Well, we’re getting close to major changes in Star Wars: The Old Republic with patch 5.6. You can view the full patch notes below.
But first, players might be a little disappointed. Bioware is pushing the double event from 5.6 to 5.6.1 due to a scheduling conflict ingame.
Hey folks,
Quick update on the planned double event which was to start tomorrow with Game Update 5.6. First, the bad news. We hit a scheduling issue within the game and the double event will not go live tomorrow as intended. Now, the good news. As a make good for this missed opportunity, we are going to run the double event with Game Update 5.6.1 coming on 12/12. As an added bonus this will be an extended double event as we will run it from 12/12 – 1/1!
We apologize for the change in date, but expect you will enjoy 20 days of double time through the holidays.
Thanks everyone.
-eric
Enough delaying, here’s the 5.6 Patch Notes:
Highlights
- New Flashpoint: The traitor Theron Shan has found asylum on the Chiss world of Copero. Lead a covert strike to uncover his deadly plans – before it’s too late!
- New Operation Boss Fight: Nahut, The Son of Shadow – Be wary, Nahut is a master of stealth combat and a superweapon capable of galactic destruction.
- New Galactic Starfighter Map – Wage war in a 12v12 deathmatch in orbit above the planet Iokath.
- The Activities Window – The Group Finder interface has seen a huge overhaul! This includes repeatable rewards, bonuses for roles in need, along with unifying the group, Warzone, Galactic Star Fighter, and solo content into a single window.
- The Master’s Datacron – Available for 2,000 Cartel Coins on the Cartel Market. This item will allow you to take any existing character and make them a level 70 character! The Datacron also includes a full set of level 70 gear so you can jump right into the action. This boost does not advance any story progress.
General
- Due to the amount of changes being made to Group Finder, many group Missions will have their progress reset.
- The Group Finder has been renamed to the Activities Window. It has received numerous updates:
- Repeatable Rewards: For each PvE group activity, there is a repeatable reward when queuing for all available content. This reward is available after claiming the daily bonus for that category.
- Role-In-Need: Certain group-enforced content will now give bonuses to roles in need. The goal is to provide that extra incentive to help bring groups together quicker. EX: There is a lack of healers in the Activities Window queue for Master Mode Flashpoints, so we will offer an extra bonus to any healers who queue for that activity.
- Daily Rewards: For each PvE group activity there is a significant bonus to experience, credits, command experience and unassembled components. To be eligible for this reward you must queue for all available content.
- Solo Window: All Heroics, Daily Areas, Events (When Eligible) and flashpoints can be easily queued from the new solo window.
- Lockouts: We’ve redesigned the Operation lockout window to be more informative while cleaning up un-necessary duplication of data.
- Characters across the galaxy now have an appropriate amount of sparkle in their eyes.
- Solo activities such as Heroic Missions, Solo Flashpoints, and the Eternal Championship have been added to the Activities window. They will populate based on your character level.
- Queuing for Ranked and Unranked Warzones will now happen via the Activities window.
- The Galactic Command interface has been removed from the game. All queuing will happen via the Activities window or the Chapter launcher.
- The rewards for completing content via the Activities window have been increased.
- Corrected various issues related to searching in the Cartel Market.
- Defeating Nahut has been added to the Gods from the Machine Objective for Conquests.
- A new option has been added to the Preferences window, under User Interface > Cartel Market called Use Pack Viewer. This option is on by default. If the player turns it off, when a Cartel Market Pack is opened the items will be placed directly in your Item Stash without the pack viewer animation being played.
Classes +Combat
Jedi Knight
Sentinel
Combat
- Precision is now stack-based with 2 stacks lasting up to 10 seconds; affecting Clashing Blast, Lance, Dispatch, Blade Rush, Blade Barrage, Force Sweep, and Cyclone Slash; and consuming a stack each time one of those abilities is used.
- Precision grants an additional 3rd stack if used while Zen is active.
- The triggered effect for Hand of Justice now lasts up to 18 seconds, up from 15.
Guardian
- Gather Strength now applies its full damage bonus to Plasma Brand and Force Exhaustion, and is no longer consumed prematurely by a damage tick from a Focus-costing ability that deals damage over time.
- The Whiplash utility has been replaced by a new utility: Stalwart Defense, which reduces the damage taken from area of effect attacks by 60% for 15 seconds after Challenging Call is used for the Vigilance and Focus disciplines, and reduces damage taken while stunned by 30% for the Defense discipline.
