

Most Skill points per level of any class
Five class Skills
Scoundrel's Luck Defense Bonus
Sneak Attack Feat

Cons

Lowest Vitality per level of any class
Only proficient in Light Armor
Gains a Feat every three levels
Slow Fortitude and Will save progression

The Scout

The Scout fills the middle ground between the Soldier and Scoundrel, offering average Skill and Feat progression, along with good Saves and Medium Armor. The Scout is the most versatile of the three classes and is the best choice for players planning ahead for their iconic Star Wars Jedi class.

Scouts begin with the Flurry and Rapid Shot active Feats, giving them the ability to make an extra attack each round with melee or ranged weapons respectively. Although this extra attack can be very powerful, it comes with a -4 to hit and imposes a defense penalty on the Scout until the next round.

Pros

Fast progression for all Saves
Five class skills
Medium Armor proficiency
Free Implant Feat

Cons

Only one Feat per two levels after level 3
Weak Defense

The Jedi Classes in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Once players have reached Dantooine in the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic story, they'll be able to start Jedi training. This training comes with a new choice of three KOTOR classes, each with Force powers and Lightsaber proficiency:

Jedi Guardian

The Guardian is the Soldier of the Jedi classes, with the same high Vitality per level and the most Feats. Due to these strengths, the Guardian shines in Lightsaber combat, but also has the lowest amount of Force points to spend.

The Guardian starts with the Force Jump power and acquires its improved versions at level 6 and level 12. Force Jump allows the Guardian to automatically leap into close=combat with any enemy more than 10 meters away that they target with a lightsaber melee attack. Force Jump is probably one of the most iconic Star Wars Force Powers, and is often seen in movies, books, and games.

Pros

Force Jump unique Feat
Most Vitality per level of any class
Most Feats of any Jedi class

Cons

Lowest Skill points per level of any class
Lowest Force points per level of any Jedi class

Jedi Consular

The Jedi Consular is the Jedi equivalent of the Scoundrel class, with the heaviest focus on Force Powers. Low Vitality and high Force points mean that Consulars are best built as caster-type characters, wielding powers from the back-line.

To support their specialization in Force Powers, the Consular starts with the Force Focus Feat and gets the upgraded versions at level 6 and level 12. Force Focus gives +1 DC for all Force Powers used by the Consular, making it less likely that enemies will pass their saving throw.

Pros

Six class Skills
Highest Force points per level of any Jedi class
Force Focus unique Feat
Most Force Powers of any Jedi class

Cons

Lowest Vitality per level of any class
Lowest Skill points per level of any class

Jedi Sentinel

As the Jedi Scout, the Sentinel represents the middle ground between the Consular and Guardian. Unlike the Scout, the Sentinel has the highest amount of Skill points per level of any Jedi class, making them even more versatile. Obi-Wan Kenobi's master Qui-Gon Jinn is probably the Star Wars character that best represents this blend of Force use and combat talent.

To keep them alive in combat, Sentinels start with the Force Immunity Feat and acquire its upgraded versions at levels 6 and 12. Force Immunity makes the Sentinel immune to Fear at level 1, immune to Stun at level 6, and immune to paralysis at level 12. These abilities combine to make the Sentinel one of the toughest Jedi KOTOR classes.

Pros