SWTOR 7.7 Scoundrel Best Solo Builds

This guide explains the best builds for Scoundrel DPS disciplines that are optimized to perform extremely well in solo content.

The builds enable you to have a far more enjoyable experience fighting trash mobs than you would with a sustained DPS build since you’ll be utilizing effects designed specifically for use against trash mobs!

Why solo builds are worth using in SWTOR

For almost the entirety of SWTOR’s history, fighting trash wasn’t fun because the combat system didn’t support it. Trash mob encounters rarely last more than a few seconds while boss fights and PvP typically last at least a few minutes, requiring you to make use of far more abilities!

In solo content, you’re mostly fighting trash mobs that have so little health that the majority of enemies won’t be able to survive for more than 2-3 abilities and you often can’t even get through a whole rotation before that combat encounter is over.

Stronger single enemies like elites (golds) where you would be able to stretch your rotational legs are rare enough that you can trivialize them with proper use of offensive cooldowns (OCDs) so even they don’t always survive a full rotation cycle.

I believe this disconnect was responsible for making skipping trash via stealth and cheese such a popular approach to playing PvE in SWTOR. BioWare clearly understood this and (mostly) solved it by introducing extremely powerful new ability tree buffs and legendary implants that synergize with existing tactical items.

These ridiculously potent effects form the basis of the solo builds and are able to exist without causing (too many) balance issues in group content because they are short-lived and only reliably trigger off of combat events that are fairly unique to and common when fighting trash mobs.

Ruffian Scoundrel Solo Build

In this section, I’ll be covering the ability tree build and solo ability priority for Ruffian Scoundrel. Please refer to the 7.0 Ruffian Scoundrel PvE Guide if you want more detailed information, especially on topics pertaining to gearing, abilities, and ability tree choices.

Ruffian Solo Content Ability Tree Build

Build Essentials:
Penetrating Strategies
Critical Bomb
Leveraged Offense
Med Screen
Viral Elements Tactical
Tactician Implant
Locked and Loaded Implant

This build is optimized for the best damage and survivability in a solo content setting. Your objective is to apply Shrap Bomb and spread Vital Shot and Sanguinary Shot with Bushwhack, and then follow it up with a Point Blank Shot. In order to spread Sanguinary Shot and deal damage to multiple targets with Point Blank Shot, you need the Viral Elements tactical.

How to use this build

This is the general rotation you’ll be using your abilities in against each group of trash in order to maximize your damage output. There are 2 components to taking out a group of trash with Ruffian, an AoE component and a single-target priority component.

AoE Component

This first component is centered around AoE and spreading your bleeds. It is enough to wipe out all standard and weak enemies. If the group of trash has a beefier enemy like a Strong or Elite (silver or gold), you will need to finish them off with some Single-Target fillers.

1. Trick Move (optional gap closer)
2. Shrap Bomb (DoT 2, 5m AoE, apply to centermost target)
3. Vital Shot (DoT 1, will be spread by Bushwhack)
4. Sanguinary Shot (DoT boost, will be spread by Bushwhack, grants 1 UH)
5. Bushwhack (DoT spread, AoE attack and stun, costs 1 UH)
6. Point Blank Shot (big hit and DoT boost, will be AoE w/ Bushwhack)
7. Single-Target Fillers

Your first objective is to apply the main DoTs, Shrap Bomb and Vital Shot. Shrap Bomb is a 5m AoE, so you want to apply that first to the target that will enable you to hit the most enemies. Then you apply Vital Shot and Sanguinary Shot which will be spread by Bushwhack.

Sanguinary Shot doesn’t really do anything on its own, but will deal damage whenever your bleeds tick and can be spread by Bushwhack thanks to the Viral Elements tactical. Bushwhack hits hard on its own and stuns Standard and Weak enemies, but costs a UH. You will be able to afford this cost because Sanguinary Shot grants a UH.

Most standard and weak enemies will have been defeated by this point, but you can finish everything off with Point Blank Shot, which will deal damage to all nearby enemies that are standing in your Bushwhack.

After that, the only enemies left standing should be Strong and Elite enemies, which you’ll be able to finish off with single-target fillers.

Single-Target Priority Component

This is the single-target priority you’ll be executing against stronger enemies. It should only be necessary to do this in heroics or against bosses.

1. Sanguinary Shot (if not applied)
2. Point Blank Shot
3. Brutal Shots (only if at 2 UH)
4. Blaster Whip (generates 1 UH, only if at less than 2 UHs)
5. Brutal Shots

For the most part, you’ll be using Brutal Shots as much as you can. You use Blaster Whip to generate UHs, but you’ll also get one each time you defeat an enemy. The cooldown on Sanguinary Shot will also get reset if the target is defeated with it applied, so you can reapply it to the stronger enemy as soon as it falls off.

You may defeat your target before Point Blank Shot comes off cooldown, but you should use it if it’s available.

