Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - Any% Unrestricted Guide

v10.0: Male/Female Scoundrel Route

Written by Lane and indykenobi

This route defeats Malak on the Star Forge as fast as possible; Timing begins upon clicking “PLAY” after character creation and ends when the screen cuts to black at the start of the Malak Death cutscene. A load-removal tool and auto-splitter is available for LiveSplit thanks to glasnonck and XeroHR (results may vary for Windows 11 users); times are sorted based on load-removed times, since load times vary significantly in this game, and saving is frequent. This guide will cover the character build and detailed route for the run.

Finally, if you have additional questions, you can check out the KotOR Speedrunning Discord. There’s a bunch of friendly folks there willing to answer questions!

Table of Contents

• Unrestricted Ruleset
• Guide Organization
• Route Overview
  • Save Setup
  • Route Outline
• Character Build
• Detailed Route
• Version History
• Closing

Unrestricted Ruleset

REMEMBER to show yourself restarting the game at the beginning of each attempt.

Any% Unrestricted is the fastest speedrun in KotOR I speedrunning, eclipsed only by KotOR II Any% Unrestricted.

All glitches are allowed in Unrestricted; however, all KotOR speedruns ban the following:

• Abusing the windowed nature of the game to teleport a character (including Super Save Teleports)
• Severe underclocking of one’s monitor to increase Save Teleport distance
• Abusing the load removal to excessively pause the timer
• Loading saves created prior to the run
• Use of mods or other external tools to modify the software in any way

Guide Organization

Because of the power of the Unrestricted Ruleset, this run skips a huge amount of the game. Thus, things like alignment, credit/equipment routes, and even character build are either completely irrelevant or only briefly important. Thus, this guide is instead organized into two main sections that each cover all of the necessary details for the route.

1. Route Overview - A general description of the speedrun route, highlighting key skips and glitches used.
2. Detailed Route - This section details the character build and route for the standard Scoundrel version of the speedrun, which uses a Skele FLU to obtain Sneak Attack IX and Improved Two-Weapon Fighting.

Route Overview

Save Setup

The updated route now uses a save system that requires no pre-existing save files. If you click “Load Game” on the main menu, the game should give a pop-up saying you have no saved games. This is superior to the old three-save method due to the advent of Neo Hotshots, which are more efficient if your save is in either Slot 1 or the last save slot; in addition, saves are very slightly faster if you don’t have to overwrite them.

Route Outline

The brief outline of the route for the Any% run, including planet order and major skips:

1. Endar Spire

• DLZ into the Starboard Section
• Reach Taris via the escape pod

2. Taris

• Sneak Attack FLU for Sneak Attack IX and Improved TWF
• Autosave Hotshot to Upper City North
• DLZ into the Sith Base
• Kill and loot the Sith Governor to obtain Taris Launch Codes
• Hotshot to Upper City North and DLZ to the Lower City
• Door Clip into the Vulkar Base door to DLZ into the Vulkar Base
• DLZ into the Bek Base and DLZ again to kill Gadon Thek
• Hotshot to Vulkar Base and use AMG to skip one swoop race
• Hotshot to Javyar’s Cantina
• Use AMG to steal the Ebon Hawk and escape Taris

3. Dantooine

• DLZ to the Courtyard
• Door Clip past the Ruins door and DLZ into the Ruins
• DLZ to get the Star Map
• Hotshot to return to the Enclave

4. Kashyyyk

• Hotshot and GP Warp to skip visiting the Wookiee Village
• Recruit Jolee Bindo and reach the Lower Shadowlands
• Do a sequence of Fast Lanes, Hotshots, and Routines to obtain the Star Map four times

5. Unknown Planet

• Use Fighter Skirmish skip to spawn on Lehon
• DLZ to enter the Ancient Temple
• DLZ again to reach the Temple Summit
• Use AMG to skip the Bastila fight and fall to the Dark Side
• Use a Hotshot to skip repairing the Ebon Hawk
• Fly to the Star Forge

6. Star Forge

• GP Warp and Hotshot to skip past Deck 1
• GP Warp and Hotshot to skip past Deck 2
• GP Warp and Hotshot to skip past Command Deck
• Kill Darth Malak with Thermal Detonators and an AMG

Note that Kashyyyk is the only middle planet we actually visit.

Character Build

We begin as a Scoundrel; this guide as written can be completed as either a Male or Female character, with no time difference. However, Male MC has become the more common choice for DLZ visual cues. Scoundrel is picked for its access to Sneak Attack IX, which is abused to quickly kill the Sith Governor and Gadon Thek.

Character Creation

Initial Attributes:

• Str - 8
• Dex - 16/18
• Con - 18/16
• Int - 8
• Wis - 10
• Cha - 10

The choice between 16 DEX/18 CON and vice-versa comes down to personal preference of runner; 18 DEX gives you a slightly better chance to hit Gadon and the Sith Governor, while 18 CON gives you slightly more survivability in the Sith Base on Taris and during the final fight with Malak. If you do the Plot Armor glitch on Endar Spire, you should take 18 Dex, 14 Con, 14 Wis, and 10 Cha instead.

