Patch 5.3.0

Highlights

 * Manaan Stronghold: Kick back and relax in your own personal Manaan Retreat, complete with expansive ocean views, underwater chambers, and sleek styling that can be furnished and decorated to suit your personal style!
 * Operation Boss Battle: Aivela and Esne: Gather your most elite friends and allies to face these twin superweapons in the second encounter of the Gods from the Machine Operation!
 * Customizable Companions – Lana Beniko and Koth Vortena: Your trusty allies can now take full advantage of the galaxy’s many fashionable items!

General

 * Visual improvements have been made to loot indicators on fallen enemies.
 * The cooldown of Rocket Boots will now be triggered if it is selected when using the Random Mount ability.
 * Improved Speeder Piloting 4 and 5 now works for all mounts.
 * When creating a Cathar, the fur color 3 option will now be consistent regardless of what Cathar head is chosen.
 * Players who are unable to retrieve Malavai Quinn or Elara Dorne from the Companion Locator Terminal should now be able to do so.
 * Lana Beniko and Koth Vortena can now have their visual appearance customized.
 * The Galactic Stronghold Decoration UI has been updated to include a search field.
 * The maximum number of Strongholds a player can have at one time has been increased to 6.

General

 * Area-of-effect damage-over-time abilities have been updated to be consistent in that they will not break objective channeling in Warzones (such as capturing a node in Alderaan Civil War). The affected abilities include:
 * Plasma Probe
 * Incendiary Grenade
 * Orbital Strike
 * XS Freighter Flyby

Sage

 * Reduced the amount of healing done by Benevolence by 4.86%.
 * Increased the base Force cost of Rejuvenate from 40 to 50 and the amount of healing done by its initial heal by 10.59%, but reduced the amount of healing done by its heal-over-time by 14.29%.
 * Reduced the amount of damage absorbed by Force Armor by 5.3%.

Seer

 * Increased the base Force cost of Deliverance from 45 to 50 and the amount of healing it does by 3.38%.
 * Reduced the amount of healing done by Healing Trance by 8.74%.
 * Reduced the amount of healing done by Salvation by 10%.
 * Increased the base Force cost of Wandering Mend from 65 to 70 and reduced the amount of healing it does by 25.22%.
 * Conveyance now reduces the activation time of Deliverance by 0.25 seconds (down from 0.5 seconds) and the Force cost of Salvation by 20% (down from 30%); all other Conveyance effects remain unchanged.
 * Reduced the amount of healing done by Renewal by 14.29%.
 * Erudite Mender no longer increases the healing done by Wandering Mend by 5%, but still reduces its Force cost.
 * Reduced the healing done by Soothing Protection by 5.3%.
 * Force Warden now makes Healing Trance channel 10% faster (down from 20%).

Balance

 * Changed Force Suppression's periodic damage boost from 10% to 15%.
 * Mind's Eye now gives Force Serenity a 30% damage bonus (up from 25%) when damaging targets suffering from Weaken Mind.
 * Psychic Barrier now restores 2% Force, up from 1%.

Shadow

 * The Shadowy Veil Utility will now properly grant 30% armor rating for Infiltration and Serenity Shadows.
 * Shadow Strike no longer has a positional requirement but now deals slightly more damage if used while behind a target and less damage if used while facing a target.

Kinetic Combat

 * Since Shadow Strike can now regularly be used while face-to-face with a target, Shadow Wrap now causes Shadow Strike to deal increased damage as if you are behind the target regardless of your actual positioning.

Serenity

 * Increased Force Suppression's periodic damage boost from 10% to 15%.
 * Force Focus now increases the damage of Force Breach by 30% (up from 20%).
 * Rebounding Force restores 3 Force (down from 5) when Force Technique deals damage.
 * Increased Aching Mind's low health damage bonus from 15% to 30%.
 * In addition to its previous effects, Serene Poise now restores 4 Force for each of your damaging periodic effects on a target damaged by your Serenity Strike.
 * Serenity Strike now replaces Shadow Strike.

