Best Early Abilities to Unlock in Star Wars Outlaws Right After Toshara Opens Up

So, you’ve washed up on Toshara, the wind-scoured moon where things finally start to feel like a proper open-world outlaw fantasy. Kay Vess isn’t exactly a walking tank right out of the gate—she’s more like a scruffy-looking nerf herder with a blaster and a dream. That’s where the galaxy’s handful of Experts come in, those quirky NPCs who teach her the tricks of the trade. In 2026, both newcomers and vets are still diving into this beast of an RPG, and trust me: picking the right abilities early can mean the difference between a smooth heist and an express trip to a Stormtrooper checkpoint. Let’s break down the skills you should beeline for from Bram Shano, Selo Rovak, and Aila Bren—the first three mentors Kay stumbles onto.

🛡️ Armored Undershirt – More Health, Less Panic

Bram Shano, the grizzled old-timer on Cantonica, doesn’t waste time with fluff. His Armored Undershirt ability is exactly what it says on the tin: it cranks Kay’s health up by a full bar. In a game that really wants you to treat every firefight like a stealth puzzle, that extra chunk of survivability is pure gold. Enemies outnumber Kay almost everywhere, and her base HP melts faster than ice cream on Tatooine. Before you even think about flashy takedowns, make this your first pickup. It’s one of those “set it and forget it” upgrades that pays dividends right up to the endgame.

🤝 Fast-Talk – Channel Your Inner Smooth Criminal

Also from Bram, Fast-Talk is the quintessential outlaw move. Picture this: you’re sneaking through an Imperial base, a buckethead spots you, and alarms are about to blare. Instead of gunning it, Kay can raise her hands like a surrendering scoundrel, buying a precious second of false safety. Then—BAM—she whips out her blaster and drops them before they know what hit ’em. It’s straight out of the Han Solo playbook. The upgraded version, Keep Talking, extends that window, making it a lifesaver during tense faction standoffs or when you need to slip past a patrol you can’t afford to fight head-on. Don’t sleep on this one; it’s saved more smugglers than a Corellian freighter.

📢 I Know Someone – Unlock the Black Market’s Best-Kept Secrets

Bram’s third gift to early-game Kay is I Know Someone, and boy, does it open doors. After unlocking it, spending a decent chunk of credits at merchants—especially in Mirogana, the sprawling city on Toshara—will reveal special merchant requests. These aren’t just fetch quests; they’re your ticket to rare upgrade materials, exclusive equipment, and sometimes even adorable Nix accessories. Not every vendor plays ball, but most in the first major hub do. Think of it as building your network. A smuggler is only as good as her fences, and this ability turns casual shopkeeps into invaluable contacts. It’s a no-brainer for anyone serious about gearing up without grinding aimlessly.

🔎 Treasure Hunter – See What Others Miss

Once you shake hands with Selo Rovak, you’ll want to grab Treasure Hunter faster than you can say “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.” By holding up on the D-pad (on PlayStation, at least), Nix already highlights nearby enemies—cute, right? This ability upgrades that trick to also reveal chests, hidden caches, and other environmental goodies. The range isn’t massive, so you can’t just waltz in and scan an entire base, but it’s a godsend for spotting well-hidden loot in cluttered rooms. In a galaxy where every scrap of durasteel counts, knowing exactly where the treasure lies keeps you rich and your blaster fully upgraded. Just remember to still use your own eyeballs—Nix is clever, but he’s not a Jedi.

💣 Smoke Bomb – Vanish Like a True Ghost

Also from Selo, the Smoke Bomb ability is basically “Get Out of Jail Free” in gadget form. A quick button press covers a small area in billowing smoke, letting Kay either flee a messy fight or knock out a couple of guards while they’re choking and confused. The effect is short-lived, so you need a plan before you pop it. Ninjas in feudal Japan had smoke bombs; assassins in the Creed series swear by them. Kay fits right in. Later, you’ll be able to upgrade this into something even nastier (we’ll get to that), but for the early hours, it’s a must-have for anyone who prefers staying in the shadows.

🎒 Scoundrel’s Pouch – Carry More, Survive Longer

Selo’s Scoundrel’s Pouch isn’t flashy, but it’s quietly one of the most impactful upgrades on the board. It increases Kay’s capacity for grenades and Bacta Vials by one. You start the game able to lug around only two Bacta Vials—enough for a minor scuffle, but laughable once the Stormtroopers roll in with heavy repeaters. With this, and its later big brother Outlaw’s Pouch, you’ll be patching up mid-gunfight like a field medic. Yes, more grenades are fun (who doesn’t love a well-placed thermal detonator?), but the real prize here is healing. In a game where death comes swiftly, that extra Bacta shot is another chance to outlast an entire platoon.

⚡ Concussive Smoke – The Stealth Upgrade You Deserve

Remember Selo’s Smoke Bomb? Now let Aila Bren make it sing. Concussive Smoke is the upgrade that turns that basic cloud into a stun grenade. Enemies caught in the plume won’t just cough—they’ll be momentarily knocked senseless, allowing Kay to slip past or take them down without raising an alert. It’s tailor-made for those annoying pairs of guards standing right next to each other. Deploy it, wait for the thump, and move in. Just like the base version, the window is tight, so keep your boots moving. This is quality over quantity at its finest; Aila doesn’t offer a huge list, but what she does have is pure utility.

👣 Lightfooted – Walk Softly and Carry a Big Blaster

Also from Aila, Lightfooted muffles Kay’s footsteps, making her much harder to detect when she’s moving without cover. On metal walkways—an Imperial base staple—this is a literal lifesaver. Enemies will struggle to hear her creeping up behind them, which means cleaner takedowns and fewer alarms. No, she can’t sprint across a brightly lit room and expect to stay invisible (she’s no Solid Snake, after all), but combined with a bit of patience, this ability turns her into a whisper-quiet predator. For those who enjoy the stealth loop Star Wars Outlaws aggressively encourages, Lightfooted is less an option and more a requirement.

Wrapping Up Your Early-Game Build

These eight abilities from Bram, Selo, and Aila form the backbone of a deadly early-game Kay. Here’s a quick recap of who gives what:

Expert	Ability	What It Does
Bram Shano	Armored Undershirt	+1 max health
Bram Shano	Fast-Talk	Surprise attack when caught
Bram Shano	I Know Someone	Unlocks special merchant requests
Selo Rovak	Treasure Hunter	Nix highlights chests and loot
Selo Rovak	Smoke Bomb	Deploy a brief smoke cloud to escape or blind
Selo Rovak	Scoundrel’s Pouch	+1 grenade and Bacta Vial capacity
Aila Bren	Concussive Smoke	Smoke Bomb also stuns enemies
Aila Bren	Lightfooted	Footsteps are muffled while moving

Mix and match based on your playstyle, but if you’re the type who likes to think before you shoot, prioritize survival and detection tools. The galaxy’s a dangerous place in 2026—don’t make it harder than it needs to be. Now get out there and maybe, just maybe, avoid getting shot. At least for a little while.