Rise of the Emperor: Ziost: navigation-first Imperial campaign for Sith Warrior, Sith Inquisitor, Imperial Agent and Bounty Hunter, including named entrances, major objectives and mission handoffs.
3 main story entries48 numbered stepsImperial route7.9-era story order
LOST OR STUCK? · MAP AND FLOOR CHECK
Before chasing the quest marker, check the route
Choose the active story mission.Press L to open the mission log and track the named Sith Warrior objective. A purple mission symbol marks important story content, but not necessarily YOUR class mission. Follow the exact title and task shown in this walkthrough.
Open the full map.Default M opens the main map. Alt + M toggles the overlay map and minimap. If your shortcuts differ, check your assigned keybinds. Start with the WORLD region, then switch to the current AREA or interior floor map.
A marker behind a wall is not a doorway.On the world map find the correct district or zone; on the local map look for the named cave, station, building entrance, lift, security door or staircase. When the target is on another floor, find a connecting passage before heading toward its map symbol.
Know which travel option is available.Quick Travel opens a world map with available travel-point filters. Choose an unlocked destination on your current planet and pay attention to any restrictions or costs shown in-game. For a new planet, use your Fury's Galaxy Map and the orbital station surface shuttle instead.
If the marker does not advance, check the VERB.Talk, use, loot, disable, exit and return to your ship are separate mandatory interactions. Read the mission's “If you are stuck” note below before fighting more unrelated enemies.
Complete the Imperial Ziost story before starting Fallen Empire. Ziost's original story, People's Tower interior, GSI Orbital Station and later daily area are different locations. This walkthrough covers the named Imperial quest chain from the Fury console through the world-state change and the Darth Marr handoff, with mission-object counts and recovery for the notorious Dead Center grapple bug.
Start: Finish Yavin 4 → Fury BLUE MISSION CONSOLE: Prelude: Rise of the Emperor → A Presence on Ziost → GSI Orbital Station departures terminal → Imperial outpost → New Adasta → People's Tower → GSI monitor → Ziost departure.
Use the full map (default M), confirm the tracked purple mission in the log (default L), and switch to the current floor after a door or lift. Your chosen Combat Style determines combat abilities, but the Imperial campaign route applies to Sith Warrior, Sith Inquisitor, Imperial Agent and Bounty Hunter, with class-specific dialogue or scenes where applicable.
Evidence boundary: This guide verifies the named mission sequence and broad entrances from quest records. It does not claim to have personally tested every interior turn, lift or coordinate. Where exact navigation has not been verified, follow the named phase and the current in-game mission breadcrumb.
ZIOST · IMPERIAL STORY ROUTE
Which story contact, building or floor comes next?
Mission ORDER from ship to orbital station, Imperial outpost, New Adasta, People's Tower and the final orbital status report. This is an order-of-travel diagram, NOT a scaled map; open each chapter for the actual interactive objective sequence.
Common questions from Reddit, SWTOR forums and established player guides. Player-reported fixes may vary by game version or character. Try ordinary mission objectives before resetting any phase. All answers are visible and link to their original source.
Where do I get A Presence on Ziost?
Finish The Enemy Within on Yavin 4 and Prelude: Rise of the Emperor. On the Fury use the BLUE MISSION CONSOLE, not the Galaxy Map. Then fly to Ziost and use the GSI ORBITAL DEPARTURES TERMINAL.
Powerless won't advance after I reach the defense guns?
You must recover the Anti-Air Scanners, use them to CONNECT ALL FIVE AIR DEFENSE GUNS (5/5), then enter the ADMINISTRATION OFFICE. Defeat LORD BERAXIL and use the terminal to shut down the turrets. Shooting down enemies alone does not count.
I killed the Monolith but the objective isn't finished?
The Monolith is only one gate in the MONOLITHIC mission. Before it, disable TWO GENERATORS, THREE DAMPENERS and overload the Security Center console with the DROID BATTERY. After defeating it, use the FAILSAFE CONSOLE and COMPLETE THE OVERRIDE SEQUENCE.
No quest appeared after Monolithic. Is my game broken?
That was a documented 2015 bug. SWTOR's official patch 4.0.3 notes it was fixed. Modern players should first confirm the console/override task actually completed, check GSI orbital terminal and active missions, then contact support if no Dead Center follow-up appears.
How do I cross the gap after climbing People's Tower?
In DEAD CENTER follow the MAINTENANCE SHAFT to a CIRCULAR RING, go LEFT and LOOK UP for a grapple target over a WINDOW. A player describes clicking ONCE TO BREAK THE PANE and AGAIN TO GRAPPLE across to the upper security floor.