- The Jedi Warden utility’s Guardian Leap-improving effects have been moved to the Thwart utility, and Jedi Warden now additionally immobilizes any target hit by a Saber Throw.
Vigilance
- Commanding Awe no longer causes Challenging Call to provide protection against area of effect attacks.
Sith Warrior
Marauder
Carnage
- Ferocity is now stack-based with 2 stacks lasting up to 10 seconds; affecting Devastating Blast, Gore, Vicious Throw, Massacre, Ravage, Smash, and Sweeping Slash; and consuming a stack each time one of those abilities is used.
- Ferocity grants an additional 3rd stack if used while Berserk is active.
- The triggered effect for Slaughter now lasts up to 18 seconds, up from 15.
Juggernaut
- Pooled Hatred now applies its full damage bonus to Shatter and Force Crush, and is no longer consumed prematurely by a damage tick from a Rage-costing ability that deals damage over time.
- The Whiplash utility has been replaced by Hardened Defense, which reduces the damage taken from area of effect attacks by 60% for 15 seconds after Threatening Scream is used for the Vengeance and Rage disciplines, and reduces damage taken while stunned by 30% for the Immortal discipline.
- The Thrown Gauntlet Utility’s Intercede-improving effects have been moved to the Reckoning utility, and Thrown Gauntlet now additionally immobilizes any target hit by Saber Throw.
Vengeance
- Deafening Defense no longer causes Threatening Scream to provide protection against area of effect attacks.
Jedi Consular
Sage
Telekinetics
- Clamoring Force now grants 5% damage reduction for Telekinetics Sages while Force Imbalanced by anyone’s Force Armor.
Balance
- Force Suppression stacks are now only consumed by your own periodic damage, and only your periodic damage gains a benefit from your Force Suppression.
- Telekinetic Balance now grants you a 10% armor bonus while your Rejuvenate is healing you.
Shadow
- The Intangible Spirit utility has been redesigned and now reduces damage taken from area of effect attacks by 30% for the Infiltration and Serenity disciplines and reduces damage taken while stunned by 30% for the Kinetic Combat discipline.
Serenity
- Force Suppression stacks are now only consumed by your own periodic damage.
Infiltration
- Kinetic Field no longer reduces damage taken from area of effect attacks by 30%.
Sith Inquisitor
Sorcerer
Lightning
- Convection now grants 5% damage reduction for Lightning Sorcerers while Deionized by anyone’s Static Barrier
Madness
- Deathmark stacks are now only consumed by your own periodic damage, and only your periodic damage gains a damage benefit from your Deathmark.
- Madness (the passive skill) now grants you a 10% armor bonus while your Resurgence is healing you.
Assassin
- The Formless Phantom utility has been redesigned and now reduces damage taken from area of effect attacks by 30% for the Deception and Hatred disciplines and reduces damage taken while stunned by 30% for the Darkness discipline.
Hatred
- Deathmark stacks are now only consumed by your own periodic damage, and only your periodic damage gains a damage benefit from your Deathmark.
Deception
- Entropic Field no longer reduces damage taken from area of effect attacks by 30%
Smuggler
Gunslinger
- The heal given to Scrambling Field by Shield Reserve has been reduced from 3% to 1% of maximum health per second while under Scrambling Field.
Dirty Fighting
- Fighting Spirit now restores 1 energy each time a bleed effect deals damage, instead of 2 energy each time a bleed effect deals critical damage.
Scoundrel
Ruffian
- Fighting Spirit now restores 1 energy each time a bleed effect deals damage, instead of 2 energy each time a bleed effect deals critical damage.
Sawbones
- Smuggled Technology now grants Unshakable for 4 seconds of interrupt immunity whenever Scamper is put on cooldown.
Imperial Agent
Sniper
- The heal given to Ballistic Shield by Defensive Safeguards has been reduced from 3% to 1% of maximum health per second while under Ballistic Shield.
Virulence
- Lethal Purpose now restores 1 energy each time a poison effect deals damage, instead of 2 energy each time a poison effect deals critical damage.
Operative
Medicine
- Surgical Steadiness now grants Unshakable for 4 seconds of interrupt immunity whenever Exfiltrate is put on cooldown.
