TL;DR
- 80% of companions received gift preference adjustments with new love categories added
- Cartel Market reputation vendors now offer complete item sets and crystal restrictions removed
- Critical combat ability fixes for Guardians, Sentinels, and Assassins implemented
- Treek armor sets removed since companions no longer wear equipment
- Level 60 token creation issues and utility point commitment bugs resolved
SWTOR’s latest update, Patch 4.0.2, has been live for several days now, bringing significant quality-of-life improvements and bug fixes. This comprehensive analysis breaks down the most impactful changes that affect companion relationships, Cartel Market accessibility, and class combat performance. Understanding these adjustments will help you optimize your gameplay experience and avoid common pitfalls when adapting to the new systems.
First, Patch 4.0.2 introduces sweeping changes to companion gift preferences, affecting approximately 80% of available companions. The most significant improvement ensures every companion now has at least one gift category they absolutely love, providing maximum influence gains. Classic companions have been updated to accept artwork-type gifts, expanding gifting options. However, some companions experienced minor adjustments where previous favorite gifts were downgraded from love to favorite status, requiring players to reassess their gifting strategies.
When optimizing companion influence, focus on identifying the new love categories first, as these provide the most efficient influence gain per credit spent. Many experienced players who regularly acquire SWTOR Gold have already updated their companion influence guides with revised values. A common mistake is assuming old gift preferences still apply – always verify current preferences before purchasing bulk gifts. Advanced players should prioritize companions with multiple love categories for maximum efficiency in influence farming.
Second, The Cartel Market receives crucial adjustments in Patch 4.0.2. The Republic Cartel Contraband Reputation vendor now offers its complete intended inventory, resolving previous availability issues. Treek’s distinctive armor set is no longer awarded upon completing her acquisition mission, aligning with the game-wide change that companions no longer utilize armor equipment. This change prevents inventory clutter but may disappoint collectors – consider this when planning your Battlefield 6 style collection strategies.
A critical bug fix addresses an issue where players would accidentally create Level 1 characters after using Start at 60 Tokens, preventing frustrating character creation errors. Several Cartel Market reputation items have been updated to bind on pickup as originally intended, affecting trading and market dynamics. The following color crystals no longer require artifact permission, making them accessible to more players:
Advanced Lime-Green Eviscerating Crystal
Advanced Pink-Purple Eviscerating Crystal
Advanced Lime-Green Indestructible Crystal
Advanced Pink-Purple Indestructible Crystal
Advanced Pink-Purple War Hero’s Crystal
These crystal changes significantly impact early-game progression, similar to how weapon unlocks function in our BF6 Weapons Unlock guide. Expect increased availability and potentially lower prices on the GTN as these become more accessible to the general player base.
Third, Patch 4.0.2 delivers essential combat fixes for multiple classes. A general issue preventing players from committing Utility points in the Discipline window has been resolved, ensuring proper character progression. Guardian and Vigilance specialists benefit from corrected Burning effects that now properly spread to all targets damaged by Force Sweep or Vigilant Thrust when the initial target is defeated, enhancing area-of-effect capabilities.
Sentinel and Watchman disciplines receive similar corrections with Burning Sweep: Cauterize and Force Melt burn effects now appropriately spreading via Force Sweep under the same conditions. This fix brings their area damage in line with other advanced combat systems, much like the balanced approach we recommend in our BF6 Class Selection Guide. Deception Assassins gain quality-of-life improvements with Circling Shadows duration now matching Induction duration, streamlining rotation timing.
For optimal performance, practice the updated ability interactions in controlled environments before attempting challenging content. These fixes typically require 15-30 minutes of adjustment time for experienced players, but may take longer for those unfamiliar with the affected classes. Monitor your damage output carefully to ensure you’re maximizing the corrected mechanics.
Action Checklist
- Verify all companion gift preferences and update your influence guides accordingly
- Check Republic Cartel Contraband vendor for newly available items
- Test updated class abilities in training areas to adapt to corrected mechanics
- Review your Utility point allocations in the Discipline window
- Acquire newly accessible color crystals without artifact permission requirements
No reproduction without permission:GameCDjnh » Guide to Patch 4.0.2 Updates in SWTOR Complete guide to SWTOR Patch 4.0.2 changes covering companion gifts, Cartel Market updates, and class combat fixes
