ISS-7 Guardian Battledroid

Fresh Republic players arrive on the fleet bright-eyed and ready to serve around level 10. That's when the Esseles flashpoint opens up and there's no better time than the present to check it out.

This story-based flashpoint is for Republic players only as it serves as a bridge between their starting planet and the Republic capital of Coruscant. Players are asked to board the Esseles, a transport ship, headed for Coruscant. Those just coming from Tython or Ord Mantell will first see the Priority Transport Officer with "Flashpoint: The Esseles" written underneath his name in the departure/arrival area before stepping foot on the fleet proper.

If you're not 10 when you pass by this NPC you can't pick up the quest; however, another Priority Transport Officer is located in the Coruscant Departures (the south elevator on the fleet) area where the entrance to the flashpoint is located. You can speak with him after you're 10 instead of having to backtrack and return to the Tython and Ord Mantell Departures.

The Esseles is suggested for 2 players. This means it can be soloed at the appropriate level with a companion out; however, some combinations of player characters and companions work better than others. Not all players will be able to solo this at 10, but almost all possible duo combinations plus their companions will have few issues at 10. Solo players should know that they will miss an optional boss by going in alone. No matter what your party composition, be sure that those that enter do have an advanced class picked out, though. It will help immensely.

The flashpoint is, as stated, a story-based instance. There are several dialogue prompts which do take time to cycle through even if you're repeating the flashpoint. Furthermore, there are Light Side and Dark Side options in the flashpoint. This makes it a good place to build up a little affection with your first companion and pad your alignment, but don't expect to grind the flashpoint for those means. It's not really worth the time put in considering, but it can be done if that's attractive to the player.

Priority Transport Officer

Head to the Coruscant Departures elevator to get into the instance. It's the south elevator of the fleet. If you already have The Esseles mission you'll see a large purple wall to go through to get to the ship. If you don't have the mission yet, talk to the Priority Transport Officer to pick it up.

Once inside, simply follow the mission icons. There's usually only one way to go inside the Esseles; there are not a lot of opportunities to get lost. If you have an issue, just refer to your map and head toward the green arrows, triangles, and transitions. Here are step by step instructions for completing the flashpoint.

Talk to the Esseles Passenger in the Lounge

As you enter the Esseles you'll be asked to speak with the Esseles Passenger just around the corner. Talk to the Twi'lek to advance the flashpoint. If you have a companion out, be mindful of what you say to NPCs throughout the flashpoint. Saying something they don't like will cost you a bit of affection (normally -1), but the gain isn't anything to scoff at (normally +15). If you really don't want to lose affection you can always ESC out of the conversation and start it over. This will likely annoy another player if you're not running with someone you know, though. Honestly, I wouldn't worry about companion affection. Just focus on completing the flashpoint and enjoy this first instance.

Talk to First Officer Haken on the Bridge

After speaking to the Twi'lek, you'll head toward the bridge. The first two mobs you'll encounter are elite Rewired Power Droids. Since they're both elite they might give you a bit of trouble. Focus on one and control the other if you can. Take the elevator to the Command Deck and run toward the bridge. You won't encounter any hostiles on your way. Talk to First Officer Haken to advance the flashpoint.

Talk to Commander Narlock

Head back the way you came. Ignore the elevator bank you came from and turn right down the hall toward the Docking Level Elevator. Normal Imperial mobs will line the hall. They shouldn't pose a problem, though. Attacking the first Imperial Infiltrator will make three other Imperials appear to your left. An explosive container is right behind where they spawn if you want to take them out quickly.

The next part of the hallway has the elevator and four normal Imperial mobs. There are no surprises here so just take them out and take the elevator to the Docking Level. On the Docking Level, Commander Narlock will be just a few yards away. Talk to him to advance the flashpoint. When this conversation ends, a champion boss will appear to the west.

LT Isric

Defeat Lieutenant Isric

A number of Esseles Security Guards and even Narlock will aid you in this fight. They don't help greatly, but they do a bit of damage. Isric is immune to incapacitating and movement-impairing effects so don't bother trying any of those abilities on him. As you take his health down, a number of Imperial Boarders will spawn behind him. They come in threes, but they are normal mobs. They're easy to plow through, but you need to take care of them as they come. Isric doesn't do anything too memorable or special. Stay vigilant and you'll take him out no problem. Tanking type characters or companions shouldn't have any issues keeping Isric's attention. All party members need to be sure to loot Isric because he will drop Coruscant Commendations. That goes for all bosses within the flashpoint.

Talk to Commander Narlock

Return to Narlock, he's celebrating just behind you where you spoke to him originally. The Esseles Passenger from before will join the conversation and progress the flashpoint. Now, you'll be asked to find an engineer.

