SWTOR Smuggler Basic Guide

SWTOR Smuggler Basic Guide by Gassygunslinger

Section 1: The basic mechanics

Cover is a mechanic exclusive to Smugglers and Imperial Agents. It is used by both Smuggler Advanced Classes and both Imperial Agent Advanced Classes, though with varying levels of dependency. Typically Gunslinger/Sniper is more reliant on cover. Though it can be re-assigned, the standard button to roll into cover is middle-mouse button, and the standard to crouch in place is ‘F’. Note that if no available natural cover (more on that later) is available, middle mouse will crouch you in place. When you log into the game, there will be “take cover” mapped to the ‘2’ key. Don’t use it! It is well known that there is a significant delay when it’s mapped to the quickbar, versus when the action is mapped through keymapping. Available cover points appear as ghost sillouettes [4]. To roll into cover [5], press Middle-mouse Button (this key can also be re-assigned) [3]. When in combat, the available cover points are automatically made visible [3].

There are three varieties of cover. The first variety, is natural cover. Low walls, rocks, stumps, rubble, and may also be known as the antithesis of Yahtzee’s existence [6].

This variety gives full damage immunity to direct attacks (like blaster fire). However, AOE attacks (such as grenades) will still damage you. In addition, you will be granted immunity from charge attacks such as the Sith Warrior’s Force Leap, or the Bounty Hunter’s Rocket Charge. This means you will be able to get quite a few shots off at melee classes before they reach you.

You will receive this defensive cover bonus against enemies on the other side of cover in a cone of effect (designated by a green dot over their head). However, as soon as they flank you, they will deal full damage to you and be able to charge you. You can tell who you have the defensive bonus against by the little green shields above the enemies heads.

The second variety of cover, Portable Cover [9] is cover that is created by Gunslingers/Snipers when they Cover In Place (automatic if they use Middle Mouse when there’s no natural cover available). While it used to only last for a limited time, I believe it lasts for around 10 minutes max, with a 1 second cooldown before it can be used again (to prevent exploiting of certain skill tree items), but is NOT tied to the global cooldown. And as opposed to natural cover, it only reduces damage taken (it does not prevent it) by 20%. Portable Cover will still prevent the use of enemy charges. Though note that when peering out of cover to shoot, you will be vulnerable to direct fire.
IMPORTANT NOTE!: Just because the green silhouette doesn’t appear around something that looks like it should give cover, it doesn’t mean it won’t give natural cover. Using Take Cover In Place behind it may in fact give you the full bonus! When in doubt, crouch!
The third version of Cover, really isn’t cover at all. The “poor man’s cover” or “Crouch”. While Gunslingers and Imperial Agents get Portable Cover to give them a defensive bonus when in the open, Scoundrels and Smugglers Pre-Level 10 have to make do with Crouch. It gives no defensive bonuses, but allows for you to use cover-based abilities. Just don’t except to last long when crouching in the middle of what looks to be a rave.

All three varieties of cover also allow for the use of special abilities that can only be used whilst in Cover [10]. A few examples are Charged Burst, Sabotage Charge and Aimed Shot. Many of Gunslinger’s best abilities require it. Here is a list of them:

Smuggler:

Charged Burst (1): High damage attack, requires 2 seconds of build up. Very “spammable”.

Sabotage Charge (1): Very high damage combo attack. Instant cast attack that when used, makes them vulnerable to a second attack which will blow the charge, doing a ton of damage. Long cooldown, but should be used as often as possible.

Gunslinger:

Aimed Shot (10): High powered attack that can be combined with Smugglers’ Luck to guarantee a crit. Intermediate cooldown. Good stuff.

Pulse Detonator (16): Knocks back targets around you and stuns them. Great versus those pesky melee’ers.

Hunker Down (20) : Makes you immune to controlling effects for 20 secs (if you stay in cover). 1 Minute cooldown. Essentially gives you immunity 1/3 of the time.

Speed Shot (36): High damage channeled ability.

Scrambling Field (42): For 15 secs, increases defense of you and your allies within 10m, by 20%. The Gunslinger “equivalent” of “Smuggle”. Nothing says “I’m an asset to the group” like a defensive buff.

Defensive Bonuses via the Sharpshooter skill tree (Gunslinger):

Cover Screen:
Fully invested, increases defense by 20% for 6 secs when leaving cover.

Ballistic Dampers: Fully invested, when you roll into cover, you get 3 charges of dampers. Each damper will reduce the damage of an attack by 30%, but can only be used once every 1.5 secs. You can only gain new dampers every 6 secs (to prevent spamming cover for new dampers).

Snap Shot: Fully invested, entering cover has a 100% chance of making Charged Burst an instant cast. Good stuff.
Foxhole: When in cover, you regain 1 extra energy per second. Really really good stuff.

Section 2: PvP/PvE Viability/Dependence

Cover is strewn about the game world, and is nearly everywhere [11]. Even tables can be used as cover [13]. You will generally not have a problem finding it, however it will be beneficial to know ahead of time where cover is, and to plan ahead. There may be gaps of “no man’s land” where Smugglers have to rely on their own Portable Cover [15].

Cover, of course, is located in PvP zones as well [12].

In fact, the dev’s have discussed the viability of Cover in PvP, and have said that it is very effective as a defensive mechanic (note that this quote discusses the Smugglers’ mirror class, Imperial Agent, yet still applies to Smuggler mechanics):

In my own experience, in setting up shop high in the rafters in Huttball is winsauce. Usually don’t even need natural cover. Just crouching down prevents glowbatters from charging you, and meanwhile you can blast the crap out of people from above, without them realizing it. Want proof? Watch this video from Taugrim.

Zoeller also discussed how Smuggler combat would tend to favor cover or stealth rather than kiting, as kiting is particularly difficult against enemy players:

In my own experience, Gunslingers have some kiting ability. The obvious bread n’ butter is Leg Shot. With expertise, can root’em for 5 secs (if you don’t damage them), on a 12 second cooldown. Not bad. Next up, Flashbang. Stun for up to 8 secs (if you don’t damage them), is an AOE, and fully invested has a 1 minute 15 second cooldown. Last but not least, good ‘ole Dirty Kick. Fully invested, stuns for 4 secs, with a cooldown of 30 seconds. But there’s nothing like kicking a Jedi (in huttball) in the nads. That’ll teach’em for all that boyscout dialogue in Flashpoints…

Section 3: Scoundrel versus Gunslinger

As mentioned earlier, the dependency and usage of Cover will vary with whether the Smuggler is a Scoundrel or Gunslinger. While both use it, Gunslinger is more geared towards Cover-use, though not necessarily all Gunslinger builds:

Zoeller elaborates in the following quote on some of the cover-based abilities available to the different Advanced Classes:

Final Thoughts:

In my experience, Cover is not a liability (unless you think of a gun as a reliability, because it requires ammo). It’s an asset. With the addition of skill points, you can use natural cover for quasi-tanking ability versus ranged targets. In my experience, I can stay ahead of Champion level damage, so long as I’ve got a good barstool to hide behind. In groups, I’m consistently the last one alive. Once or twice even tanked two bosses in a heroic long enough for my mates to come in and save my butt. And this was after our tank got vaporized.

If you see anything not listed that should be noted, please let me know so I can update it! Send me a PM. Or carrier pigeon, whichever is more convenient.