You finally make it to Koboh’s Stone Spires. After hours of hacking through battle droids and navigating the dusty trails of Rambler’s Reach, the scale of the Jedi Survivor Devastated Settlement usually hits like a freight train. It’s massive. It’s vertical. Honestly, it’s one of the most frustratingly brilliant pieces of level design Respawn Entertainment ever put together.
But it’s also where a lot of players get stuck.
This isn't just about swinging a lightsaber. The Devastated Settlement is a complex environmental puzzle that demands you master the Orb Coupler mechanics and the Koboh Grinder while dodging relentless Bedlam Raiders. If you've been wandering around the thermal vents feeling like you're missing something obvious, you aren't alone. Most people do.
The High Republic architecture here isn't just for show; it's a giant machine. To get through it, you have to stop thinking like a platformer and start thinking like an engineer.
Cracking the Code of the Devastated Settlement
The whole area revolves around thermal vents and the Orb Couplers. You see those purple beams of light? Those are your lifeline. Without them, your Nekko won't get you high enough, and your glider—the Relter—will just drop you into the abyss.
The first major hurdle is the central steam vent. You can't just fly across. You have to "clean" the vents first. This involves finding the orbs hidden within the crumbling ruins and slotting them into the massive gold pedestals. Each time you successfully align a beam to hit a specific patch of "Koboh Matter" (that crystalline black gunk blocking the airflow), the thermal vent gets stronger.
It’s a tiered process.
- Find the first orb inside the lower room.
- Use the Koboh Grinder (the BD-1 upgrade you likely just got) to spray a trail of matter from the beam to the blockage.
- Watch the vent ignite.
- Use the Relter to reach the next height.
People often forget that the Koboh Grinder isn't just for clearing paths on the ground. You have to be precise. If the trail breaks, the fire doesn't spread. It's finicky. It’s annoying. But once you get that second vent active, the entire map opens up.
The Tanalorr Obsession and the High Republic Lore
Why is this place even here? If you're paying attention to the Force Echoes scattered around the cliffs, the Jedi Survivor Devastated Settlement tells a pretty grim story. This was once a thriving High Republic research hub. Santari Khri and Dagan Gera weren't just tourists; they were trying to harness the unique energy of the abyss to reach Tanalorr.
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The "devastation" in the name isn't hyperbole.
When the Nihil attacked—those are the marauders from the High Republic books—the settlement was scorched. You can see the remnants of that panic in the databank entries. The Jedi were forced to abandon their research, leaving behind the very technology Cal Kestis now uses to bypass the Bedlam Raiders.
Speaking of the Raiders, they’ve basically turned this graveyard into a fortress. You’ll run into a lot of BX-series commando droids here. They’re fast. They’re mean. And on Grandmaster difficulty, they will absolutely end your run if you don't use Force Confusion to make them fight each other.
Mastery of the Koboh Grinder
Let’s talk about the BD-1 Koboh Grinder for a second. It’s the most misunderstood tool in Cal’s kit. Most players treat it like a simple "key" to open "doors."
It’s actually a physics-based puzzle tool.
In the Devastated Settlement, you’ll encounter a puzzle where the beam is on one side of a room and the blockage is on the other, but there’s a moving door in between. You have to spray the matter onto the moving surface, timing it so the beam ignites the trail while the door is in motion. It’s clever. It’s also the reason many players end up looking for a guide.
The trick is to start the spray on the beam's impact point and drag it quickly toward the target. Don't let go of the trigger. If you stop for even a millisecond, the chain reaction dies.
Finding the Hidden Treasures
If you're just following the main quest line, you’re missing about 40% of what this zone offers. There are some serious upgrades tucked away in the nooks and crannies of these cliffs.
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- The Caij Vanda Bounty: Eventually, you’ll find a bounty hunter lurking near the meditation point. This kicks off a massive side quest chain that’s essential if you want the best blaster upgrades.
- Health Essence: High up on a ledge that requires all three thermal vents to be active, there’s a permanent health boost.