Sorcerer

 * Reduced the amount of healing done by Dark Heal by 4.86%.
 * Increased the base Force cost of Resurgence from 40 to 50 and the amount of healing done by its initial heal by 10.59%, but reduced the amount of healing done by its heal-over-time by 14.29%.
 * Reduced the amount of damage absorbed by Static Barrier by 5.3%.

Corruption

 * Increased the base Force cost of Dark Infusion from 45 to 50 and the amount of healing it does by 3.38%.
 * Reduced the amount of healing done by Innervate by 8.74%.
 * Reduced the amount of healing done by Revivification by 10%.
 * Increased the base Force cost of Roaming Mend from 65 to 70 and reduced the amount of healing it does by 25.22%.
 * Force Bending now reduces the activation time of Dark Infusion by 0.25 seconds (down from 0.5 seconds) and the Force cost of Revivification by 20% (down from 30%); all other Force Bending effects remain unchanged.
 * Reduced the amount of healing done by Renewal by 14.29%.
 * Secrets of the Dark Side no longer increases the healing done by Roaming Mend by 5%, but still reduces its Force cost.
 * Reduced the healing done by Sustaining Darkness by 5.3%.
 * Twisted Force now makes Innervate channel 10% faster (down from 20%).

Madness

 * Changed Deathmark's periodic damage boost from 10% to 15%.
 * Devour now gives Force Leech a 30% damage bonus (up from 25%) when damaging enemies suffering from Affliction.
 * Sith Efficacy now restores 2% Force, up from 1%.

Assassin

 * The Insulation Utility will now properly grant 30% armor rating for Hatred and Deception Assassins.
 * Maul no longer has a positional requirement but now deals slightly more damage if used while behind a target and less damage if used while facing a target.

Darkness

 * Since Maul can now regularly be used while face-to-face with a target, Conspirator's Cloak now causes Maul to deal increased damage as if you are behind the target regardless of your actual positioning.

Hatred

 * Increased Deathmark's periodic damage boost from 10% to 15%.
 * Crackling Charge now increases the damage of Discharge by 30% (up from 20%).
 * Fulguration restores 3 Force (down from 5) when Lightning Charge deals damage.
 * Increased Inevitable Demise's low health damage bonus from 15% to 30%.
 * In addition to its previous effects, Leeching Hunger now restores 4 Force for each of your damaging periodic effects on a target damaged by your Leeching Strike.
 * Leeching Strike now replaces Maul.

Saboteur

 * Reduced the damage of Incendiary Grenade by approximately 10% and reduced the effectiveness of its slowing effect to 50% (down from 70%).
 * Reduced Contingency Charges given by Insurrection from 2 to 1.
 * Increased energy generation on exploding Contingency Charges given by Insurrection from 5 to 6.
 * Reduced Blazing Speed damage by 20%.
 * Added Quickdraw to Hot Shot, yielding a Blazing Speed stack from using Quickdraw.

Dirty Fighting

 * Wounding Shots deals 25% less damage.
 * Hemorrhaging Blast deals 11% more damage, costs 5 energy, and is no longer triggered by weapon damage from Wounding Shots.
 * Increased Dirty Blast weapon damage by 13% and reduced its bleed damage by 35%.
 * Bloody Mayhem deals 20% more damage.
 * In addition to its previous effects, Dirty Shot now also reduces the energy cost of Quickdraw by 3.

Engineering

 * Reduced the damage of Plasma Probe by approximately 10% and reduced the effectiveness of its slowing effect to 50% (down from 70%).
 * Reduced Cluster Bombs given by Imperial Methodology from 2 to 1.
 * Increased energy generation on exploding Cluster Bombs given by Imperial Methodology from 5 to 6.
 * Reduced Electrified Railgun damage by 20%.
 * Added Takedown to Electrified Blast, yielding an Electrified Railgun stack from using Takedown.

