Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Best Combat Perks

Summary

• Equip the best combat perks to enhance Cal’s advantage in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
• Recuperation boosts Force meter regeneration, helping in intense battles.
• Ambidexterity increases lightsaber damage after using a Blaster shot.

Combat in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor can be both simple and complicated, depending on what confrontations and missions that players are taking on as Jedi Cal Kestis. While there are plenty of variations that players can configure to help them out in combat, like skill points and lightsaber stances, one of the best ways to heighten players’ advantage is to equip the best combat perks.

There are a good amount of perks in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, with a smaller portion relating to combat. These combat-related perks will help Cal push back even harder against the many different enemies that the Jedi will face in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

Updated March 12, 2025, by Melody MacReady: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor continues to be a beloved RPG set in the iconic universe, challenging players with its expansive worlds and combat system reminiscent of titles like Elden Ring and Bloodborne. Now available on PlayStation Plus, even more newcomers are experiencing its darker storyline along with new gameplay elements, including the perk system. These perks allow players to modify the battlefield—enhancing Cal’s damage or improving his connection to the Force—which can be particularly useful during intense battles. New players may need guidance on which perks to invest in as they grind for upgrades.

14

Recuperation

The Force Is Strong With Cal Kestis

• Perk Slots: 3
• Location: Chamber Of Connection

Filling up Cal’s Force meter requires attacking enemies, which normally isn’t too hard, but certain situations can force a player to do nothing but run or dodge. As a result, the Recuperation perk can be a nice addition to have after it is unlocked in the High Republic Chamber Of Connection on Koboh.

Cal Kestis can only regenerate one segment of his Force meter naturally, but Recuperation enhances the regeneration so that the minimum Force meter is larger. This way, the player can simply run and evade to get some Force meter, which is helpful during bosses and Legendary enemy fights.

13

Elixir

More Health From BD-1 Is Always Accepted

• Perk Slots: 2
• Location: Zee’s Datadisc Decryption

The High Republic protocol droid named Zee provides multiple perks at her store in exchange for the decrypting of datadiscs found all over in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. One perk that is worth purchasing is Elixir, which is an upgrade for both Cal and his loyal companion BD-1.

When the player asks BD-1 for a healing stim, the stim will provide health and refill a small amount of Force meter, which can be really helpful in the midst of an intense battle that requires constant swapping between lightsaber and Force-based attacks.

12

Ambidexterity

Having A Trusty Blaster And Lightsaber

• Perk Slots: 3
• Location: The Devastated Settlement Chamber

Certain perks in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor are best used when using a specific one of the five lightsaber stances in the game. Ambidexterity is ideal for players who favor the Blaster stance, in which Cal Kestis dual wields a blaster pistol and a lightsaber for a mix of short-range and long-range attacks.

With the Ambidexterity perk equipped, shooting targets temporarily increases lightsaber damage. So, if a player masters the art of following up a blaster shot with a series of lightsaber attacks, even the strongest damage sponge enemies can be taken down.

11

Persistence

More Options For Healing Cal In Battle

• Perk Slots: 2
• Location: Chamber Of Fortitude

Early on, the amount of healing stims that BD-1 carries is small, so having the Persistence perk can help in some of the more devastating fights. It can be easy to run out of stims, especially if someone is not used to the Souls-like combat of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

Persistence passively grants Cal Kestis a small amount of health every time an enemy is slain. This is most helpful if one strong enemy is supported by a legion of weaker enemies, allowing the player to keep Cal alive by shifting focus onto them for emergency health.

10

Perplexity

Jedi Mind Tricks Are Even Stronger

• Perk Slots: 2
• How To Unlock: Defeat Dagan Gera At The Mountain Observatory

Though Force Confusion is a controversial combat option in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, the Force power still stands relatively powerful in specific situations. Perplexity is a perk in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor that can help increase the power of Confusion.

Equipping Perplexity on Cal, which will take up two perk slots, will allow enemies that are under the influence of Confusion to deal more damage to other enemies. This can help make Confusion a much better crowd-control option for players.

9

Shatter

Take Out Enemy Shields Faster

• Perk Slots: 2
• How To Unlock: Complete the Find The Missing Prospectors rumor.

Shatter is a great perk for those players that tend to play more aggressive and overpower enemies in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. To retrieve Shatter, players will need to locate and defeat the legendary Rancor on Koboh. The Shatter perk will cost two perk slots for players looking to equip it.

When equipped, the Shatter perk allows players to be able to deal a lot more damage to enemies’ block meters, which will inevitably allow Cal to, like its namesake, shatter through defense a lot more often. This can help players take out enemies much quicker as some feature a large amount of shielding and defense.

