Perks

Perks
Perks menu

"Welcome to Perk Selection. On this screen you can choose which Perks to buy with your Perk Points."

"You get a new Perk Point to spend every 2 levels. You can also acquire Perk Points through gameplay, such as by accepting a Flaw. Acquiring 5 new perks makes the next tier of perks available to you!"

Perks and Companion Perks are permanent buffs that are applied to the Stranger or Companion. They allow the player to customize the Stranger and the companions to fit the players playstyle.

A perk point is earned every even level for the Stranger and ever five levels for companions. The stranger can also earn a perk point by accepting Flaws, which are permanent debuffs that affects the Stranger.

The Stranger has three tiers of perks with 14 perks per tier. The companions have five tiers with the first three tiers having 4 perks, one being companion exclusive and the remaining tiers have 3 perks each.

Stranger Perks

Tier 1

Tier 1 perks require 0 previous perks to be unlocked and cost 1 perk point.

Icon	Name	Description	Effect	Game
	Toughness	You've grown healthier in your time outside of stasis.	Base Health +50%	The Outer Worlds
	Slow the World	Increase the Carrying Capacity bonus from your Companions.	Tactical Time Dilation Meter Max +25%	The Outer Worlds
	Lone Wolf	Sometimes you are the only person you can trust, and that's okay. You deal increased damage when adventuring alone.	Damage when alone in party +25%	The Outer Worlds
	Strider	Years of Adrena-Time use have left a permanent pep in your step.	Walk Speed +25%	The Outer Worlds
	Cheetah	They're not slow, you're just fast.	Sprint Speed +20%	The Outer Worlds
	High Maintenance	You take better care of your weapons and armor than most people.	Weapon / Armor Durability Loss -25%	The Outer Worlds
	Precision	After some unsanctioned adjustments, the Workbench's sight alignment tool is much more accurate.	Companion Crit Chance +15%	The Outer Worlds
	The Negotiator	Being a shrewd negotiator may cost you some friends, but you make up for it in Bits.	Vendor Prices +20%	The Outer Worlds
	Deadly Demonstrations	Your companions have a lot to teach you about killing.	XP from Companion kills +50%	The Outer Worlds
	Traveler	You've become very efficient at transporting goods. Maybe you should have been born as a cargo hauler.	Fast Travel when Encumbered	The Outer Worlds
	Quick and the Dead	Your Tactical Time Dilation meter recharges much faster.	Tactical Time Dilation Recharge Rate +50%	The Outer Worlds
	Pack Mule	Increase your maximum Carrying Capacity.	Carrying Capacity +50kg	The Outer Worlds
	A Few Bits More	Vendors and Vending Machines have additional Ammo, Consumables, and General items available. This effect will happen the next time a Vendor or Vending Machine restocks.	Additional Ammo stock on Vendors +100% Additional Consumable and General stock on Vendors +100%	The Outer Worlds
	Resilient	You have a base Armor Rating which adds to any armor you wear.	Base Armor Rating +5	The Outer Worlds
	Applied Science	Increase the magazine size of Science Weapons.	Science Weapon Magazine Size +25%	Peril on Gorgon
	Nietzsche's Reward	You deal increased damage based on the number of Flaws you have.	Damage per Flaw +5%	Peril on Gorgon

Tier 2

Tier 2 perks require 5 previous perks to be unlocked and cost 1 perk point.

