Outer Worlds 2 companions – How to unlock every strictly platonic work-colleague

If you’re looking for a game to fill the Fallout hole in your heart, The Outer Worlds 2 will do just that. We loved our time with it here at VideoGamer, not least because of the wonderful roster of characterful companions on offer. They may not be romancable, but they have a special place in our hearts. 

However, it’s not obvious how to track down every companion. Our poor editor went an entire playthrough without so much as meeting Inez. Don’t be like her. Follow our guide below, and you won’t miss a single one of these precious space buddies. We’ve also included an introduction to each companion’s combat role for good measure.

✓ VideoGamer Summary

• There are five companions to unlock.
• Niles and Valerie are automatically unlocked after completing the introductory missions. Bring tissues. 
• Inez can be recruited at the Ministry of Accuracy on Paradise Island.
• Tristan is found in The 2nd Choice Bar on Free Market Station.
• Marisol can be found in Zyranium Manufactory VII on Dorado.
• You can recruit Aza at the Decommissioned Autonomous Extraction building on Dorado.

How to unlock Niles

Luckily for you, these two companions are automatically available on your journey in The Outer Worlds 2. You will meet Niles as soon as you finish the tutorial missions. Easy peasy. 

If you are in need of a tank, Niles is the perfect companion for that. He can attack your opponents while taunting them, which will draw the aggro away from you. 

Along with his ability to be a great attacker and defender for you, he comes with the Field Tinkering trait, which allows you to access the Workbench no matter where you are. This is seriously useful if you’re a crafting fan. Do not sleep on it. 

How to unlock Valerie

Valerie is much like Niles in the sense that they are both Earth Directorate lackeys. The only major difference is that Valerie is a robot, and, as such, will have fewer ethical qualms with your more dubious choices – should you wish to go down that route. Once you make it to Paradise Island, she will immediately become available as a companion for you to recruit.

Valerie is also beneficial on the battlefield if you need a little bit of topping up. She can fire syringes at you, which will heal you and give you a damage reduction buff when you need it. This is vital in the early game when you’re getting used to the combat system or if you’re underleveled. 

How to unlock Inez

Inez is an Auntie’s Choice combat medic and has direct ties to the megacorporation’s supersoldier programme (though I shan’t spoil anything here). If you are looking to get Inez on your team, you will first encounter her when you enter the Ministry of Accuracy on Paradise Island. The first time you are likely to stumble in there is during the A Refreshing Bit of News side quest. 

Continue with the quest, and you will interact with her naturally. Before Inez departs from the Ministry of Accuracy, she asks to speak with you by the entrance. She bargains with you, offering to join you as a companion as long as you help her fix her graft. This is where you can choose whether to give her a defensive graft for healing or an offensive graft for ranged attacks.

How to unlock Tristan

Tristan is a Protectorate Arbiter with a massive hammer and a stick up his ass. You can meet him in The 2nd Choice Bar on Free Market Station, where you will find him in a heated argument with Barney Bass. From here, you can choose to aid Tristan with his quest to go to Golden Ridge to investigate a refugee camp. By agreeing to this, you will then be put on the Arbitrary Measures side quest. Here, you can choose whether you want Tristan to join your party or not.

Tristan is a great bruiser, as he can rush at his opponent and slam them using an AoE attack, which taunts the enemy. While you are exploring with Tristan alongside you, he will point out items of interest, useful if you haven’t specced into the Observation skill yourself. 

How to unlock Marisol

Marisol works for the Order of the Ascendant. Her exact role within the order is an intriguing plot point, so I shall refrain from getting too specific here. You meet her during the side quest Beginning at the Endpoint, which takes place within the Zynraium Manufactory VII on Dorado. It’s important to note that when you first meet her, she will be using an alias, posing as a junior Order member. As you make your way through Beginning of the Endpoint, it will soon become clear who she is. 

Should you choose to make Marisol your companion, she will be able to attack and stun opponents, which will mean that all attacks against these enemies will be guaranteed critical hits. If you like to live the looter shooter life, Marisol may just be the perfect companion for you. Alongside this, she also analyzes the enemy when you use items such as Tactical Time Dilation, which will allow you to find out the best ways to engage your enemies in combat.

How to unlock Aza

Aza is an assassin for The Glorious Dawn, a group of transhuman cultists who wish to become one with the cosmos. As you might imagine, they’re not the most level-headed bunch. You encounter them in the Decommissioned Autonomous Extraction building on Dorado. Once you get to the upper floor, you will enter a room where you will immediately be locked into conversation with Aza. Prepare yourself for bargaining, as she will ask you for assistance in the companion quest The Dawn of a Glorious Betrayal.

Should you choose to add Aza to your team, you will be able to use her ability, where her gadget can send out explosives that damage and stagger your enemies. On top of that, she’s the only companion who has two charges on her ability, making her more versatile than her colleagues.  

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