SWTOR: Everything about the new expansion 'Legacy of the Sith'

Mid-December will see the release of the new expansion “Legacy of the Sith” for the MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic. MeinMMO editor Alexander Leitsch attended a preview event for the expansion and received new information and answers to some questions from the developers.

What kind of expansion is this? In December, SWTOR celebrates its 10th anniversary. Accordingly, the new expansion “Legacy of the Sith” is set to continue the story of Darth Malgus. Highlights of the expansion include:

The new max level 80
New story content, including on the planet Manaan
The new flashpoint Ruins of a Sith Fortress
A revision of drops, making randomness almost completely eliminated
The introduction of legendary gear
A revision of the classes’ combat styles
The operation R-4 anomaly, which will be released shortly after the expansion’s launch

Additionally, the update is intended to be the start of a series of events and further content updates. Overall, the developers are currently planning content for at least 10 more years, as they revealed to us in conversation.

When will “Legacy of the Sith” be released? The release is set for December 14, 2021.

Who will find the expansion interesting? The expansion is primarily aimed at fans of the game. They will receive a continuation of the story, new quests and dungeons, new housing, and many other adjustments.

However, it also represents a good opportunity to start fresh with SWTOR. This is largely due to the overhaul of the classes, the adjustments to loot, and the new legendary gear. These elements reduce some frustration from the game and allow you to catch up to the veterans of the MMORPG more quickly.

Additionally, useful general adjustments have been made in recent years, such as revisions of old content, the introduction of battle passes, which have been well received, new cutscenes, and easing restrictions for free-to-play players. All of these are reasons to take another look at SWTOR.

What exactly you can expect from the expansion and which player types SWTOR generally targets will be explained here in the article.

Continuation of the story, but also significant revisions – What’s in the expansion

What new content can we expect? Players can especially look forward to a continuation of the story from Onslaught. The expansion begins on Manaan, an ocean planet. The Sith have invaded Manaan. The planet is expected to be generally dark, windy, and very chaotic.

However, you will constantly be moving on land. Swimming will still not be a feature in SWTOR.

The second major story block occurs in the new flashpoint Elom. Flashpoints are essentially dungeons that narrate an important part of the story. In this particular case, it involves Darth Malgus examining ancient Sith ruins. To ensure that players without a group can handle this content, there is a story mode for solo players.

In the story content, you should encounter some familiar faces from previous updates and expansions, including Tau Idair, Major Anri, or Lana Beniko. However, the focus is on the Sith Darth Malgus, who already appeared in Onslaught and aims to end the struggle for power between Jedi and Sith.

What gameplay changes are there? The biggest change concerns loot:

You will no longer obtain new gear through drops but via quests, weekly missions, the group finder, or directly through PvP.
Bosses will drop a currency that you can use to purchase new gear.
Glory and random drops will be removed with patch 7.0.
However, as random drops, there will still be random rewards and vanity items.

Alongside the changes to loot, the class system will be adjusted. You will now be able to freely choose your combat style within your type – either Tech or Force:

Troopers will now have access to all kinds of weapons, such as sniper rifles, which was not the case before.
All Jedi Knights, on the other hand, will gain access to combat styles such as Guardian, Sentinel, Sage, or Shadow over the course of the game.
Sith players can choose between the combat styles Juggernaut, Marauder, Sorcerer, or Assassin.

Another innovation lies in the legendary gear. Each player can simultaneously wear 2 legendary armor pieces, each providing a unique effect. These bonuses will replace the set bonuses in the game. Here, newcomers particularly benefit, as they will be able to receive legendary gear directly instead of having to farm sets.

The anniversary will be celebrated in grand style: As the developers announced, the expansion is set to kick off a major anniversary celebration. After all, it marks the 10th birthday.

Throughout the year, there will be events, livestreams, and new content.

One of these is the new operation R-4 anomaly, which is expected to come immediately after patch 7.0. This will involve hardcore group content with various difficulty levels in SWTOR.

This time, it promises to be dark and mysterious, with even some horror elements planned. Players will explore a base built by the Empire on an asteroid.

What’s next for SWTOR after the expansion? The developers emphasized to us that there are plans for SWTOR for the next 10 years. So, an end to SWTOR is not in sight yet.

SWTOR has aged but is still interesting in 2021

How is SWTOR doing overall? Star Wars: The Old Republic is a free-to-play MMORPG, but with restrictions. For all content beyond level 60, you have to pay or opt for a subscription that provides access to all content during the paid time.

Moreover, the game shows its age. The combat system is classic tab-targeting, where abilities also cause a global cooldown. You can only use one ability at a time.

Graphically, it is evident that it was released in 2011. It cannot compete with modern games like Black Desert or New World. However, it has an incredibly deep focus on story and is a treat for any Star Wars fan.

Story is the highlight of the game: In SWTOR, every main quest is fully voiced and constantly offers you the opportunity to make a choice. At many points, you can even flirt with characters or enter into relationships with them. You also have multiple chances to spare enemies or to take them down – whether Jedi or Sith. This adds a special something to the story.

For those starting with SWTOR now, there are hundreds of quests and story content, multiple dungeons, and various PvP content. These are expected to fill up again with the launch of the “Legacy of the Sith” expansion. Currently, players queuing for PvP content already have to wait several minutes for a match to start.

Nevertheless, it is still worth taking a look at the MMORPG in 2021. A more detailed assessment of SWTOR is available here: Is it still worth starting with the MMORPG SWTOR in 2021?

Although “Legacy of the Sith” primarily targets fans of SWTOR, it is also worth a look for players who are currently searching for a new MMORPG. Many core elements of the game are being revised, which is particularly beneficial for newcomers. Especially the removal of luck in loot is an interesting way to better reward players and reduce frustration in the game. Class changes are also a good modification that can reduce the number of necessary twinks.

In SWTOR, especially fans of good stories will find enjoyment, as is typical with BioWare games. The dialogues are well implemented, and the English localization is more than acceptable. The stories are also embedded in the Star Wars universe, which is a highlight for nerds like me.

Veterans will undoubtedly get the expansion, as we all want to know how the story of Darth Malgus continues and how the new flashpoints and the operation will play out.

However, the most exciting aspect will be the events and updates BioWare will release in 2022. After all, the developers have promised a fireworks display of new features to celebrate the 10th anniversary. My Star Wars heart is already racing with anticipation.