KOTOR: Flawless victory against Malak with a Scoundrel/Consular

Combat Difficulty: Difficult Using Improved Energy Resistance in conjunction with Master Valor pretty much negates damage from Malak’s Force Storm (DC 36) as my character’s Will save is increased to 37 and he receives 15/- damage resistance vs. electrical damage, which applies before combat difficulty. Unfortunately, Malak did deal a bit of universal damage to my character which can only be prevented by a high Defense rating - his Attack is 38 which may very well be the highest in the entire game. Improved and Master Toughness will slightly reduce universal damage, but I don’t think these feats are worth it. Since Malak can only debilitate you using Master Critical Strike (DC 28), you need a Fortitude save of at least 27 to prevent that from happening. The easiest way you can prevent being stunned from his Master Critical Strike is by equipping an item that grants Immunity: Mind-Affecting (such as the Nerve Enhancement Package, Advanced Bio-Stabilizer Implant or Nerve Amplifier Belt), but I decided to go the extra mile and equip the Beemon Package, which not only increases my character’s Fortitude save to 29 when used in conjunction with Master Valor, but also increases his Vitality by a moderate amount, which is always helpful. Master Valor increases my character’s attack to 29, which ensures 95% success rate (1 is an automatic miss) against a debilitated Malak as his defense decreases to 30. It also ensures 100% success rate in case of a threat roll since threat roll has no automatic miss on 1 and hit on 20. Master Valor also increases my character’s offensive Force powers’ DC to a whopping 48. Both Stasis Field and Force Whirlwind can debilitate Malak, but you’d be better off using Force Whirlwind since his Reflex save (31) is lower than his Fortitude save (38). Once debilitated, Malak’s Reflex save decreases to 27, which means my character’s Force Whirlwind now has a 100% success rate (provided Master Valor is active). Adhesive grenades also decrease Malak’s Defense and Reflex save by 2 (-4 Dexterity), however this effect does not stack with the debilitation effect. DO NOT upgrade Force Whirlwind to Force Wave - Malak has Immunity: Mind-Affecting. My character’s lightsaber is upgraded with the Mantle of the Force, Sigil and Solari crystals. Both the Sigil and Solari crystals grant a 1-8 energy bonus. The latter also grants a 2-12 bonus vs. Dark Side. Damage bonuses are multiplied in case of a critical hit with the exception of constant damage item bonuses and Sneak Attack damage, so it’s important not to use crystals that grant a constant damage bonus. While Sneak Attack damage doesn’t multiply in case of a critical hit against a debilitated Malak, it still comes in handy and compensates for this build’s (relatively) low damage output. Also, while the Nextor crystal has a Keen effect which in conjunction with Master Critical Strike would increase the critical threat range of my character’s lightsaber to 11-20 (50%), the Keen effect disappears when either the Heart of the Guardian or Mantle of the Force crystals are present in the lightsaber, meaning that critical threat range is reduced to 13-20 (40%). You’re definitely better off using the special crystals though, since the decrease in % chance of critical threat isn’t significant and they grant really nice bonuses. I didn’t upgrade the Jedi Defense feat because this build already has a pretty high Defense, not to mention Improved Energy Resistance will minimize any damage received or negate it entirely most of the time. Enjoy!