The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worlds

Companion Builds & Gear

Optimize your crew with our Companion Builds & Gear guide for The Outer Worlds. Specialize companions with perks and ideal equipment for combat success.

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Companion Builds & Gear

Your companions in The Outer Worlds are more than just witty banter providers; they are invaluable assets in combat and exploration. Properly equipping and specializing them can turn even the toughest encounters into a cakewalk. This section will guide you through optimizing your crew for maximum efficiency, covering their unique strengths, ideal gear, and strategic perk choices.

General Companion Gear Strategy

Before diving into individual builds, understand these core principles for gearing all your companions:

  • Upgrade Regularly: Always keep your companions' weapons and armor up-to-date. Modding and tinkering are crucial. Prioritize damage upgrades for weapons and armor rating/damage reduction for armor.
  • Match Weapon Skills: Each companion excels with specific weapon types. Equip them with weapons that align with their highest weapon skill (e.g., Felix with Melee, Ellie with Handguns). This maximizes their accuracy and damage output.
  • Armor Perks Matter: Look for armor with beneficial perks. While your companions don't suffer from armor skill penalties, extra utility like increased carry weight, damage resistance, or skill bonuses can be very helpful.
  • Consumables are for You: Companions don't actively use consumables, so don't waste your valuable N-Ray cartridges or Adreno on them.

Specific Companion Builds

Parvati Holcomb: The Reliable Engineer

Parvati is your first companion and a solid all-rounder, excelling in Long Guns and Melee. Her unique ability, "Overload," stuns enemies, making her excellent for crowd control and setting up critical hits.

  • Role: Damage Dealer, Crowd Control, Utility (Engineering/Persuade)
  • Preferred Weapon Skills: Long Guns, Melee
  • Recommended Weapons:
    • Early Game: Hunting Rifle (found frequently, good damage), Shock Stick (for early melee stuns).
    • Mid Game: Assault Rifle (e.g., "The Vermin" – found in Emerald Vale, Edgewater, or purchased from vendors), Plasma Cutter (for energy damage against armored foes).
    • Late Game: Dead-Eye Assault Rifle (tinker this up!), Heavy Assault Rifle (modded for damage), or a powerful 2-Handed Melee weapon like the "Hammer of Olympus" (found in Byzantium, quest related).
    • Mods: Prioritize damage-increasing mods like "Mag-2-Power" for long guns or "Sure-Grip" for melee. "N-Ray" damage mods are also excellent for bypassing armor.
  • Recommended Armor:
    • Any Medium or Heavy Armor with good base rating. Look for perks that boost Engineering or Persuade, or provide general damage resistance.
    • Specific Example: "Rizzo's Security Armor" (found on Rizzo's guards, or purchased) offers decent protection.
    • Mods: "Aramid Ballistics" for increased armor rating, or "Ablative Plating" for specific damage resistance.
  • Key Companion Perks:
    • Tier 1: "Bonus Adrenaline" (more healing for you), "Pack Mule" (increased carry weight).
    • Tier 2: "Armor Master" (increased armor rating).
    • Tier 3: "Rehabilitator" (increased healing from consumables).

Vicar Max: The Philosophical Enforcer

Max is a powerful combatant with a penchant for Shotguns and 2-Handed Melee. His "Trick Shot" ability knocks down enemies, providing excellent disruption and control.

  • Role: Heavy Damage, Disruption, Utility (Hacking/Intimidate)
  • Preferred Weapon Skills: Shotguns, 2-Handed Melee
  • Recommended Weapons:
    • Early Game: Tactical Shotgun (common drop, good burst damage).
    • Mid Game: Combat Shotgun (found on marauders, or purchased), "The Pteroray" (unique shotgun, found in Roseway, during "The Distress Signal" quest).
    • Late Game: Plasma Shotgun (excellent against armored targets), or a heavily tinkered "Hammer of Olympus" or "Impact Hammer."
    • Mods: "Sure-Grip" for melee, "Mag-2-Power" for shotguns, and "N-Ray" damage mods are highly effective.
  • Recommended Armor:
    • Heavy Armor is ideal for Max to maximize his survivability. Look for perks that boost Hacking or Intimidate.
    • Specific Example: "Heavy Spacer's Choice Armor" (found on Spacer's Choice personnel, or purchased).
    • Mods: "Aramid Ballistics" and "Ablative Plating."
  • Key Companion Perks:
    • Tier 1: "Bonus Adrenaline," "Pack Mule."
    • Tier 2: "Armor Master," "Stone Wall" (increased melee damage resistance).
    • Tier 3: "Rehabilitator."

Felix Millstone: The Streetwise Brawler

Felix is a fast-hitting, agile companion specializing in 1-Handed Melee and Handguns. His "Dropkick" ability stuns and knocks back enemies, making him a great front-line disruptor.

