Ever wonder who you can team up with in The Outer Worlds 2? You’re in for a treat, as six distinct new companions are ready to join your adventure! Much like in the first game, these loyal (or not-so-loyal) crewmates will fight by your side, each bringing their own rich backstory and unique personality to the table. But be warned: make the wrong choices, and you might find yourself exploring the cosmos alone.
The highly anticipated Outer Worlds 2 has finally arrived, and we’ve been hard at work discovering all the potential allies you can recruit for your crew. While you can only have two companions actively accompanying you during your explorations, those waiting back on the Incognito ship aren’t useless; some perks can even turn them into valuable resource gatherers. Just like its predecessor, this adventure allows you to discover and recruit companions throughout the vast world. This guide provides a full breakdown of every Outer Worlds 2 companion we’ve encountered, detailing their unique abilities, recruitment methods, and how to acquire their essential mods. Be aware that minor companion quest spoilers might be included.
The Outer Worlds 2 companions are:
- Niles
- Valerie
- Inez
- Marisol
- Aza
- Tristan
Niles
Location: The Incognito
How to unlock: Automatically available after character creation
Ability: Spread Out, I’ll Hold ’em! – Niles provokes all nearby enemies, then unleashes three powerful, damage-boosted shots at your chosen foe.
Mod kits: Acquired by completing the “Pressing Cares” quest in Westport, Eden (Basic)
Niles, a former Earth Directorate agent, served under you before the fateful incident that sent you hurtling through space. He’s an ideal partner for stealth-focused players, offering perks that enhance camouflage and provide crucial enemy taunts.
Beyond stealth, Niles is a formidable early-game asset, delivering significant firepower with his three-shot ability. For those who prefer direct confrontation, Niles brings valuable utility to the fight. His “Self Repairing Armor Mod” is especially useful, providing armor plates that regenerate, much like a shield in a classic sci-fi shooter.
Valerie
Location: The Incognito
How to unlock: Automatically available after character creation
Ability: Emergency Protocols – Valerie fires a healing syringe volley at you, granting a strong heal over time alongside massive damage reduction for a short time.
Mod kits: Acquired by completing “A Healthy Improvement” on The Incognito (Basic)
Valerie serves as The Outer Worlds 2’s essential medic, offering substantial active and passive healing capabilities when equipped with the right perks. For players focusing on a powerful melee build, Valerie’s “Strength Supplement Module” buff is incredibly useful, boosting your damage output while consistently restoring your health.
Since Valerie isn’t primarily a damage dealer, she’s ideally paired with a companion who can compensate for this, like a heavy attacker. Alternatively, if you’re committing to an all-out melee offense, Niles makes an excellent partner, creating openings for massive sneak attack damage while diverting enemy attention from your team.
Inez
Location: Ministry of Accuracy, Eden
How to unlock: Encourage Inez to leave Minister Milverstreet’s employ after completing “A Refreshing Bit of News” in Fairfield, Eden.
Ability: The Magic Bullet – [Raptidon graft] Inez cloaks and retreats to your position, throwing down a healing mist when she arrives. [Crabble graft] Inez launches a volley of hot plasma at the target, dealing heavy damage.
Mod kits: Better Than Nature (Graft)
Inez is a combat-ready medic who endured the controversial Auntie’s Choice human experiments, which involved grafting animal parts onto humans. Your first encounter with her occurs during a mission for Minister Milverstreet, after which you’ll collaborate to repair her unique graft. Interestingly, you can choose between two different graft parts, each completely changing her abilities and perks.
Inez excels as a versatile mobile medic, offering powerful buffs to your ranged weapons as you unlock more of her perk upgrades. If you frequently rely on your inhaler, Inez can help ensure your charges are always replenished. With the Raptidon graft, she can provide beneficial party-wide buffs through her healing mist. The Crabble graft, on the other hand, unlocks perks that can significantly increase the plasmatic power of her abilities. Regardless of your choice, Inez is an outstanding companion in the early stages of the game, providing both reliable damage and healing.
Marisol
Location: Zyranium Manufactory VII, Dorado
How to unlock: Side with Initiate Alva (Marisol) throughout “Beginning at the Endpoint” in Dorado
Ability: Torpifying Blast – Marisol shoots energy at a target, stunning them. The target cannot move for the ability’s duration, and all attacks against them are critical hits.
Mod kits: To be confirmed
Marisol is a highly intelligent assassin and a member of the Order of the Ascendant. She functions as a classic RPG saboteur, using her potent ability to crowd-control multiple enemies, especially when enhanced with the “Dispersed Glare” and “Chain Paralysis” perks. Her additional perks also improve your gadgets, transforming your N-Ray Scanner into a versatile multi-tool.
Aza
Location: Decommissioned Autonomous Extractorium, Dorado
How to unlock: Rescue Aza from the traitorous cultists in the Extractorium
Ability: Spread the Message – Aza fires an explosive charge in a cone towards the target location, dealing heavy physical damage and staggering enemies hit.
Mod kits: Loot Hierarch Ziegler during “The Dawn of Glorious Betrayal” in Eden (Basic)
Aza is a zealous cultist and undeniably one of the more perilous companions you might choose to recruit. Her involvement with a sub-faction that venerates The Rifts makes her a uniquely compelling addition to any crew.
With a strong inclination for violence, Aza is always ready for a fight. While not an assassin in the traditional sense, she’s an excellent choice for stealth-oriented players, thanks to her “Assisted Takedowns” perk, which grants a substantial +50% bonus to sneak attack damage. Pair her with Niles for the ultimate covert strike team experience.
Tristan
Location: The 2nd Choice, Free Market Station
How to unlock: Complete “Arbitrary Measures” on Free Market Station
Ability: Judgement – Tristan charges at the target, landing a powerful blow. All enemies nearby take massive damage and are sent flying. Furthermore, all enemies within a moderate range of Tristan are taunted.
Mod kits: To be confirmed
Tristan is a Protectorate arbiter, aptly described as “judge, jury, and executioner.” His imposing stature and grenade-adorned sleeve, coupled with the massive hammer he wields, clearly hint at his combat style.
True to his appearance, Tristan is a hard-hitting brawler with devastating explosive force. Like Niles, he can draw enemy aggression, providing a robust defensive option. This also allows him to gather melee opponents, setting them up for a powerful ground smash. A highlight of Tristan’s perk tree is “Frenzied Charge,” which transforms him into an unstoppable berserker—it’s incredibly satisfying to watch him unleash chaos.