swtor companion gift guide
Companion gifts are a key way to strengthen relationships and boost influence in SWTOR, enhancing combat and crafting efficiency․ This guide covers the basics and advanced strategies for effective gift usage․
1․1 Overview of Companion Gifts in SWTOR
In Star Wars: The Old Republic, companion gifts are items used to improve relationships with your companions, boosting their influence and effectiveness in combat and crafting․ There are 10 distinct gift categories, each appealing to specific companions based on their preferences․ Gifts vary in rank (1-6) and quality (green, blue, purple), with higher-ranked, gold-quality gifts yielding the most influence․ Companions may “like,” “favorite,” or “love” certain gifts, with loved gifts providing the highest influence gains․ When hovering over a gift, indicators show potential influence impact, though these can be broad․ Effective gift-giving requires understanding companion preferences and optimizing gift selection to maximize influence․ Gifts can be acquired through various methods, including purchases, crafting, and mission rewards, making them a versatile tool for strengthening companion relationships․
1․2 Importance of Building Strong Companion Relationships
Building strong relationships with companions in Star Wars: The Old Republic is crucial for enhancing gameplay efficiency and overall enjoyment․ Companions with high influence levels are more effective in combat, crafting, and mission execution, making them invaluable allies․ Strong relationships also unlock unique interactions and storylines, deepening the game’s narrative experience․ For players focused on crafting or gathering, high-influence companions can significantly improve resource acquisition and crafting success rates․ Additionally, companions with high affection levels often provide exclusive rewards and bonuses, further enhancing your progression․ Whether focusing on a single companion or managing multiple, investing time and effort into building strong relationships is essential for maximizing your character’s potential and achieving long-term success in the game․ Effective relationship-building strategies include gift-giving, companion-specific missions, and aligning choices with their preferences․
Understanding Companion Gift Categories
Companion gifts in SWTOR are categorized into 10 distinct types, each appealing to specific companions․ Understanding these categories helps players select optimal gifts, enhancing affection and loyalty․
2․1 Overview of the 10 Gift Categories in SWTOR
SWTOR features 10 distinct companion gift categories, each with unique items appealing to specific companions․ These categories include Luxury, Technology, Cultural, and others, ensuring varied options for players to maximize influence gains․ Each category offers gifts of different ranks and qualities, impacting how much influence is gained․ Higher-ranked and rare gifts yield greater influence, especially when aligned with a companion’s preferences․ Understanding these categories allows players to strategically choose gifts that their companions love, favorite, or like, optimizing influence gains․ This system adds depth to companion relationships, making it essential for players to familiarize themselves with each category to enhance their gameplay experience effectively․
2․2 How to Determine Companion Preferences
Determining companion preferences in SWTOR involves understanding which gift categories they favor․ Each companion has unique preferences, with some loving specific types of gifts while others may only like or favorite them․ To identify these preferences, players can consult fan-made charts, such as those found on swtorista․com, which detail each companion’s reactions to different gift categories․ These charts categorize gifts into “loved,” “favorite,” and “liked” categories, providing clarity on optimal gift choices․ In-game, hovering over a gift in your inventory will indicate if it provides small, moderate, or large influence, but this doesn’t specify the companion’s preference level․ By aligning gifts with known preferences, players can maximize influence gains, ensuring their efforts are efficient and effective in strengthening companion relationships․
2․3 Importance of Gift Preferences in Influence Gain
Gift preferences play a critical role in maximizing influence gain in SWTOR․ Companions gain significantly more influence from gifts they “love” compared to those they merely “like” or “favorite․” For example, a gift in a category a companion loves can yield up to 800 influence points, while a liked gift might only provide 200․ This disparity highlights the importance of aligning gifts with a companion’s preferences․ As companions reach higher influence levels, the effectiveness of gifts diminishes, making optimal gift selection even more crucial․ Players should consult detailed charts, such as those on swtorista․com, to identify preferred gift categories for each companion․ By doing so, they can allocate resources efficiently, ensuring maximum influence gain and avoiding wasted effort on less effective gifts․ This strategy is essential for strengthening companion relationships and enhancing their combat and crafting abilities․
