After receiving his degree in Journalism & Media Communications from CSU in 2019, Erik began building his career in online media, and found his dream job when he joined The Best War Games as a staff writer. Though he started on the News and Lists teams back in 2021, Erik has since established himself as a key member of the Guides team as a specialist editor.
When he's not replaying Elden Ring or perusing gaming leak forums online to learn anything he can about Half-Life 3, you can usually find Erik at the reservoir with his paddleboard or, on less sunny days, hunched over his desk like a shrimp painting 3D-printed miniatures.
Soon after launching The Outer Worlds 2, and after watching the hilarious intro cutscene, you will be presented with the first boss of any true RPG: the character creator. By selecting certain backgrounds, traits, and skills in combination with each other, you can get started on the path to the best Outer Worlds 2 builds right from the get-go.
Though you can build in any direction and allocate points as you please as you level up, your starting choices serve as the foundation for your build. Follow this guide to the best starting builds in Outer Worlds 2 to learn which traits, skills, and later perks you should choose to create six wholly unique playstyles based on the game's six backgrounds.
Stealth Archer
Best Outer Wilds 2 Sneak Build
Best Stealth Background
Best Stealth Traits
Primary Skills
Ex-Convict
Lucky
Observation
Nimble
Sneak
NEGATIVE: Sickly
Guns & Melee
Best Perks for Sneak Builds in Outer Wilds 2
Stalker: You gain increased sneak attack damage against hostiles that are investigating you, a distraction device, or a corpse.
Requires Level 5 Sneak and the Assassin perk
Silent Steps: After leaving stealth, your footsteps are silent for a short duration.
Requires Level 6 Sneak
Tracker: Hostiles on the mini-map are no longer hidden by the shroud and have their facing shown.
Requires Level 3 Observation
Suppressionist: Pistols gain increased sneak-attack damage and are quieter. Guns of any type with Silencers make no noise whatsoever.
Requires Level 5 Guns AND Level 8 Sneak
Vital Striker: Sneak Attack damage with light melee weapons is increased. Additionally, in combat your light melee weapons always deal half of their sneak attack bonus.
Electro-Therapist: You now apply Electrocuted faster when dealing Shock damage. Weak Automechs become Scrambled rather than Paralyzed when reaching max stacks. Does not work against Strong enemies until their health has been sufficiently reduced.
Requires Level 1 Science
Contingency Screen: When your health hits 25%, the Gas-Energy Deflection Apparatus gadget automatically activates without spending energy. Has a cooldown between automatic activations.
Requires Level 3 Science and the Gas-Energy Deflection Apparatus (shield gadget)
Tinkerer: Your modded weapons now deal bonus damage, increasing with your Engineering skill.
Requires Level 5 Engineering
Berserker
Best Outer Wilds 2 Combat Build
Best Berserker Background
Best Melee Traits
Best Berserker Skills
Roustabout
Brawny
Explosives
Resilient
Medical
NEGATIVE: Dumb
Melee
Best Perks for Combat Builds in Outer Wilds 2
Secret Recipe: Your explosives deal full damage across their entire blast zone.
Requires Level 6 Explosives
Inhaler Overload: Gain the ability to take a deeper breath when using the Medical Inhaler, using an extra inhaler charge, increasing toxicity, but also granting a large amount of bonuses for a moderate duration. Activate this overload by holding down Use Inhaler while in combat.
Requires Level 5 Medical and the Pharm-thusiast perk
Heavy Handed: Melee power attacks knock down the enemies hit. Has a cooldown between activations.
Requires Level 1 Melee
Echoing Blows: Your melee attacks deal a small portion of damage in a large cone in front of you. The damage of this cone is increased for two-handed weapons.
Requires Level 6 Melee and any combination of 6 other perks
Hackerman
Best Outer Wilds 2 Hacker Build
Best Hacker Background
Best Hacker Traits
Best Hacker Skills
Renegade
Brilliant
Observation
Innovative
Hack
NEGATIVE: Sickly
Lockpick
Science
Best Perks for Hacker Builds in Outer Wilds 2
Tracker: Hostiles on the mini-map are no longer hidden by the shroud and have their facing shown.
Requires Level 3 Observation
Automech Jammer: You passively jam automechanicals, reducing the speed at which they detect you and making it easier to sneak by them. You also gain a small bonus chance to critical hit against automechs.
Requires Level 5 Hack
Plug Puller: Hacked auto-mechs are permanently disabled rather than temporarily disabled. Permanently disabled auto-mechs reward XP and can be looted.
Requires Level 20 Hack and any combination of 10 other Perks, which must include Manual Reset
Targeting Scanner: Focusing on a target with the N-Ray Scanner will mark them. Marking targets prioritizes them for companions and causes the party's attacks to regenerate your energy.
Requires Level 5 Science, any combination of 6 other perks, and the N-Ray Scanner gadget
Inspiring Commander: Kills scored by either you or the party charge each companion's companion ability a small amount.
Requires Level 1 Leadership
On Your Feet: You can revive your companions from a distance.
Requires Level 20 Leadership and any combination of 8 other perks, which must include Comradery
Charlatan: Many of your lies are more believable and will more likely be accepted as true. Additionally, the likelihood that enemies will target you is reduced.
Requires Level 6 Speech and any combination of 4 other perks
Negotiator: Your companion abilities charge faster and you immediately gain positive Reputation with all factions. This bonus is given for all factions already met and is granted when you meet a new one. As long as a faction doesn't dislike you, you will become Exalted with them.
Requires Level 9 Leadership AND Speech
Smooth Talker
Best Outer Wilds 2 Social Build
Best Social Background
Best Social Traits
Best Social Skills
Gambler
Suave
Observation
Witty
Speech
NEGATIVE: Sickly
Leadership
Best Perks for Social Builds in Outer Wilds 2
Face Reader: In conversations, options that reduce reputation with a faction are highlighted before choosing them. Additionally, gain a bonus to damage against humans.
Requires Level 5 Observation
Charlatan: Many of your lies are more believable and will more likely be accepted as true. Additionally, the likelihood that enemies will target you is reduced.
Requires Level 6 Speech and any combination of 4 other perks
Tall Tale Teller: Only your most outlandish lies aren't believed, with you being able to lie about even more things. Additionally, you gain a bonus to damage when attacking enemies that aren't targeting you directly.
Requires Level 10 Speech and any combination of 7 other perks, which must include Charlatan
Negotiator: Your companion abilities charge faster and you immediately gain positive Reputation with all factions. This bonus is given for all factions already met and is granted when you meet a new one. As long as a faction doesn't dislike you, you will become Exalted with them.