The grapple hook says nothing or can't be clicked?
Multiple Reddit players report that traveling to IMPERIAL FLEET then loading Ziost again reactivated the broken grapple in People's Tower. Recheck the correct mission objective and the weapon/door break first. This is a player-reported workaround, not guaranteed for current versions.
I blasted the Dead Center door but an invisible wall remains?
A player documented a wall/collision obstruction AFTER firing the rocket launcher; another player described a SECOND GRAPPLE POINT above the window. Verify the maintenance-shaft path and grapple location. If there is genuinely no passage, reload the planet/phase rather than retrying an ordinary closed door indefinitely.
Do I have to shut down four turrets or rescue civilians?
No: DEAD-END SECURITY (four turret checkpoints) and TEMPORARY RESIDENCE (five civilians) are optional Dead Center bonus missions. The purple Dead Center route instead requires upper-level security, Master Onok/Landai and Master Surro. Bonus choices can affect achievements before the world changes.
Can I replay the original New Adasta after the catastrophe?
Players confirm the pre-catastrophe city and its original bonus missions generally cannot be revisited on that character. The later Ziost DAILY AREA is accessible after the story; it is not the same map or quest instance. Finish desired living-city exploration first.
Where is the planetary status console after For Ziost?
The End of It All explicitly sends you to the GSI ORBITAL STATION'S PLANETARY STATUS MONITOR. Use the orbiter's specified lobby interaction rather than searching the surface. When the terminal directs you, use DEPARTURES to continue the changed world-state scene.
How do I get to Fallen Empire from the end of Ziost?
After The End of It All, the GSI ZIOST DEPARTURES TERMINAL offers PRELUDE: KNIGHTS OF THE FALLEN EMPIRE (quest-list coordinates around X 2082, Y 205). Return to the FURY and use your BLUE MISSION CONSOLE to contact DARTH MARR; the Galaxy Map is a different control.
The purple Imperial sequence is A PRESENCE ON ZIOST → IMPLEMENTS OF DISASTER → POWERLESS → MONOLITHIC → DEAD CENTER → FOR ZIOST → THE END OF IT ALL → PRELUDE: KNIGHTS OF THE FALLEN EMPIRE. The visible page groups those into three navigation chapters for easier browsing.
GSI ORBITAL STATION is your transfer hub. Use its DEPARTURES TERMINAL for the current Ziost story destination and the SHIP MISSION CONSOLE for Darth Marr's next expansion briefing; neither is the same as the post-story daily mission terminal.
Ziost's New Adasta and People's Tower phases include separate levels. When the objective appears vertically displaced, enter the building and change to the INTERIOR FLOOR MAP; the final tower route uses a weapon, breakable door/window and scripted grapples.
IMPORTANT ONE-WAY TRANSITION: the catastrophe permanently changes the accessible Ziost environment for that character. If you want original-zone exploration or OPTIONAL pre-catastrophe achievements, finish them before The End of It All. You can revisit the post-event Ziost daily area later, not the original living city.
Don't treat the 25 possessed kills, saving groups/civilians, or shutting down four bonus security turrets as prerequisites for the purple Ziost story. Some optional pre-catastrophe achievements become inaccessible afterward.
An old 2015 Monolithic → Dead Center transition bug was fixed in official Update 4.0.3. Modern problems can differ; first check the current mission and GSI departures terminal before using Reset Local Phase.
Completing the Ziost story unlocks the post-event daily zone. Its five rotating dailies, weekly and optional world bosses are NOT needed to start the Knights of the Fallen Empire main story.
Combat: use a healing companion when available, interrupt dangerous enemy channels and use the defensive abilities suitable for your Combat Style in boss encounters. Some scripted chapters temporarily change companions or playable characters.
TRUE IN-GAME VISUAL REFERENCES
Published maps and screenshots
These links open the original publishers’ in-game maps and screenshots. IDS does not copy those images or present schematic directions as screenshots. Story-phase floors can differ from the exterior or daily-area map.
Finish A Presence on Ziost → Implements of Disaster (secure armory and defeat Quartermaster) → Powerless (five anti-air guns, Lord Beraxil and turret shutdown).
Start
Complete Yavin 4 and accept Prelude: Rise of the Emperor via your Fury's BLUE MISSION CONSOLE. Fly to Ziost and use the GSI station DEPARTURES TERMINAL to reach the Imperial outpost.
Finish
Complete the automated defense console handoff for Monolithic, then select the current New Adasta story route from Ziost's GSI Orbital Station.