2․4 How to Use Gift Categories Effectively
Using gift categories effectively in SWTOR involves aligning gifts with companions’ preferences to maximize influence gain․ Each companion has specific gift categories they love, like, or dislike, and prioritizing gifts within these categories ensures optimal results․ Players should consult detailed charts, such as those on swtorista․com, to identify which categories align with their companions’ preferences․ Organizing gifts by category allows for efficient distribution, ensuring high-impact gifts are reserved for companions who value them most․ Additionally, focusing on higher-ranked and rare gifts within preferred categories amplifies influence gains․ As companions progress, diminishing returns on gifts make strategic selection even more critical․ By budgeting credits and time, players can acquire gifts efficiently, either through vendors, crafting, or heroics, to strengthen companion relationships without unnecessary expense․ This approach ensures resources are used wisely, enhancing both companion loyalty and overall gameplay effectiveness․
Obtaining Companion Gifts
Companion gifts can be obtained through various methods: purchasing from vendors, crafting via crew skills, earning through heroics, acquiring via conquest rewards, trading on the GTN, or receiving special gifts for specific companions․
3․1 Purchasing Gifts from Vendors
Purchasing gifts from vendors is a straightforward method to acquire companion gifts․ Vendors located in the Galactic Trade Network section of the Fleet offer a variety of gifts, categorized by rank and quality․ These gifts range from affordable rank 1 green items to expensive rank 5 purple gifts, with prices increasing significantly for higher grades․ For example, rank 5 purple gifts cost 10,000 credits each, while lower grades are more budget-friendly․ Subscribers also have access to a special vendor in the Cantina area of Odessan, offering exclusive high-grade gifts․ Buying gifts from vendors is ideal for players with ample credits, as it allows for quick acquisition of specific gift types․ However, it can become costly when aiming to reach higher influence levels․ This method is particularly useful for targeting gifts that a companion loves, maximizing influence gain efficiently․
3․2 Crafting Gifts Through Crew Skills
Crafting gifts through crew skills is a cost-effective method to acquire companion gifts․ Crew skills like Diplomacy, Treasure Hunting, and Underworld Trading offer missions that reward gifts․ These missions, graded from 1 to 5, provide gifts corresponding to their success and grade․ Higher-grade missions yield better gifts but cost more credits․ For instance, a grade 5 Diplomacy mission might reward a purple gift․ While crafting is economical, it is time-consuming and less reliable than purchasing gifts․ Missions can fail, resulting in no rewards․ This method is ideal for players with spare credits and time, especially those focused on leveling specific crew skills․ Crafting allows for targeted gift acquisition, making it a valuable strategy for players seeking efficiency without heavy credit investment․
3․3 Earning Gifts Through Heroics and Missions
Earning gifts through heroics and missions is a rewarding and accessible method in SWTOR․ Heroic missions, particularly those at level 61 or higher, often reward Alliance Crates containing random gifts․ These crates are obtained after completing specific objectives and expansions, such as Chapter 9 of Knights of the Fallen Empire․ Each crate offers a chance to receive valuable purple or blue gifts, enhancing companion influence․ Additionally, daily and weekly missions may provide gift rewards, encouraging regular participation․ This method is ideal for players seeking to accumulate gifts without spending credits, though it requires consistent gameplay and completion of challenging content․ Over time, heroics can stockpile a substantial collection of gifts, benefiting multiple companions and streamlining influence progression․ This approach aligns well with players focused on both combat and companion development․
3․4 Acquiring Gifts via Conquest Rewards
Conquest rewards provide a steady stream of companion gifts for dedicated players․ Completing personal conquest objectives, especially at higher levels, often grants rewards containing mixed gift types․ These rewards are typically obtained through achievements tied to Territory Control, Large-Scale Battles, and other repetitive gameplay milestones․ Players can earn a variety of gifts, including rare and high-quality items, which can then be distributed to companions based on their preferences․ While the gifts obtained through this method may not always align perfectly with a specific companion’s loves, they provide a cost-effective way to stockpile a diverse collection․ Conquest rewards are particularly beneficial for players working on multiple companions or seeking to avoid direct purchases․ By regularly participating in conquest-related activities, players can amass a substantial inventory of gifts, enhancing their ability to strengthen companion relationships without relying solely on credits or crafting․
