Do they have to have great mods or is there a way to update them? Thanks.

The weapons are just shells really. You need to get level/class appropriate mod/ enhancement and either hilt or barrel (depends what type of weapon it is) and put them in the weapon. Also a factor is if your character can even use it . Each class/ advanced class has specific weapons it can use and that info is on your Abilities tab.

They don't suck, but you do need to put mods and enhancements (and hilts or barrels depending on the weapon type) in them to give them their stats.

 

 

Cartel Market gear is bought for the look. The cool thing is once you have settled on a look you like, you can keep upgrading the item and use it all the way through the levelling process and beyond. You don't need to get rid of it and get a new one as you level up. But as you say, when bought, they are pretty much statless (though still slightly better than the weapon a level 1 character starts the game with).

 

 

The usual way to attain the upgrade items you need is to spend the planetary commendations you often get as quest rewards at Planetary Commendation vendors. There are a bunch of them on the fleet. Just make sure you get ones with the right stats for your character type and that are appropriate for your level (get the highest level ones you can actually use). They can also be crafted with certain crew skills, or bought from other players for credits on the Galactic Trade Network.

 

So to reiterate - To give your weapon useful stats you need to obtain:

 

A barrel or hilt (depending on whether it is a gun or a lightsabre)

A mod

An enhancement

 

Do this and you will be good to go.

 

 

 

I seem to recall that towards the end of the starter planets you get a moddable weapon as a quest reward, and pretty soon after you get the gizmos to go in it. So another starter option is to use the mods from that on your Cartel Market weapon. It costs credits to remove them if you've already put them in, but at low level the price isn't very high.

Edited April 20, 2014 by PLynkes

I see. Ok that makes sense. I'll work on mods. Thanks.