How to Recruit All Companions in The Outer Worlds 2

The Outer Worlds 2 expands the satirical, morally grey universe of the Halcyon Colony with a fresh roster of companions, each a fully realized character with unique combat styles, compelling personal narratives, and distinct story hooks. Building the perfect crew is essential, as these allies will determine your effectiveness in combat and unlock new dimensions of the game's unfolding drama.Some companions are seamlessly woven into the main quest progression, while others require a keen eye for side missions and detailed exploration. Here is a definitive breakdown of every available companion, where to find them, and how their distinct abilities can elevate your journey across the star-faring colonies.

The Outer Worlds 2: Recruit All 6 Companions

The Default Duo: Main Story Recruits

You won't have to search far for your first two crew members; theyare automatically assigned to you immediately following the game'sopening sequence.

Niles (The Frontline Tank)

• Initial Encounter: Joins your crew automatically right after you complete the game's introductory mission.
• Combat Style: Niles serves as your robust frontline fighter. His ability is designed to draw enemy fire and absorb punishment, making him an excellent, reliable tank for early-game encounters.
• Role: He is particularly valuable for protecting you and your squishier companions as you push through the harder early Eden missions.

Valerie (The Healer and Crowd Controller)

• Initial Encounter: Joins alongside Niles immediately after the game's introductory mission.
• Combat Style: Valerie offers a blend of support and battlefield disruption. She specializes in healing the team and utilizing crowd control skills to interrupt enemy attacks and manage large groups.
• Role: Her focus on team stability and debuffs complements Niles's raw tanking ability, establishing your foundational duo for the first part of youradventure. Both she and Niles remain useful and fully upgradeable intothe late game.

The Early-Game Specialists (Eden & Free Market Station)

These companions become available as you progress through the primary narrative and begin exploring the first major hub areas.

Inez (The Versatile Cybernetic Ally)

• Initial Encounter: Found mid-mission during your initial explorations of Eden, arguing over her association with Auntie's Choice.
• Recruitment: After you complete your main objective in the area, return to the main settlement. You'll find Inez negotiating her contract with Minister Milverstreet.Once that scene concludes, talk to her, and she will agree to join yourcrew.
• Companion Quest & Customization:Initially, Inez’s companion ability will be locked. To unlock it andcustomize her combat specialization, you must complete her personalquest: assisting her in fixing her cybernetic arm. The choice you make during this quest determines her ultimate ability:
  • Selecting the Crabble target unlocks a powerful ranged blast attack.
  • Selecting the Raptidon target provides her with the ability to heal herself during combat.
• Role: Regardless of your choice, Inez becomes a powerful and highly versatile ally well worth the effort required to recruit her.

Tristan (The Melee Damage Specialist)

• Initial Encounter: Found at a bar in the southern district of Free Market Station after you have completed the main story events on Eden.
• Recruitment: After a short conversation, Tristan asks for your help investigating a silent settlement on Dorado. Complete this mission alongside him, and then meet him back at FreeMarket Station. Speak with him one final time, and he will officiallyoffer to join your party.
• Combat Style: Tristan is one of two melee specialist companions. He wields a massive hammer and possesses a charging ability that allows him to slam into enemies for significant area damage.
• Role: He excels at rapidly clearing large groups of enemies but can sometimes falter if drawn into long, sustained fights against tough opponents.

The Late-Game Assets (Dorado & Beyond)

These companions are typically encountered in the later stages of the game,offering powerful and specialized skill sets that round out your crewcomposition.

Marisol (The Ranged Critical Support)

• Initial Encounter: You'll meet Marisol during your missions on Dorado.
• Recruitment: Her recruitment is tied to a questline involving her tampered research data and a vendetta against a former colleague who betrayed her. Once you've retrieved the necessary information and helped her resolve thesituation, she will offer to join your team.
• Combat Style: Marisol is primarily a ranged damage dealer with a crucial support ability. When you tag an enemy, her ability makes that target take greater critical damage and stuns them for a short time.
• Role: She is an outstanding setup companion, perfect for maximizing damageagainst challenging bosses or elite enemies you need to take downquickly.

Aza (The Melee Crowd Controller)

• Initial Encounter: Found much later in the game while traveling through Dorado toward the N-Ray Range.
• Recruitment: You will pass by the Decommissioned Autonomous Extractorium, which is overrun by cultists. Clear the area, and you will discover Aza locked inside one of the rooms. Free her, and this cultist will immediately offer to join your party.
• Combat Style: Aza is your second dedicated melee character, but her playstyle is focused on movement and area control. Her ability allows her to dash into position and hit enemies in a large cone, simultaneously staggering them.
• Role: Although her raw damage per attack is lower than Tristan's, she can activate her ability twice per charge, giving her excellent crowd control potential and making her great at managing the positioning of groups.

Building the Perfect Squad: Customizing Your Crew

Every one of the six companions in The Outer Worlds 2 brings a special role to the battlefield and an extensive background that is unlocked through their companion quests.

As you advance, you'll gain the ability to unlock skill upgrades for each companion. These upgrades allow you to heavily customize their combat capabilities to align with your personal preferences—whether your playstyle relieson heavy melee combat, long-distance support, a tank-and-spank strategy, or a hybrid mix of all three. By carefully selecting companions whobalance defense, ranged firepower, and crowd control, you can construct a powerful, versatile crew capable of tackling any encounter the colonies throw your way.

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