3․5 Trading on the Galactic Trade Network (GTN)
The Galactic Trade Network (GTN) is a dynamic marketplace where players can buy and sell companion gifts․ It offers a wide variety of gifts, including rare and high-quality items, allowing players to acquire specific gifts their companions love or favor․ To use the GTN effectively, filter your search by gift type, rank, and quality to find the best deals․ Prices can vary significantly, so it’s essential to compare costs and avoid overpaying․ For example, purple rank 5 gifts are often available for around 10,000 credits from vendors, so purchasing them on the GTN for less is a good bargain․ Additionally, blue and green gifts can be found at lower prices, making them a cost-effective option for players on a budget․ The GTN is particularly useful for acquiring gifts in bulk or finding rare items that are hard to obtain through other methods․ By leveraging the GTN, players can efficiently stock up on gifts and maximize their influence gains without relying solely on crafting or missions․
3․6 Special Gifts for Specific Companions
Certain companions in SWTOR have unique gift preferences that can only be satisfied with special items․ For example, Cartel Market companions often require Maintenance Gifts or Delicacies to gain influence․ These gifts are rare and highly sought after, as they provide significant influence boosts when given to the right companions․ One notable example is the Spiced Aric Tongue, a delicacy that can be purchased from specific vendors like Izzar the Jawa․ These special gifts are often exclusive to certain companions, making them invaluable for maximizing influence․ Players should identify which special gifts their companions favor and prioritize acquiring them․ While these items can be expensive or hard to find, they offer unparalleled influence gains, making them a worthwhile investment for dedicated players aiming to strengthen their companion relationships․
Using Companion Gifts Effectively
Maximizing influence requires giving gifts that align with companion preferences, prioritizing high-quality items․ Higher-ranked and rarer gifts yield greater influence gains, while ineffective gifts should be avoided to save credits․
4․1 Basics of Giving Gifts to Companions
Giving gifts to companions in SWTOR is straightforward: right-click the item from your inventory while the companion is active․ Influence gained depends on their preferences, gift rank, and rarity․ High-quality gifts, particularly those loved by companions, yield significant influence boosts․ Lower-quality or irrelevant gifts provide minimal gains․ To optimize, focus on gifts that match their preferences, as indicated by tooltips․ Avoid giving gifts outside their interests to maximize efficiency․ Regularly managing and updating gifts ensures companions remain effective in combat and crafting․ This approach helps build strong relationships and enhances overall gameplay experience․ Using gifts effectively is essential for unlocking their full potential in the game․
4․2 Maximizing Influence Gain with Optimal Gifts
Maximizing influence gain requires selecting gifts that align with your companion’s preferences․ Gifts that companions “love” provide the highest influence boost, especially when they are of high rank and rarity․ Purple-grade, rank 6 gifts offer the most significant increases, while lower-ranked or irrelevant gifts yield minimal gains․ To identify optimal gifts, consult companion-specific charts, as in-game tooltips only provide general indicators․ Focusing on gifts that match your companion’s loved categories ensures maximum efficiency․ Additionally, consider using a Companion Compendium for an instant boost to influence level 50․ This approach is particularly useful for players seeking quick results without extensive gift farming․ By prioritizing optimal gifts and utilizing available resources, you can swiftly enhance your companion’s influence and strengthen their contributions to your gameplay experience․
4․3 How to Avoid Ineffective Gifts
To avoid wasting credits and time, focus on gifts that align with your companion’s preferences․ Gifts that a companion does not like or is indifferent to will yield minimal or no influence gain․ Always check the gift’s category and quality before giving it․ Lower-grade gifts, such as green or rank 1 items, provide negligible influence, especially for high-level companions․ Prioritize gifts of higher rank and rarity, as these offer significantly better returns․ Additionally, avoid giving gifts outside your companion’s preferred categories, as this can result in wasted resources․ If unsure, consult companion-specific charts to identify their loved, liked, and disliked gift types․ This ensures you maximize influence gains while minimizing unnecessary expenses․ Remember, ineffective gifts not only waste credits but also slow down your companion’s progress․ Opting for a Companion Compendium can be a more efficient alternative for rapid influence gains․