8

Resilience

Cal Can Block More Enemy Attacks

• Perk Slots: 1
• Location: Chamber Of Duality

Being one of the first perks that players will obtain when journeying through Koboh, Resilience is one of the best combat perks that players can equip. Resilience will also only cost players one perk slot, meaning that it pairs well with several other perks.

When Cal has equipped the Resilience perk, his block meter will be strengthened, meaning the Jedi can block more attacks with his lightsaber. This is a big help when there are a lot of ranged opponents constantly shooting at Cal.

7

Equilibrium

The Force Is Not For Attacking, But It Can Help

• Perk Slots: 3
• Location: Zee’s Datadisc Decryption

Equilibrium is one of the easiest and the best perks that players can obtain in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. All they need to do is visit Zee and purchase the Equilibrium perk for five datadiscs. Equilibrium will need a hefty three perk slots for players to equip the perk, but it is well worth it.

That is because with Equilibrium equipped, players using a Force attack will have their next lightsaber attack boosted. This can help open up versatile combos utilizing both the Force and Cal Kestis’ fully customizable lightsaber, which will put out heightened damage.

6

Fortitude

Lightsabers Can Slice Through Almost Anything

• Perk Slots: 4
• How To Unlock: Defeat the Vile Bilemaw in the Fogged Expanse.

Fortitude is arguably the very best perk for players who love engaging in lightsaber combat. To equip the Fortitude perk, players will need four perk slots. Once equipped, all of Cal’s lightsaber damage will be increased, meaning that the Jedi will be able to take out enemies with more ease.

The only downside to this perk is that all of Cal’s incoming damage will also be increased, meaning enemies may have an easier time taking out the Jedi. But, pros will have no problem avoiding enemy attacks. Additionally, extra lightsaber damage is always a bonus for those who want to indulge their Jedi power fantasy.

5

Centered

Even BD-1 Can Help In A Fight

• Perk Slots: 2
• How To Unlock: Defeat Rayvis on the Shattered Moon

Sometimes enemies can easily overwhelm the player, and that’s why players need to create some breathing room so that they have a chance to heal. Centered is a perk that will help increase the number of options that Cal has when it comes time for him to heal up.

When equipped with two perk slots, the Centered perk will stagger enemies in a small radius around Cal whenever he uses a healing stim. Additionally, Cal can endure a single hit while healing without being interrupted or knocked out of the animation.

4

Versatility

Swapping Between Lightsaber Stances Is Recommended

• Perk Slots: 3
• Location: Zee’s Datadisc Decryption

Now that the player can choose two different lightsaber stances at once for Cal to make use of in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, players have a lot more flexibility when it comes to combat. This is where perks such as Versatility can be some of the most beneficial.

Versatility is a perk that takes advantage of switching stances. When equipped with three perk slots, Versatility will make it so that lightsaber damage is temporarily boosted after switching between lightsaber stances in combat.

3

Dexterity

Throwing A Lightsaber Just Got Even Better

• Perk Slots: 2
• Location: Chamber Of Reason

Throwing lightsabers is one of the most fun ways to take out enemies in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, especially with the Dual-Wield stance where Cal can throw two lightsabers at the same time, a helpful ability when taking on some of the galaxy’s most evil factions. A thrown lightsaber does a decent amount of damage, but that can change with the Dexterity perk.

Dexterity is a perk that players can find by completing the Chamber of Reason. When equipped to Cal, players will deal a lot more damage with thrown lightsabers. To equip the perk, players must first complete the Chamber Of Reason to unlock it, and then it will need two free perk slots.

2

Precision

Parry Masters Will Enjoy This Perk

• Perk Slots: 2
• Location: Devastated Settlement

Parrying is a very important part of combat in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, so players will want any edge they can get when it comes to the fighting mechanic. The combat-related perk, Precision, will allow for players to deal much more damage to the enemy’s block meter/stamina when parrying at the cost of a smaller parry window.

Since parrying is very frequent, players should have an easy time dealing with smaller parry windows, all while breaking an enemy’s guard easier. Precision will need two perk slots to be slotted and is recommended for Souls-like players who prefer the parry-heavy combat of games like Bloodborne.

1

Marksmanship

Better For Picking Off Enemies From A Distance

• Perk Slots: 3
• Location: Devastated Settlement

Cal’s blaster may not be the most powerful weapon, but it’s enjoyable to use, evoking classic Star Wars blaster visuals and sounds. Players who adopt the Blaster stance should consider equipping the Marksmanship perk. This additional perk enhances Cal’s effectiveness in combat by increasing the damage of his blaster bolts.

Cal’s blaster damage will be fairly increased, which can be a great help against enemies that aren’t in Cal’s close vicinity. When paired up with the different Charge Shots available throughout the game, the Marksmanship perk will be a saving grace for a lot of Blaster users.