The route to follow
Active purple story mission→Fury Mission Console; GSI Orbital Station; Imperial Outpost armory and administration office→Ziost entry, Implements of Disaster and Powerless→Next story handoff
Start at your SHIP CONSOLE
After The Enemy Within on Yavin 4 and Prelude: Rise of the Emperor, board the FURY and use the BLUE MISSION CONSOLE. Accept A PRESENCE ON ZIOST. The ship Galaxy Map alone does NOT accept the story.
Fly to Ziost's orbital transfer
Open the FURY GALAXY MAP and fly to ZIOST. In GSI ORBITAL STATION, find and use the DEPARTURES TERMINAL to access the current Imperial mission location.
Take the OUTPOST destination
Select the ZIOST IMPERIAL MILITARY OUTPOST story landing location. If the departures terminal only says your clearance or coordinates are invalid, check that A Presence on Ziost is active in the mission log.
Find Master Garault
At the outpost enter the indicated military area and find MASTER GARAULT at around X 1844, Y -659 on the original mission map. Finish the conversation; his aftermath gives IMPLEMENTS OF DISASTER.
Secure the armory
With IMPLEMENTS OF DISASTER active, enter the OUTPOST ARMORY through the mission's story door. The first required interaction is SECURE THE ARMORY; outside evacuation dailies do not substitute.
Clear possessed soldiers and Quartermaster
Inside the armory DEFEAT THE POSSESSED ARMORY TECHNICIANS and THE QUARTERMASTER. Check both parts of the task before leaving the room.
Talk to Agent Rane Kovach
Still in the armory, speak to AGENT RANE KOVACH to hand off IMPLEMENTS OF DISASTER. The next story mission is POWERLESS.
Find the Anti-Air Scanners
For POWERLESS locate and PICK UP THE ANTI-AIR SCANNERS used by Imperial spotters. Do not try to operate each turret without the required scanner/connection item.
Connect all FIVE guns
Visit and interact with FIVE AIR DEFENSE GUNS using the scanner link objective. Verify CONNECT TO AIR DEFENSE GUNS reaches 5/5; there is no benefit to circling a completed emplacement.
Go to the ADMINISTRATION OFFICE
Once 5/5 turrets are connected, open your local map for the outpost ADMINISTRATION OFFICE and enter the correct story phase. This is a different building from the initial armory.
Defeat Lord Beraxil
Inside the administration office fight the possessed LORD BERAXIL. The turret shutdown terminal is not safely accessible until the required boss is defeated.
Use the turret shutdown console
After Beraxil, interact with the TERMINAL to SHUT DOWN AIR DEFENSE TURRETS. Make sure the story updates; kills outside do not finish POWERLESS.
Return to orbital station for MONOLITHIC
The next contact is the AUTOMATED DEFENSE CONSOLE at about X 2070, Y -502. Complete the story handoff for MONOLITHIC, then use the GSI ORBITAL DEPARTURES TERMINAL to return to Ziost under the severe alert.
Cannot find the objective?
If the armory appears locked, confirm Master Garault's Implements of Disaster has been granted near X 1844, Y -659. POWERLESS requires RECOVER ANTI-AIR SCANNERS → CONNECT AIR DEFENSE GUNS 0/5 → ADMINISTRATION OFFICE → DEFEAT LORD BERAXIL → SHUT DOWN AIR DEFENSE TURRETS. Extra evacuation tasks are optional.
Other activities: OPTIONAL: the Ziost evacuation, civilian rescue and turret bonus tasks are not required for the purple story. Finish desired original-city achievements before the irreversible event; the later post-event daily zone is separate.
Mission or chapter sequence and named settings are researched from the cited mission task record where provided. Descriptions identify real task names and phase changes; unverified left-right turns are deliberately not invented.
Disable TWO generators, unlock THREE dampeners, overload the Metro Security Center console using a droid battery, defeat the story Monolith and finish the failsafe override.
Start
From Powerless use the automated defense console near X 2070, Y -502 to obtain Monolithic; then use the GSI Orbital DEPARTURES TERMINAL for New Adasta's story phase.
Finish
After the Monolith and failsafe/override sequence, continue with Dead Center from the offered purple quest and GSI Departures Terminal.
The route to follow
Active purple story mission→GSI Orbital Departures → New Adasta electrical substation → Metro Security Center→Monolithic: New Adasta power grid and Monolith→Next story handoff
Accept MONOLITHIC and choose New Adasta
After POWERLESS, use the AUTOMATED DEFENSE CONSOLE (quest-record area X 2070, Y -502). Take the GSI ORBITAL STATION DEPARTURES TERMINAL to NEW ADASTA, NOT the later post-catastrophe daily area.