4․4 Optimizing for Gifts Companions Love
Optimizing for gifts your companions love is crucial for maximizing influence gains․ These gifts provide the highest returns, often granting 4-5 times more influence than liked or neutral gifts․ To identify loved gifts, consult companion-specific charts, such as those on swtorista․com, which detail each companion’s preferences․ Prioritize acquiring and giving these gifts, as they significantly accelerate influence progression․ For example, a rank 6 gold-bordered gift in a loved category can yield over 800 influence points, while a liked gift of the same rank and quality might only provide 200․ Avoid giving gifts that companions dislike or are indifferent to, as these offer little to no influence gain․ By focusing on loved gifts, you ensure efficient progression, especially for companions nearing higher influence brackets where diminishing returns apply․ This strategy is cost-effective and minimizes the need for excessive gift farming or purchases․
4․5 Budgeting and Efficiency in Gift Usage
Budgeting and efficiency are vital when using gifts to maximize influence gains․ Players should allocate credits wisely, prioritizing gifts that offer the highest influence per credit․ Rank 5 purple gifts from vendors are cost-effective, costing 10,000 credits each, while rank 6 gold gifts, though more potent, are expensive and often unnecessary for moderate influence levels․ For free-to-play players, purchasing lower-rank gifts in bulk can gradually boost influence without significant expense․ Conversely, for those with ample credits, investing in high-rank gifts or Companion Compendiums can rapidly elevate influence․ Balancing quality and quantity ensures efficient progression, avoiding wasteful spending on ineffective gifts․ Monitoring the Galactic Trade Network for discounted gifts and utilizing crew skills like Diplomacy or Treasure Hunting can further optimize resource allocation, making the gift-giving process both economical and efficient․ This approach ensures that every credit spent contributes meaningfully to companion influence growth․
4․6 Understanding Influence Diminishing Returns
As companions reach higher influence levels, the effectiveness of gifts diminishes significantly․ Each gift’s influence contribution decreases as the companion progresses through influence brackets (1-5, 6-9, 10-14, etc․)․ Lower-quality gifts become particularly inefficient at higher levels, even if they are favored․ For example, a gift that grants 800 influence at level 10 might only provide 200 at level 40․ This mechanic encourages strategic gift usage, prioritizing higher-quality items for maximum impact․ Players should adapt their gift-giving strategy as companions level up, focusing on optimal gift categories and considering alternatives like Companion Compendiums for higher efficiency․ Understanding diminishing returns helps avoid wasting credits on ineffective gifts, ensuring resources are used wisely to maintain steady progression․ This balance is crucial for achieving influence level 50 efficiently․
Advanced Strategies for Companion Influence
Maximize influence efficiency by using Companion Compendiums, which instantly boost a companion to influence 50․ Obtainable via Conquest Rewards or the Cartel Market, they offer a direct, cost-effective solution for high-level companions․
5․1 Utilizing the Companion Compendium
The Companion Compendium offers a swift way to elevate a companion’s influence to level 50, bypassing the need for extensive gift-giving․ Obtainable through the Conquest Rewards vendor on the Fleet for 3 Dark Projects and 4․25 million credits, or via the Cartel Market, this item is ideal for rapidly boosting low-level companions․ Dark Projects can be crafted or purchased from the GTN, with prices varying but averaging around 1-2 million credits each․ While highly effective, the Compendium’s cost may not justify its use for companions already at higher influence levels․ It is particularly beneficial for new or underdeveloped companions, saving time and effort compared to traditional methods of gift accumulation and distribution․
5․2 Focusing on Multiple Companions
Managing gifts for multiple companions requires strategic planning to maximize efficiency․ Start by identifying each companion’s preferences and prioritize those who offer the most benefits in combat or crafting․ Rotate companions during missions to evenly distribute influence gains․ Use the Galactic Trade Network to acquire gifts in bulk, ensuring a steady supply for all․ Consider crafting gifts through Crew Skills like Diplomacy or Treasure Hunting to reduce costs․ Avoid wasting high-value gifts on companions who only “like” them, reserving such items for those who “love” the category․ Regularly review your inventory to ensure gifts are allocated optimally, and budget credits wisely to avoid overspending․ By focusing on multiple companions, you can build a well-rounded team without sacrificing progress on individual relationships․
