It’s been a long time coming, but after many years patiently waiting, we can now jump into Obsidian’s hotly anticipated space-based sequel to The Outer Worlds. With the promise that this time, it’s going to be even more supercharged with deep RPG systems.
This is prevalent right from the outset, with a character creation menu that will allow you to select your background, your skills, and your traits that will give you positive buffs, but with the caveat that you’ll need to take a debuff alongside them.
This means that, if you’re going to take a Trait, you want to make sure that it’s the best of the bunch to make it worthwhile. So, we want to make that decision as smooth for you as possible. It will naturally depend on your play style and build, but here is what we consider the best traits.
While all of these traits have unique dialogue options and roleplaying aspects, we will mainly be focusing on the viability of their effect and how that affects your playthrough.
9
Suave
Wheelin’ & Dealin’
For me, while I can certainly see the appeal if you’re a bit of a wheeler-dealer, Suave is the least appealing of all the starting traits in my book.
This trait allows you to attain a 10% discount and gain 10% more from merchants when selling items. Plus, this also means that it takes twice as much mischief to get slapped with a bounty.
But I have found that the economy in this game isn’t super important, as you always have more than enough to get by without making use of vendors. Plus, in the case of bounties, I hate to be that guy, but I would urge players to pick a different trait and simply not get caught.
Easier said than done in some cases, but that’s what save scumming is for, right?
8
Brawny
Who Needs Brains?
Of all the traits on offer, Brawny is by far the most one-note and gimmicky. This trait allows you to act like a human bullet train in fights, as you can slide and sprint into enemies, sending them flying as you do.
This can be a great trait if you want to run a melee build, as you’ll already be exercising a pretty gung-ho combat style. But the issue is, this trait doesn’t really come in handy enough to justify it if you’re not.
It can be helpful in certain situations when you’re overwhelmed by sheer numbers. But all in all, it’s not anywhere near as useful as the other options listed.
7
Resilient
Tough As Nails
Resilient may sound like an incredible option to some when they are building their character. After all, what could be better than taking a fatal shot to the dome and then having a short window to shake it off and get back into the firefight?
In some situations, this can be an excellent safety net, as this grants you a three-second window to get some healing on board, and prevent taking an untimely dirt nap. But my issue with this one is that it’s a little to situational.
In most cases, if you are triggering this window, you’ll have done so because you are completely out of healing items and your back is against the wall as it is. So, it’s a trait that delays the inevitable more than anything.
6
Nimble
If you’re the sneaky sort, then nimble is absolutely going to be your trait of choice. As this trait allows you to move much faster when crouched. Meaning you can dart around in the shadows, perform stealth attacks, and steal goodies without needing to hang around.
Plus, you also gain the ability to sprint 25% faster when in combat, which can be a real boon when things go south and you need to find cover. Or worse, you just need to hightail it out of there.
It’s a good option, but it’s hard to place it any higher, as the game is very combat-oriented, meaning that stealth isn’t always an option, meaning there’s limited use for this trait. That said, when the need arises, you’ll be glad of it.
5
Witty
Sharp As A Tack
If you’re someone who is a little bit naughty, either intentionally or simply by being a klutz, this is the trait for you.
This trait allows you to maintain, at the very worst, a neutral reputation with any faction within the game, allowing you to push the limits of your relationship with some characters and groups without the fear that you will be shunned or viciously attacked.
If you want to play both sides so that you always come out on top, a la Mac from Always Sunny, then this is the way to go. However, if you tend to lean into one side of a moral dilemma wholeheartedly, you might want to swerve this one.
4
Heroic
Calling Out For A Hero
Much like in the first Outer Worlds title, companions play a huge role in your decision-making and the outcome of the core narrative. However, I would argue that they actually have just as much effect on your battles.
Depending on how many bullets you have in your magazine, you’ll obviously be a force to be reckoned with yourself. However, there will come a time when you are dying for a little health boost, or a much-needed distraction, and you’ll need to call in reinforcements.
Without Heroic, you might find that this simply isn’t possible, as companion ability times can be pretty lengthy. However, with this trait active, you’ll be able to pop these more frequently and let the power of friendship take care of the rest.
3
Innovative
Work With What You Got
In the original Outer Worlds game, there was a real issue about inventories filled with junk you would never use. However, with the inclusion of a crafting system in the sequel, there’s now a reason to pick up and breakdown just about anything you find in the world.
However, this crafting potential is elevated even further if you take on the Innovative trait, as this allows you to craft twice as much as you normally would. Which is incredibly helpful, as you burn through ammo and healing items fast.
Plus, much like Lucky, this trait also allows you to select a number of helpful actions of dialogue options that can help you access secrets that would have otherwise remained hidden. There’s no real downside to this one and it’s super helpful, making it a top-tier trait.
2
Lucky
The House Doesn’t Always Win
As someone who chose the Rousabout background, it made perfect roleplaying sense for me to take the lucky trait, as my character, by definition, is a guy that fails upwards.
This skill not only makes you much more likely to land critical hits consistently. It gains you access to unique actions where you’ll be able to try your hand at something only a specialist would be able to do, and through sheer luck, ace each task.
This might be creating a coagulant without any sort of medical skill, or twiddling with some wires to cause an explosion despite not having the slightest clue about tech. It’s a fun trait, and it’s one that comes in handy in more ways than one.
1
Brilliant
The Name says It All
I know it might not be the most exciting of all the traits on offer, but damn it all, it’s the best of the bunch in my books.
Brilliant allows the player to select an additional specialist skill, giving you an immediate +2 buff to the skill of your choice.
Admittedly, this won’t make a huge difference to your mid-to-late game run, but it’s such a boon at the start of your playthrough that it’s more than worth taking on.
It will give you a nice little headstart when working through Paradise Island, and may gain you access to some loot, rewards, and dialogue choices that simply wouldn’t be accessible without this trait. So, this one really is a no-brainer.
