The Outer Worlds is a complex game with a lot of hidden systems and mechanics that aren’t explained outright. From managing your inventory more efficiently to optimizing your companions for survival, there are plenty of valuable tricks to uncover. This guide will walk you through some of the most useful features and tips that the game never tells you.

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1. Displaying Actual Weapon Damage

By default, the game shows weapon stats based on base damage alone, not accounting for your character’s perks and skills.

How to Fix It:

• Go to Settings > UI and disable Show Base Stats. This change allows you to see the actual damage your weapons deal, including all your current buffs and skill effects.

Why This Matters:

• It helps you make more informed choices about which weapons to use based on your build.

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2. Faster Dialogue Choices

Dialogue is a huge part of The Outer Worlds and waiting for dialogue options to appear can slow down the experience.

Speed It Up:

• In Settings > UI, enable the option for dialogue choices to appear during the last line of NPC dialogue.

Benefit:

• This allows you to read and choose responses faster, keeping the flow of the game smoother.

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3. Understanding Faction Reputation Effects

Faction reputation not only affects your access to discounts and special items but also makes skill checks easier with that faction’s NPCs.

Tip:

• Prioritize completing quests for factions you want to favor. Higher reputation can lower dialogue skill checks, making difficult conversations easier.

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4. Effective Robot Combat

Robots are some of the toughest enemies, especially for melee builds.

Pro Tip:

• Aim for the blue cores on their legs to exploit their weak points, making them much easier to bring down.

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5. Save Management: Avoid Losing Progress

Relying solely on quick saves can lead to data loss.

How It Works:

• The game keeps only 3 quick saves and 3 auto saves globally, not per character.

Recommendation:

• Create manual saves often, especially before significant decisions or difficult fights.
• On Xbox, note that online and offline saves are separate.

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6. Mastering Inventory Management

Carrying capacity is limited, so managing your inventory efficiently is essential.

Key Tips:

• Use the Sort by function to organize items by value, weight, or type.
• Mark items as Junk to sell them all at once to vendors.
• Store excess gear in the stash box in your ship’s captain quarters—it has unlimited weight capacity.

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7. Companion Management for Supernova Difficulty

On Supernova difficulty, companion deaths are permanent.

Survival Tips:

• Adjust their combat behavior from Passive to Defensive to reduce risks.
• Use the Move command to position them safely during tough fights.

Friendly Fire Warning:

• Companions can take damage from your attacks, so be cautious when using explosives or area-of-effect skills.

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8. Tactical Time Dilation (TTD) as a Strategic Tool

TTD is more than just a slow-motion mechanic.

Optimal Use:

• Stand still while using TTD to slow gauge depletion.
• Use it to reload weapons safely or to position companions effectively.

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9. Unlocking the Dodge Skill

The Double Space prompt often confuses players.

How to Unlock:

• Invest 20 points into the Dodge skill to activate this ability.
• This lets you perform a quick dash, ideal for melee builds and avoiding mines.

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10. The Truth About Sprats

You’ll hear a lot about Sprats in the game, but what exactly are they?

Fun Fact:

• Sprat stands for Space Rat. They are harmless but ever-present creatures in the game’s world.

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11. Save Often and Save Smart

The Outer Worlds lacks a New Game+ mode, making saves crucial.

Pro Tip:

• Maintain multiple manual saves before major quests to avoid losing progress.

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Conclusion

These hidden features can significantly improve your experience in The Outer Worlds by making combat easier, managing inventory more efficient, and helping you make better decisions. Keep these tips in mind, and your journey through Halcyon will be much smoother!