Locate Chief Engineer Salen

Head south out of the room toward the Engineering Deck Elevator. Once you exit the thin corridor into a larger hallway, the ship will get hit and three droids will pour out of the impacted vessel. Two more vessels will crash just beyond the first and another three droids will attack you. Attacking the two droids around the corner will make an Imperial Slicer Droid appear to your right; he's a strong mob and will take a little bit of effort to kill. Finally, three droids will be guarding the elevator. Slay them and take the elevator to the Engineering Deck.

Once you arrive on the Engineering Deck, a number of normal mobs will be in the room in front of you. Take out the first three and then engage the next three. After they're gone, click the Communications Console on the door to start the next conversation.

This conversation has an alignment choice with the opportunity to receive some Light or Dark Side points. Choosing to save the engineers with the "We're not killing people" dialogue choice will reward you with 150 Light Side points once the flashpoint mission is completed. Choosing the "Engineers die, the rest live" option will net you 150 Dark Side points. The Light Side option will make you complete an extra step, which is listed below as a Light Side option only. Dark Side players can skip the conduit section and go directly to the auxiliary power step.

Override the Bridge's Auxiliary Power

Bonus: Defeat 8 Mandalorian Commandos

Run back to the elevator bank and use the elevator on the right to get to the Port Hanger Deck. Mandalorians will line the corridor as you make your way to the Hanger. A strong Mandalorian Commando will patrol into the corridor so be ready to deal with him. Your first Bonus mission will start when you kill this Mandalorian Commando. You'll need to take out eight of the commandos to finish the bonus objective.

The Port Hanger Deck

Follow the hall around to the hanger. Another set of normal mobs and a commando will greet you on your way there. Once you arrive in the hanger, there are more than enough of these commandos to finish your bonus objective. Not to mention, there are usually one to two chests in the hanger as well. Some of the strong commandos patrol the hanger so keep an eye you if you don't want more than one on you at a time. Fight your way through the hanger toward the Command Deck Elevator and take it.

More Mandalorians will be on the Command Deck once you arrive. These are normal mobs and they shouldn't bother a good team much at all. Continue toward the Bridge Door Controls. When you get close, two strong Mandalorians will be there. You can engage them separately, though. Get them out of the way and click the Bridge Door Controls. This will start the next champion boss fight with Ironfist.

Defeat Ironfist

Ironfist is much more of threat than Isric. Like Isric, he's immune to incapacitating and movement-impairing effects. He can Headshot for a good chunk of damage. He also uses an ability called Missile Salvo. This ability will even hurt those behind cover so be ready. Also, while he activates Missile Salvo he is flagged as invulnerable to all damage. At half health, he will summon three normal Mandalorians. Those completing this as a duo might find it useful to simply hold one or two of those mobs and focus on taking Ironfist. A full group shouldn't have an issue DPSing those mobs down and then go back to focusing on Ironfist.

Ironfist

Access the Starboard Hanger Bay via the Elevator

Run through the bridge back toward the elevator bank. The elevator on the right is the one you need to access now. When you click to go to the Starboard Hanger Bay, Haken will drag you into a conversation. Although this sets up an alignment choice for later in the mission, it does not matter what you tell him now. No matter what you say now, your choice doesn't come until later. Simply answer the way you want now and worry about your alignment points later.

Board the Emperor's Glory in a Shuttle

Click the elevator button again to actually go to the hanger this time. There are no hostiles to worry about on your way to the shuttle. There is a repair droid next the shuttle if you need to repair or sell items. Simply click the shuttle door to be taken to the enemy ship.

Sabotage the Power Station

Bonus: Defeat 30 Imperial Forces
Bonus: Stage 2: Defeat 40 Imperial Forces

Once aboard the Emperor's Glory, head through the giant doors in front of you. A number of normal mobs are in this room alongside an elite Dreadnaught Battledroid. Fight off the first three droids and you'll notice that you've not got a Bonus mission. You need to kill 30 Imperials to finish off this Bonus mission. That should be no problem as you head through the enemy ship.

As you progress through the ship, take note of Imperial Security Probes. Attacking one of those usually means a wave of three normal mobs will run through a threshold nearby. Sometimes an explosive will be in the side room. Use this to take out the three mobs quickly and simultaneously.

Eventually, you'll be lead to an elevator. Take it to the Engineering Deck. This level is packed with Imperial mobs, including more elite Dreadnaught Battledroids and Imperial Security Probes. Keep steady with isolating normal mobs and engaging those special units when ready to be successful.

NOTE: A chest is often behind the first Dreadnaught Battledroid on the Engineering Deck. There is also a lore object behind him as well.

While on the Engineering Deck, your Bonus mission should update to Stage 2. This stage isn't different from the last, just kill more Imperials. You'll need 40 now. At the base of the stairs a strong hostile and two normal ones will be in your way. Finish them off and walk up the stairs to the Power Station Controls. Kill the mobs in front of the controls and then use it. This will begin a conversation and advance the flashpoint.

