The Trailblazer, Kay Vess's scrappy starship in Star Wars Outlaws, begins its life as less of a galactic hot rod and more of a spaceborne raccoon wearing a jetpack. It flies, sure, but it wheezes, rattles, and generally behaves like a lawnmower that has been asked to perform brain surgery. By 2026, the game has settled into its post-launch rhythm, yet the Trailblazer remains a project ship: without a few well-chosen upgrades, it is a floating liability in a galaxy full of pirates, syndicate enforcers, and Imperials with poor impulse control. The good news is that the best Trailblazer upgrades are not mysterious. They are just hidden behind story progress, a handful of materials, and a ship mechanic who apparently refuses to work until the plot says so.
How to Unlock Trailblazer Upgrades 🚀
Before any pilot starts dreaming of auto-repairing hulls and charged plasma shots, they must unlock the upgrade system. The Trailblazer's upgrade menu only becomes available after the main story advances far enough to complete the 'Underworld' quest and gather the fuel injectors that Waka needs to repair the ship. After that, completing the 'New Tricks' mission from Danka gives Kay the chance to take the Trailblazer into space. True galactic travel, however, demands a bit more main-story legwork.
Once the system is live, players can check their progress by opening the main menu, navigating to the 'Vehicles' tab, and selecting the Trailblazer. This menu shows how close an upgrade is to being ready, but it does not install anything. For that, the player must visit a ship mechanic. These useful folks appear in every major city, marked on the map by a ship-and-spanner icon. Mirogana has one near the docking bay, and Jaunta's Hope has another near the landing pad. Until the story reaches the right point, these mechanics are about as helpful as a wet blanket in a desert.
The Best Trailblazer Upgrades to Prioritize ⚔️
The Trailblazer's upgrade types fall into weaponry, defence, propulsion, and passive systems. In 2026, the same three upgrades remain the most sensible first purchases for any player who prefers not to explode during a routine cargo run.
| Upgrade | Type | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| H-RD Duralloy Hull | Defence | Auto-repair function keeps the ship intact during combat without constant system juggling. |
| C-K10A Rapid Fire Cannon | Weaponry | Fires at multiple targets at once, turning a pirate swarm into a manageable inconvenience. |
| C-10 Plasburst Cannon | Weaponry | Delivers a charged shot for increased damage, ideal for ending fights before they drag. |
The H-RD Duralloy Hull is close to mandatory. Its auto-repair function works like a tiny, tireless droid with a wrench and no opinions, patching the ship mid-fight while the pilot focuses on not becoming space debris. Space is full of pirates, opposing syndicate thugs, and Imperial troops who will pick a fight with the Trailblazer for no reason beyond boredom or bad manners. A hull that fixes itself is not luxury; it is survival.
The C-K10A Rapid Fire Cannon is the answer to being surrounded. It fires at multiple targets at once, which is the starship equivalent of a garden sprinkler, except the water is laser death and the flowers are hostile fighters. For players tired of being bombarded from every angle, this cannon thins the herd quickly.
The C-10 Plasburst Cannon offers a charged shot for increased damage. It is the weapon for pilots who want to knock politely on an enemy's door, except the door is a pirate interceptor and the knock is a concentrated plasma burst. Combined with the rapid fire cannon, it gives the Trailblazer a satisfying one-two punch.
Where to Find Upgrade Materials 🧰
Upgrades require Credits and specific materials. These can be gathered by completing various jobs in Star Wars Outlaws, or by bartering with syndicate merchants if the player has built a good reputation with them. Merchants keep specialised parts under the 'Faction Stock' section of their menu. This contraband inventory is not available to just anyone; players must pick up contracts from syndicates and earn their trust first. The black market in Mirogana occasionally stocks ship parts, and raiding Imperial or syndicate bases can also yield useful components.
A sensible 2026 routine for players is simple: they run contracts, build syndicate reputation, check Faction Stock whenever visiting a merchant, and raid bases when the opportunity arises. Credits flow from jobs, and materials flow from both legitimate work and less legitimate larceny. The Trailblazer does not care where the parts came from, as long as they fit.
Final Thoughts ✨
By 2026, the Trailblazer remains one of the most satisfying ships to upgrade in Star Wars Outlaws, largely because the difference between a stock model and a fully kitted vessel is the difference between a nervous taxi and a proper scoundrel's ride. Prioritising the H-RD Duralloy Hull, C-K10A Rapid Fire Cannon, and C-10 Plasburst Cannon gives Kay Vess a ship that can survive the galaxy's many bad drivers, trigger-happy pirates, and Imperial patrols. Other upgrades certainly have their place, but these three turn the Trailblazer from a rattling question mark into a confident answer. In a galaxy that keeps throwing lasers at every problem, that is worth the effort.