Discover Tristan, the Outer Worlds 2 companion as we dive into How to Recruit, Perks, Quest, Best Builds, equipment and weapons!
Tristan Companion Introduction
Tristan serves as a lawful powerhouse for the Protectorate, acting as a judge, jury, and executioner. He’s a tanky, melee-heavy companion with a giant hammer, perfect for players who need a frontline bruiser. While Tristan cannot be recruited as a party member immediately, he may become available later in the story as you progress and make key decisions.
Like all companions, Tristan has a distinct backstory, role in combat, and moral compass. If his sense of justice is threatened, he is willing to kill anyone who stands in his way, highlighting his intense commitment to his cause and the morally ambiguous choices you may face. Whether you’re blasting enemies or negotiating peace, Tristan reacts to your decisions and might leave if your choices clash with his ethics. Knowing what drives him and outfitting him properly can make the difference between a loyal ally and a departing friend.
🪐 Related
- TOW2 Character Creation Guide
- All Outer Worlds 2 Companions
- The Outer Worlds 2 Best Builds
- Complete Weapons List
How to Recruit Tristan
You initially meet Tristan on Free Market Station, after completing the storyline on your first planet, Eden. Tristan will not join your party at this time, but will ask for your help with an investigation on the second planet called Dorado. After completing these objectives, you must find Tristan in the 2nd Choice Saloon within the ACS Free Market to continue his recruitment quest.
The Free Market Station is also home to the secretive Sub Rosa organization, which may play a role in Tristan’s recruitment quest. During this process, you should also seek out Francis Min, a key informant within the Free Market Station who provides valuable information to help progress the recruitment. Helping Tristan investigate here and then returning to the Free Market Station to continue your conversation with him will finally allow him to join your party.
Tristan’s Abilities
Tristan’s unique Companion Ability is called Judgement which has him charge at an enemy with a powerful blow as well as taunt nearby enemies.
He also has two unique traits: Supreme Arbiter Hammer, which allows him to fire grenades from his hammer at range and Observant Adjudicator, which allows Tristan to complete Observation checks for you if your own Observation skill is too low.
Judgement (Companion Ability)
Tristan charges at this target, ending the charge with a powerful blow. The target and enemies nearby take massive damage from the hit and are knocked away. Additionally, all enemies in a moderate range around Tristan are taunted by him.
Tristan’s ability must be fully charged and you must be targeting an enemy for it to be activated.
Supreme Arbiter Hammer (Companion Trait)
Tristan wields the Supreme Arbiter Hammer, a powerful melee weapon that can also be used as a grenade launcher at range.
Observant Adjudicator (Companion Trait)
While Tristan is in the party, he has a 25% chance to reveal hidden objects around you automatically. This can occur if you can’t reveal it yourself, such as by having too low of an Observation skill.
Tristan Perks
Companions can choose one of two perks every five levels, up to level 30. This gives Companions a total of 6 perks which define their build and playstyle.
Tristan can choose from the following perks in The Outer Worlds 2:
| Level | Perks | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Juggernaut Enemies are more likely to target Tristan and hostile effects on him last half as long. Harmful Status Effect Duration -50% | Explosive Strikes Every 3 melee attacks by Tristan activate his hammer’s grenade, dealing bonus physical damage in an area around his target. +45 Physical Damage in an area around the target |
| 10 | Shield of the Law When choosing to start a fight using dialog, Tristan will always taunt enemies in addition to any other Speech Attack effects. Taunted: Cases aggression, forcing the afflicted to attack the applier. | Beg for Mercy When choosing to start a fight using dialog, Tristan will always frighten enemies in addition to any other Speech Attack effects. Frightened: The target flees from combat for 8s. Does not affect automechanicals. |
| 15 | Zyranium Regeneration While Tristan is exposed to Zyranium, he rapidly regenerates health. Heal 2.5% every 0.5s | Zyranium Energy While Tristan is in Zyranium, his companion ability recharges considerably faster. |
| 20 | Aggressive Challenge Enemies taunted by Tristan’s companion ability are goaded instead. Goaded enemies do not use cover and take additional damage. | Frenzied Charge After using his companion ability, Tristan is frenzied for a duration. While frenzied he deals bonus melee damage, attacks more often, and moves faster. +25% Melee Weapon Attack Speed, +20% Movement Speed, +25% Damage |
| 25 | Steel Wall Tristan gains temporary health at the start of combat doubling his total health. | Demoralizing Entry After killing a target Tristan terrifies human and creature enemies around him. Has a cooldown between activations. Frightened: The target flees from combat for 8s. Does not affect automechanicals. Cooldown: 30s |
| 30 | Groundshaker When performing his companion ability, rather than knocking the target down, he instead slams the ground, dealing damage and knocking everyone down in an area around him. | Propulsion Rocket Tristan’s grenade launcher attachment gains support for a rocket, propelling him forward during his companion ability. His companion ability now deals considerably more damage and knocks the targets down for longer. |
When building your party, consider including a combat medic like Inez for essential healing and support during tough battles. Having a companion with high medical skill can also be crucial for examining and treating wounded allies in difficult encounters, ensuring your team stays in fighting shape.
Additional Perks
Companions in The Outer Worlds 2 can choose one additional perk when you complete their companion quest.
