Canderous - Optimal Build

Canderous is an often overlooked asset to the party, most assume a Jedi character is more useful to the party and so he doesn't get much use past Taris but I show you how he is one of the best party members - possibly *the* best if you invest in him enough.

Class
Soldier (Excellent Class)

Attributes
Strength: 14
Dexterity: 12
Constitution: 14
Intelligence: 10
Wisdom: 14
Charisma: 10

Advantages
Very high VP gain per level (Vitality Points)
Natural health regeneration
Good starting strength and constitution
Fast feat progression
Can wear heavy armour

Disadvantages
No force powers (He will be wearing armour anyway)
Can't use lightsabres (Melee weapons are almost as good)
Equipment is expensive

Because he starts with a ranged weapon you might be tempted to build Canderous as a ranged character and most people do this and then stop using him due to lackluster damage, he's much better in melee!

Attributes

All points into Strength

Every 2 points into Strength gives you +1 Attack and +1 Melee Damage
This will help you kill enemies quicker and therefore protect Canderous and other party members from sustaining damage

Skills

All points into Treat Injury

The most useful skill for combat oriented classes, this will make medpacs more effective

Feats

As a Soldier Canderous will get a new feat point almost every level, I recommend spending them in roughly this order:

• Two-Weapon Fighting

Reducing the nasty penalties from dual wielding is essential very early, max this as soon as you can

• Weapon Proficiency: Melee Weapons

The first rank will give you +1 attack, the second rank will give you +2 damage

• Power Attack

Whether Flurry is better than Power Attack on Canderous is a topic worthy of debate, personally I would choose Power Attack because as a Soldier Class Canderous will have so much natural +Attack that you won't feel the negative -3 malus at all, but max Flurry if you prefer

• Toughness

The second rank will give you a flat -2 damage reduction which helps keep his health up

• Implant

Lower priority, there are some very nice implants in the game that increase attributes, you'll want this maxed by the time they are available

• Conditioning

When your main feats are complete max this out, this will help him resist force powers in the late game

Canderous has a Dexterity modifier of +1 due to having 12 Dexterity, this adds +1 Defence from Dexterity where applicable

Defence Bonus: 7
Max Dexterity Bonus: +2
Total Defence: 8 Available from many shops on Taris, equip as soon as you obtain Canderous
Cost: ₹250 Credits


Defence Bonus: 8
Max Dexterity Bonus: +1
Total Defence: 9 Purchase from the shop on Dantooine as soon as you land
Cost: ₹400 Credits


Defence Bonus: 9
Max Dexterity Bonus: +1
Total Defence: 10
Strength +1 Buy from the Czerka store on either Tatooine or Korriban
Cost: ₹2,000 Credits


Defence Bonus: 14
Max Dexterity Bonus: +0
Total Defence: 14
Strength +1
Damage Resistance: Resist 10/- vs. Cold, Fire, Sonic Very expensive but the best armour for Canderous in the vanilla game, buy from Adum Larp on Dantooine
Cost: ₹15,000 Credits

Damage: Physical (slashing), 3-13 (2d6,+1)
Critical Threat: 20-20,x2
Balanced: +2/+0 vs. two-weapon penalty
Attack Modifier: +1

How to obtain: Buy from the Equipment Emporium in Upper Taris, unique item.
This will be your best in slot weapon for a while

Damage: Physical (piercing), 6-13 (1d8,+5)
Critical Threat: 20-20,x2
Balanced: +2/+0 vs. two-weapon penalty
Attack Modifier: +5

How to obtain: Dropped by the Storyteller on Tatooine, it's very rare item that most players don't know how to obtain. You need to be friendly with the Sand People and give them the moisture vaporators, then ask about their culture until the NPC 'Storyteller' appears, after that have the Sand People turn on you by opening a container or telling the leader you took Sand People clothing from a corpse
This weapon works great with Power Attack due to its high +Attack value

Damage: Physical (slashing), 5-15 (2d6,+3)
Damage Bonus: +2 Fire
Critical Threat: 20-20,x2
Balanced: +2/+0 vs. two-weapon penalty
Attack Modifier: +5

How to obtain: From the Tomb of Ajunta Pall on Korriban

Fully Upgraded:
Damage: Physical (slashing), 2-12 (2d6)
Damage Bonus: +2-12 Energy (2d6), +2-12 Sonic (2d6)
Critical Threat: 17-20,x2
Attack Modifier: +5

These are the best melee weapons in the game by far

How to obtain: From the Yavin IV Station after 3 star maps (including Dantooine) have been found