As one of the most highly anticipated games of 2023, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor finally lets fans wield the iconic crossguard lightsaber made famous by Kylo Ren. But this unstable, crackling weapon doesn‘t unlock easily. After countless hours exploring the galaxy as Jedi hero Cal Kestis, only the most dedicated players will master this aggressive combat stance.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share expert tips from my years of experience analyzing gaming content and community trends. You‘ll learn exactly how and when the crossguard stance unlocks, gameplay strategies to master it, and much more. Let‘s reignite our lightsabers and dive in!
Who Is Cal Kestis and Why Does His Lightsaber Matter?
Before we can unlock new stances, it helps to understand our protagonist. Cal Kestis is a former Jedi Padawan who survived Order 66 and is one of the last remaining Jedi Knights. As a survivor of the Galactic Empire‘s purge, Cal has become an icon of hope for fans.
In the first Jedi: Fallen Order game, Cal built his own blue-bladed lightsaber following Jedi tradition. But his weapon took on even greater significance after Kylo Ren‘s crossguard lightsaber premiered in The Force Awakens. Players have eagerly awaited the chance to wield this unconventional, crackling weapon design themselves.
Now in Survivor, Cal‘s lightsaber skills will grow along with his connection to the Force. By learning different stances and techniques, we can further customize our playstyle. The crossguard stance offers an aggressive new way to cut through The Empire‘s forces.
When and Where Does the Crossguard Lightsaber Stance Unlock?
Through extensive analysis of gameplay footage and Respawn developer updates, we can pinpoint exactly when the crossguard stance unlocks:
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4-5 Hours In: You must first reach the icy planet Jedha, which arrives after 4-5 hours of main story progression.
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Complete Jedha Missions: Defeat the boss at the end of Jedha‘s story missions to travel to the next location.
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Finish "Research Tanalorr": This key mission on Jedha‘s moon finally unlocks the crossguard lightsaber stance.
Let‘s examine how to unlock the crossguard stance step-by-step:
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Play through the main Jedi: Survivor story until you reach the planet Jedha after roughly 4-5 hours. Explore icy caves, complete side quests, and advance the plot.
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Finish Jedha‘s critical story missions, culminating in a boss fight. This will grant access to the Shattered Moon of Jedha.
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Travel to the Moon and accept the "Research Tanalorr" mission from the starting area. Make your way through the broken moon completing objectives.
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At the end of the "Research Tanalorr" mission, a cutscene will play showing Cal acquiring this new combat stance.
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Open the skills menu to equip the Crossguard Lightsaber Stance skill. Cal will adopt the iconic two-handed grip and side vents will extend from his blade!
With this key mission complete, you can now wield deadly crossguard attacks. But first, let‘s examine what makes this weapon style unique.
Harnessing the Power of Crossguard Lightsabers
Crossguard lightsabers stand out for their aggressive dueling style and extra side vents. These smaller blades near the handle vent excess heat and energy from the main red plasma blade.
This design foreshadows Kylo Ren‘s own instability and rage. By channeling his anger into fierce attacks, Kylo‘s crossguard strikes overwhelm opponents. Learning this form in Survivor lets us mirror Kylo‘s relentless assault.
Equipping the crossguard stance modifies Cal‘s lightsaber techniques:
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Heavy, Slow Attacks: Crossguard strikes deal more damage but have slower swing speeds requiring proper timing.
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Increased Stamina: More stamina means longer blocks and defense to withstand enemy blows.
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Two-Handed Grip: Crossguards are wielded with two hands on the hilt for added power.
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Vented Heat: The crossguards‘ side blades dispel excess energy to avoid overheating.
This style contrasts with faster, more agile options like Cal‘s standard single blade form. But when equipped properly, the crossguard stance dominates stronger enemies and deals damage through blocks.
Maximizing the Crossguard Lightsaber Stance for Your Playstyle
While deadly in the right hands, the crossguard stance requires practice and skill to fully master:
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Take Advantage of Strengths: Use the crossguard‘s power to overwhelm tough, slow groups like AT-ST‘s. The improved stamina also shines against blaster users.
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Offset Weaknesses: The slower speed leaves you open to fast melee attackers. Carefully time your strikes while dodging and parrying.
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Complement Abilities: Skills like Increased Focus or Improved Blocking will make this stance even more formidable.
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Alternate Stances: Swap between faster single blade, double blade, and crossguard styles to match the situation.
Here‘s a comparison of how crossguard lightsabers fare against other common weapon forms:
| Lightsaber Type | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Crossguard | High damage, stamina | Slow speed |
| Single Blade | Balanced, reliable | Low damage |
| Double Blade | Wide reach, sweeping attacks | Less control |
As you can see, the crossguard brings heavy strikes at the cost of speed. Combining multiple styles is key to adapting to all the challenges Cal will face.
Through passion and practice, players can transform into an unstoppable crossguard warrior. Let your emotions fuel fierce blows to crush all who stand before you. The dark side – and victory – await!
