Some Star Wars Jedi: Survivor players have discovered a neat trick for making the game’s Rancor fight easier, and it calls back to when Luke Skywalker found himself in a similar situation in Return of the Jedi. In addition to all the Imperial forces and ruthless bounty hunters threatening his life, Cal Kestis faces off against a fair number of creatures in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, either as a minor nuisance along his path to uncovering a long-lost planet from the days of the High Republic or a major boss battle.
One of these creatures is the dreaded Rancor, a massive and furious beast that longtime Star Wars fans will easily recognize. Jabba the Hutt famously kept a Rancor as a pet and means of execution in Return of the Jedi, Boba Fett was gifted a younger one for similar purposes in The Book of Boba Fett, and Starkiller battled several of them on Felucia in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Likewise, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor sees Cal come face-to-face with yet another Rancor in a hidden boss battle, and it is one of the most challenging opponents in the game.
Luckily for Cal, there is a secret trick to defeating the mighty Rancor in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. According to Reddit user dyllgates, players can use the Force to grab a bone littered along the floor of the Rancor’s lair and lodge it into the beast’s mouth - giving Cal a moment to charge in and inflict some damage with his lightsaber. This handy trick also doubles as a reference to Luke’s battle against Jabba’s Rancor in Return of the Jedi, where he used a discarded femur to escape the monster’s grasp.
Star Wars has always been known for calling back to past stories, and this is true for Jedi: Survivor as well. Eagle-eyed players have noticed a cool reference to Attack of the Clones in the game’s opening segment on Coruscant, and Jedi: Survivor’s customization options can be used to turn Cal into a variety of famous Star Wars characters - including lesser-known ones like Shadows of the Empire hero Dash Rendar and Jedi Knight’s Kyle Katarn.
Since Star Wars Jedi: Survivor takes place before the events of the classic Star Wars movie trilogy, Luke Skywalker is technically referencing Cal Kestis when he stuffs a bone between the Rancor’s hungry jaws for a quick escape in Return of the Jedi. Still, Jedi Survivor’s nod to the iconic Rancor fight is yet another fun Star Wars Easter egg and a handy way to gain the upper hand during Cal’s own struggle against the fearsome beast that terrorized moviegoers 40 years ago.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S
