You’ve spent hundreds of hours lightsabering your way through the galaxy, but honestly, your character is basically a space hobo if you haven’t invested in Star Wars The Old Republic strongholds. It sounds harsh, but it’s true. Most players treat housing as a vanity project—a place to dump trophies and pretend they have a life outside of grinding flashpoints. But they’re missing the point. If you aren’t using your stronghold as a strategic hub, you’re playing at a disadvantage. It's not just about the rugs. It is about efficiency.
The game changed forever back in 2014 with the "Galactic Strongholds" expansion. Before that, you were stuck on your ship. Ships are cramped. They’re nostalgic, sure, but you can’t exactly fit a full legacy bank, a mailbox, and a GTN terminal within three steps of each other on a Fury-class interceptor. Strongholds fixed that.
Why Star Wars The Old Republic Strongholds Actually Matter for Gameplay
Let’s talk about the Conquest bonus first, because that’s the real reason people care about these places. If you have fully unlocked strongholds, you get a massive boost to your Conquest points. We’re talking up to a 150% bonus if you have enough unique locations. This isn't just a number; it’s the difference between hitting your weekly goals in twenty minutes or struggling for three hours. If you’re in a guild, they probably expect you to have this maxed out. It’s the invisible engine behind modern SWTOR progression.
Then there’s the utility. Imagine this: you’re mid-quest on Oricon. Your inventory is full. You need to sell stuff, check your mail, and grab some medpacs from your legacy hold. You could fly to Fleet. Or, you could just hit the "travel to stronghold" button. Instant teleport. No loading screens for the spaceport. No running through the sprawl of the Republic or Imperial fleet. You do your business and then hit "Exit to Previous Location." You are right back where you started. It’s a literal game-changer for solo players.
Picking Your First Base of Operations
Coruscant and Dromund Kaas are the "starter" homes. They’re cheap. Like, 5,000 credits cheap. If you can't afford that, you might want to stop buying expensive dyes on the GTN for a second. The Coruscant apartment feels very Attack of the Clones—high-rise, rainy, slightly depressing but prestigious. The Dromund Kaas one is pure Sith aesthetic. It’s dark, there’s thunder, and it’s perfect for brooding.
But if you want to feel like a high roller, you go for Nar Shaddaa. The Sky Palace is arguably the most iconic Star Wars The Old Republic stronghold because it’s neutral. You can send your Jedi there. You can send your Bounty Hunter there. It’s the Vegas of the galaxy. The neon lights and the view of the vertical city make it feel alive in a way that the Tatooine homestead just doesn't. Speaking of Tatooine, that place is massive. It’s basically a small village. You get a hangar, several buildings, and a giant outdoor area. It’s cool, but decorating it is a nightmare unless you have thousands of credits to spend on sand-themed furniture.
The Complexity of Decorations and Hooks
The hook system is where most people get frustrated. Unlike Elder Scrolls Online where you can just toss a chair into a wall, SWTOR uses a grid. You have "Large Hooks," "Small Floor Hooks," and "Centerpiece Hooks." It feels restrictive at first. You’ll find yourself staring at a wall thinking, "Why can't I just put this painting two inches to the left?"
But there’s a trick to it. You can "edit" the hook layout. Most large squares can be broken down into nine small squares. This allows for much more granular control. Expert decorators spend hours fine-tuning the X and Y offsets of their furniture. You can make a chair look like it’s tucked under a desk rather than just floating near it. It’s a mini-game in itself.
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- Gather your utility decorations first: Mailbox, Legacy Bank, Cargo Hold, Guild Bank, and GTN terminal.
- Place these right at the entrance (the spawn point).
- Never look back.
Honestly, the best strongholds aren't the ones that look like a museum. They’re the ones where you don’t have to run more than five feet to get your work done.
The Cost of Living in a Galaxy Far, Far Away
Pricing is weird. It’s not just the purchase price; it’s the unlock cost for each room. A stronghold like Manaan or Yavin 4 will bleed you dry. We’re talking millions of credits or thousands of Cartel Coins just to see the whole map.
Is it worth it?
Manaan is peaceful. You get that "underwater research facility" vibe. It’s quiet. If you’re the type of player who likes to roleplay a scientist or a hermit, it’s the best spot. But if you want something that feels like a fortress, Yavin 4 is the winner. It has ancient massassi temples and overgrown jungles. It feels like a place where a Sith Lord would hide an ancient artifact.