Virulence

 * Cull deals 25% less damage.
 * Weakening Blast deals 11% more damage, costs 5 energy, and is no longer triggered by weapon damage from Cull.
 * Increased Lethal Shot weapon damage by 13% and reduced its poison damage by 35%.
 * Toxic Surge deals 20% more damage.
 * In addition to its previous effects, Lethal Takedown now also reduces the energy cost of Takedown by 3.

Operative

 * Concealment Operatives will no longer appear to be in-combat / holding their weapon when they log into the game.

Arsenal

 * Blazing Bolts deals 4.89% less damage and costs 20 heat (up from 16).
 * Barrage no longer increases the damage dealt by Blazing Bolts, but still finishes its active cooldown.
 * Riddle no longer improves Unload.
 * The critical damage bonus provided by Target Tracking is now 15% (down from 30%).
 * Decoy now has 2 charges (down from 5).

Innovative Ordnance

 * Reduced the critical damage bonus given by Ordnance Expert from 30% to 15%.
 * Reduced the burn damage of Incendiary Missile by 10%.
 * Reduced the bleed damage of Serrated Shot by 12%.

Powertech

 * Increased the damage dealt by Deadly Onslaught by roughly 61%, lowered its cooldown to 20 seconds, and fixed its tooltip.

Pyrotech

 * Increased the Searing Wave damage bonus given by Superheated Flamethrower from 20% to 50%.
 * Reduced the burn damage of Incendiary Missile by 10%.
 * In addition to its previous effects, Rain of Fire now increases the damage dealt by Incendiary Missile by 10%.
 * Increased the critical damage bonus given by Firebug from 10% to 15%.

Gunnery

 * Boltstorm deals 4.89% less damage and costs 20 energy cells (up from 16).
 * Curtain of Fire no longer increases the damage dealt by Boltstorm, but still finishes its active cooldown.
 * Rotary Cannon no longer improves Full Auto.
 * The critical damage bonus provided by Deadly Cannon is now 15% (down from 30%).
 * Decoy now has 2 charges (down from 5).

Assault Specialist

 * Reduced the critical damage bonus given by Assault Trooper from 30% to 15%.
 * Reduced the burn damage of Incendiary Round by 10%.
 * Reduced the bleed damage of Serrated Bolt by 12%.

Vanguard

 * Increased the damage dealt by Artillery Blitz by roughly 61%, lowered its cooldown to 20 seconds, and fixed its tooltip.

Plasmatech

 * Increased the Ion Squall damage bonus given by Pulse Generator from 20% to 50%.
 * Reduced the burn damage of Incendiary Round by 10%.
 * In addition to its previous effects, Rain of Fire now increases the damage dealt by Incendiary Round by 10%.
 * Increased the critical damage bonus given by Plasmatic Assault from 10% to 15%.

Flashpoints

 * Black Talon / The Esseles now level sync the player to the appropriate level of the Flashpoints as intended. To match the low difficulty of this content, CXP consumables have been removed from the bosses.

Operations

 * The fire mines left by Thrasher in Scum and Villainy can no longer be reflected.
 * The fire damage near the door of the Dread Master Tyrans encounter in Dread Palace can no longer be reflected.
 * Damage from BO-55 Master Droid’s Rain of Pain ability in The Ravagers can no longer be reflected.
 * Corrected an issue which was preventing players from progressing past the Infernal Council in the Eternity Vault.

Uprisings
Corrected an issue where a closed door would block progress in the Trial and Error Uprising.
 * Due to their higher difficulty and longer completion time, an additional Command Experience Consumable has been added to the final boss of the Divided We Fall, Landing Party, and Trial and Error Uprisings.

