Welcome to our build guide for the Smuggler, this particular guide will focus on the SWTOR Gunslinger Sharpshooter Build. Throughout this guide we will first look at the actual top rated build itself, followed by a brief play style guide, as well as some general tips and reminders to look at, and the we will briefly go over a few of the key talents and abilities for this build. Now let’s get started!

SWTOR Gunslinger Sharpshooter Build

http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#700bsrbdMsRgzZbZGb.1

SWTOR Gunslinger Sharpshooter Build Play Style

The Gunslinger Sharpshooter is a class that uses Cover, in essentially the same way an Imperial Agent might. Your most powerful and core abilities (Charged Burst and Aimed Shot) require you to execute them from cover. There are three different types of cover. Natural cover is anything in your environment marked by a green outline of your character. You are able to roll into this cover by way of the cover button (default button for this being “F”) and you are granted immunity from regular attacks as long as you stay inactive and behind the cover. On top of that, your defensive rating is increased in the 45 degree fire zone in front of you. The other top of cover is “Crouch in Place” which essentially is not cover in and of itself, but merely a means to execute cover-only abilities. The third form of cover is Personal Shielding, which is an energy shield your character throws out in front of him or herself. The added benefit to this is, you gain a buff called Unshakable which makes you uninterruptable while in cover.

You may feel at first that environmental cover is obviously the superior choice, as it grants damage resistance and immunity to regular attacks, but the problem with that kind of “static” cover is that you are awfully limited to where you will be firing from. This is maybe not so much of an issue in PvE, but in PvP there are arguably better choices. Using Personal Shielding is often the best route to go, as you aren’t forced into any set location. This means you can set up your shielding at a safe distance away from the action, rather than possibly taking the environmental cover that is closer to the fight. Gunslingers are a ranged class by nature, and your encounters can only benefit from keeping distance.

With that being said, you will also benefit from keeping on the move and being aware of your surroundings. While strafing a target, keep on the lookout for anyone (or anything) that is closing in on you. A good Gunslinger is obsessively compulsive about his personal space, and should do his or her best to keep all enemies out of it.

SWTOR Gunslinger Sharpshooter Build Tips/Reminders

Move your camera! The best way to remain mindful of your surroundings is to always be panning your camera about while you move around, and even while you suppress targets. Get used to having a twitchy mouse hand, and work on coordinating your camera panning and character movement to give you the most control over the battle area as possible.

When you place your Personal Shielding cover, pay attention to where you are placing it. By placing it in an area that provides natural cover already (such as a large rock, pillar, support strut etc.) you limit line-of-sight to yourself, thus diminishing your enemies’ vectors of attack by one (or even more!). With that, try to keep an exit strategy in mind when placing cover. It isn’t a good idea to throw down your shield with your back to a wall, or large drop-off. Instead, make sure you have multiple ways to escape. By placing it in front of a nearby ramp or tunneled corridor you increase your chances of living to tell the tale.

SWTOR Gunslinger Sharpshooter Build Key Abilities/Talents

Aimed Shot: This is a de facto damage nuke ability. Aimed Shot will deal 612-935 weapon damage, but must be executed from cover. Pair this with skills such as Sharp Aim (makes Aimed Shot ignore 20% of the target’s armor) or Percussive Shot (which will knock a target back several meters) to make a formidable base damage ability.

Speed Shot: This ability is another core damage nuke; it deals 725-1108 weapon damage over the duration of the ability. Skills like Steady Shots, Slick Shooter, and Quick Aim all work to make this ability even more deadly. Buffing its damage, critical damage, and ability to reduce the cool down of Aimed Shot respectively.

Leg Shot: Probably one of the best reasons to play a Gunslinger. This ability deals very low weapon damage (136-208) but it immobilizes the target for 5 seconds, or only 2 if you continue to attack. When used with the skill Trip Shot (which reduces the cool down by 3 seconds) you have a stun ability at hand that recharges at an almost overpowered rate.

SWTOR Gunslinger Sharpshooter Build Conclusion

There you have it, everything you’ll need to know to master this build and bring it into the game. Be sure to check out some of our other build guides as well as overall class guides, leveling guides, and much more for SWTOR!