Then there’s the Alderaan stronghold. This one is a literal castle. It’s gorgeous. It has a throne room. It has a balcony overlooking a snowy valley. It also costs a fortune. If you’re a new player, do not buy this first. You will run out of money and end up with a giant, empty castle that feels like a haunted house. Start small. Build your collection.
Hidden Benefits You Might Not Know About
Decorations drop from everywhere. You don't have to buy everything from the Cartel Market.
- Flashpoints and Ops: Bosses drop unique trophies. Killing Malgus? You might get a statue of him.
- Reputation Vendors: Doing dailies on places like Section X or Voss unlocks specific furniture.
- Crafting: Trainers can teach you how to make "Industrial" or "Synthetic" prefabs. You trade these to droids on the Fleet for actual furniture.
- Achievements: Sometimes just finishing a story arc gives you a framed painting of the finale.
This makes Star Wars The Old Republic strongholds a visual resume of your career. When someone visits your base, they can see exactly which bosses you've killed and which factions you’ve befriended. It’s a flex.
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The Fleet vs. Stronghold Debate
People still hang out on the Fleet. Why? Because of the chat. "General Chat" on the Fleet is a chaotic mess of political arguments and LFG posts. You don't get that in your stronghold. It’s lonely. However, if you are trying to craft or manage your inventory, the Fleet is the worst place to be. The lag is real. Your stronghold is a private instance. It’s smooth. It’s fast.
I usually keep my stronghold open to the public. You can list your home on the "Public Directory" so other players can tour it. If you’re a master decorator, this is how you get "Prestige" points. Higher prestige puts you higher on the public list. It’s a niche community, but the people who are into it are really into it. They host parties. They hold fashion shows. They turn their Tatooine bases into fight clubs.
Managing Your Legacy
The beauty of the system is that it's Legacy-wide. If your Jedi Knight buys the Coruscant apartment, your Smuggler can use it too. You don't have to buy it twice. This makes strongholds the ultimate bridge between your characters. You can leave gear in the Legacy bank for your alt to pick up. You can park all your characters in the same living room so they feel like a family.
The only catch? Faction-specific strongholds. If you buy the Dromund Kaas apartment, your Republic characters can technically visit, but they have to pay a "smuggling fee" every time they enter. It’s annoying. That’s why the neutral ones—Nar Shaddaa, Tatooine, Rishi—are generally better long-term investments.
Surprising Details About the Rishi Stronghold
The Rishi stronghold is basically a private cove. It’s for people who want to be pirates. But the coolest part? It has built-in PvP areas. You can actually set up a dueling ring or a Team Deathmatch arena right inside your house. You can change the rules, add traps, and invite your friends over to murder each other. No other stronghold offers that level of interactivity. It’s also one of the few places where you can park your actual starship as a decoration in the bay. Seeing your personal ship sitting on a landing pad makes the whole world feel much more grounded.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't buy a massive stronghold if you don't have the furniture to fill it. An empty Yavin 4 temple looks sad. It feels like an abandoned mall. Start with Coruscant or Dromund Kaas and try to make one room look perfect.
Also, don't ignore the "Mount" and "Pet" hooks. You can place your favorite speeders and pets around the stronghold. They even move a little bit. It adds life to the place. A garage full of sleek podracers looks way better than a room full of random chairs you bought from a vendor because they were cheap.
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Moving Forward With Your Galactic Estate
If you’re ready to dive into the housing market, start with the basics. Don't worry about the 100% completion right away.
First step: Go to the "Stronghold Directory" on the Fleet. It’s in the Strongholds & Crew Skills section. Buy the Dromund Kaas or Coruscant deed. It’s practically free.
Second step: Complete the "Introduction to Strongholds" quest. It gives you a basic set of furniture—chairs, tables, a bed—for free. It’s enough to make the place look lived-in.
Third step: Get your utility droids. Buy the Legacy Bank and the GTN terminal. Place them near the entrance. This turns your house from a cosmetic project into a functional tool.
Once you have the utility sorted, you can start worrying about the aesthetics. Check the Galactic Trade Market for "Decorations." Sort by price. You’d be surprised how many cool lights and plants you can get for under 50,000 credits. The "Underworld Exchange" vendors also have some great stuff if you have the reputation.
Stop living out of your ship. It’s time to actually own a piece of the galaxy. Whether it's a rainy apartment on Coruscant or a sprawling palace on Alderaan, having a base changes how you interact with the game. It makes the world feel bigger, more permanent, and a lot more like home. Get your Conquest bonus up, organize your loot, and maybe, finally, find a place to put all those trophies you’ve been hoarding since 2012.