Initial Skills:

• Security - 4
• Awareness - 4 (Optional, can help spot mines)

Initial Feat: - Two-Weapon Fighting

Leveling Plan

• Level 2: Sneak Attack FLU to obtain:
  • Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
  • Sneak Attack IX
• Level 3: Auto-Level (Optional; gives slightly more Vitality for the Malak fight)

Character Build Notes:

• Attributes: High DEX aids our chance to hit with ranged attacks for Taris. Dex and Con are used for survivability (if skipping Plot Armor). 10 Charisma is required for some Persuade checks on Kashyyyk. 10 Wisdom reduces the risk of failing will saving throws
• Skills: Security is the only skill necessary for the run, and is used for a skip on Endar Spire. Points in Awareness allow us to see some mines to avoid them, but it’s not really necessary.
• Feats: Improved Two-Weapon Fighting and Sneak Attack IX allow us to take out Gadon and the Sith Governor in short-order. We use Sniper Shot as our main combat feat because it’s the default combat feat for Scoundrels.

Detailed Route

This section will describe all the actions you need to take for the Any% Unrestricted speedrun.

Notation:

• Level ups are highlighted in code block
• Inventory/Equipment changes are highlighted in italics
• Shopping trips are highlighted in large code blocks
• Hard Saves to make are highlighted in bold

Abbreviations:

• MC - Stands for Main Character, your player character
• PC - Stands for any player controlled character (such as the MC or a party member)
• CS - Cutscene
• QS - Quick Save
• QL - Quick Load
• QS/QL - Quick Save then immediately Quick Load
• AMG - Anywhere Menu Glitch
• DLZ - Displaced Load Zone
• FLU - Fake Level Up
• GP Warp - Gather Party Warp

Conversation Note: If no conversation choices are specified, spamming clicks, NumPad Enter, and/or 1 will all work (this chooses all 1 options)

Jump to a Section:

• Endar Spire
  • Character Creation
  • Command Module
  • Starboard Section
• Taris
  • Apartments
  • Upper City South
  • Upper City North
  • Sith Base
  • Lower City
  • Bek Base
  • Escaping Taris
• Dantooine
  • Jedi Enclave
  • Courtyard
  • Ancient Ruins
  • Leaving Dantooine
• Kashyyyk
  • The Great Walkway
  • Upper Shadowlands
  • Lower Shadowlands/The Routine
• Lehon
  • Reaching Lehon
  • Reaching the Temple Summit
  • Confronting Bastila
• Star Forge
  • Deck 1
  • Deck 2
  • Command Deck
  • Viewing Platform

Endar Spire

Before beginning, disable V-Sync in Advanced Graphics Options if you are using the Rubble DLZ on Endar Spire. This makes the DLZ more consistent.

Character Creation

• Male/Female Scoundrel - Custom Character
• Dex to 16/18, Con to 18/16, Wis to 10, Cha to 10
• Awareness to 4, Security to 4
• Initial Feat: Two-Weapon Fighting
• Pick a good name!
• Hit Play! (and be ready to Hard Buffer!)

Command Module

• Hard Buffer to skip the intro CS
• DLZ into the Starboard Section through one of the following two methods:
  • Method One: Rubble DLZ
    • This strat is potentially 20 seconds faster, but the DLZ is marginally harder. This is the recommended method.
    • Skip the footlocker and talking to Trask
    • Open Buffer past Trask to use Security during Trask’s first conversation
    • DLZ by walking into the rubble near the second Sith soldier in the right spot
  • Method Two: Doorframe DLZ
    • This strat is much easier, but significantly slower than a good Rubble DLZ. Recommended only for brand-new runners.
    • Loot footlocker
    • Equip MC: Short Sword
    • Open door and Talk to Trask twice
    • Equip Trask: Blaster Pistol Offhand
    • Open Buffer to use Security during the Carth CS
    • Kill first two Sith with Trask’s Power Blast and open next door
    • DLZ by walking into the right side of the door frame in the right spot

Starboard Section

• Optional Strat: Plot Armor
  • This strat grants a minimum HP of 1 (called “Plot Armor” for short) for the rest of the run, but requires redoing the Spire DLZ and costs a minimum of 10 seconds (but likely more). The run can be done without it, but this strat provides a little safety if desired.
  • To obtain Plot Armor:
    • Activate AMG on the load screen after the prior DLZ
    • After Carth’s convo starts, access the Options Menu to Hard Save in New Slot (Slot 1)
    • Immediately load the Slot 1 Hard Save and activate AMG on the load
      • This keeps your QS in the Command Module
    • Perform the QS Hotshot to return to the Command Module
    • DLZ into the Starboard Section again, using whatever method you used before
  • If you choose not to use the above strat:
    • Activate AMG on the load screen for the Starboard Section
    • After Carth’s convo starts, begin moving to the next room while Carth narrates
    • QS next to the footlocker to end the CS
• Loot footlocker in Terminal Room
• Hack terminal console: 2,3
• Carth accosts you
• Take escape pod to Taris
• Quickly Free-Look AMG to skip the vision CS
  • Activate AMG on the load screen
  • Unpause, cancel, and hit the free-look hotkey twice
  • Hold down QS while this cutscene plays, which skips forward through the animation (This saves between 4-5 seconds)