Lethality
- Lethal Purpose now restores 1 energy each time a poison effect deals damage, instead of 2 energy each time a poison effect deals critical damage.
Bounty Hunter
Mercenary
- Trauma Regulators now heals for 4% per stack instead of 5% and stacks 10 times instead of 15.
- The heal from Kolto Overload given by Kolto Surge can only heal the Mercenary up to 60% of their maximum health instead of 70%.
- Trauma Regulators is a now a Heroic utility and Kolto Surge is now a Legendary utility.
Innovative Ordnance
- Fusion Missile and Explosive Dart now spread both Incendiary Missile’s burn and Serrated Shot’s bleed effects.
Powertech
- In addition to its other effects, the Hitman utility now reduces the damage taken from area of effect attacks by 30% for the Pyrotech and Advanced Prototype disciplines, and reduces the damage taken while stunned by 30% for the Shield Tech discipline.
Advanced Prototype
- Stabilized Armor has been replaced by Prototype Armor, which increases damage reduction by 2% for 15 seconds each time the player is dealt critical damage, stacking up to 3 times.
Trooper
Commando
- Trauma Stabilizers now heals for 4% per stack instead of 5% and stacks 10 times instead of 15.
- The heal from Adrenaline Rush given by Adrenal Surge can only heal the Commando up to 60% of their maximum health instead of 70%.
- Trauma Stabilizers is a now a Heroic utility and Adrenal Surge is now a Legendary utility.
Assault Specialist
- Plasma Grenade and Sticky Grenade now spread both Incendiary Round’s burn and Serrated Bolt’s bleed effects.
Vanguard
- In addition to its other effects, the Frontline Defense utility now reduces the damage taken from area of effect attacks by 30% for the Plasmatech and Tactics disciplines, and reduces damage taken while stunned by 30% for the Shield Specialist discipline.
Tactics
- Shock Absorbers has been replaced by Tactical Armor, which increases damage reduction by 2% for 15 seconds each time the player is dealt critical damage, stacking up to 3 times.
Flashpoints + Operations + Uprisings
Flashpoints
- The Command Experience earned from Hammer Station has been reduced in all difficulties to bring it in line with other Flashpoints time commitment.
- The Ground Pound from the Vixian Mauler in Crisis on Umbara now has a description if a player mouses over the debuff.
Operations
- The Unassembled Components earned for killing Operation bosses has been increased.
Galactic Starfighter
Component + Crew
- The Ion Railgun area of effect now properly hits the intended radius.
- Torpedo tooltips no longer incorrectly state that they are immune to missile breaks.
- EMP Missile now does 50% damage to player ships as intended (down from 100%)
- EMP Missile reload timer is now 10 seconds (up from 8)
- EMP Field now has a cooldown of 45 seconds (up from 40 seconds)
Items + Economy
- When adding an Augment slot to an item, the Augment Kit dropdown box will now sort by whichever kit the player has the highest quantity of.
- Command Boosts that drop from Command Crates no longer have a restriction on what Command Ranks they apply to.
- Items that are linked in chat will now show their rarity alongside their name.
- Decorations have been added to the Mission reward for Solo-mode Flashpoints.
- Two tiers of new augments have been added to the game:
- Item rating 230 Artifact quality – Drop inside of the Copero Flashpoint.
- Item rating 236 Legendary quality – These are crafted, schematics can be learned by the respective Crew Skill trainer.
- Improved Disintegration – Disintegrating any item that contains stats in the Command Stash will now result in gaining Unassembled Components instead of Command Experience (CXP). All other items still disintegrate into CXP. We’ve made this change to allow for a more robust way of earning the Unassembled Components to upgrade equipment. This brings increased value to each Command Crate earned through gameplay.
- The cost of all items on the Unassembled Component (UC) vendor has been increased. Note that the rate players earn UC from existing sources has also been increased at the same rate. This change is to account for the changes to disintegration.
- The number of Unassembled Components that each player currently possesses has been increased by the same ratio as the cost increase noted above.
- Unassembled Components are no longer found in the currency tab, instead they are a stackable, bind on legacy item in your inventory.
- The Intermittent Iokath Conduit and Large Iokath Statue decoration will no longer show up in the decoration UI, as they are not currently available in the game.
- Players can now deposit and withdraw credits from their Legacy Banks.
Warzones
- The Unassembled Components earned for completing Warzones has been increased.