The Outer Worlds 2: Every Starting Trait, Ranked

After years of waiting, the sequel to The Outer Worlds, set in space, is finally here! Obsidian has promised a more immersive experience with even deeper role-playing features.

This system is noticeable from the start. When creating your character, you’ll choose a background, skills, and traits, which provide benefits. However, each positive choice also comes with a drawback.

Okay, so when I’m picking a Trait in the game, I really want to make sure it’s a good one – I don’t want to waste it on something mediocre! We’ve tried to make choosing easier for you. What’s best will depend on how I like to play and what kind of build I’m going for, but here are the Traits we think are the strongest.

Each character has its own way of speaking and interacting, but we’ll primarily be looking at how useful those unique qualities are and how they impact your game.

9. Suave

Wheelin’ & Dealin’

Personally, I don’t think Suave is a very good starting trait. I can understand why someone who likes to negotiate and trade might enjoy it, but it’s my least favorite.

This ability gives you a 10% discount when buying things and lets you earn 10% more when selling. It also makes it twice as hard for anyone to put a bounty on your head.

I’ve realized the game’s economy isn’t a big deal. You can always manage without buying or selling things. And when it comes to bounties, I recommend choosing a different character skill and just avoiding getting caught instead.

Easier said than done in some cases, but that’s what save scumming is for, right?

8. Brawny

Who Needs Brains?

Brawny is the least complex and feels more like a trick than a useful ability. It lets you quickly slide and charge into opponents, knocking them back with force.

As someone who loves getting up close and personal in combat, I think this perk is awesome! It really fits a rush-down, aggressive playstyle. But honestly, if you prefer to hang back and fight from a distance, it’s probably not worth taking – it just doesn’t offer enough benefit in those situations.

It might be useful if you’re dealing with a lot of data, but generally, other solutions are much better.

7. Resilient

Tough As Nails

Being ‘resilient’ might seem like a great trait – the ability to quickly recover even after a major setback. It’s like getting hit hard, but still having a chance to dust yourself off and keep fighting.

Sometimes, this ability can be a lifesaver, giving you a few seconds to heal and avoid getting defeated. However, I find it’s not useful enough in enough situations to be truly effective.

This window usually appears when you’ve run out of healing items and are in a desperate situation. Essentially, this feature just buys you a little more time, but doesn’t really change the outcome.

6. Nimble

Fleet of Foot

If you prefer a stealthy playstyle, the Nimble trait is perfect for you. It lets you move much faster while crouching, allowing you to quickly sneak around, launch surprise attacks, and grab items without getting caught.

You’ll also run 25% faster during fights, which is incredibly helpful when you need to quickly get to safety or escape a dangerous situation.

This is a solid choice, but it’s difficult to rank it higher because the game focuses heavily on combat. Stealth isn’t always viable, which limits how useful this skill is. However, you’ll appreciate having it when situations call for a quieter approach.

5. Witty

Sharp As A Tack

If you tend to get into trouble, whether on purpose or just because you’re clumsy, this quality describes you perfectly.

This ability ensures you’ll never completely ruin your reputation with any group in the game. You can take risks with certain characters and factions without worrying about becoming an enemy.

If you like to play it safe and support whoever’s winning, like the character Mac from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, this approach could work for you. But if you usually pick a side and stick to it, even when things get tough, you might want to avoid this.

4. Heroic

Calling Out For A Hero

Similar to the original Outer Worlds, your companions are incredibly important when making choices and influencing the story. But I think they’re just as impactful in combat, too.

How effective you are depends on your ammunition, but eventually you’ll need help. When you’re low on health or need a break from the action, you’ll have to rely on your teammates.

Without the Heroic trait, using your companions’ abilities often takes a long time. But with Heroic active, you can use those abilities much more often, letting your companions help you succeed.

3. Innovative

Work With What You Got

The first Outer Worlds game often had inventories cluttered with useless items. But the sequel solves this by adding a crafting system, which gives you a purpose for collecting and dismantling almost everything you come across.

You can significantly boost your crafting ability by choosing the Innovative trait, letting you create twice the usual amount of items. This is especially useful because you’ll quickly use up ammunition and healing supplies.

Similar to the Lucky trait, this ability lets you choose helpful actions or dialogue choices, revealing secrets you’d otherwise miss. It’s a fantastic trait with no drawbacks, making it one of the best options available.

2. Lucky

The House Doesn’t Always Win

Since my character started with the Rousabout background, the Lucky trait felt like a natural fit. The whole idea behind that background is someone who somehow manages to succeed despite their mistakes.

This ability significantly increases your chances of landing critical hits. It also unlocks special actions that let you attempt challenging tasks, succeeding through skill and a bit of luck, just like a true expert.

I love playing characters who are total jacks-of-all-trades, even if they’re bad at everything! Like, I might try to whip up a healing potion even though I have zero medical training, or mess around with electronics to make a bomb, despite not knowing the first thing about tech. It’s a surprisingly useful and fun character quirk, honestly. It gets me out of (and sometimes into) trouble in a lot of different ways.

1. Brilliant

The Name says It All

It might not be the most glamorous quality, but honestly, I think it’s the best one.

The Brilliant perk lets you pick one extra specialist skill and instantly gives it a +2 bonus.

This change won’t have a big impact later in the game, but it provides a significant advantage early on, making it well worth doing.

This perk will give you a helpful advantage on Paradise Island, potentially unlocking valuable items, rewards, and conversations you wouldn’t otherwise be able to access. It’s definitely worth getting!

2025-10-27 13:41