Icon	Name	Description	Effect	Game
	Run and Gun	Reduce the penalties to Accuracy when moving.	Movement Penalty to Accuracy -65%	The Outer Worlds
	The Reaper	Gain some Tactical Time Dilation meter when you kill an enemy.	TTD Restored per Kill +25%	The Outer Worlds
	Weird Science	Increases damage dealt by Science Weapons.	Science Weapon Damage +50%	The Outer Worlds
	Speed Demon	Increase your movement and action speed when Tactical Time Dilation is active.	Movement Speed during TTD +25%	The Outer Worlds
	Scanner	While using Tactical Time Dilation, you deal increased Weak Spot damage.	Bonus to Extra Headshot/Weakspot Damage +20%	The Outer Worlds
	The Collector	Increase the range at which all interactable objects around you highlight without requiring you to look directly at them.	Interactable Highlight Range +5m	The Outer Worlds
	Snake Oil Salesman	You have a way of convincing Vendors to pay you more Bits than they should.	Vendor Buying Price +20%"	The Outer Worlds
	We Band of Brothers	When you critically hit a target, you have a chance of immediately resetting the cooldown of a Companion Ability.	Chance to reset a Companion Ability cooldown on each Critical Hit + 25%	The Outer Worlds
	Tag Team	Using a Companion Ability has a chance to reset the other Companion's Ability cooldown.	Chance to reset a Companion Ability cooldown when using the other Companion's Ability +25%	The Outer Worlds
	Rolling Thunder	Killing an enemy reduces the remaining cooldown time of Companion Abilities.	Companion Ability Cooldowns for each of your kills - 20%	The Outer Worlds
	Harvester	Restore some Health whenever you kill an enemy.	Health Restored per Kill +15%	The Outer Worlds
	Hoarder	Significantly reduces the Weight of Consumables.	Consumable Weight -50%	The Outer Worlds
	Pack of Pack Mules	Increase the Carrying Capacity bonus from your Companions.	Carrying Capacity Bonus from Companions +40kg	The Outer Worlds
	Soliloquy	Bonus to Dialog Skills when you have no Companions in your party.	Dialog Skills +10	The Outer Worlds
	Assassin	Quiet weapons deal more damage. A weapon is considered Quiet if its Noise Range is 2.5m or less.	Quiet Weapon Damage +25%	Peril on Gorgon
	Lone Master	While having no companions in the party, but still having some back on the ship, gain a bonus to all skills. Double the bonus if no companions have been recruited.	All skills +5, if no Companions in party All skills +10, if no Companions recruited	Peril on Gorgon

Tier 3

Tier 3 perks require 10 previous perks to be unlocked and cost 1 perk point.

Icon	Name	Description	Effect	Game
	Wild Science	Further increase the damage dealt by Science weapons (stacks with Weird Science).	Science Weapon Damage +50%	The Outer Worlds
	Steady Hand	After killing an enemy, your Weapon Sway and Accuracy penalties while moving are reduced to zero for a short time.	Ranged Weapon Sway -100% Movement Penalty to Accuracy -100%	The Outer Worlds
	Confidence	There's something about blood and violence that helps you focus. That's not disturbing at all.	Your next attack after killing an enemy is a guaranteed Critical Hit.	The Outer Worlds
	Armor Master	Increase the Armor Rating and Skill bonuses from any armor you wear.	Armor Rating Bonus +10% Skill Bonus +100%	The Outer Worlds
	Super Pack Mule	Further increase your maximum Carrying Capacity.	Carrying Capacity +100kg	The Outer Worlds
	Tactical Master	When you activate Tactical Time Dilation, you continue to move at normal speed for a short time. This effect only occurs when your TTD meter is full at time of activation.	Movement Speed during TTD for 5s +70%	The Outer Worlds
	Revenge	Whenever you are affected by a harmful Combat Effect, you deal increased Damage.	Damage +20%	The Outer Worlds
	Last Stand	When you are at low Health, you deal increased damage.	Damage while under 25% Health +30%	The Outer Worlds
	Boom, Headshot!	Headshot kills explode, damaging nearby enemies.	Headshot kills deal 25% of their damage to enemies within 2.5m	The Outer Worlds
	Don't Go Dyin' On Me!	When you use the Inhaler, any downed Companions are revived with a small amount of Health.	Revive Companions to 25% Health Cooldown: 15m	The Outer Worlds
	Penetrating Shots	Your Ranged attacks reduce the target's Armor Rating by 1 point per hit. This effect lasts a short time, and can stack multiple times.	Ranged Attacks inflict -1 for 10s, and can stack up to -10	The Outer Worlds
	Thick Skin	All Area of Effect and Plasma damage dealt to you is reduced.	Area of Effect Damage Received -15% Plasma Damage Received -15%	The Outer Worlds
	Tit For Tat	A small amount of Melee damage you deal is returned as healing.	Melee Damage returned as Health +15%	The Outer Worlds
	Solo Sneaker	Reduce the detection radius of enemies when you have no Companions in your party.	Detection Radius of Enemies -33%	The Outer Worlds
	Improvisation Warrior	Improvised Weapons deal vastly more damage and degrade slower than usual. Tossball equipment is not considered improvised.	Improvised Weapon Damage +300% Improvised Weapon Degradation -75%	Peril on Gorgon
	Concentrated Fire	Any subsequent attack made on the same target while in TTD deals increased damage. This effect is cumulative. Leaving TTD resets the damage increase.	Damage per subsequent hit +10%	Peril on Gorgon

Companion Perks

Tier 1

Tier 1 perks require 0 previous perks to be unlocked and cost 1 perk point.

