The Best Skills to Unlock First in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

As you battle your way through the Empire’s forces, hostile creatures, and mercenary raiders in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, you’ll accumulate skill points that allow you to unlock new abilities for Cal Kestis. But with so many choices available from the start—and even more unlocking as you progress—it can be overwhelming to decide where to invest those points first.

If you’re feeling uncertain, don’t worry. We’ve compiled the best early-game skills to help you survive and thrive, as well as top choices for each lightsaber stance so you can get the most out of your combat style.

Respecing Skills: A Second Chance

Before diving into the best skills to unlock, it’s important to know that you can reset all of your skill points once for freeby pressing Triangle/Y in the skills menu. After this, further respecs will cost additional skill points, so choose carefully when reallocating your build.

Also, if you’re ever unsure about what an ability does, you can press Square/X in the skills menu to see a preview videoof the skill in action, helping you make a more informed decision.

Best Early Skills to Unlock

1. Improve Your Survival: Get the Best Healing First

Jedi: Survivor is an unforgiving game, and in the heat of battle, healing quickly and efficiently can make all the difference. The first skill you should unlock is Improved Stim Formula. This increases the amount BD-1 heals you per stim, significantly improving your survivability.

To access this, you’ll first need to unlock Survival Skills, which costs one point. There’s no downside to more health, so prioritize this upgrade if you’re struggling in fights.

If you’re still dying frequently, the subsequent skills Perfected Stim Formula and Teamwork are great additions, but consider investing in lightsaber and Force abilities next to improve your offensive capabilities.

Shop now and enjoy up to 50% off your favorite gaming gear at Amazon!

Gaming Headset
Gaming Mice
Mechanical Keyboards
Game Controllers
Gaming Chair

2. Unlock Wrenching Pull for Quick Crowd Control

Combat in Jedi: Survivor can often feel overwhelming, especially when faced with groups of enemies. Wrenching Pull is an early-game area-of-effect (AOE) ability that allows you to pull multiple enemies toward you, setting them up for an easy lightsaber attack.

This skill pairs perfectly with a double-bladed lightsaber stance, as you can follow up with a spinning attack to clear the group in one go. Additionally, it’s the first skill in the Telekinesis tree, making it a cheap and necessary purchase if you want to unlock more Force-based skills later.

3. Experiment with All Lightsaber Stances

Each stance in Jedi: Survivor has unique strengths and weaknesses, so it’s essential to try them all before deciding on a favorite. Luckily, each stance begins with a one-point skill that introduces its core mechanic. Unlock and test the following:

Lunging Strike (Single Blade Stance)
Gathering Tempest (Double Blade Stance)
Backstep Slash (Dual Wield Stance)

These are low-cost skills that help you get a feel for each stance before committing to a particular combat style.

4. Improve Blaster Reflection for Ranged Defense

Once you reach Kobo, you’ll start encountering battle droids and stormtroopers equipped with blasters. To deal with them efficiently, upgrade Blaster Reflection skills early.

Two-Fold Reflection (Single Blade Stance): Deflects two bolts at once for just one skill point.
Split Reflection (Dual Blade Stance): Turns a single reflected bolt into two, allowing you to hit multiple enemies.
Multi-Fold Reflection (Double Blade Stance): The best option but costs four points, so save this for later.

If blaster fire is giving you trouble, unlocking one of these abilities early will make encounters much easier.

5. Confusion: Turn Enemies Against Each Other

An underrated but highly effective skill is Cal’s Confusion ability, which allows you to turn enemies against their allies for a short time.

To make this ability even more powerful, unlock:

Greater Confusion (Lets you confuse two enemies at once)
Adult Mind (Increases confusion duration)

These two skills together cost only two points, making them a cheap and effective way to tip fights in your favor.

6. Upgrade Force Push with Howling Push

One of the most useful crowd-control abilities in the game, Howling Push, improves your Force Push to affect larger groups and even strong enemies.

Knocks multiple droids, stormtroopers, and creatures off ledges.
Stuns large enemies, giving you a chance to deal massive damage.

This skill is more expensive than some others, but it’s worth it in situations where you’re outnumbered.

Best Skills for Each Lightsaber Stance

Single Blade Stance (Balanced and Versatile)

Cyclone Slash – Adds a powerful finishing move to break enemy guard.
Dash Strike – Lets you quickly close distance and attack.
Aerial Assault – Provides vertical attack options.

Double Blade Stance (Multi-Target and Fast)

Vortex Dive – Moves Cal closer to enemies while attacking.
Endless Hurricane – Extends standard attack combos.
Multi-Fold Reflection – Reflects multiple blaster shots (useful against large groups).

Dual Blade Stance (High Risk, High Reward)

Twin Vipers – Lets you throw both sabers at once for ranged damage.
Uncoiled Strikes – Increases attack speed and damage.

Blaster Stance (New & Long-Range Focused)

Flying Lunge – Steps closer to an enemy with a powerful attack.
Blaster Cooldown – Improves ammo recharge rate.
Efficient Heat Transfer – Enables quick Blaster shots as counters.

Crossguard Stance (High Damage, Slow Attacks)

Rending Strike – Heavy attack that can one-shot weakened enemies.
Impact – Ground pound that sends shockwaves across the battlefield.
Greater Cleaving Swing – Increases attack range and speed.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right skills early in Jedi: Survivor can make the difference between success and frustration. While your preferences may shift over time, prioritizing healing, Force abilities, and stance experimentation will give you the strongest start possible.

Whether you’re deflecting blaster bolts, executing stylish lightsaber combos, or using the Force to control the battlefield, investing your skill points wisely will help you dominate the Empire and beyond. May the Force be with you!