Taris

Apartments

• Immediately after the load-in, press Up+Left to move the character closer to the door before the start of the waking up CS
• Carth accosts you: 1,1,1,5,3
• If necessary, reenable V-Sync
• Exit the apartment
  • Party: Keep Carth when prompted
• Hard Buffer to skip the Sith Raid
• Use AMG to perform the Sneak Attack FLU:
  • Skele FLU for levels 2-16
  • Real Level 17: Save Skills, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
  • Sneak Attack IX is granted automatically
• Larrim accosts you: 1,2,4
  • If you did Plot Armor, skip Larrim with a Conversation Queue or a Hard Buffer

SHOPPING: Larrim
- SELL:
  - Everything
- BUY:
  - Heavy Combat Suit
  - Battle Stimulant  
- End: 404 Credits

• Unequip Carth: Remove Both Blasters
• Equip MC: Carth’s Blaster Mainhand, Blaster Pistol Offhand, Heavy Combat Suit (if you have it)
• Hard Save in (possibly New) Slot 1
• Exit to Upper City South

Upper City South

• Turn left and run down the street
• Activate Solo Mode when you get close to the sculpture at the end
• With MC, click on Medical Clinic door
• Swap to Carth and click on door to Upper City North
• Swap back to MC and talk to Zelka: 5

SHOPPING: Zelka Forn
- If you skipped Larrim, sell everything here
- BUY
  - 7x Adrenal Alacrity
  - 1x Adrenal Stamina
- End: 4 Credits

• Stims: Alacrity, Stamina, and Battle Stim (if you have it) on MC, Alacrity on Carth
• Use a GP Warp to warp MC to Carth
  • A Buffered GP Warp is slightly faster here, but you can use an AMG GP Warp if you prefer
• Enter Upper City North
  • Activate AMG on the load screen

Upper City North

• Autosave Hotshot to warp to UCN’s default spawn:
  • With quit dialog up, unpause and open the door to Upper City South behind you
  • Open the Options menu, then press enter with Load Game and Cancel selected
  • Unpause and navigate blindly through the door to Upper City South
  • After loading into Upper City South, select the Autosave and load it
  • This spawns your party next to the elevator leading to the Lower City
• Party: Remove Carth
• Hard Save Twice in New Slots 2 and 3
  • Slot 2 is a permanent save for future Fast Lanes
  • Slot 3 is for an imminent Neo Hotshot
• DLZ to enter the Sith Base
  • Deactivate V-Sync for this DLZ

Sith Base

• Secretary accosts you: 2,1
  • This can also be Hard Buffered instead
• Reactivate V-Sync
• Run through Sith base to East Barracks
  • This can be a dangerous run if you do not have Plot Armor
  • If you are very low on health, you can QS and use Slot 2 or 3 to perform a Fast Lane and Transit Back to heal fully
• Loot footlocker for Sith passcard
• Hard Buffer to skip assault droid CS
• Enter Governor’s Office
• Wired Targeting to kill Governor
  • Open door, then Open Buffer until you stand behind the Governor
  • Make sure your last QS is while standing right behind him
    • This gives us Sneak Attacks and the Close Range +10 to hit bonus while Wire Targeting
  • Spam the conversation, then spam default attacks and QL to finish the Wire Targeting
• Loot the Governor for the Taris Launch Codes
• Unequip MC: Both Blasters
  • This will cause them to dupe during the next hotshot
• Neo Hotshot to Upper City North using Slot 3 (last slot)

Lower City

• Run to Lower City DLZ spot and DLZ to Lower City
  • Deactivate V-Sync for this DLZ
• Return to Hideout and immediately Transit Back
  • During this, Party: Add Carth
  • This sets our transit point to return to later
• Activate Solo Mode
• Use a Conversation Queue to skip the Gang War CS:
  • Run Carth along the right wall until just before it ends (where the CS triggers)
  • Swap to MC and talk to Carth, then immediately swap to Carth and turn right to the end of the hall
  • The Conversation Queue also ensures that MC follows Carth to the Vulkar Base
• Optional: Kill the two guards outside the Vulkar Base
  • This wastes time but makes the following trick slightly easier to perform
• Door Clip and DLZ to enter Vulkar Base:
  • As Carth, run into right corner of Vulkar Base door
  • While running forward, swap to MC; Carth should bump out from the corner
  • As MC, run into right corner and while running, QS/QL
  • If the trick worked, you’ll DLZ into the Vulkar Base after the QL
  • If the trick failed, just run into the corner and QS/QL again
  • You must have Solo Mode ON and V-Sync OFF for this DLZ to work
  • Activate AMG on the load screen immediately after the DLZ
• QS inside the Vulkar Base
• Use the pop-up to Neo Hotshot to South Apartments using Slot 1
• Transit Back to Lower City

Bek Base

• Hard Save in New Slot 4
• Turn left and run down hall until Javyar’s Cantina is in range
• Activate Solo Mode and click on Javyar’s Cantina with MC
• Swap to Carth and DLZ into the Bek Base
  • Optional: Activate AMG on the load screen
• As Carth, DLZ into Gadon’s Office
  • If you have the AMG pop-up, click the options menu in the top right to re-enable V-Sync before Gadon’s convo starts
  • If you don’t have the pop-up, you can press Escape or the Options hotkey instead
• Kill Gadon:
  • As MC, Snipe Shot for Sneak Attack
  • As Carth, Power Blast
  • Note that Kaeira doesn’t have to die
• As soon as Gadon is dead, Hotshot back to Vulkar Base in one of two ways:
  • If you have the AMG pop-up and your QS is in Vulkar Base:
    • QS Hotshot using the pop-up
  • If you don’t have the AMG pop-up or your QS isn’t in Vulkar Base:
    • Neo Hotshot to Vulkar Base using Slot 1

