KOTOR Tips: Earning XP & Leveling Up Early

In Star Wars KOTOR, the maximum level is set at Level 20. But in order to reach the max Level, you'll need to gain XP (Experience Points) as much as possible.

Some of the best Force Powers become available at Level 18 (i.e. Force Storm), so earlier you level up, you'll have more chance to enjoy them.

Also the level of each enemy is static in KOTOR, so if you level up earlier, you'll have more advantage in battle.

So here is the tip for earning extra XP & leveling up:

1) Complete Side-Quests

It may sound obvious, but there are over 50 side-quests in KOTOR, and you can easily miss some of them. Most of the quests are attached with rewards, such as credits, XP, LS/DS points and/or items, and more you complete them, more you'll gain.

2) Kill Enemies first, then use Console

As you scroll through the security cameras at the Computer Terminal, you may get an option of killing enemies (i.e. overload power conduit). If you come across with the option and see the enemies in the camera, DON'T USE IT.

Go to the room & kill enemies for XP first, then come back to the Console for further XP. Killing enemies from the Console won't give you XP from foes.

Also if you let the high skilled member use the Console, you'll save computer spikes & sometimes earn more XP.

You can watch the example in Taris Sith Base. In this video, I've already finished exploring the base in the previous Episode, so it starts just before I exit the base.

Here, I let T3-M4 use the Console to overload power conduit in the Barracks but is already empty. I've earned 650XP from killing, and further 400XP at the Console, totaling 1050XP, but if you use the Console to kill the enemies, you'd have only earned 400xp.

3) Repair Droids

Repairing droids will give you XP, and if you have enough Parts, fully repair them to boost XP.

Ideally, using T3-M4 is a good idea to save Parts, as he has high Repair skill. But even when he is not available (i.e. Unknown World), you should give it a go with yourself or other members.

You can watch the example with Carth earning 1235xp on the Leviathan & Juhani earning 1300xp in the Temple.

4) Visit all planets before you're taken on the Leviathan

Many guides suggest that the usual order of the planets are something like,

1) Dantooine (1st Star Map)
2) Tatooine (2nd Star Map)
3) Kashyyyk (3rd Star Map)
4) Manaan (4th Star Map)
--> Leviathan (you can't avoid it after the 4th Star Map)
5) Korriban (5th Star Map)

Whichever the order you travel, once you discover the 4th Star Map (don't forget to include Dantooine), you'll be taken to the Leviathan.

But it's worth visiting all five planets BEFORE the Leviathan, as it's one of the hardest sequences in the game, and higher the level you are, the battle will get easier.

Korriban, especially, is a treasure trobe of XP and Crystals, so it'll give you a great advantage on the Leviathan if you've already visited there.

So how will you do it? Just skip one Star Map (whichever you like) so you can visit five planets. Once you reach the last planet, get the 4th Star Map. If you do this (and gain extra XP as mentioned), you should be around Level 18 or 19 by the time you get to the Leviathan.

So here's how I collected Star Maps in my walkthroughs:

[Light Side]
1) Dantooine (1st Star Map)
2) Tatooine (2nd Star Map)
3) Kashyyyk (no Star Map)
4) Manaan (3rd Star Map)
5) Korriban (4th Star Map)
--> Leviathan (After 5 planets)
6) Kashyyyk (5th Star Map)

[Dark Side]
1) Dantooine (1st Star Map)
2) Tatooine (2nd Star Map)
3) Kashyyyk (3rd Star Map)
4) Manaan (No Star Map)
5) Korriban (4th Star Map)
--> Leviathan (after 5 planets)
6) Manaan (5th Star Map)

You can read more about the order of the planets in FAQ: What's the Best Order of the Planets? section.