He can be either a ranged Tank or ranged Dps, depending on which stance you choose for him,

For tanking - http://www.torhead.com/ability/dFpo3Zh
For Dps - http://www.torhead.com/ability/5R1Q4ab

So you can micro manage him as you like.

Crew Skills: +10 Bioanalysis Efficiency, +2 Scavenging Critical

Best Gifts: Military Gear/Weapons

For a list of all his affection/companion quests, check this page:

http://www.torhead.com/npc/3ge6W7I/xalek#ends

For those of you wondering, Xalek is a Sith Inquisitor, but speced as an Assassin rather than Sorceror. If you are ever confused about the role of a companion, look at their abilities and their starting gear. In this case, you would see that Xalek has multiple taunts and threat generation abilities. His starting gear features defense and he holds a shield generator. Thus, he is a tank. He is not ranged, despite having a couple of long range force powers. He will use Charge to jump to enemies and begin attacks.

So far, I've found him great for AOE grinding.

Xalek is a ranged tank. Please stop spreading misinformation that he's a 'ranged DPS'. He is not. He has that option, but he will always be lacking compared to real DPS companions.

He is the Sith Inquisitor's 'ranged tank' but he will spend most of his time at melee range. Furthermore, most of his attacks are limited to 10 yard range. He has no melee attacks. He feels more like a mix between a ranged and melee tank.

You obtain him after Voss, most likely around level 45-47. Yes, this means you only get to use him for one planet before endgame content. Xalek is by far the latest companion obtained in the game of all classes. I strongly recommend you use him for Corellia as he will get massive affection gains from conversations and this will be the only place you get to use him at.

In my own biased opinion, he is far better than Khem Val, but that's up to you to decide!

Just tried quickly with a bunch of gifts

Likes:

Weapon
Military Gear
Trophy
Underworld Goods

Dislikes:

Luxury
Technology
Republic Memorabilia
Imperial Memorabilia
Cultural Artifact

Korriban
- Of Mind and Matter – Level 3
- The Plight of the Acolyte – Level 4
- A Little Knowledge – Level 5
- The Secret of Tulak Hord – Level 7
- Martial Law – Level 8
- A Map to the Future – Level 11 [Khem Val & Lightsaber]
- Go to Dromund Kaas – Level 11

Dromund Kaas
- Onwards to Dromund Kaas – Level 9
- At the Foot of the Colossus – Level 11
- Dismantling the Machine – Level 13
- Giant Killer – Level 14
- In the Hall of Traitors – Level 15 [Spaceship & Start Chapter 1]

Balmorra
- Plans – Level 15
- Scientific Inquiry – Level 16
- Extraction – Level 17
- The Path to Power – Level 18
- Into the Pit – Level 19

Nar Shaddaa
- The Call - Level 20
- The Prophet Arrives - Level 20
OR The Krayt Gang - Level 21
OR Curing the Rot - Level 21
- Manufacturing Miracles - Level 21
- The Big Show - Level 22
- The Final Act - Level 23
- Preparations - Level 24 [Kallig's Countenance]

Tatoonie
- Andronikos Revel - Level 24
- The Pirate and The Girl - Level 25
- Vengance - Level 26
- Into the Dune Sea [Andronikos Revel] - Level 27

Alderaan
- The Secrets of the Jedi - Level 28
- A Woman Scorned - Level 29
- Secret Rendezvous - Level 30
- In the Halls of Elysium - Level 31
- Service Rewarded - Level 30
- Inheritance - Level 32
- Legacy - Level 32
- Taking Control [End Chapter 1] - Level 32
- Sith Hierarchy - Level 32

Taris
- The Padawan - Level 32
- Laying the Trap - Level 33
- Means of Persuasion - Level 34
- The Apprentice [Ashara Zavros] - Level 35

Quesh
- Thanathon Strikes Back - Level 36

Hoth
- Scouring the Wastes - Level 37
- Bitter Rivalries - Level 37
- Into the Assassin Temple - Level 38
- The Fallen Dreadnought - Level 39
- Conflagration - Level 41
- Battles to be Won [Talos Drellik & End Chapter 2] - Level 41

Belsavis
- The Price of Power - Level 41
- Prison Break - Level 42
- Strange Science - Level 42
- Ghosts in the Walls - Level 43
- Mother - Level 43

Voss
- Building a Power Base - Level 44
- Visions and Visionaries - Level 44
- Secrets of the Force - Level 45
- Necessary Sacrifice - Level 46
- The Ritual - Level 47
- Testing [Xalek] - Level 47

Correlia
- First Strike - Level 47
- Blood and Fire - Level 48
- Fatal Blow - Level 49
- The Duel - Level 50
- The Dark Council - Level 50

- The Escape - Level 50
- Looking Ahead - Level 50

He is a "Ranged Tank" according to the game itself. Each class gets a Melee Tank, a Healer, a Ranged DPS, a Melee DPS, and a Ranged Tank.

Khem Val is Melee Tank
Andronikos is Ranged DPS
Ashara is Melee DPS
Talos is Healer
Xalek is Ranged Tank

So while I agree he has very limited range, the game itself refers to him as a "ranged tank" therefore we are not wrong, if anyone is, Bioware is wrong.

• Welcome Xalek
• God-killers

That $%^& cracks me up every time!