Escaping Taris

• Kandon will accost you shortly after spawning in
• After loading into Swoop Platform, Hard Buffer to skip the Ithorian convo
• Use AMG to skip a swoop race
  • Activate AMG via QS (or on the load-in from the previous buffer)
  • Speak to the race coordinator: 1
  • Finish the race with the quit dialog open
  • Don’t shift into the final gear; doing so is actually slower by about a second
  • Press 1 and click to skip Ithorian dialog until Anglu comes running up
  • Cancel the quit dialog and QS/QL to skip the CS
  • Talk to the Ithorian a second time to “win” the second race
• After talking to the Ithorian the second time but BEFORE Brejik’s convo, Neo Hotshot to skip the Brejik fight
  • Click twice to clear the Ithorian’s two lines of dialog, then immediately activate AMG via QS and press the Options hotkey
  • Neo Hotshot to Lower City using Slot 4 (last slot)
  • If you prefer, there’s an easier QS Hotshot strat:
    • Hard Buffer after the Ithorian convo
    • Instead of loading the QS, Hard Save in Slot 1
    • QS Hotshot to Lower City using Slot 4 (last slot)
• Enter Javyar’s Cantina
• Talk to Canderous: 1,1,1,2,1
  • Party: Keep Canderous when prompted
  • Activate AMG on the load screen after the party confirmation
• Use the pop-up to Free Look AMG the Taris destruction CS
• Use AMG to skip Davik’s Estate
  • Activate AMG during the load into Davik’s Estate
  • Go through the conversation pressing 1 and left-click (don’t use NumPad Enter!)
  • After the screen fades to black, cancel the quit dialog and QS/QL to skip the CS
• Optional: Equip MC: Vibrosword
  • This allows you to move more easily during the Upper Shadowlands cutscenes
• Board the Ebon Hawk, then use a Map CS Skip to Return to Ebon Hawk
  • This skips the cutscenes and Fighter Skirmish between Taris and Dantooine

Dantooine

Jedi Enclave

• Use a Conversation Queue to skip Belaya’s conversation
  • Run forward slightly and swap to Canderous
  • Talk to MC, then immediately swap to MC and run away, into the Enclave
• Once in the atrium, Hard Save in New Slot 5, then load that hard save to clear the Conversation Queue
• DLZ to the Courtyard (Atrium Left variant)
  • Deactivate V-Sync for this and the other Dantooine DLZs
  • Activate AMG on the load screen when this DLZ fires
  • Note: There is a decent amount of slack for how quickly you need to get this DLZ, as you will save an identical amount of time as long as you get the DLZ before NPC Bastila arrives at the council.

Courtyard

• Use the AMG to set up a Fast Lane
• Set up Conversation Queueing between MC and Canderous
  • This skips a conversation with Jon and a Kath Hound spawning CS
• Run through the Courtyard and down the left path to the ruins entrance
• Use the prepared Fast Lane to Door Clip behind the locked Ruins door
• Once inside the entrance, use Canderous to DLZ into the ruins

Ancient Ruins

• Party: Keep Bastila when prompted
• Hard Buffer to skip ancient droid conversation
  • Activate AMG on the load screen
• DLZ to activate the Star Map cutscene
• Cancel the dialog box and QS/QL to skip the Star Map CS
• Re-enable V-Sync
  • We won’t need to DLZ again until Lehon
• Neo Hotshot to Jedi Enclave using Slot 5 (last slot)
  • Bastila will spawn next to the MC
• QS/QL to warp Party Bastila to NPC Bastila’s position
  • If you got the Enclave DLZ quickly and Bastila spawns too far from the council, Stims: Alacrity on Bastila
  • You have a spare stim for this, so use your judgment on whether this is needed

Leaving Dantooine

• Swap to Bastila and speak with Master Vandar
• Swap to MC and speak to Master Vandar again
• QS/QL to reactivate rapid transit
• Transit Back, then Return to Ebon Hawk
• Board the Ebon Hawk
• QS for a later Hotshot
• Fly to any other planet
• Map CS Skip to Return to Ebon Hawk and skip the Malak/Calo CS
  • Activate AMG on the load screen
• Use the pop-up to QS Hotshot back to the Ebon Hawk
• Fly to Kashyyyk
• Map CS Skip to Return to Ebon Hawk and skip the vision CS
  • During this, Party: Add Bastila