  • Role: Melee Damage, Disruption, Utility (Lockpicking/Lie)
  • Preferred Weapon Skills: 1-Handed Melee, Handguns
  • Recommended Weapons:
    • Early Game: Stun Baton (common, good for early stuns), Light Pistol.
    • Mid Game: Electro-Stun Baton (upgraded stun, found on marauders), "The Needler" (unique pistol, found in Roseway, during "The Doom That Came to Roseway" quest).
    • Late Game: "Raptidon Claw" (unique 1-Handed Melee, found in Gorgon, Peril on Gorgon DLC), "Ulti-Nature" (unique pistol, found in Byzantium, quest related).
    • Mods: "Sure-Grip" for melee, "Mag-2-Power" for handguns, and "Corrosive" or "Shock" damage mods to exploit enemy weaknesses.
  • Recommended Armor:
    • Light or Medium Armor to maintain his agility. Prioritize perks that boost Lockpicking or Lie.
    • Specific Example: "Marauder Light Armor" (common drop, decent protection).
    • Mods: "Aramid Ballistics" for defense, or "Speedy" for movement speed if you want him to close distances faster.
  • Key Companion Perks:
    • Tier 1: "Bonus Adrenaline," "Pack Mule."
    • Tier 2: "Armor Master," "Stone Wall."
    • Tier 3: "Rehabilitator."

Ellie Fenhill: The Sharpshooting Medic

Ellie is a skilled medic and a deadly shot with Handguns and Snipers. Her "Quick Draw" ability deals high damage and applies a bleed effect, making her excellent for taking down priority targets.

  • Role: Ranged Damage, Healing, Utility (Medical/Persuade)
  • Preferred Weapon Skills: Handguns, Snipers
  • Recommended Weapons:
    • Early Game: Light Pistol, Hunting Rifle.
    • Mid Game: Heavy Pistol (good damage, found on marauders), "The Negotiator" (unique sniper rifle, found in Monarch, during "The Chimerist's Last Experiment" quest).
    • Late Game: "Ulti-Nature" (unique pistol, found in Byzantium, quest related), "Plasma Rifle" (excellent sniper, found on high-level enemies or vendors).
    • Mods: "Mag-2-Power" for both weapon types, and "Corrosive" or "Shock" damage mods for elemental weaknesses. "Scoped" mods for snipers are essential.
  • Recommended Armor:
    • Light or Medium Armor. Look for perks that boost Medical or Persuade.
    • Specific Example: "Medical Protective Gear" (found in medical facilities, or purchased) often has Medical bonuses.
    • Mods: "Aramid Ballistics" for defense.
  • Key Companion Perks:
    • Tier 1: "Bonus Adrenaline," "Pack Mule."
    • Tier 2: "Armor Master," "Long Haul" (increased inventory size).
    • Tier 3: "Rehabilitator."

Nyoka: The Heavy Hitter

Nyoka is a powerful frontline combatant specializing in Heavy Weapons and 2-Handed Melee. Her "Barrage" ability unleashes a devastating volley of bullets, perfect for clearing groups or shredding tough enemies.

  • Role: Area Damage, Tanking, Utility (Science/Lie)
  • Preferred Weapon Skills: Heavy Weapons, 2-Handed Melee
  • Recommended Weapons:
    • Early Game: Light Machine Gun (found on marauders, good sustained fire).
    • Mid Game: Heavy Machine Gun (more damage, found on tougher enemies), "The Gloop Gun" (unique heavy weapon, found in Monarch, during "The Empty Man" quest).
    • Late Game: "Plasma Launcher" (devastating area damage, found on high-level enemies), "Impact Hammer" (powerful 2-Handed Melee).
    • Mods: "Mag-2-Power" for heavy weapons, "Sure-Grip" for melee, and "N-Ray" or "Plasma" damage mods.
  • Recommended Armor:
    • Heavy Armor is a must for Nyoka to soak up damage. Prioritize perks that boost Science or Lie.
    • Specific Example: "Heavy Spacer's Choice Armor" or "Iconoclast Heavy Armor" (found on Monarch, or purchased).
    • Mods: "Aramid Ballistics" and "Ablative Plating" to maximize her survivability.
  • Key Companion Perks:
    • Tier 1: "Bonus Adrenaline," "Pack Mule."
    • Tier 2: "Armor Master," "Stone Wall."
    • Tier 3: "Rehabilitator."

SAM: The Cleaning Machine

SAM is a unique, non-human companion specializing in Science weapons and melee. His "Spit" ability deals corrosive damage and applies a debuff, making him excellent for weakening armored foes.

  • Role: Corrosive Damage, Debuffer, Utility (Intimidate)
  • Preferred Weapon Skills: Science Weapons, 1-Handed Melee
  • Recommended Weapons:
    • Early Game: SAM's built-in melee attacks are surprisingly effective.
    • Mid/Late Game: "The Gloop Gun" (unique heavy science weapon, found in Monarch, during "The Empty Man" quest), "Shrink Ray" (unique science handgun, found in Phineas' Lab).
    • Mods: SAM's weapons are often unique and may not accept standard mods. Focus on tinkering them up.
  • Recommended Armor:
    • SAM cannot wear conventional armor. His innate resistances improve with his level.
  • Key Companion Perks:
    • Tier 1: "Bonus Adrenaline," "Pack Mule."
    • Tier 2: "Armor Master" (still applies to his innate defenses), "Stone Wall."
    • Tier 3: "Rehabilitator."