Additional Perk options for Tristan:
| Protectorate Champion | Tristan’s combat ability charges faster. |
|---|---|
| Fair Guardian | Tristan automatically taunts in an area around him when your health drops to 25% or lower for the first time each combat. |
Tristan’s Quest & Rewards
Tristan’s story quest deals with justice and punishment. From the reveal content, he is reminiscent of a character in Fallout 4 Paladin Danse. His faction, the Protectorate, has been shown to be authoritarian, having citizens sacrifice freedom for safety. Likely, you will have to make a choice about how this plays out and what Tristan’s end-goal really is.
A major turning point in Tristan’s companion quest is the step called Casting Off the Veil, which marks a narrative transition and reveals deeper truths about his motivations. During this quest, you will travel to Paradise Island to dismantle a hostile presence, infiltrate the Vox Relay Station as a pivotal mission objective, and investigate both a radio tower and a transmission tower for clues. These require specific skills such as Science or Engineering to analyze.
You’ll also examine a wrecked transmission tower and a badly damaged automechanical near the refugee camp; note that a certain hack skill level is needed to analyze the automechanical. In the camp, look for a camp terminal near a lockbox, which provides crucial evidence for the investigation. Additionally, discovering a refugee corpse in the camp will require a high medical skill to properly examine and uncover all the facts.
As with other companions in The Outer Worlds 2, Tristan’s side quest could be key to keeping him in your crew. These quests typically unlock powerful perks and help secure your companions’ trust and loyalty.
Best Builds & Companion Synergies
Recommended Builds for Tristan in The Outer Worlds 2 include:
- Pairs well with ranged builds like sniper or heavy weapon characters.
- Works great with Aza for a melee duo.
- Combine with Inez for a durable frontline + healing combo.
The best build to focus on with Tristan is melee damage with his giant hammer along with high survivability such as using Heavy Armor. So far, we know of three armor types: Light, Medium, and Heavy.
Tristan is going to be a great companion for ranged players who want to snipe from a distance and have their melee warrior create a distraction on the front lines. To that end, consider Inez as your second companion in combat to heal Tristan as he may soak up lots of damage.
Tristan Weapon and Armor Upgrades
Tristan’s primary weapon is the Arbiter’s Hammer and he uses Medium Armor for defense. Both Tristan’s weapon and armor have multiple upgrade options you can choose from throughout the game.
Tristan’s weapon and armor have both basic and advanced upgrade options. You must choose from one basic and one advanced upgrade, though you can change these upgrades freely throughout the game via the Party Upgrades menu at a Workbench.
Tristan’s Personality & Lore
The Outer Worlds 2 is renowned for its deep narrative, exploring themes of justice, morality, and the far-reaching consequences of player choices. At the heart of these themes is Tristan, a lawful powerhouse from the Protectorate faction whose presence in your party can dramatically shape your journey. To recruit Tristan, players must undertake the quest “Arbitrary Measures,” which centers on investigating a refugee camp in the Golden Ridge region. This quest not only introduces you to Tristan’s distinct backstory but also highlights his role as a melee-heavy companion wielding the Supreme Arbiter Hammer—a powerful melee weapon that doubles as a grenade launcher.
Throughout your adventure, you’ll face a variety of human and creature enemies, from hostile automechanicals to aggressive Wasp swarms. Tristan’s unique companion ability allows him to taunt enemies and deal massive damage to nearby foes, making him an invaluable asset in the thick of combat. His Fair Guardian trait further enhances his frontline capabilities, automatically drawing enemy attention when his health drops, ensuring your party stays protected during intense battles.
The storyline in The Outer Worlds 2 is shaped by your decisions, influencing not only the outcome of quests but also your relationships with companions like Tristan. For example, during his personal quest, you may be faced with the difficult choice to execute Virgil, a decision that can have lasting effects on both the narrative and Tristan’s character development. Meeting Tristan at Free Market Station and engaging in meaningful dialogue options can strengthen your bond, potentially turning him into a loyal ally who stands by your side through thick and thin.
Companion quests, such as those involving Tristan, offer deeper insight into the game’s world and its inhabitants. These missions often require you to negotiate peace or deal significant damage to enemies, reflecting the complex moral landscape of the Outer Worlds. Tristan’s background at the Arbiter training facility and his unwavering commitment to justice provide a unique perspective on the game’s overarching themes, challenging players to consider the balance between order and freedom.
By recruiting Tristan and completing his companion quests, you’ll not only gain a formidable melee ally but also unlock new layers of story and character development. The Outer Worlds 2 rewards players who engage with its companions, offering a richer, more immersive experience where every choice matters and every ally has a story worth discovering.
FAQs About Tristan in the Outer Worlds 2
Can Tristan die or leave if you act unlawfully?
Yes, Tristan can leave your party if you take actions he does not agree with. Attacking a Protectorate NPC also forces him to leave you.
Is Tristan missable?
Yes, Tristan can be missed if you don’t talk to him initially while you are aboard Free Market Station.
Best synergy?
Tank-heavy setups or any squad needing a frontline protector.
More Companion Guides For The Outer Worlds 2
Looking for more information on Companions in The Outer Worlds 2? Check out our dedicated TOW2 Companion Guides below!