Kashyyyk

The Great Walkway

• Swap to Bastila and start running before the conversation begins
• Janos Wertka accosts you
• Stims: Alacrity on Bastila
• Landing Pad GP Warp
  • Activate Solo Mode
  • As Bastila, click the back Czerka guard on the right side of the walkway
  • Swap to MC and move towards the Ebon Hawk
  • As MC, activate AMG via QS
  • When Bastila is far enough away, enter the load zone with the MC
  • Cancel the pop-up and move Bastila such that she is just before the first corner, near Eli Gand
  • Click the dialog option to trigger the GP Warp to the Great Walkway Entrance
• As Bastila, move backward to trigger the guards, and teleport the MC to the exit: 4
• Stims: Alacrity on MC
• Enter Great Walkway and QS
• Exit Great Walkway and activate AMG on the load screen
• Swap to Bastila and position her behind the southernmost Czerka guard next to the Great Walkway exit, as close to the wall as possible:
• Use the pop-up to QS Hotshot to Coordinate Warp Bastila to the Great Walkway
  • With the right position, Bastila will spawn about halfway across the module, ready to be GP Warped
• Use MC to GP Warp Bastila to Shadowlands elevator
• As Bastila, enter and take elevator to Upper Shadowlands

Upper Shadowlands

• Use AMG to move during the Calo CS
  • AMG during the load screen
  • Unpause, and cancel the pop-up when the conversation begins (mouse disappears)
  • Swap party members twice to center the camera behind MC
  • If you have the Vibrosword equipped, move MC via flourish weapon past the first group of Katarns
  • If you didn’t equip the Vibrosword:
    • Run MC until just before the Katarns
    • Swap to Bastila right before Calo starts talking
      • This freezes Bastila in place, rather than MC
    • Swap to MC and run past the Katarn group
      • If Calo started talking before you swapped to Bastila, QS once, then swap to MC
  • You can slip past the Katarns on the right if you aim slightly to the right of the gap
  • QS/QL to end the CS
• Activate Solo Mode
• Use AMG to move during the Jolee CS
  • Activate AMG with a QS (or using the QL of the previous skip)
  • Enter the Jolee cutscene and cancel the quit dialog
  • Swap to Bastila and run towards Jolee
  • Swap to MC and move past Jolee along the path
  • Anytime after Jolee starts killing Katarn, QS/QL to exit the CS
• Take left path and dodge the second Katarn group
  • MC only dies if two of the three Katarn crit you, or if they get multiple hits in
• Talk to first Czerka guard: 1,1,3,1,1
• Hack the sonic emitter next to that guard
• Talk to second Czerka guard: 1,1,1
• Hack the sonic emitter next to that guard
  • IMMEDIATELY AFTER, Hard Buffer to skip the terentatek CS
• Swap to Bastila and speak with Jolee: 1,3,1 spam
  • Party: Add Bastila, Keep Jolee when prompted
• Swap to Bastila and run to Force Field: 1,2

Lower Shadowlands

• QS, then Hard Save in New Slot 6
• Fast Lane and QS Hotshot to Coordinate Warp Bastila and Jolee from Landing Pad to Lower Shadowlands
  • Use Fast Lane to bring up the Return to Ebon Hawk dialog
  • After the QL, open the Options Menu via hotkey, then press Enter while selecting ‘Load Game’ and ‘OK’
  • After loading in, QS and open the Options Menu
  • Press Enter, move the mouse up to select OK, and press Enter again
  • This will spawn your party members near the Star Map
• Swap to Bastila
• Use Fast Lane to bring up the Return to Ebon Hawk dialog
• Speak with the Star Map Computer: 3,3,2,2,1,1,5,1,4,1,4,1
• Click OK to Return to Ebon Hawk as soon as the Star Map starts opening

Duplicating Star Maps

• You now have one star map, and need to obtain 3 more by repeating these steps for each:
• Perform The Routine
  • Activate AMG via QS
  • In the Options Menu, click Exit Game, then press Enter with Load Game and OK highlighted
  • With the mouse over Load Game, press down and Enter
  • Click OK to load the Autosave
  • As soon as the Autosave loads, QL
  • Press Escape twice (or click “Cancel”) to leave the Load Game menu
  • Close the Options Menu with its hotkey
  • QS
  • Open the Options Menu with its hotkey
  • With the mouse over the Main Menu Options, press up and Enter
  • Press Escape to return to the Main Menu and click OK to close the extra menu
  • Select Load Game and load your QS
• Activate AMG on the load screen (or via QS afterwards)
• Double QS Hotshot to Coordinate Warp Bastila and Jolee to Lower Shadowlands
  • Use the Map Menu to bring up the Transit Back dialog
  • Open the Options Menu and press enter with Load Game and OK highlighted
    • This Transits Back to Lower Shadowlands
  • After loading in, QS and open the Options Menu
  • Press Enter, move the mouse up to select OK, and press Enter again
    • This QS Hotshots to Landing Pad
  • Repeat the above steps once (QS, Options, Enter, mouse up, Enter)
    • This QS Hotshots back to Lower Shadowlands to perform the Coordinate Warp
• Level Bastila to 4: Burst of Speed
  • You’ll only need to do this the first time (while getting the second Kashyyyk Star Map)
• Use Fast Lane to bring up the Return to Ebon Hawk dialog
• Obtain the Kashyyyk Star Map again by interacting with the Star Map item
• If this is the fourth and last Kashyyyk Star Map, talk to the Star Map computer with Bastila
  • This swaps Bastila and the MC, which is important for a later Coordinate Warp
• Click ‘OK’ on the pop-up to Return to the Ebon Hawk
• If you need to obtain another Kashyyyk Star Map, go back to the start of this section
• If you’ve obtained all four Star Maps, board the Ebon Hawk