Enter the electrical-substation route
From NEW ADASTA follow the active story phase to the ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION. Move through the building to the two generator interaction points, not the unrelated surface security patrols.
Disable Generator ONE
Find and INTERACT WITH THE FIRST GENERATOR in the electrical substation; do not expect the second to activate automatically.
Disable Generator TWO
Locate and DISABLE THE SECOND GENERATOR. The current mission must confirm both separately, then switches to INVESTIGATE THE SUBSTATION.
Investigate then talk to Kovach
Use the objective inside the SUBSTATION and speak to AGENT RANE KOVACH. The next actions concern the dampener network and Metro Security Center.
Release Dampener Lock
At the named control RELEASE THE DAMPENER LOCK. This does not alone power down the network.
Power down THREE dampeners
Locate and INTERACT WITH ALL THREE DAMPENERS until the counter reads 3/3. If the marker appears beyond a shield, inspect the local floor map for the unlocked passage.
Disable the System Failsafe
After the dampeners, use the separate SYSTEM FAILSAFE terminal. It is not the same as the Metro Security Center console.
Find how to overload the console
At the shielded Metro Security Center, the task changes to FIND A WAY TO OVERLOAD THE CONSOLE. The quest record refers to a DROID BATTERY recovered for this purpose, not just repeated clicks on the disabled console.
Overload the SECURITY CENTER CONSOLE
Use the recovered DROID BATTERY at the SECURITY CENTER CONSOLE and trigger the overload. Check that the blocked access now advances toward the failsafe console.
Locate the Failsafe Console
Continue into the Metro Security Center and locate the FAILSAFE CONSOLE. The Monolith is blocking it; this is a mandatory fight, not one of the post-event world bosses.
Defeat the STORY MONOLITH
Fight and DEFEAT THE MONOLITH in the story instance. Avoid its dangerous ground attacks and use healing companion and Juggernaut defenses as appropriate.
Use the Failsafe Console
Once the Monolith is defeated, interact with the FAILSAFE CONSOLE. Defeating the creature without using the console can leave your objective incomplete.
Complete the Override Sequence
Follow the final FIND A WAY TO DEFEAT THE MONOLITH / COMPLETE THE OVERRIDE SEQUENCE interaction shown in the current log. Confirm MONOLITHIC has ended before leaving for another planet.
Return for the DEAD CENTER handoff
The next story objective is DEAD CENTER. If the GSI Departures Terminal says no coordinates, check whether MONOLITHIC actually completed and a new purple quest appeared. The missing transition was a confirmed historical bug fixed in 4.0.3; if genuinely absent now, seek SWTOR mission support.
Cannot find the objective?
MONOLITHIC is not complete after merely defeating the creature. Required controls: FIRST + SECOND GENERATOR → RELEASE DAMPENER LOCK → 3/3 DAMPENERS → SYSTEM FAILSAFE → DROID BATTERY / OVERLOAD SECURITY CENTER CONSOLE → MONOLITH → FAILSAFE CONSOLE → OVERRIDE SEQUENCE. If Dead Center is missing afterward, the original 2015 progression bug was officially fixed; verify the purple handoff and contact support rather than treating it as an intended stop.
Other activities: OPTIONAL: the Ziost evacuation, civilian rescue and turret bonus tasks are not required for the purple story. Finish desired original-city achievements before the irreversible event; the later post-event daily zone is separate.
Mission or chapter sequence and named settings are researched from the cited mission task record where provided. Descriptions identify real task names and phase changes; unverified left-right turns are deliberately not invented.
Dead Center: People's Tower, Ziost finale and Fallen Empire handoff
Use the rocket launcher and maintenance-shaft grapple route to reach upper tower security, defeat Onok/Landai/Surro, report For Ziost, check The End of It All monitor and start the Darth Marr prelude.
Start
Accept Dead Center after Monolithic and use GSI Orbital Station's departures terminal for the PEOPLE'S TOWER phase in New Adasta.
Finish
Use the post-event Ziost Departures Terminal and Fury's BLUE MISSION CONSOLE for Prelude: Knights of the Fallen Empire. Then continue to Chapter I: The Hunt.
The route to follow
Active purple story mission→People's Tower multiple floors; Master Surro; GSI Orbital planetary monitor→Dead Center: People's Tower, Ziost finale and Fallen Empire handoff→Next story handoff
Start DEAD CENTER with Lana's plan
Complete MONOLITHIC and accept DEAD CENTER. Use the GSI ORBITAL STATION DEPARTURES TERMINAL for NEW ADASTA / PEOPLE'S TOWER. Lana Beniko's plan uses your character as bait for the Emperor.
