With patch 2.0, there is a major overhaul to the way commendations are handled both in the leveling process and also in the endgame section. Gone are the old planetary specific commendations and endgame commendations such as Daily Commendations, Black Hole Commendations etc. Instead, there is now a single planetary commendation during the leveling process and endgame commendations are divided into four types: Classic, Basic, Elite, and Ultimate.
A note on Level 50-55 Gear Tiers
Campaign/Black Hole Rating 146 with L61 mods. Black Hole pieces do not have set bonus. (Level 50 starter gear purchased with Classic Commendations)
Dread Guard/Hazmat - Rating 150 with L63 mods. Hazmat pieces do not have set bonus (Level 50 BiS purchased with tokens)
Basic purple gear Rating 156 with L66 mods (Level 55 starter gear, no set bonus, purchased with Basic Commendations )
Arkanian Rating 162 with L69 mods (Level 55 starter operation gear purchased with Elite Commendations or tokens)
Underworld/Verpine Rating 168 with L72 mods. Verpine pieces do not have set bonus (Level 55 BiS gear purchased with Ultimate Commendations or tokens)
Planetary Commendations
Instead of planetary specific commendations, all planet quests will now reward a single unified planetary commendation system.
Cap: There is a total storage cap of 100 planetary commendations with a weekly cap of 50 planetary commendations. This weekly limit means that you are unable to gain any additional planetary commendations until the weekly reset that occurs on Tuesday morning.
Acquisition:
Quest rewards from various planets
Group Finder daily
In addition, players can trade in Warzone Commendations for Planetary Commendations at an exchange rate of 40 Warzone Commendations for 1 Planetary Commendation.
This unified system allow you to do quests on any planets or PvP to earn planetary commendations. Once acquired, you can spend them on the fleet or on the individual planet vendors.
Note that not all of the planetary vendors have the following items. This is just a general list.
Item
Planetary Commendations
Mod
2
Enhancement
2
Armoring
7
Barrels/Hilts
7
Storage box (Green)
2-3
Storage box (Blue)
8-10
Storage box (Purple)
24
Implants (Blue)
6
Ear (Blue)
6
Belt (Blue)
8
Chest (Blue)
8
Boots (Blue)
10
Boots (Orange)
10
Gloves (Blue)
10
Legs (Blue)
12
Legs (Orange)
12
Chest (Orange)
12
Head (Orange)
14
Weapons/Offhand (Orange)
14
Classic Commendations
All current endgame commendations at level 50 (i.e. Black Hole, Daily) will be rolled into one single unified commendation called Classic Commendation.
Cap: This commendation have a storage cap of 400 with a weekly cap of 200.
Acquisition: Classic Commendations are now obtainable from level 50 operations (Eternity Vault, Karaggas Palace, and Explosive Conflict), level 50 flashpoint, and as rewards for dailies on Ilum, Belsavis and Black Hole.
In addition, any unassembled Columi/Rakata/Campaign pieces can be exchanged for Classic Commendation containers (small ones contain 75 Classic Commendations). The vendor is on the Ziost Shadow Mission Deck for Empire players (Equivalent one for Republic) next to the Medical Droid.
Piece
Container
Commendations
Unassembled Campaign piece
Large Classic Commendation Container
?
Unassembled Rakata piece
Small Classic Commendation Container
75
Unassembled Columi piece
Small Classic Commendation Container
75
Unassembled Battlemaster piece
Warzone Commendation Container
?
Unassembled Champion piece
Warzone Commendation Container
?
They can be spent on the Classic Gear Vendors on the fleet, which offers Campaign gear in exchange for Classic Commendations
Slot
Classic Commendations
Head
120
Chest
150
Gloves
100
Legs
120
Feet
100
Bracers
70
Belt
70
Mainhand
150
Offhand
120
Relics (Dread Guard)
150
The daily vendors at Ilum/Belsavis/Section X etc now accept Classic Commendations for the following items.
All previous level 50 gear such as Tionese, Columi, Rakata and Black Hole had their vendors removed (Campaign Amorings are also removed). Campaign/Black Hole is now the lowest PvE tier for level 50 characters.
Storymode Karaggas Palace and Eternity Vault will now drop Black Hole gear
Hardmode/Nightmare Karaggas Palace and Eternity Vault, and storymode Explosive Conflict will now drop Hazmat gear.
Hardmode/Nightmare Explosive conflict will now drop Hazmat pieces and unassembled Dread Guard items.
Basic Commendations
Basic Commendations are the new leveling currency for level 50-55. These commendations will grant you access to starter Level 55 purple gear at the Basic Gear vendor.
Cap: This commendation have a storage cap of 400 with a weekly cap of 200.
Acquisition: Basic Commendations are earned while doing quests on Makeb and also rewarded as a group finder daily for doing Level 50 Hardmode flashpoints.
Can be spent on the Basic Gear vendor on the fleet for the following basic Level 55 purple gear.
Slot
Basic Commendations
Head
120
Chest
150
Legs
120
Relics (Arkanian)
150
Schematic (Implants)
200
Schematic (Ear)
200
Schematic (Belt)
200
Schematic (Bracer)
200
Schematic (Offhand)
200
Note that the schematics requires Hero standing with the Makeb Imperial/Republic forces to purchase (new reputation)
Elite Commendations
These Commendations are acquired from Level 55 Operations (storymode?), hardmode flashpoints, and weekly missions. These commendations will allow you to exchange for Arkanian gear at the Elite Gear Vendor.
Cap: This commendation have a storage cap of 300 with a weekly cap of 150
Acquisition:
Level 55 Flashpoints (hardmode): Athiss, Cademimu, Hammer Station and Madalorian Raiders
2 Elite Commendation per boss, 1 for completing the flashpoint
10 Elite Commendations for the Group Finder daily
20 Elite Commendations from completing the [WEEKLY] Galactic Conflicts (complete 3 L55 HM FPs)
Level 55 Operations: Terror from Beyond, Scum and Villainy
Scum and Villainy bosses drop 4 Elite Commendations per kill
[WEEKLY] Scum and Villainy rewards 20 Elite Commendations
Slot
Elite Commendations
Head
120
Chest
140
Gloves
100
Legs
120
Feet
100
All Arkanian items can be also purchased with individual tokens while items such as Arkanian belt/bracers and weapons are not obtainable via Elite Commendations and are acquired via tokens exclusively. Relics are purchased with 150 Basic Commendations.
Ultimate Commendations are earned via hardmode/nightmare Level 55 operations and allow you to purchase Verpine gear, which have no set bonus. Underworld gear is obtained via tokens exclusively.
Cap: This commendation have a storage cap of 300 with a weekly cap of 150