Icon	Name	Description	Effect	Companion	Game
	Healthy	Increase this companion's maximum Health.	Base Health +30%	All	The Outer Worlds
	Boisterous	Increase the amount of threat this companion generates when attacking enemies, making them more likely to attack this companion.	Threat Generated +30%	All	The Outer Worlds
	Sneaky	Decrease the amount of threat this companion generates when attacking enemies, making them less likely to attack this companion.	Threat Generated -30%	All	The Outer Worlds
	Bonus Support Medical	Increase your Medical skill when Ellie is in the party.	Medical +10	Ellie	The Outer Worlds
	Bonus Support Persuade	Increase your Persuade skill when Felix is in the party.	Persuade +10	Felix	The Outer Worlds
	Bonus Support Lie	Increase your Lie skill when Nyoka is in the party.	Lie +10	Nyoka	The Outer Worlds
	Bonus Support Engineering	Increase your Engineering skill when Parvati is in the party.	Engineering +10	Parvati	The Outer Worlds
	Bonus Support Hack	Increase your Hack skill when Max is in the party.	Hack +10	Max	The Outer Worlds
	Bonus Support Intimidate	Increase your Intimidate skill when SAM is in the party.	Intimidate +10	SAM	The Outer Worlds

Tier 2

Tier 1 perks require 1 previous perks to be unlocked and cost 1 perk point.

Icon	Name	Description	Effect	Companion	Game
	Fine Aim	Increase the damage dealt by this companion when using Ranged weapons.	Ranged Damage +10%	All	The Outer Worlds
	Battle Hardened	Increase this companion's base Armor Rating. This effect stacks with any armor they wear.	Armor Rating +5	All	The Outer Worlds
	Heavy Handed	Increase the damage dealt by this companion when using Melee weapons.	Melee Damage +10%	All, except for SAM	The Outer Worlds
	First Responder	Increase the amount of Health received from your Inhaler when Ellie is in the party.	Heal Amount granted by the Medical Inhaler +20%	Ellie	The Outer Worlds
	Bootlickers!	Felix deals bonus damage to targets suffering from Cower.	Damage to Cowering Enemies +20%	Felix	The Outer Worlds
	Hunter	Reduce how far the sound of your footsteps travel while Nyoka is in your party.	Radious of Footstep Sounds -20%	Nyoka	The Outer Worlds
	Mod Finder	Increase your chance of looting Mods when Parvati is in the party.	Chance to extract Mods in the field +10%	Parvati	The Outer Worlds
	Sermon	Increase the duration of your Dialog Combat Effects while Max is in the party.	Dialog Combat Effect Duration +20%	Max	The Outer Worlds
	Cleaner	Reduce negative reputation for kills when SAM is in the party.	Negative Reputation per Kill -20%	SAM	The Outer Worlds

Tier 3

Tier 1 perks require 2 previous perks to be unlocked and cost 1 perk point.

Icon	Name	Description	Effect	Companion	Game
	Spec Ops	Chance of immediately resetting this companion's Ability cooldown when they perform their Companion Ability.	Chance to Reset Ability Cooldown on Ability Use +20%	All	The Outer Worlds
	Stonebreaker	Increase the damage dealt by this companion's Ability.	Companion Ability Damage +30%	All	The Outer Worlds
	Jazz Hands	This companion swaps weapons and reloads much faster.	Equip Time - 30% Ranged Weapon Reload Speed + 30%	All	The Outer Worlds
	CPR	When Ellie is in the party, any damage that would kill you instead heals a small amount of health. This effect has a long cooldown.	Recover Health when fatallw wounded 25% Cooldown: 5m	Ellie	The Outer Worlds
	Rebellion	While Felix is in the party, you and your companions deal bonus damage to Corporate enemies.	Damage to Corporate Military + 20%	Felix	The Outer Worlds
	Exterminator	Nyoka deals bonus damage to Creatures.	Damage to Creatures +20%	Nyoka	The Outer Worlds
	Synchronicity	When Parvati performs her Ability, recharge some of your Tactical Time Dilation meter.	Tactical Time Dilation Meter + 25%	Parvati	The Outer Worlds
	Mad Max	While Max is in your party, you and your companions deal bonus damage with Science weapons.	Science Weapon Damage + 20%	Max	The Outer Worlds
	Bad Samaritan	SAM deals bonus damage to Automechanicals.	Damage to Automechanicals + 20%	SAM	The Outer Worlds

Tier 4

Tier 1 perks require 3 previous perks to be unlocked and cost 1 perk point.