Go to PEOPLE'S TOWER
Follow the current map to PEOPLE'S TOWER and enter its story phase. The inside route has multiple vertical floors; switch away from the exterior New Adasta map.
Gain access to upper level
Move through the initial tower route to the upper-level access point. The mission log first says GAIN ACCESS TO THE UPPER LEVEL.
Find the heavy weapon
When the route is blocked, locate the objective WEAPON TO BLOW THE DOOR; players describe this as the scripted ROCKET LAUNCHER. Use that weapon at the indicated barrier.
Blow the blocked door
Use the acquired heavy weapon to BLOW THE DOOR. A visible wall or ring remaining behind the blasted entry has been reported as an intermittent phase bug; don't spend time looking for a hidden standard door.
Climb the MAINTENANCE SHAFT
Beyond the breach, navigate through the MAINTENANCE SHAFT and reach the CIRCULAR RING structure. This is a scripted grapple route, not an ordinary stairwell.
Turn LEFT along the circular ring
From the circular ring go LEFT, as players who finished this sequence report. Look UP for another small grappling anchor above the next shaft / window panel.
Break then GRAPPLE
INTERACT WITH THE HIGH ANCHOR TWICE if prompted: the first click breaks the window/pane; the next triggers the scripted GRAPPLE across. Do not try to use Force Charge on a distant enemy to cross this platforming gap.
Reach upper security console
After the grapple/upper-floor transition, find and USE THE UPPER LEVEL SECURITY CONSOLE. Re-check the map for the tower's top floor.
Meet Theron on TOP FLOOR
Continue up to THERON SHAN on the TOP FLOOR. This is not a return to the GSI Station: the same tower contains multiple objective levels.
Talk to Master Onok
Speak with MASTER ONOK and let the dialogue progress to the hostile Sixth Line encounters.
Defeat Master Onok and Master Landai
Fight and DEFEAT MASTER ONOK and MASTER LANDAI, as separately required by the mission. Avoid standing inside overlapping ground telegraphs.
Complete the Onok follow-up
Speak to MASTER ONOK again when the tracker changes, then return to THERON SHAN at the specified upper-floor meeting point.
Defeat Master Surro
After Theron's scene, fight MASTER SURRO. Complete her post-fight conversation; the next main mission is FOR ZIOST, not a daily mission.
Turn in FOR ZIOST
Finish FOR ZIOST by speaking to MASTER SURRO as directed and providing the required status update. Check that THE END OF IT ALL appears next.
Return to GSI orbital station
Travel from the original story area to GSI ORBITAL STATION. Find the PLANETARY STATUS MONITOR for THE END OF IT ALL. The quest database lists the lobby terminal at X -2191, Y -98, PEOPLE'S TOWER LEVEL 1 in the phase mapping; follow the named station monitor in your active journal.
Inspect planetary status
Interact with the PLANETARY STATUS MONITOR. The Ziost crisis progresses through the catastrophe/cinematic; do not mistake an older 2015 staggered-release wait for an ongoing live-server requirement.
Use GSI DEPARTURES TERMINAL
Once THE END OF IT ALL updates, use the GSI DEPARTURES TERMINAL to investigate the planet's changed condition when prompted. This transition permanently changes which original areas are available.
Accept the Fallen Empire PRELUDE
The ZIOST DEPARTURES TERMINAL near X 2082, Y 205 hands off PRELUDE: KNIGHTS OF THE FALLEN EMPIRE. Board the FURY and use your SHIP MISSION CONSOLE to speak to DARTH MARR; this starts the next campaign.
Confirm no Ziost story is active
Before starting Chapter I: The Hunt, check the Mission Log for any unresolved optional original Ziost goals you still wanted. The post-event daily area remains available, but the original living-city bonuses cannot necessarily be replayed on this character.
Cannot find the objective?
DEAD CENTER TOWER ROUTE: rocket weapon → blow door → MAINTENANCE SHAFT → CIRCULAR RING LEFT → HIGH GRAPPLE POINT → click to BREAK WINDOW, click again to GRAPPLE → upper security console. Players report broken barriers or inactive grapples; travel to IMPERIAL FLEET and re-enter Ziost before resetting everything. For the finale, the GSI PLANETARY STATUS MONITOR is NOT a surface daily console.
Other activities: OPTIONAL: the Ziost evacuation, civilian rescue and turret bonus tasks are not required for the purple story. Finish desired original-city achievements before the irreversible event; the later post-event daily zone is separate.
Mission or chapter sequence and named settings are researched from the cited mission task record where provided. Descriptions identify real task names and phase changes; unverified left-right turns are deliberately not invented.