Lehon

Reaching Lehon

• Stims: Alacrity on MC
• Hard Save in Slot 1
• Fly to Lehon
  • Activate AMG on the load screen
• Use the pop-up to Free Look AMG the Bastila torture CS
  • Unlike old routes, we DO want to QS spam to end this CS more quickly
  • We need to enter this CS to make fallen Bastila appear after Lehon; if we skip it completely, we still get light-side Bastila
• After the load screen, Neo Hotshot to Ebon Hawk using Slot 1
• Hard Save to Slot 1 (again)
• Activate AMG via QS and fly to Lehon again
  • If you get a Fighter Skirmish, press Alt-F4 to gain mouse control
  • Cancel the quit dialog and Return to Ebon Hawk to warp to Lehon
  • If you don’t get a Fighter Skirmish, QL and default action, then click “Travel” to try again
  • We must get the Fighter Skirmish skip in order for Ship Parts skip to work

Reaching the Temple Summit

• Stims: Alacrity on MC
  • Use any and all remaining Alacrities here to clear your menu a little for later
• Run to Temple Exterior
• Return to Ebon Hawk and Transit Back
  • Party: Add Jolee during this
  • Due to a leftover effect of The Routine, you will spawn at the default spawn in Temple Exterior, to the right of the temple
• DLZ to enter the Temple
• DLZ again to enter Temple Summit
  • There are three spots for this DLZ; pick the one you’re most comfortable with!

Confronting Bastila

• Reactivate V-Sync for the last time
• Use AMG to skip the Darth Waifu fight
  • Activate AMG via QS
  • Run forward until the CS starts, then cancel the dialog
  • Move MC forward a little so they will be near Bastila
  • As soon as Bastila starts speaking, QS
  • Use the Options Menu to set up a Fast Lane
• Talk to Bastila and choose to join the Dark Side: 3,2,3,2,2
  • As soon as the screen goes black, use the pop-up to Fast Lane to Return to the Ebon Hawk
  • We do not have to kill Jolee or lower the disruptor field
• Run towards the Ebon Hawk
• When the black screen occurs, immediately Neo Hotshot to Ebon Hawk using Slot 1
• Fly to the Star Forge
  • Activate AMG on the load screen
• Use a Free Look AMG to skip the “unskippable” cutscene

Star Forge

Deck 1

• Stims: Hyper-Adrenal Alacrity and Stamina on MC
• Auto-Level MC to 3
  • The Stamina and Auto-Level give you slightly more Vitality for the Malak fight, but could theoretically be skipped
  • Both should be skipped if you have Plot Armor
• Exit the Ebon Hawk
  • Party: Keep Bastila
• Immediately Hard Buffer the Jedi vs. Sith CS
• Activate Solo Mode and swap leader twice to fix Bastila
• Run with MC and click first door
• Move Bastila in front of Ebon Hawk load zone
• GP Warp MC to Deck 2 Entrance
  • As Bastila, activate AMG via QS
  • Enter the Ebon Hawk load zone
  • Cancel the quit dialog and swap to MC
  • Turn left at the junction
  • Select the door behind the first pair of assault droids to get the MC past them
  • Queue movement to the next door as MC
  • Swap to Bastila and wait until you’ve judged MC has opened the door
    • This skips a plasma explosion that would otherwise stun the MC
  • Swap to MC and click the dialog option to finish the warp
• Hard Save in “Hotshot Current” slot
• Double Neo Hotshot to warp Bastila to MC
  • Neo Hotshot to Lower Shadowlands using Slot 6
  • Activate AMG on the load screen
  • Neo Hotshot to Deck 1 using Slot 6
    • You don’t have to open the Options Menu after canceling the pop-up during this Neo Hotshot
  • This warps Bastila to MC because the second Neo Hotshot spawns her OoB on Deck 1
• Enter Deck 2

Deck 2

• Activate Solo Mode
• Hard Buffer the Malak cutscene
• Click on the first door, then swap to Bastila
• GP Warp the MC to Command Deck Entrance
  • As Bastila, activate AMG via QS
  • Enter the Deck 1 loading zone
  • Cancel the quit dialog, then swap to MC
  • Run through the second door and continue until just past the turn down the ramp
  • Click the dialog option to activate the GP Warp
• Double Neo Hotshot to warp Bastila to MC
  • Neo Hotshot to Lower Shadowlands using Slot 6
  • Activate AMG on the load screen
  • Neo Hotshot to Deck 2 using Slot 6
• Enter Command Center

Command Deck

• Immediately after loading, Hard Buffer to skip Bastila/Malak CS
• Double Neo Hotshot to Coordinate Warp Bastila ahead
  • Neo Hotshot to Lower Shadowlands using Slot 6
  • Activate AMG on the load screen
  • Neo Hotshot to Command Center using Slot 6
  • Bastila should already be in the correct position in the Lower Shadowlands and end up near the Viewing Platform entrance
• Stims: Hyper-Adrenal Alacrity and Stamina on Bastila
• Use AMG to skip the Darth Malak droid CS
  • As Bastila, activate AMG with a QS
  • Run to the door to start the CS
  • Cancel the quit dialog and run forward towards Malak
  • As soon as Malak starts walking forward, QS/QL to skip the CS
  • This CS warps the MC to your position, allowing you to…
• Take the elevator to the Viewing Platform