Icon	Name	Description	Effect	Companion	Game
	Echoing Thunder	Chance of immediately resetting this companion's Ability cooldown when they get a killing blow.	Chance to Reset Ability Cooldown on Kill +20%	All	The Outer Worlds
	Shake it Off	Reduce the duration of harmful Status Effects on this companion.	Harmful Stats Effect Duration -30%	All	The Outer Worlds
	Showtime	Increase the damage dealt by this companion for a short time after performing their Companion Ability.	Damage +25% for 5s	All	The Outer Worlds
	Emergency Med Tech	Your Emergency Medical Inhaler heals you more when you are at low health	Healing from Inhaler when under 20% Health +50%	Ellie	Peril on Gorgon
	This. Is. Tossball!	Felix deals increased damaged when using Tossball Weapons.	Tossball Weapon Damage +50%	Felix	Peril on Gorgon
	Grand Exploration	While Nyoka is in the party, you gain increased experience from discovering new locations.	Location Discovery Experience +100%	Nyoka	Peril on Gorgon
	Rust Bucket Resistance	While Parvati is in the Party, you and your companions take reduced damage from Automechanicals.	Automechanical Damage Received -20%	Parvati	Peril on Gorgon
	Grand Justice	Max's Ability bypasses some of the target's Armor Rating	Trickshot ignores 50% Armor Rating	Max	Peril on Gorgon
	Radiation Proofing	While SAM is in the party, you and your companions take reduced damage from N-Ray sources	N-ray Damage Received -20%	SAM	Peril on Gorgon

Tier 5

Tier 1 perks require 4 previous perks to be unlocked and cost 1 perk point.

Icon	Name	Description	Effect	Companion	Game
	Long Winter	Combat Effects inflicted by this companion's Ability last longer.	Duration of Status Effects incflicted by Companion Abilities +20%	All	The Outer Worlds
	Stand Your Ground	When this companion takes damage, they gain some Armor for a short time. This effect stacks up to 3 times.	Armor Rating +3 for 10s	All	The Outer Worlds
	Second Wind	When this companion is downed during combat, they heal back some Health and continue fighting. This effect has a long cooldown.	Healed to 25% Health when downed Cooldown: 15m	All	The Outer Worlds
	Magic Bullets	Shots from Ellie's Ability ricochet to a second, nearby enemy	None	Ellie	Peril on Gorgon
	Antagonistic Fury	Felix deals increased damage to anyone who has a Negative Reputation which you which is higher than their Positive Reputation.	Negative Faction Damage +20%	Felix	Peril on Gorgon
	Cunning Strikes	When Nyoka is in the party, you deal increased Sneak Attack damage.	Sneak Attack Damage +20%	Nyoka	Peril on Gorgon
	Chrono-Harmony	When Parvati kills and enemy, you regain some of your Tactical Time Dilation meter	Tactical Time Dilation Meter +25%	Parvati	Peril on Gorgon
	Planned Intervention	If an enemy hits you, dropping you to low health, Max will taunt nerby enemies to focus their attacks on him instead. This only works if Max is already fighting, still conscious and able to be attacked by the enemy.	Max will taunt enemies within +20m when you drop below 25% Health	Max	Peril on Gorgon
	Bedazzle Automechanicals	SAM's Ability always stuns Automechanicals.	Stun: Stuns the target, leaving them unable to act for a short time.	SAM	Peril on Gorgon

Quest Perks

Quest perks are unlocked by completing the corresponding companion quest.

Name	Description	Effect	Quest	Companion
Beyond the Grave	Reduce the cost of bribing people.	Cost of Bribes -50%	The Low Crusade	Ellie
Self-Governed	Increase the damage you deal when fighting corporate enemies.	Post Armor Damage Dealt +50%	Friendship's Due	Felix
The Crew	Increase your critical hit chance when fighting creatures.	Critical Chance +10%	Star-crossed Troopers	Nyoka
Enchanted Evening	Food and drink effects last longer.	Food Effect Duration +25% Drink Effect Duration +25%	Don't Bite The Sun	Parvati
Tuned In	Increase the duration of effects when taking drugs.	Drug Effect Duration +50%	The Empty Man	Max
Clean Sweep	Harmful Combat Effects on you have much shorter durations.	Harmful Status Effect Duration -25%	The Cleaning Machine	SAM