Items + Economy

 * The following Decorations from the Nar Shaddaa Nightlife event can now be donated to a player’s Guild:
 * Dynamic Underworld Ceiling Light (Blue)
 * Dynamic Underworld Ceiling Light (Red)
 * Dynamic Underworld Ceiling Light (Yellow)
 * Gambler’s Bar
 * Gambler’s Mic Stand
 * Gambler’s Party Floor
 * The two Stronghold Decorations that shared the name “Network Security Monitor” have been renamed to differentiate them:
 * Rakata Security Monitor – Drop from the Architect’s Pack
 * Gormak Security Monitor – Purchased from the Decoration Prefab Transformer
 * The two Stronghold Decorations that shared the name “Luxury Wall Sconce” have been renamed to differentiate them:
 * Luxury Sconce Set: Blue – Purchased in the Cartel Market: Luxury Bundle
 * Luminous Sconce: Yellow – Drop from the Eternal Command Pack
 * The vendor sell value of the Iokath Recombinator has been lowered to 10,000 Credits (down from 20,000)
 * The Eternal Commander MK-12 Force Master’s Focus will no longer drop out of Tier 2 Command Crates for Marauders (since they cannot use them).
 * Many old Cartel Market armor sets and their lootboxes have been updated so that the rarities are consistent. The actual item rarites have not changed, the icons were just inconsistent.
 * *Spoiler* A Stronghold Decoration has been added for players who have redeemed Arcann as a Companion.
 * A Weapon Tuning Slot has been added to Lord Kallig’s Lightsaber and Lord Kallig’s Double-Bladed Lightsaber.
 * Crafted 246 Relics have had their effects updated to be at the proper rating.
 * The Dark-Attuned and Light-Attuned Weapon Tunings have been added to Collections.
 * Items that have two-letter words in their name (such as Altar of Skulls) can now be searched on the GTN without having to remove the two-letter word.
 * The Commander Tassar Holo Stronghold Decoration is no longer appears hostile to the player. Please stop attacking your Stronghold Decorations.
 * The Gamorrean Guard Companion from the Nar Shaddaa Nightlife event no longer requires Artifact Authorization for F2P and Preferred Status players.
 * A large quantity of items have had their status updated to no longer require Artifact Authorization for F2P and Preferred Status players.
 * Multiple Galactic Command weapons have been updated to require hilts or barrels as they were intended. Ex: The Recon’s Assault Cannon MKk-1 required a hilt when it should be a barrel.
 * Character bound Color Crystals and Weapon Tunings from the Cartel Market (direct sale or packs) can no longer be moved across characters via Legacy Weapons.
 * Fixed various tooltip typos for some Tier 1-4 Class Items.
 * Corrected various typos in Collections for the following items from the Dread Warlord Pack:
 * Distinguished Warden’s Armor Set
 * Gifted Shadow’s Armor Set
 * Tythian Disciple’s Armor Set

Missions + NPCs

 * Tanno Vik has been convinced to put clothes on and will no longer appear naked in Knights of the Fallen Empire cutscenes.
 * Corrected an issue where the “Hint” ability would not appear on the player’s hotbar in Chapter 6 of Knights of the Eternal Throne.
 * Master Mode Czerka Corporate Labs and Czerka Core Meltdown now progress the [WEEKLY] Galactic Conflict Mission as intended.
 * Corrected a typo in the Mission [WEEKLY] Story Uprisings Mission which stated the player needed to complete 10 Uprisings, when they only need to complete 5.
 * XenoAnalyst II from the Relics of the Gree event now drops Grey Helix Components as intended.
 * Players who abandoned the Iokath Mission “Facing the Machines of War” can once again acquire it.
 * Orbital Recon Probes will now always drop Orbital Recon Probe Memory Cores, even if they self-destruct (nice try, Orbital Recon Probes!). This is the objective of the Looking for Signs Daily Mission on Ziost.
 * The [WEEKLY] Gods From The Machine Mission objective has been updated to require that the player kills Aivela and Esne.
 * Walking onto the ramp during “The Forgotten World” Mission on Iokath will no longer reset the encounter.