Viewing Platform

• Optional: Safety Hard Save in New Slot 7
• Darth Malak Fight
  • We use Thermal Detonators with both MC and Bastila to defeat Malak’s first phase
    • Enter the Malak convo with Bastila on the right edge of the walkway
    • After the convo (which is 2), immediately throw a Thermal Detonator with Bastila, then swap to MC and run towards the right
    • As Bastila’s first Detonator explodes, throw a Thermal Detonator with MC
    • Swap between Bastila and MC; on each swap, cancel combat, then queue a Thermal Detonator
      • If you just queue multiple thermals, MC/Bastila will not update their aim as Malak is knocked back, causing later thermals to miss
      • Try to get a good rhythm going to stun-lock Malak while knocking him back toward the Jedi Popsicle where his CS will be
    • If you don’t have Plot Armor the MC can generally only take two or three hits (less if you get hit with a thermal)
  • Anytime during the first phase, activate AMG via a QS
  • When Malak goes non-hostile, he will run to his CS and start it
  • Click twice to reach the first dialog option, then press Enter to simultaneously cancel the pop-up dialog and select the first conversation option
  • Immediately QS/QL to skip the CS
• Slightly more than 1 second after loading, the mouse will disappear and the final death CS will start, ending the run
  • If you load in to a non-hostile Malak and no CS, then you mistimed the QS/QL during the prior conversation
  • Backup Strat: Wired Targeting
    • This strat works best if you made a safety save before Malak
      • If you don’t have a safety save, you’re probably stuck with the Autosave on Deck 1 and a dead run
    • From the load in to a non-hostile Malak and no CS, swap to Bastila, stand next to Malak, and QS
    • Load your safety save and begin the Malak fight again as Bastila
    • When Malak goes hostile, spam default action (as Bastila) while you QL
    • After the load, when Bastila hits the non-hostile Malak, the final CS should start and the run will end

Congratulations! Malak has been defeated once and for all, and you are now the Lord of the Sith (and you aren’t even a Jedi!)

Version History

v10.0 (August 2023)

• Implemented Neo Hotshots
• Updated the Save Setup section for Neo Hotshots
• New strategy for exiting the Vulkar Base
• More detailed strategy for the Malak fight
• Added backup strat for failing the Malak AMG

v9.7 (June 2023)

• Removed the obsolete Scout route
• Removed Optional Gadon GP
• Made Bastila Landing Pad GP the default
• Made Calo Nord AMG the default

v9.6 (June 2023)

• Added indy’s optional “No Save Method” in Run Setup
• Updated a few minor notation things
• Changed character build to reflect the Blaster route
• Changed Skele FLU to only get Improved TWF
• Blaster route on Taris
• Adjusted advice and suggestions for Vulkar base entry in the Lower City
• Minor revision to Gadon DLZ instructions
• Changed the Hotshot done when travelling to Lehon to the community preferred method
• Updated Star Forge to use the Lower Shadowlands save to hotshot to the end of each of the 3 decks
• Other minor revisions

v9.5 (December 2022)

• Added Alternate Dantooine Route with QS Hotshot
• Added Ebon Hawk Hotshots after CS skips
• Added Quicksaving to advance Stunt CS animations (saves RTA and IGT)
• Made some minor adjustments to Lower City
• Included links to newer guides

v9.4 (June 2022)

• Added the Optional Bastila GP warp on the Kashyyyk Landing Pad
• Added the Optional Calo Nord Conversation run in the Upper shadow lands
• Minor adjustments

v9.3 (October 2021)

• Added the DLZ into the Bek Base.
• Added the optional Vulkar skip outside the base.
• Added the immediate Fast Lane to spare Jolee.
• Made Plot Armor optional for both routes.
• Reorganized the guide to move the alternate Scout route to the end and consolidate it.

v9.2 (October 2021)

• Added the Ship Parts skip to Lehon

v9.1 (September 2021)

• Updated the Scout Route and parts of the Post-Taris route to include Plot Armor Skip
• Changed the armor and stim purchases in the Scout Route
• Updated Lehon to include the Transit Warp in Temple Exterior

v9.0 (August 2021)

• Reorganized the guide to deemphasize character build, equipment, credits, and alignment
• Included two versions of Taris for Scoundrel and Scout
• Updated Taris to use the Vulkar Base Clip and DLZ
• Updated DLZ strats for Lehon
• Added Conversation Queueing for skips on Dantooine
• New shopping for Scoundrel Route on Taris
• Credit Underflow and Security FLU are no longer used

v8.2 (December 2020) “the dark side update”

• Scoundrel
• AMG strats for both the swoop race and Malak
• Dantooine DLZs to skip most of the world
• Dark Side Ending! (allows us to skip thermal detonator shopping, and makes the Dantooine skips less painful)
• Minor Tweaks

v8.1 (September 2020)

• Lufex’s Endar Spire DLZ implemented

v8.0 (August 2020)

• Hotshot’s Routine used to skip Creamy Middle by duping Starmaps

v7.2 (July 2020)

• Planet Order Changed again (Hopefully for the last time)
• Chaos Implements some minor optimizations

v7.1 (June 2020)

