Jedi Survivor: Lightsaber Combat Guide

The main appeal of Jedi: Survivor is the lightsaber combat. Even though Cal Kestis has a few other ways to engage with his enemies, using the lightsaber proves to be the most effective solution to almost any problem. This sequel has five different stances which Cal can switch over on the fly. Even though they all look flashy, they also have some practical uses behind them. Certain enemies are vulnerable to different types of stances. A player can commit to just one stance and finish the game with it, sure. However, there is a certain dance to the lightsaber combat in this game that can be rather nuanced.

Cal can’t feint with his attacks in Jedi: Survivor. So, the animations must be finished once they start. This, in turn, can leave him pretty open to cheap attacks if he doesn’t watch his back. Therefore, blocking and parrying is paramount in this game’s combat. There is a block meter to mind which is both associated with Cal and his enemies. This is an important factor in crossing paths with enemies. Button mashing will get players nowhere quickly. The lightsaber combat in this game is pretty layered, all things considered.

Now, it is possible to mix things up when it comes to combat. Not only can Cal complement his lightsaber skills with forces powers, but also with his blaster. Yes, the blaster can be used with taking out enemies from a distance. However, there is a dual stance in this game where Cal can have a lightsaber in one hand and a blaster in another. This is something that many players seem to overlook. This is a pretty useful combo when Cal finds himself surrounded by enemies and he needs to cull the herd.

Master The Art of Parrying

If any player completed Jedi: Fallen Order, the parrying in this game should be second nature by now. Players simply push the block button right before an incoming attack makes contact with Cal. Parrying is mostly used for deflecting blaster fire. Thus, during melee encounters, it can be useful for breaking down the enemies’ block meter. Parrying is a mechanic in this game that should be used as often as possible. It comes in handy with making short notice with droids and stormtroopers that will come after Cal in numbers.

Try The Dual Stance During Duels

Now, when it comes to feinting, Cal can only do it somewhat with the dual stance. It kind of feels like fencing. So, it doesn’t have the best damage output. However, Cal is much more nimble in this stance. He can cancel animations and dodge attacks much more effectively. Hence, this is one of the best stances to use in one-on-one encounters. With groups of enemies, Cal is best using the Saber Staff or Blaster Stance. Not to mention the crossguard lightsaber. This comes with crushing weight and can dish out hefty amounts of damage.

Experiment With Different Stances

As mentioned before, a player can mostly likely finish Jedi: Survivor using just one lightsaber stance. However, it is encouraged to try out different stances against varying enemies. It is possible to switch stances in the middle of animations, having everything flow together. So, when there’s a heavy class of enemies in the middle of the group, switching to the crossguard saber to chop him down is recommended. This stance is slow but devastating. Enemies that fly can be taken down with the blaster stance and so on. A lot of the combat here is common sense and players will really need to be strategic when engaging with hordes of bad guys.

Try Utilizing Stealth

One mechanic in Jedi: Fallen Order that was sorely missing was stealth. There were some opportunities when Cal could have stuck his lightsaber through the back of an unsuspecting Stormtrooper, but the game wouldn’t allow it. In this sequel, stealth is now a very real mechanic. Take the initiative and recon an area. Check out what types of enemies are lurking and plan accordingly. The stealth in this game isn’t as elaborate as Shadow of Mordor and its ilk. However, the mechanic is there nonetheless. Some animations offer one-hit kills, while others will take a chunk out of the life bar of stronger enemies. Stealth is a good way to kick off a fight while having a head start.

Use The Force, Of Course

This is generally a no-brainer, but some of the fun of playing as a Jedi is having the power of the force at your fingertips. Jedi: Survivor has this in spades. Sometimes, during the heat of battle, players tend to forget that they have this magical ability. With enemies that have shields, use force pull to yank them away. Then, hurl it back. Force push Stormtroopers off cliffs. Slow down time to deflect blaster fire. There is a myriad of things players can do. The force can’t be spammed in this game. So, it’s best used sparingly during fights to spice things up. The force will be used in this game to solve puzzles, more than anything else. However, when it comes to combat, the force helps with dividing and conquering the opposition in a number of ways.

Conclusion

The lightsaber combat in Jedi: Survivor marks as some of the best in the genre. There is a sense of weight to it and all the different stances and lightsaber customization offers endless enjoyment. Trying out all the different stances is essential for truly mastering the way of the Jedi. Hence, this is doubly so when trying to complete this game on higher difficulties. Jedi: Survivor is now available for the Playstation, Xbox and PC.