All Star Wars Jedi Survivor abilities, powers and upgrades

Star Wars
(Image credit: Respawn)

All the Star Wars Jedi Survivor abilities, Force powers, and upgrades are worth getting, as with Cal going up against the Empire, rogue Sith, bounty hunters, monster aliens, droids, bandits and more besides, you'll need every single advantage you can get along your journey. 

Being a metroidvania game of sorts though, Star Wars Jedi Survivor isn't just about unlocking powers and abilities for combat, but gaining new ways to explore and access new areas, opening up the maps so you can get more rewards when you return to an area. If you want to know what upgrades and abilities you're missing in Jedi Survivor and how to get them, we've got them all laid out below.

This is a relatively concise list of every upgrade and when you get it, but if you're after a more thorough guide through the game's whole story, this Star Wars Jedi Survivor walkthrough will help you out. 

Star Wars Jedi Survivor ascension cable

Star Wars Jedi Survivor Ascension Cable

(Image credit: EA)

You'll get the ascension cable early on in Jedi Survivor. It's a grapple hook that pulls you up to special points highlighted with a circle, using L2/LT. It's an essential tool for getting around that you'll be using it a lot, hence getting it so soon. Later you'll get an upgraded ascension cable, which can attach to balloons - more on that below!

Star Wars Jedi Survivor Confuse Force ability

Star Wars Jedi Survivor Confuse Force ability

(Image credit: EA)

The Jedi Survivor Confuse Force ability is another early power to get in the first hour or so. Once you have it you can use R1 + Circle/RB + B to confuse a highlighted enemy into fighting for you briefly. It's a really useful skill that can easily tip fights in your favor. It also comes with a skill tree that will let you upgrade how long the effect lasts, the damage affected enemies do, and how many you can control at once. 

Star Wars Jedi Survivor Gliding

Star Wars Jedi Survivor Gliding

(Image credit: EA)

Gliding is technically unlocked as an additional branch to the Confuse ability while on a mission to reach the Forest Array. When you clear the first section with the energy beams you'll move through a some cracks in the rock and reach an area called The Bilemaw Den. You'll find a glowing Force upgrade here called Major Fauna, that will let you Confuse animals.

You'll test it almost immediately on a Bilemaw you'll find after getting it. Continue on and you'll eventually trigger a flashback where Cere will teach you that fighting isn't the only option, and you'll be able to tame a nearby bat like relter. You'll then be able to glide using any relter you find, usually on ledges and high points overlooking areas.

Star Wars Jedi Survivor ridable Nekko mounts

Star Wars Jedi Survivor ridable Nekko mounts

(Image credit: EA)

At the end of the same Forest Array mission where you learn to tame animals you'll slide down a cable into an area you can't get out of. Cal will say something about how you can't get up a watery slope without help, and you'll find a cave nearby with a bird-like Nekko you can now tame and ride using the Major Fauna Confusion upgrade. From now on, if you're in an area where you can ride, you can just tap R1/RB to call any nearby mount. 

Star Wars Jedi Survivor lightsaber blaster stance

Star Wars Jedi Survivor lightsaber blaster stance

(Image credit: EA)

Blaster Stance is the first of the new Star Wars Jedi Survivor lightsaber stances you can unlock. You'll get it when you finish your first Jedha mission and have to make the Star Wars Jedi Survivor Shattered Moon or Kobo choice - wherever you decide to go you'll get a blaster as you leave, unlocking this new, ranged fighting style. 

Star Wars Jedi Survivor Koboh matter sprayer

Star Wars Jedi Survivor Koboh matter sprayer

(Image credit: EA)

If you decide to go to Koboh first when you have the choice, you'll unlock the Koboh matter sprayer - or Koboh Grinder - for BD-1. This lets you clear crystal growths blocking the way by spraying a line of matter from energy beams to the blockage, burning it away. During the mission to Research Tanalorr on Koboh you'll be redirecting energy beams to access a series of chambers and clear the Koboh matter blocking your way, while using heat vents to glide around. Halfway through you'll unlock the Koboh matter sprayer to solve a puzzle, after which it's yours to keep.

Star Wars Jedi Survivor Crossguard lightsaber stance

Star Wars Jedi Survivor Crossguard lightsaber stance

(Image credit: EA)

When you do the Research Tanalorr on the Shattered Moon mission you'll unlock the Crossguard lightsaber stance by defeating a boss called Drya Thornne. The Crossguard stance is a slow, heavy lightsaber that focuses on high damage and defence. It's exactly the sort of thing you need when trying to beat something big like the Star Wars Jedi Survivor Rancor. 

Star Wars Jedi Survivor dash jump

Star Wars Jedi Survivor dash jump

(Image credit: EA)

When you return to Jedha and undertake a mission to Reach Pilgrim's Sanctuary you will eventually reach a chamber where the winds stop you jumping. This will trigger another flashback with Cere that will unlock a dash, letting you dart forward while jumping with a tap of Circle/B.

Star Wars Jedi Survivor Green barrier charm

Star Wars Jedi Survivor Green laser barrier charm

(Image credit: EA)

You'll see Star Wars Jedi Survivor green laser barriers blocking your way everywhere. You'll receive the ability to pass through them on Jedha during the objective to Locate Brother Armias. That will start a big set piece mission that will ultimately get you a charm that will let you pass through the gates. 

Star Wars Jedi Survivor Electro Dart

Star Wars Jedi Survivor Electro Dart

(Image credit: EA)

The Star Wars Jedi Survivor Electro Dart lets you open door and boxes by shooting the blue sparking cylinders linked to them. To get it you'll need to start the mission Search for the Compass on Koboh. However, when you return to Koboh to do that you'll be waylaid by another mission, Rescue Zee from the Lucrehulk. This will take you to the Fogged Expanse area where you'll find s a crashed Imperial shuttle with the Electro Dart in the wreckage. 

Star Wars Jedi Survivor Lift and Slam Force ability

Star Wars Jedi Survivor Lift and Slam Force ability

(Image credit: EA)

During the mission Rescue Zee from the Lucrehulk, you'll be pinned down by shielded turrets. This will trigger a Cere flashback where you'll learn the Lift and Slam Force abilities. This lets you raise things up using R1 + Triangle/RB + Y, or smash them down with R1+ X/RB + A. It'll let you access new areas by opening doors, moving objects, and rearranging panels to climb and wall run on. Force Lift is crucial to both the Star Wars Jedi Survivor droid puzzle and Jedi Survivor Abandoned Shack rumor.

Star Wars Jedi Survivor upgraded ascension cable

Star Wars Jedi Survivor upgraded ascension cable

(Image credit: EA)

The upgraded ascension cable is unlocked on the mission to Locate Rayvis on the Shattered Moon. When you have the objective to Pursue Rayvis in the Republic Research Laboratory area you'll eventually get the upgraded ascension cable which will let you attach to, and leap from, special perches, mostly the balloons you'll have seen scattered around. 

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Leon Hurley
Managing editor for guides

I'm GamesRadar's Managing Editor for guides, which means I run GamesRadar's guides and tips content. I also write reviews, previews and features, largely about horror, action adventure, FPS and open world games. I previously worked on Kotaku, and the Official PlayStation Magazine and website.