Scrapper Scoundrel Solo Build

In this section, I’ll be covering the ability tree build and solo ability priority for Scrapper Scoundrel. Please refer to the 7.0 Scrapper Scoundrel PvE Guide if you want more detailed information, especially on topics pertaining to gearing, abilities, and ability tree choices.

Scrapper Scoundrel Ability Tree Build

Build Essentials:
Rolling Fists
Setup Shot
Med Screen
K.O.
Explosive Cells Tactical
Tactician Implant
Second Wind Implant

This build is optimized for the best damage and survivability in a solo content setting. Advanced Stealth theoretically will offer more damage per trash pull than Upper Critical, but if you get hit by a Force or Tech attack (non-weapon damage), you will lose the buff before you get a chance to use it.

Since Hot and Ready makes it so your Back Blast is treated as though it was from Stealth, K.O. will trigger with each Back Blast against a target with Hot and Ready.

Explosive Cells makes Blood Boiler an AoE, including it applying Hot and Ready to the targets it damages, so you can knock multiple people over with Back Blasts that deal boosted damage.

You can take Dirty Kick if you need to get behind the target to Back Blast something, but it’s not super necessary since Bushwhack stuns Standard and Weak enemies for 6s. If you’re having trouble with surviving, take Flash Grenade instead of Trick Move at level 68.

How to use this build

This is the general rotation you’ll be using your abilities in against each group of trash in order to maximize your damage output. There are 2 components to taking out a group of trash with Scrapper, an AoE burst component and a single-target priority component.

AoE Burst Opener Component

This first component is centered around getting off your big hits, and detonating Blood Boiler on the whole group. It is enough to wipe out all standard and weak enemies. If the group of trash has a beefier enemy like a Strong or Elite (silver or gold), you will need to finish them off with some single-target fillers.

1. Stealth
2. Pugnacity (if available)
3. Back Blast (from Stealth)
4. Bludgeon or Thermal Grenade (only with Advanced Stealth)
5. Blood Boiler (against centermost target)
6. Shank Shot (against same target for autocrit)
7. Bushwhack (AoE attack and stun, detonates Blood Boiler, costs 1 UH)
8. Single-Target Filler Priority

You use Back Blast from Stealth to grant a UH, do a lot of damage, and apply the Advanced Stealth buff. Advanced Stealth enables your next non-DoT attack to autocrit, but you lose it if you take non-weapon damage. The autocrit is really nice, but you can’t make it work for every group of trash. You can use Bludgeon for a strong single-target hit or Thermal Grenade for a strong AoE.

If Advanced Stealth gets removed, it will typically disappear from your bar immediately, so you can just skip that step if you lose it. Your next step is to apply and detonate Blood Boiler. You can make it autocrit by causing it to detonate on a target with Shank Shot, but you can’t hit that target with another non-DoT attack until Blood Boiler goes off.

Remember that Blood Boiler only detonates when the target takes damage from a bleed effect after 3s have elapsed since application, so you’ll need to make sure that the target you apply Blood Boiler to gets hit by Vital Shot, Bushwhack, or Flechette Round after those 3s are up.

Sometimes, Bushwhack and Vital Shot apply their first tick too soon to detonate Blood Boiler, so you have to wait for the next tick. Your best option is to apply bleed and then switch to a different target to begin the Single-Target Filler Priority. Pick a target that you don’t think will get hit by Blood Boiler.

Single-Target Filler Priority Component

This is the single-target priority you’ll be executing against stronger enemies. It should only be necessary to do this in heroics or against bosses.

1. Back Blast (against targets with Hot and Ready)
2. Bushwhack
3. Bludgeon (if you have less than 2 UHs)
4. Sucker Punch (costs 1 UH, stuns standard and weak enemies)
5. Thermal Grenade (against multiple targets)
6. Vital Shot (only to stronger enemies)

Your objective is to just use the hardest-hitting attack you have available or enable other hard-hitting attacks to go off. Most of the time, you’ll be interlacing Bludgeons, Sucker Punches, and Back Blasts. Sucker Punch costs a UH, but deals slightly more damage than Bludgeon and stuns normal enemies.

Remember, only use Back Blast against targets that are affected by Hot and Ready, they’ll be the ones that were hit by Blood Boiler. You’ll have a hard time hitting enemies that don’t have this debuff because you have to be behind them and enemies like to turn to face you.

Bushwhack and Blood Boiler may come off cooldown before the fight is over. Since their cooldowns are so long, only use them if multiple enemies still have a lot of HP left or you’ll have to wait for it to come off cooldown before engaging with the next group.

Major Cooldown Abilities for Scoundrels

These abilities offer some sort of temporary boost to your offense, defense, and/or mobility. They are referred to as cooldowns (CDs) because they usually only last a short time while having a long cooldown.

You may want to group each category together on your bar so you can recognize them more easily, though keep them separate from the attacks I listed above.

Offensive Cooldowns

Offensive cooldowns (OCDs) increase your damage dealt temporarily. Sometimes they’re more generic boosts to everything, other times they only apply to specific abilities. It’s important to make sure you’re being thoughtful about which abilities you use and try to use them as fast as possible while the boost is active to maximize their effectiveness. Use them against stronger enemies to defeat them faster.

