Star Wars: Squadrons ship customization — How to earn and equip cosmetics

Star Wars: Squadrons is about more than impressive dogfights and intense space battles. Creating your own unique Starfighter, so it stands out on the battlefield, is possible through the game’s customization elements, and gives your customized pilot something cool to fly around in.

You will want to know, then, how ship customization works in Star Wars: Squadrons. We’re here to give you the lowdown on all aspects of kitting out your ship, so let’s dive in.

What are ship components in Star Wars: Squadrons?

Components are unlockable items that you can equip your Starfighter with. You get them by earning Requisition points, and you can add them to your ship to change how they function and what abilities are available to you.

There are seven component slots that you can attach, six if you are piloting a TIE Starfighter except the Reaper, and fine-tuning these will create your own loadouts to fit your specific playstyle. The slots are:

• Primary weapons
• Auxiliary slots (x 2)
• Countermeasures
• Hull
• Shields (unavailable for TIE Fighters, Bombers, and Interceptors)
• Engines

What are active and passive components?

Active and passive components are ship customizables that have different effects on the battlefield. Active components are tuned to turning the tide through your actions, while passive components alter your ship’s performance depending on how you’re managing your power levels. The three types of active components relate to:

• Primary weapons – these are your laser cannons. They can range from rapid-fire, short laser bursts to long-range, more powerful shots.
• Two auxiliary slots – these relate to your ship’s secondary abilities, such as repair bots, space mines, and tractor beams. You can only select one of each type, so you can’t equip two repair bot components.
• Countermeasures – these components help you to avoid enemy fire. Seeker warheads, for example, take out missiles heading your way, while sensor jammers can stop enemies locking onto you.

Passive components make up the other three parts of your ship’s customization. Each has a strength and weakness, however, so ensure you’re aware of the trade-offs between each one. These are:

• Engines – these components can alter how quickly you move around the battlefield. Some provide greater speed, while others can damage your foes if your ship explodes with them nearby.
• Hull – changing your hull component can provide you with extra protection from enemy fire, or grant you better maneuverability.
• Shields – shield components can give you better protection from different enemy projectiles. Some may protect you better from torpedoes, but won’t stop laser fire as readily.

Customizing Starfighter with cosmetics

Yes. All eight Starfighters can be customized. You can change your ship’s paint job, decals, cockpit holograms, and more. You can even add trinkets to your cockpit, which you will see in-game as you play. Be aware that your ship cosmetics will only apply to multiplayer matches. The game’s single-player campaign will seat you in traditional cockpits rather than those you have tailored to your own look.

How to earn cosmetics

Cosmetics are earned in one of three ways. The first is through Glory, one of Squadrons’ two in-game currencies. You earn Glory from winning matches and racking up kills. You can also earn Glory from completing Daily Challenges and Operations, and Glory can then be traded in to unlock cosmetics.

The other two ways to get cosmetics are by completing specific tasks, or leveling up in Fleet Battles. Cosmetics obtained this way cannot be unlocked using Glory.

How to customize your Starfighter

You can change the aesthetic of your ship by heading to the Hangar. You can access the Imperial or Empire Hangars through the Customization tile of the main menu, or when you are in the lobby before a multiplayer match begins.

Head over to your Starfighter, and interact with it to open up the Ship Selection screen. Cycle through to the ship that you want to customize, and select it. This opens up a new menu with six tabs at the top of the screen.

The first tab is the overall look of your ship, and the other five correspond to the cosmetics you can change. Each tab brings up a window on the left side of the screen, which shows you what cosmetics are available to you. These five tabs are:

• Paint Job – the colors that adorn your Starfighter
• Decal – What logo is imprinted on your Starfighter
• Hologram – The hologram that appears on the right-hand side of your cockpit
• Dashboard – The figurine that sits on the left-hand side of your cockpit
• Hanging Flair – The trinket that hangs from the right-hand side of your cockpit

Cosmetics can range from Common to Legendary, so ensure you have enough Glory points before you try to buy them. You can then equip them once they are unlocked. Remember, some cosmetics obtained from Fleet Battles and other tasks don’t need to be bought either.