5․3 Leveraging Gift Farming Techniques
Gift farming is a strategic approach to efficiently acquire large quantities of high-value gifts․ Focus on repeating Heroic Missions at level 61 or higher, as they reward Alliance Crates containing random gifts․ These crates often include rare, high-grade items that can significantly boost influence․ Additionally, prioritize missions from Crew Skills like Diplomacy, Treasure Hunting, and Underworld Trading, which can yield companion gifts․ For maximum efficiency, repeat these missions with high-success-rate companions to minimize failures․ Consider farming during off-peak hours to reduce competition for resources․ Organize your farming sessions by focusing on specific gift categories or ranks, and use legacy-wide storage to manage your inventory․ Finally, supplement your efforts by completing Conquest objectives, which often reward gift bundles․ Consistent farming and smart strategizing can build a substantial gift inventory, ensuring strong companion relationships across your roster․
5․4 Time vs․ Credit Efficiency in Gift Acquisition
Evaluating time vs․ credit efficiency is crucial for optimizing gift acquisition․ Players with ample credits can purchase high-grade gifts directly from vendors or the GTN, ensuring rapid influence gains․ However, this method can be costly, especially for rank 6 gold gifts․ Conversely, farming Heroic Missions or Crew Skill missions requires time but saves credits, making it ideal for players with limited funds․ Balancing both approaches is key; for instance, using credits for essential gifts while farming supplementary ones․ Subscribers gain access to exclusive vendors like Odessan, offering efficient purchases․ Meanwhile, free-to-play players may rely more on farming and GTN deals․ Assessing personal priorities helps determine the most efficient strategy, whether focusing on quick results or long-term cost savings․ This balance ensures effective companion progression without draining resources․ Optimize based on your playstyle and economy to maximize efficiency․
5․5 Managing Large Inventories of Gifts
Effectively managing large inventories of gifts is essential for optimizing companion influence․ Players often accumulate numerous gifts through various methods, such as Heroics, Crew Skills, and vendor purchases․ To maintain organization, consider storing gifts in your personal cargo bay or legacy bank, which allows easy access across multiple characters․ Organize gifts by category or companion preference to quickly identify which ones to use․ Regularly clean out your inventory by selling or donating gifts that no longer serve a purpose․ For instance, gifts that provide minimal influence can be sold on the Galactic Trade Network (GTN) for credits․ Additionally, focus on acquiring gifts that your companions love, as these yield the highest influence gains․ By streamlining your inventory, you can efficiently manage resources and prioritize gifts that maximize companion relationships․ This approach saves time and credits, ensuring a smoother progression in raising influence levels․
Mastering companion gifts in SWTOR enhances relationships, boosts influence, and strengthens companions, making them invaluable allies in combat and crafting․ Effective gift management ensures long-term success and enjoyment in the game․
6․1 Final Tips for Effective Companion Gift Management
Always prioritize gifts your companions love, as they yield the highest influence gains․ Budget wisely, avoiding unnecessary expenses on ineffective gifts․ Utilize the Galactic Trade Network (GTN) to find cost-effective options or rare items․ Regularly check gift ratings and update your strategy as you progress․ Consider using the Companion Compendium for a quick influence boost․ Organize your gifts in cargo bays or legacy storage for easy access․ Lastly, balance gift usage with other influence methods, like story choices, to maintain a well-rounded approach․ By following these tips, you can maximize your companions’ potential and enhance your overall gameplay experience in SWTOR․
6․2 Continuous Optimization of Companion Relationships
Regularly reassess and adjust your gift-giving strategy to maximize influence gains․ Monitor your companions’ influence levels and adapt as new content or updates become available․ Focus on acquiring gifts your companions love, as these provide the highest returns․ Use the Companion Compendium for quick boosts, especially for low-level companions․ Balance gift usage with other influence methods, like story choices, to maintain a well-rounded approach․ Stay updated on game changes and utilize new features to enhance your strategy․ By continuously optimizing, you ensure your companions remain powerful allies, ready to tackle challenges alongside you in SWTOR․