- Symmetry Shards: There are dozens of Priorite Shards hidden in the pots scattered around the settlement. Don't ignore the breakables. Doma’s shop back at the outpost has some of the best cosmetics (and a High Republic outfit) that you can only get by being a completionist here.
Most players struggle with the final ascent toward the Grand Courtyard. There's a specific Relter flight that requires you to spiral upward through the vents you just unlocked. If you miss a vent, you won't have the lift to reach the top platform. It’s a literal test of the work you just did.
The Boss Fight: Rayvis’s Lieutenant
Before you leave the settlement, you're going to face some heavy resistance. It’s not just the environment trying to kill you. The Bedlam Raiders have stationed a powerful lieutenant here—a Bedlam Smasher.
These guys are a nightmare. They have massive hammers, huge reach, and unblockable attacks that come out faster than you’d expect for someone that size.
The mistake most people make is trying to parry the hammer. Don't. You’re better off using the Blaster stance if you have it unlocked, or the Dual Wield stance for the quick cancels. The arena is small, and the edges are unforgiving. One wrong dodge and you’re falling off the cliff, which resets the fight.
Focus on his posture. Use Force Push to interrupt his heavy swings. It’s a dance. If you rush it, you lose.
Navigating the Three Pillars
The "Three Pillars" section of the Jedi Survivor Devastated Settlement is the peak of the zone’s complexity. You have to align three different beams from three different towers to hit a central collector.
This is where the game stops holding your hand.
You’ll have to jump between the towers using the Relter, fighting groups of droids at each stop. The third pillar is particularly tricky because it’s guarded by a group of Shiverpedes and a Raider Veteran.
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Pro tip: Use the environment. There are exploding canisters near the droids on the second pillar. A well-timed Force Pull and Throw will clear the platform before you even land.
Why the Design Works
Despite the frustration, the Devastated Settlement is a masterclass in "Metroidvania" design. It teaches you a mechanic—the Grinder—and then progressively asks you to use it in more demanding ways.
It forces you to look at the world three-dimensionally.
In the early game, you’re mostly looking at what’s in front of you. Here, you’re looking up, down, and across canyons. It’s the moment Cal stops being a Padawan on the run and starts feeling like a Jedi Master navigating the impossible.
The sense of scale is genuine. When you finally stand at the highest point and look back down at the trail you’ve blazed, the settlement doesn't look like a series of puzzles anymore. It looks like a conquered mountain.
Moving Forward From the Settlement
Once you’ve cleared the blockages and reached the Grand Courtyard, you’ll trigger a major story beat involving Dagan Gera. The game shifts gears after this. You’ll have more mobility, but the puzzles will only get harder from here on out.
To make sure you don't have to come back and backtrack a dozen times, do these three things before you leave:
- Check the map for green doors: Now that you’ve unlocked the vents, some previously unreachable ledges are open. Check your holomap for any green "available" paths.
- Collect the Perk: There is a specific Perk (Precision) located in one of the side caves here that increases your stamina recovery on successful parries. It's a game-changer for the upcoming boss fights.
- Scan everything: The lore here provides context for the final act of the game. If you care about why Tanalorr is so important, read the databanks in the research labs.
The Devastated Settlement is a grind, literally and figuratively. But it’s the heart of Koboh’s mystery. Take your time, watch your footing, and keep that Grinder moving. You'll need those skills for the trials ahead.
Next Steps for Mastery:
- Audit your Perk slots: The Devastated Settlement is a great place to test new builds. If you're struggling with the droids, equip perks that increase Force recovery.
- Practice the Koboh Grinder "arc": Before leaving, make sure you're comfortable creating long, curved trails of matter. You'll need this skill for the late-game puzzles on the Moon.
- Farm the Priorite: Use the high vantage points to spot the glitter of Priorite Shards you might have missed on the lower levels.
By the time you fly out of the settlement, you should have a much better handle on Cal's expanded toolkit. The path to Tanalorr isn't getting any easier, but you've just cleared one of its biggest hurdles.