• Planet Order Changed
• Hotshotting to Ebon Hawk instead of Fast Laning
• Wired Targeting used to kill Malak

v7.0 (June 2020) (As seen in Lane’s Video Tutorial)

• Major route update, including:
  • Hotshotting
  • Coordinate Warping
  • Invincibility Glitch
  • Infinite Credit Glitch
  • Full Inventory Duping
• Leviathan is Skipped entirely
• Any echoes of the alignment and credit routes have been lost.
• Minimalist Character Build
• Minimalist Leveling plan

v6.0 (December 2019)

• Major route update, including:
  • New Taris Route using a GP Warp to access Gadon’s Office
  • Two small new GPs on Taris
  • New planet order swapping Korriban and Tatooine
  • Solo Krayt Skip on Tatooine
  • Master Speed FLU moved to Lehon
  • GP Warp to enter the Lehon Temple and Temple Summit
  • GP Warp strats on Star Forge
• Removed optional strats for Malak Skip and Dantooine Door Clip; these tricks should both be done
• Updated character build to remove Dominate Mind option; Disable Droid is superior
• Updated the Credits route to reflect the now required Larrim shopping trip
• Updated the Equipment route to reflect the permanent use of Sith Armor
• Updated the Alignment route to reflect that it really doesn’t matter
• Added various links to trick and technique guides

v5.3 (November 2019)

• Added GP warps to the Dune Sea and the Great Walkway

v5.2 (November 2019)

• Replaced the Korriban shopping trip with one on Kashyyyk; streamlined credit route
• Added optional single party strats on Leviathan
• Added the full Bastila AMG skip on Star Forge

v5.1 (October 2019)

• Updated a couple things to reflect variation depending on build and optional skips.
• Fixed an alignment issue with the Malak Skip route.

v5.0 (October 2019)

• The AMG Any% guide is live!
• New character build
• New alignment route
• Several new AMG skips added to the route

v4.1 (September 2019)

• Updated the Alignment route for the new AMG route.
• Other AMG changes coming soon!

v4.0 (February 2019)

• Added the Door Clip/Canderous CS Skip to Lehon
• Changed the Lower City XP route on Taris
• Streamlined the looting plan for Credits before Korriban
• Minor change to Equipment Plan due to the above

v3.6 (January 2017)

• Added links to guide pages for specific tricks and glitches throughout the guide.
• Added the Save Teleports to reach the Ebon Hawk when leaving Lehon.
• Updated formatting to make the Detailed Route easier to read.
• Miscellaneous route corrections.

v3.5 (December 2016)

• Updated formatting to make the guide easier to read.
• Removed sections on glitches and tricks in preparation for putting them in their own guides.
• Expanded the Route Overview to include a short outline.

v3.4 (August 2016)

• Added Brejik skip.
• Changed Equipment plan to cut two shopping trips; updated credit route.
• Miscellaneous route corrections.

v3.3 (June 2016)

• Streamlined alignment route and updated it.
• Miscellaneous fixes to shopping.

v3.2 (February 2016)

• Added images for several sections, particularly the Krayt Dragon skip.
• Miscellaneous route fixes.

v3.1 (February 2016)

• Updated the Taris route to be more polished
• Miscellaneous route corrections

v3.0 (February 2016)

• New route on Taris, including:
  • Fake Level Up to get 90 Security
  • Skipping Undercity entirely
  • Skipping Mission, Zaalbar, and T3
• New character build and equipment plan:
  • Scoundrel -> Jedi Guardian
  • Dropping the CNS and adding the Stabilizer Mask
• Added version history to keep track of the changes!

v2.1 (January 2016)

• Added a cutscene skip on Unknown World
• Miscellaneous route corrections

v2.0 (December 2015)

• Completely new route, including:
  • New character build: Dueling and Critical Strike
  • New planet order: Manaan -> Tatooine -> Korriban -> Leviathan -> Kashyyyk
  • Krayt Dragon skip on Tatooine
  • Fake-Level Up on Korriban
• Split save-buffering and fake level ups into their own sections
• Split the guide into two; this guide and the Beginner’s Guide

v1.3 (November 2015)

• Updated route to include door clip on Manaan

v1.2 (November 2015)

• Updated route to include droid CS skip on Star Forge

v1.1 (November 2015)

• Updated route to include several small CS skips/save buffers

v1.0 (November 2015)

• Uploaded initial guide with route including:
  • Scout -> Jedi Guardian: Two-Weapon Fighting/Flurry character build
  • Planet Route: Korriban -> Manaan -> Tatooine -> Leviathan -> Kashyyyk

Closing

If you made it this far, congratulations! Thanks for reading the guide. Please let indykenobi or Lane know if you have any comments or questions (best way to contact both is via Discord).

Lane’s Acknowledgements: Hopefully the route doesn’t totally change again. Last time I updated this guide it only stayed accurate for about a day. I wanna thank Sheepmetal and wurwilf for getting me into this game, and ChaosDrifting and R4NG3 for proving to be real friends, and pushing this game to its limits.

Indy’s Acknowledgements: I’d like to acknowledge glasnonck and Thinkshooter, whose runs got me into KotOR speedrunning, as well as glasnonck, Lane, hotshotwire and the rest of the KotOR community for tossing around ideas and breaking this game further. Additional shoutouts to ChaosDrifting for helping me understand the Scoundrel Taris route.