The Outer Worlds 2 Best Traits – Ranked!

One of the most important decisions in The Outer Worlds 2 is which traits to select at character creation. In this guide we explain the best traits ranked and why because with no respecs, this might be the most important decision of your entire play through!

Introduction to Character Creation

Character creation in The Outer Worlds 2 is where your adventure truly begins, giving you the power to shape your character’s strengths, weaknesses, and overall playstyle. One of the most impactful choices you’ll make during this process is selecting your traits. Traits in The Outer Worlds 2 come in both positive and negative forms, each offering unique bonuses or presenting new challenges.

You can opt for just one positive trait for a straightforward boost, or take two positive traits if you’re willing to accept one negative trait as well. This system encourages you to weigh the benefits of extra power against the potential drawbacks, making your character creation decisions more meaningful. Whether you want to specialize in combat, stealth, or dialogue, understanding how positive and negative traits interact is key to building a character that fits your vision and thrives in the worlds 2 universe.

How Traits Work in the Outer Worlds 2

In the Outer Worlds 2, traits are a permanent selection that you make at character creation. There are both positive and negative traits. Players can choose one positive trait without selecting a negative. However, if you want two positive traits you must select one negative. This gives you a dilemma, is it worth it taking another positive trait for a permanent negative effect? Some traits come with negatives that can impact your gameplay, such as making certain skills harder to level or imposing other disadvantages.

The answer is, it depends. Traits remain with your character throughout your entire playthrough as you cannot change character creation decisions throughout the rest of the game. Therefore, it’s usually best to select only one positive trait on your first playthrough for a straightforward experience, or consider the nine positive traits available for more strategic builds. Because, traits not only give you permanent bonuses and combat buffs, but they do influence story, dialogue, and relationships.

Now let’s run through what we think are the best traits ranked in The Outer Worlds 2! Here are the traits to pick and how each point spent on a trait can shape your character.

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The Best Traits Ranked in OW2

The three best traits in the Outer Worlds 2 are Lucky, Resilient, and Brilliant. Lucky stands out as the best because it gives you a +5% critical bonus and it leads to “certain opportunities are just accessible for you.” Therefore, if you want the best chance to influence combat and story, Lucky would be the best. Resilient is great for those players playing on high difficulty because it forgoes death for three seconds when you are dropped to zero health. Another alternative is Brilliant which allows you to select one extra skill at the start of the game, helping boost your overall characters power throughout your playthrough. Below are the best traits ranked in the Outer Worlds 2 from best to worst:

Lucky: more critical and exclusive dialogue is hard to pass up for any build.
Resilient: you can prevent death in combat for three seconds!
Brilliant: gain an extra specialized skill super helpful for every build.
Brawny: melee focus you can stun enemies you slide through.
Innovative: better crafting which is often over looked in RPGs.
Nimble: the perfect stealth perk faster sprint and crouch speed.
Heroic: a companion focused perk with reduced CD for them.
Suave: a helpful buy and sell perk with discounts and lower bounties.
Witty: a reputation trait with limited utility.
Dumb: negative trait with fun consequences and one of the best if you had to pick.

10. Dumb

Description: you weren’t recruite for your ability to plan or solve problems. You just can’t learn some things.
Type: Negative
Bonus: During skill selection, lock 5 of the 12 available skills. Those skills can never have points added to them.
Build Recommendation: Dumb Build

The Dumb trait is ideal for those wanting to select two positive traits. You are locked into 12 available skills, and you won’t be able to add points to them. The upside of this trait is, you get two positive. With the obvious downside of less skill utility. That’s an okay proposition for a build narrowly focused on combat, speech, or a specific gameplay element like melee.

Now, there are funny and interesting mechanics with dumb as it was in the original game. Therefore, if you want a high-tech science experience, this could totally ruin your game. But, the upside in terms of gameplay is, you can have limited downsides if you have a specific build. Therefore, we recommend the dumb trait for those players looking to get two positive traits with a fun and limited downsides negative trait.

9. Witty

Description: Your fun demeanor and quick-wit makes you popular with others. Others are willing to forgive your past transgressions.
Type: Positive
Bonus: Reputation with any faction can never decrease below Neutral, preventing any penalties that would be gained from having a negative reputation with a faction such as vendor discounts.
Build Recommendation: Speech Build

The Witty trait comes it at number nine on our list primarily because of it’s weak bonus. Your faction reputation can never decrease below neutral. From a gameplay perspective, this bonus only helps those who want to interact with all three factions, without suffering negative consequences.

There is, however a part of the bonus where you are forgiven easier. This could have some unforeseen dialogue benefits. And the other alternative for choosing this is if an achievement is tied to faction reputation and you are forced to chose one over the other. Many RPG games force you into siding with one, then eliminating the questline from another faction and this could be the case in Outer Worlds 2. Outside of that scenario, Witty is a weaker trait and should be avoided.