Pugnacity (Scrapper Only)

Pugnacity grants a UH and increases your Alacrity by 10%. In Scrapper, Pugnacity increases your critical damage dealt by 15%, making it a fairly significant offensive cooldown for the discipline. Use it against enemies or groups of trash that have a ton of HP to take them down ASAP.

Defensive Cooldowns

Defensive cooldowns (DCDs) increase your survivability temporarily, making it less likely that you’ll be defeated. Use them whenever you’re taking more damage than you can handle.

 Defense Screen

Defense Screen just absorbs a small amount of damage. It’s nice to use to soften the blow if you know you’re about to take a big hit or can’t afford to take another. As an Scoundrel, you’ll heal for 5% of your maximum health when it collapses, which nearly doubles the amount of mitigation it offers. In Ruffian, you’ll also gain 15% DR for 6s once it collapses.

Dodge

Dodge makes you immune to weapon damage for the duration. The ability can have other effects if you take specific ability tree buffs, but for solo content, that’s all it does.

Pugnacity (Ruffian Only)

In Ruffian, Pugnacity gains the effect that makes you take 20% less damage and heal for 5% every 3s (25% total) while it’s active. This defensive boost overshadows the other minor effects, so you should save Pugnacity for use against strong enemies when you expect to take a lot of damage.

Crowd Control

These abilities have some sort of controlling effect on your opponent that often provide some sort of defensive benefit to you.

 Distraction

This ability can interrupt your target’s cast or channel and locks them out of activating that ability again for a short time. Typically the longer or more threatening-sounding the ability is, the more important it is to interrupt.

Dirty Kick

Dirty Kick stuns the target for a short time, preventing them from doing anything, allowing you to do anything without having to worry about them retaliating. Its cooldown is half as long as that of other hard stuns in the game.

Tranquilizer

Tranquilizer allows you to put a single non-droid enemy to sleep for 60s. It is only usable from stealth against targets that aren’t in combat and the enemy will wake up if it takes damage from anything other than Ruffian’s DoTs. It’s great to use on an enemy in a particularly tough group of trash to make the overall fight easier. Make sure to sleep one that’s near the edge of the group so you don’t hit them with AoEs.

Flash Grenade

Flash Grenade mezzes all enemies within 8m of your target for 8s. Mezzing means they’re stunned, but it breaks on damage. In addition, Flash Grenade gets Flash Powder in the enemies’ eyes, reducing their accuracy by 20% for 8s once the mez ends. Whenever you’re feeling overwhelmed, use Flash Grenade.

Mobility

These cooldowns allow you to move much faster than you would normally be able to go.

 Scamper

Covered Escape makes you roll forwards 12m (most of your abilities have either 4 or 10m range). The ability has a super short cooldown and 2 charges, allowing it to function as a rudimentary dodge roll as other game genres have. In Scrapper, you’re immune to all damage for the full GCD. In Ruffian, you get a proc called Scurry that makes your next Kolto Pack instant and free.

Trick Move

Trick Move causes you to instantly teleport to your target (friend or foe), grant a UH, and increase your movement speed by 75% for 3s. It can be used from stealth too. Unfortunately, it has the longest cooldown of any gap closer, so you can’t use it for every single pull.

 Escape

This ability breaks you out of any controlling effects. Since it has such a long cooldown, only use it if you are prevented from doing what you want to do. For example, if you’re rooted in place but can still hit your target, there’s no need to break free.

Scoundrel Solo Gearing and Stats

This section will cover the core elements of gearing and stats for Scoundrel. If you want a more detailed explanation, please refer to the main guides for each discipline. Don’t forget to obtain the legendary implants and tactical items I mentioned when referring to individual disciplines!

Stat Priority

As a DPS, you’ll need to care about 3 different stats: Accuracy, Alacrity, and Critical Rating. There are thresholds associated with Accuracy and Alacrity, so you need to prioritize reaching those thresholds to get the full benefit from each stat point.

1. Accuracy to 110.00% – Accuracy reduces the chance for your attacks to miss.
2. Alacrity to ~7.5% – Alacrity holistically increases the speed at which you can execute your rotation.
3. Critical gets the rest – Critical refers to both your chance to critically hit and the damage multiplier for critical hits. Critical Rating affects both.

Find out which mods to purchase from Hyde and Zeek in SWTOR on the Fleet to minimize spending and optimize your build. The dedicated guide contains tips for all roles in both PvE and PvP.

Individual Pieces

• Augments: Blue 296 augments ([Type] Augment 83 + Augmentation Kit Mk-11)
• Crystals: Advanced Eviscerating (+41 Critical)
• Relics: Relic of Focused Retribution and Relic of Devastating Vengeance (highest iRating you have)
• Biochem: Advanced Kyrprax Medpac, Proficient Stim, and Critical Adrenal

I recommend a Relic and Adrenal that boost your critical chance for solo content because, unlike Power, Critical Rating isn’t capped by level sync.