The Power Station Control

Deactivate the Tractor Beam

Bonus: Stage 2: Defeat 40 Imperial Forces (continued)
Bonus: Slice the Power Consoles
Bonus: Defeat Iss-994 Power Droid

Continue through the Engineering Deck by killing all the hostiles you see. This will help you get the Bonus mission complete which will lead to another Bonus step that's usually worth completing. Some rooms will have surprise sets of three Imperials pop from side rooms. Just be mindful of their appearance (a buzzer usually goes off) and always look for explosive barrels in the room from where they spawn.

Head up the ramp to continue toward the tractor beam. The first Dreadnaught Battledroid at the top of the ramp will be aided by three normal Imperials when you attack it. There are two Dreadnaught Battledroids in the next room that will both attack even if only one is attacked. If you can, try controlling one and defeat the other.

NOTE: There is usually a chest in this room.

Go up the ramp in this room to the Power Core level. Your Bonus series should update here with a new objective. You'll need to slice the power consoles to the north and south to trigger the next Bonus step. Each power console is guarded by a Dreadnaught Battledroid and a few normal droids. Clear both sets out before clicking on the power consoles. This takes two people to progress since activating one of the power consoles starts a short timer. Two folks will need to basically click both of them at the same time. Don't worry, though. All this does is debuff the champion boss you're about to engage. It's a nice debuff to have, but if you're soloing the mission you're probably high enough to handle the droid without the debuff.

ISS-7 Guardian Battledroid in Battle

Be careful as you go up the ramp in the Power Core room. The platform that the giant ISS-7 Guardian Battledroid is suspended. If you happen to fall off of it that spells instant death for any player. You'll have to fight the champion boss ISS-7 Guardian Battledroid to get to the Tractor Beam. He will knock players back with a Head Smash so be aware of your positioning as you fight him. Putting your back toward the panels on the platform will help. Don't stand on them though because he can knock you off enough to kill you. You can now click the Tractor Beam Controls.

Find an Escape Route

Bonus: Defeat ISS-994 Power Droid (continued)

If you were able to activate both the Power Consoles, an optional champion boss will wait for you on the other side of the platform to your left. Fight the normal mobs that run up to the platform and then run over to the ISS-994 Power Droid.

I found that this boss was the most difficult for me personally. He constantly hurts those around him so melee characters need to be aware that they will get hurt. A ranged tank is quite effective here while all ranged attacks are better than getting close. Even though I found him more difficult, he's still quite easy considering the overall difficulty of the instance.

Once this boss is downed, or if you didn't fight him at all, go south to find the next elevator. It's guarded by a strong mob with two normal ones that shouldn't care problems for any player. Take the elevator to the Detention Level to progress.

More of the same trash mobs will populate this level. Listen for buzzers to know when you're getting jumped by three extra normal hostiles. Eventually, you'll be in the Waste Collection area and you'll need to gingerly drop down into the Garbage Masher.

Return to Ambassador Asara in the Hanger

Run up the ramp and follow the map and icons through to find Asara. There are five normal mobs in front of the Hanger Door Controls. Easily kill them and then click the controls. This will start a conversation that will directly lead into the final boss fight.

Vokk

Defeat Vokk

Unsurprisingly, Vokk is immune to incapacitating and movement-impairing effects. He attacks with three normal mobs alongside him. Take those out first. He won't summon more, but you don't want that extra damage hitting anyone in your party. Vokk likes to knock targets back and hit them with a Double Saber Toss. He also uses an ability called Drain Essence to channel a nasty DoT. Stay out of the purple drop shadows on the ground and everything should go well.

Talk to Ambassador Asara

With Vokk defeated, speak with Asara. She's lying next to the shuttle. During this conversation, another opportunity to earn either Light Side or Dark Side points presents itself. Those that aren't interested in pursuing anything remotely Dark Side with Asara can simply say "Let's go!" to progress the mission with 100 Light Side points. Those that are curious about what's next or those that want to earn some Dark Side points need to select "We need to talk, Asara."

If "We need to talk, Asara" was chosen, a choice between Light Side and Dark Side is now available. Select "No, of course not" to save Asara and receive 100 Light Side points upon mission completion. Select "Yes-you're staying here" to leave Asara to the Imperials and earn 100 Dark Side points.

Return to the Esseles in a Shuttle

Either way, get on the shuttle to return to the Esseles. Now, you'll need to find Haken.

Return to First Officer Haken on the Bridge

Once you're back on the Esseles, run to the elevator and go to the Command Deck. Head over to Haken by just going straight off of the elevator. Haken is waiting by the ship's windows.

Plot the Ship's Course via the Navigation Terminal

After speaking with Haken, you'll need to tell the Esseles where to go. You can head back to the fleet if you need to or you can go to Coruscant to continue your journey.