The Outer Worlds offers a variety of powerful weapons, but few are as impressive early on as Fiver, a unique revolver that can be acquired in the starting area. Known for its exceptional damage and heavy ammo usage, Fiver can carry you through the early to mid-game with ease. This guide covers how to acquire Fiver, why it’s so powerful, and tips for maximizing its potential.

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Why Fiver Is the Best Early Handgun

Fiver is a unique variant of the Spacer’s Choice revolver, but with a significant twist: it uses heavy ammunition instead of light, allowing it to deal double the damage of a standard revolver.

• Base Damage: 70 per shot
• Damage per Second (DPS): 175
• Ammo Type: Heavy
• Magazine: 5 rounds (despite showing 6 during reload animations)
• Unique Mod: Extender Sights (+25% range)

What Makes It Unique:

• Fiver’s use of heavy ammo allows it to bypass armor more effectively than standard revolvers.
• The extender sights mod increases effective range, making it viable for both close and mid-range encounters.

Drawback: Heavy ammo is less abundant early in the game, so managing your shots wisely is essential.

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How to Get Fiver

Fiver can be obtained very early in the game, but it is a missable weapon if you progress too far in the main quest.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Reach the Botanical Lab:
   • After arriving at the Emerald Vale region, follow the main quest to Edgewater and then proceed north to the Botanical Lab.
2. Speak to Adelaide:
   • Enter the large greenhouse at the lab and talk to Adelaide to unlock access to merchants in the area.
3. Buy from Stefan:
   • After speaking to Adelaide, find Stefan, a merchant outside the greenhouse.
   • Purchase Fiver for 3,600 bits.

Important:

• If you progress the main quest and restore power to Edgewater or the Botanical Lab, Stefan may stop being a merchant, making Fiver unobtainable.
• You cannot pickpocket or loot Fiver from Stefan even if you kill him.

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Why Fiver Is Worth the Cost

3,600 bits might seem expensive early on, but it’s one of the best investments you can make for a handgun build.

Reasons to Buy:

• High DPS: Outclasses most other handguns available early on.
• Armor Penetration: Heavy ammo is more effective against armored targets.
• Critical Hit Potential:
  • With investments in the Handgun skill, you can reach over 200% critical hit chance and +50% critical hit damage.
  • At max Handgun skill, you can also ignore 100% of enemy armor.

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Optimizing Fiver’s Damage

Skill Investment:

• Handgun Skill: Increases critical hit chance and damage.
• Heavy Weapons Skill: Boosts damage dealt by heavy ammo.

Perks to Prioritize:

• Precision: Increases critical damage.
• Confidence: Grants a damage bonus after each kill.

Playstyle Tips:

• Use sneak attacks to maximize Fiver’s high damage output.
• Swap to a light ammo revolver for weaker enemies to conserve heavy ammo.

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Is Fiver Overpowered?

Verdict: Fiver’s damage output and versatility make it one of the strongest early-game weapons. Its ability to deal massive critical damage, coupled with heavy ammo’s armor penetration, allows you to one-shot many enemies even on higher difficulties.

However, its reliance on heavy ammo requires careful shot management, especially in the early game when this ammo type is scarce.

Conclusion: If you’re focusing on a handgun build, Fiver is a must-have. Prioritize acquiring it early and enjoy melting enemies with one of the best revolvers in The Outer Worlds!