8. Suave

Description: You have a way with words, getting you discounts at vendors and talking your way out of minor crimes.
Type: Positive
Bonus: 10% discount at all vendors. Bounty must be 20% higher than normal to be seen as an Outlaw.
Build Recommendation: Ultimate Thief Build

If you intend to pickpocket, stealth, and fence items, then the Suave trait is for you! You gain a discount at vendors and bounties must by 20% higher to be seen as an outlaw. Additionally, you are able to talk your way out of minor crimes. Why we ranked the Suave trait as eight on our best list is, it only applies to a niche build that is steal focused.

One flaw, kleptomaniac automatically steals items that you look at random. In that instance, this is a useful trait. Moreover, if you intend to constantly steal and commit crimes, this could be useful. However, the vast majority of players can benefit from other traits rather than gain a small bonus to vendors.

7. Heroic

Description: Others tend to naturally follow and look up to you.
Type: Positive
Bonus: -20% Companion Ability Charge Time
Build Recommendation: Pacificist Build, Soldier Build

The Heroic trait is perfect for players wanting to optimize companions effectiveness. Companions have 20% faster ability charge, thus they can use them more frequently and fire off high powered damage or healing skills. You can bring two companions with you to combat, so this can drastically increase their effectiveness. Moreover, the developers loaded the games perks with companion boosting power.

The downside of the companion focused trait is, the bonuses don’t apply to you. Your power scales exponentially while companions can be helpful, they won’t be as effective in the long run. Moreover, the Lone Wolf playstyle and possibly adding perks and gear makes this more appealing for some players. However, consider this perk a good choice for those who love companions and don’t feel confident in their combat aiming.

6. Nimble

Description: You’re quick and dexterous, able to move more quickly while stealthing and in combat.
Type: Positive
Bonus: +25% Crouch Speed, +25% Combat Sprint Speed
Build Recommendation: Stealth or Sniper Build

For those who love to stealth, snipe, and or steal, the Nimble perk is a perfect choice. You gain more crouch and sprint speed, making you faster sneaking and stealthing around. The stealth system in the Outer Worlds 2 has been revamped and modernized, so you can expect a better risk reward system than the original game.

However, the major downside with Nimble is the lack of a damage boost. While you can rely on perks and skills to increase stealth damage, it would be nice to see something big for those stealth players. Pickpocket thief’s and melee knife fighters will love this trait, but there are still better options in the game.

5. Innovative

Description: You are inventive and crafty, always able to find unique solutions to complex problems.
Type: Positive
Bonus: Various crafting recipes are more effective, allowing you to create more items for fewer resources.
Build Recommendation: Tech build, Demolitionist

If you want the opposite of the Dumb trait it would be Innovative. Innovative trait allows you to solve complex problems and find unique solutions while granting you crafting recipes and more effectiveness with them. Most players assume consumables that boost damage or heal aren’t worth investing in. Outer Worlds 1 had massive combat boosters and healing (inhalers) that made the game easy mode if you rely on constantly spamming consumables and the Outer Worlds 2 looks to be no different.

The downside to this perk is it’’s tech focused and would pair well with a specifically math/technology focused playthrough. Moreover, it doesn’’t offer any damage boost or raw combat power and emphasizes the need for resource gathering and crafting. The Innovative trait increases your efficiency with crafting materials, allowing you to get more out of every resource you collect. Innovative also boosts your ability to craft ammo, throwables, and resources, making it a valuable trait for players who want to maximize their crafting output. However, don’’t sleep on consumables as a sleeper way to increase your overall power on and off the battlefield.

4. Brawny

Description: You’re able to perform great feats of strength. In combat, you’re an unstoppable force.
Type: Positive
Bonus: Sliding or sprinting into hostiles will knockdown hostiles. Cooldown: 5 seconds
Build Recommendation: Melee Build

The must have melee damage dealing trait is Brawny. You can perform great feats of strength in combat and also knock down enemies when sliding or sprinting into them. This gives the melee build an on demand crowd control mechanism that rewards fast movement and aggressive gameplay. You could even pair the Nimble and Dumb traits for a super fast and furious melee build.

The obvious negative to this perk is you need to be close to enemies. That comes with high risk and high reward either melee weapons or shotguns. Typically, these “auto stun” mechanics don’t work on bosses or the bosses deal so much damage it’s not really possible to get close and tag them.

But the developers at obsidian looked out for those melee build fans by putting this in the game.

