This is a collective guide to the R-4 Anomaly Operation in SWTOR. It’s designed to give you a general overview of the operation, show you how to enter inside and start it, what missions you can pick up and complete, the bosses you have to defeat and puzzles to solve, and the loot and rewards for running the operation.
You will find links to in-depth guides for each boss encounter linked in the appropriate boss sections below for both Story Mode and Veteran Mode.
R-4 Anomaly Location and Quests
The R-4 Anomaly operation is tied to the overall story of SWTOR, but it is not a part of the so-called critical path (main story) of the game.
Requirements to access R-4 Anomaly
Since R-4 Anomaly is an operation, so you must be level 80 and an active subscriber. Story Mode (SM) features lockouts that reset daily such that you can only beat each boss once per toon per day while Veteran Mode (VM, HM) features lockouts that reset weekly.
To complete the operation, you will need 8 players. R-4 Anomaly is only available in 8m, not 16m. I recommend the following composition for SM, particularly with PUGs:
- 1 tank
- 5 DPS
- 2 healers
All bosses are solo-tankable in SM, though you’ll need DPS with taunt (DWT) for the final boss, Lady Dominique because she has an actual tank swap mechanic. She also has a major burn phase DPS check that you’ll definitely want to bring 5 DPS for.
SM has quite a few mechanics, and you won’t take too much damage if you do everything correctly, but failing them will typically result in a lot more damage going out, so I strongly recommend bringing 2 healers for every fight.
Voice comms are helpful, but not required if everybody knows the mechanics. It is possible to clear the operation if everyone knows what they’re doing without getting in voice.
Where is the entrance to R-4 Anomaly
The entrance to the R-4 Anomaly Operation is located at the end of a pier at Slugfall Harbor near Slugfall Cantina on Mek-Sha.
Is there a story mission for R-4 Anomaly
Yes! There is a story “wrapper” mission for R-4 Anomaly, though accessing it requires you to complete Evolving Opportunities / The Height of Corporate Responsibility, the story mission for the Dxun operation.
For some reason, BioWare opted to make the story mission for R-4 Anomaly an Alliance Alert (in your Companions & Contacts tab). It’s called “Secrets Unmasked”.
All you have to do is click Travel to Alert Location and the mission will start.
Is there a weekly mission for R-4 Anomaly
Unlike all other operations, there is no weekly mission for R-4 Anomaly. It’s possible this was an oversight on BioWare’s part, but given that weeklies have been such an integral part of gearing in 7.0 while R-4 Anomaly has its own dedicated gearing tracks, it’s also possible that BioWare deliberately didn’t make one.
R-4 Anomaly Boss Guides
The R-4 Anomaly Operation features 4 bosses: a security checkpoint room, a canine security droid, a Sith Lord, and a Sith Lady.
IP-CPT (first boss)
After doing a bit of light platforming across some pipes and taking out some security droids, you’ll arrive at the first boss in R-4 Anomaly: IP-CPT. Its name is short for Intake Processing Checkpoint. As the name suggests, you’re really in a secure holding area and IP-CPT is preventing you from gaining access to the rest of the facility.
Since the room is designed with security in mind, there are loads of features to help keep unwanted visitors out of the rest of the facility including tons of wall lasers, floor vents that shoot fire, automated turrets, and bomb droids.
Check out my guides on IP-CPT here:
Story Mode IP-CPT GuideWatchdog (second boss)
The second boss is Watchdog, an advanced security droid that’s equipped with an array of powerful weaponry and offensive protocols. Most of the Watchdog’s arsenal interacts with its powerful blue and orange PMX4 Polarized Proximity Bombs.
This fight builds on core mechanics from Master and Blaster in The Ravagers as well as Aivela and Esne in Gods of the Machine.
Nihrot Hallway
Lord Kanoth and Lady Dominique are protected by a hallway filled with deadly red creeping vines called Nihrot and a seemingly endless supply of cybernetic warriors called the Grey Swarm.
This hallway isn’t a boss fight and it’s possible to brute force through it, but without any strategy or coordination, you’ll die a lot more times than you need to.
Check out my guide on traversing the Nihrot hallway in the R-4 Anomaly Operation:
Lord Kanoth (third boss)
The Nihrot hallway was the last line of defense for Lord Kanoth, but as long as he lives, hardened Nihrot will block access to Lady Dominique. Lord Kanoth joined Lady Dominique because he is trying to follow in Darth Nihilus’ footsteps and believes that exposure to the Mass Shadow Generator will lead to some sort of transcendence.
Lord Kanoth will demonstrate his mastery of Sith alchemy by attempting to fill the room with his greatest creation, Nihrot. You’ll need to utilize fire grenades to slow the growth long enough to defeat this formidable Sith in a tile-based encounter that’s a bit reminiscent of Dread Master Tyrans from Dread Palace.
Lady Dominique (fourth and final boss)
After you’ve finally made it through all of Lady Dominique’s defenses, you’ll find that she’s unified herself with the Mass Shadow Generator from KOTOR 2 in an attempt to gain notoriety, and, apparently, research funding. (Check out her Codex entry)
To defeat her, you’ll need to shut down the power generators that sustain the Mass Shadow Generator while fending off Lady Dominique’s own devastating attacks and more legions of the Grey Swarm.
R-4 Anomaly Loot and Gearing
This segment is an overview of the items you can loot and earn from venturing through and completing the operation in Story Mode and Veteran Mode.
You can find more related information in the SWTOR 7.1 Endgame Gearing Guide.
Story Mode
In addition to Tech Fragments like bosses in other operations, each boss drops a generic Story Mode R-4 Token for each player in the group. The SM R-4 Tokens can be exchanged at a vendor in the Supplies section on the Fleet for the following:
- A Hazardous 328 blue piece of armor
- A Hazardous 330 blue piece of armor in conjunction with the 328 piece
- A single piece of a dyeable, moddable armor set unique to SM R4
- Upgrading Hazardous 332+ blue pieces of armor obtained with generic Veteran Mode R-4 Tokens
Veteran Mode
Veteran Mode of R-4 anomaly is the only way to obtain gear that has a higher iRating than 330. In addition to more Tech Fragments, each boss in VM drops a generic R4 Gear Token: Veteran for each player and 2 boss-specific R4 Gear Tokens for the whole group.
Generic Veteran R4 Tokens can be exchanged for any piece of Hazardous blue 332 gear or used in conjunction with the correct piece of armor to upgrade hazardous gear up to hazardous 340 blue. It can also be exchanged for a piece of dyeable, moddable armor from 1 of 2 sets that each come in 4 color variations:
Boss-specific R4 Gear Tokens can be exchanged for 1 of 3 specific pieces of Virulent 340 purple gear:
VM R-4 Loot Table
Boss 1: IP-CPT
- Helmet
- Belt
- Relic
Boss 2: Watchdog
- Legs
- Bracers
- Relic
Boss 3: Lord Kanoth
- Chest
- Offhand
- Earpiece
Boss 4: Lady Dominique
- Boots
- Gloves
- Mainhand
Check out my guide on 7.1 gearing for more information.
Wings of Nihrot
In addition, Lord Kanoth in VM also has a small chance to drop a NiM-style mount called the Wings of Nihrot:
Again, this mount has a rare chance to drop exclusively off of Lord Kanoth in Veteran Mode.