3. Brilliant

Description: You’re intelligent, able to easily solve problems and more easily pick up new skills.
Type: Positive
Bonus: During skill selection, specialize in 1 additional skill. Specialised skills start with 2 skill points.
Build Recommendation: Skill-focused character, hybrid tech/hacker or science weapon user

One of the most well rounded perks is Brilliant because it allows you specialize in one additional skill. At character creation, you can specialize in two skills, and have an extra specialization gives you a more well rounded, faster progression because specialized skills start with 2 skill points.

For players who love versatility, especially in the early game, Brilliant is an excellent choice. Brilliant is also great because if you don’t know a specific build or type you want to commit to at the start, merely spend another specialization on it so you have flexibility. The downside is however, you’ll be the jack of all traders rather than the master of something. While Brilliant is great, players aren’t likely to use this to completely min-max their characters otherwise we’d rank it higher on the list.

2. Resilient

Description: You can power through even the deadliest of injuries. It requires more than usual to take you down in combat.
Type: Positive
Bonus: Death is prevented for 3 seconds the first time you would have died each combat.
Build Recommendation: Solo survivalist or frontline tank

The second best trait is Resilient because of the mind-blowing survivability bonus. You prevent death for three seconds each time you would have died in combat. Therefore, it’s the best overall survivability trait, and it’s hard to pass up for players who hate dying, playing on the hardest difficulty, and want to live forever.

Melee builds, low HP snipers, or achievement hunters looking to beat the games hardest difficulty will love Resilient. The only reason it doesn’t rank here on the list is no offensive bonus. If you can destroy an enemy outright, who cares about survivability right? And that brings us to the best trait ranked in the Outer Worlds 2, Lucky.

1. Lucky

Description: You’re lucky—things tend to go your way.
Type: Positive
Bonus: +5% Critical Chance. Certain opportunities are just accessible to you.
Build Recommendation: Gunslinger Build

The Lucky trait is the best overall because it applies to every player, every build, and every scenario of the game. Not only do you get +5% critical chance, but also new opportunities are accessible to you. The two bonuses are hard to pass up because more critical is a direct impact on combat performance while opportunities is perfect for dialogue and speech focused players.

Outer Worlds 2 is also loaded with critical perks that make it possible to get a very high critical damage percentage and critical damage multiplier. This leads to RPG fans favorite playstyles, one-shot one-kill stealth builds. Another appealing way to play is the Gunslinger, a space cowboy who slows down time and shots to kill asks questions later. With application to almost every playstyle, we rank Lucky the best overall trait and think it’s a wise decision for any player looking to impact their overall builds performance without regretting it down the road.

Negative Traits and Their Effects

Negative traits in The Outer Worlds 2 are designed to add a layer of challenge and balance to your character build, especially if you want the advantage of two positive traits. When you select two positive traits during character creation, you must also pick one negative trait, each of which imposes a unique limitation on your character. The three negative traits available are Dumb, Sickly, and Abrasive.

Dumb restricts your skill selection by locking out five skills, meaning you can’t add points to them throughout the game. Sickly reduces your base health and lowers your toxicity crash threshold, making you more vulnerable in combat and less resilient to certain effects. Abrasive, on the other hand, impacts your social interactions by making it harder to maintain positive reputation with factions. Understanding these negative traits and how they affect your gameplay is essential for making smart choices – especially if you want to maximize the benefits of your positive traits without hampering your overall experience in The Outer Worlds 2.

The Best Negative Trait to Pick

If you’re aiming to unlock the power of two positive traits in The Outer Worlds 2, the best negative trait to pick is Dumb. While Dumb does limit your skill selection by locking out five skills, it’s often the most manageable drawback, especially if you plan your build around specialized skills that aren’t affected. This negative trait allows you to focus on your preferred playstyle – whether that’s combat, stealth, or dialogue – without significantly hindering your character’s effectiveness.

In contrast, Sickly reduces your base health and toxicity crash threshold, which can make surviving tough encounters much harder, especially in the early game. By choosing Dumb, you can still create a strong, focused character and enjoy the benefits of two positive traits, making it the top choice for players who want to maximize their build with minimal downside.

Traits FAQs

Can you respec Traits in The Outer Worlds 2?

No. Your trait decision made in character creation will be with you after a brief tutorial. Only starting a new character will let you change your trait.

What’s the safest Trait for beginners?

Resilient is a safe bet if you struggle with survivability due to it preventing you from dying in every combat engagement. For those focused on damage, Lucky as it’s one of the only traits that boost damage via a +5% to critical chance.

Do Traits affect companion builds?

Yes, though indirectly. One trait, heroic specifically reduces companions skill recharge time by 20%, making it the logical choice for companion focused builds.

Dive Into The Outer Worlds 2!

Check the links below to browse more guides and builds for The Outer Worlds 2: