Main Quests
Side Quests
Collectible Quests
Tasks
Companion Quests
Companions
Puzzles
Choices
Weapons
Mods
Armor
Helmets
Builds
Resources
Gadgets
Inhalers
Skills
Perks
Traits
Flaws
Maps
Tips and Tricks
Factions
Faction Quests
Items
Ship Pets
Trophies
News and Game Info
This survey will take about 1 minute.
Your answers will help us to improve our website.
Outer Worlds 2
Best Skills Tier List
✧ Best Builds: Science | Stealth | Gunslinger
✦ Best Background | Best Traits | Best Skills
✧ Missables and Points of No Return
✦ Best Weapons | Best Armor
✧ Unique Weapons | Unique Armor
✦ Best Flaws | Best Perks
The best Skills in The Outer Worlds 2 are Speech, Lockpick, and Guns. See which skills are the best in the game, as well as a tier list for all of the skills!
| Skill-Related Guides | |
|---|---|
| List of All Skills | Best Skills |
List of Contents
Best Skills Tier List
| Tier | Skill | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 Speech |
 Lockpick |
 Guns |
 |
 Hack |
 Melee |
 Science! |
 |
 Sneak |
 Explosives |
 Medical |
 |
 Leadership |
 Observation |
 Engineering |
Speech, Lockpick, and Guns are the Best Skills
The best skills in Outer Worlds 2 are Speech, Lockpick, and Guns. Speech and Lockpick are bypass skills, in that they allow you to either bypass combat or unlock alternative routes and dialogue options. Guns, on the other hand, will improve your overall damage output, as most of the weapons in the game are ranged weapons.
Additionally, Speech increase your damage against Humans, while Lockpick increases your Evasion Chance.
Tier List Explanation
| Jump to a Tier | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
S-Tier Skills
Speech
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
|
Speech
|
The speech skill allows you to better influence others in conversations. Investing in the Speech skill allows you to select perks that let you get discounts a vendors, intimidate others, and gain more reputation with factions.
• Speech Checks with a difficulty at or below your skill level can be selected • +5% Damage to Humans |
Speech allows you to pick special Dialogue options that can make your life easier. This can come in the form of enemies losing the will to fight, or you being able to recruit people to your cause.
Additionally, it improves your damage against Humans with each level invested, which is a huge buff, as a majority of your enemies you fight in the game are humans.
Speech Skill Effects and Perks
Lockpick
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
|
Lockpick
|
The Lockpick skills allows you to unlock locked containers and doors. Investing in the Lockpick skill allows you to select perks that grant the ability to pickpocket humans and preview the contents of locked containers.
• Locks with a difficulty at or below your skill level can be opened • +1% Evasion Chance |
Lockpick allows you to open locked doors and chests, which can lead to alternative routes that allow you to bypass fights. They can also open locked containers that can contain Bits, items, or even powerful weapons and armor.
Improving your Lockpick skill also improves your Evasion Chance, giving you a chance to dodge incoming enemy attacks.
Lockpick Skill Effects and Perks
Guns
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
|
Guns
|
The Guns skill increases damage dealt with all types of guns, including ballistic, shock, plasma and bio guns. Investing in the Guns skill allows you to select perks that further improve your ability to use guns of various types.
• +10% Ranged Damage • +1% Armor Penetration |
Guns is a pretty straightforward skill, as it improves your ranged damage, as well as your armor penetration. This lets you deal more damage against all types of enemies with your ranged weaponry.
It is primarily a combat skill, and will affect most of the weapons in the game.
A-Tier Skills
Hack
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
|
Hack
|
The Hack skill allows unauthorized access to various mechanical systems such as terminals, automechanicals and vending machines. Investing in the Hack skill allows you to select perks that let you disable automechs directly, hack into bounty terminals, and access the restricted inventory of vending machines.
• Hack checks equal to your Hack skill and lower can be overcome • +5% Damage to Automechanicals |
Hack allows you to open password-locked terminals, which can either open locked containers and doors, or provide important information. The latter is especially important as these pieces of information can give you access to special dialogue options.
Not only that, but each level of Hack improves your damage against Automechanicals, which you can run into when entering enemy-controlled locations.
Melee
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
|
Melee
|
The Melee skill increases damage dealt with Melee weapons. Investing in the Melee skill allows you to select perks that further improve your ability to use melee weapons of various types.
• +10% Melee Damage • -2% Damage Received While Blocking |
The Melee skill improves your melee damage while also reducing the damage you take while blocking. This skill is important whether you are using Light Melee or Heavy Melee weapons.
Similar to Guns, Melee is a combat skill, and also does not offer as many unique dialogue options and interactions as the S-Tier skills.
Science!
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
|
Science!
|
The Science skill increases your maximum Gadget Energy, allowing you to use gadgets like Tactical Time Dilation. Investing in the Science! skill allows you to select perks that further improve your gadgets and potency with shock weapons.
• +7 Gadget Energy Meter Max • +10% more stacks of non-Physical Damage Type side-effects |
Science! increases your Gadget Energy Meter Max, while also increasing the stacks of non-Physical Damage Type side-effects you apply with your weapons. This skill is perfect for elemental weapons.
Science!, while also a combat skill, offers more unique dialogue options and interactions compared to Guns and Melee. However, it is still lacking compared to the S-Tier bypass skills.
B-Tier Skills
Sneak
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
|
Sneak
|
The sneak skill makes it harder for enemies to detect you while crouched. Investing in the Sneak skill allows you to select perks that avoid traps and perform sneak attacks.
• +35% Sneak Attack Damage • -2% NPC Awareness Detection Rate |
Each level in Sneak improves your Sneak Attack Damage, as well as reduces NPC Awareness Detection Rate. This makes it easier to sneak around and quietly take down enemies.
Although Sneak is a strong skill, it becomes useless once you are detected or when entering boss fights, effectively getting rid of one of your skills.
Explosives
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
|
Explosives
|
The Explosives skill increases damage dealt with explosive throwables such as grenades and mines, as well as weapons that deal damage in an area. While exploring, it allows the disarming of sensitive objects like mines and traps. Investing in Explosives allows you to select perks that increase the potency of explosives and plasma weapons.
• +10% Explosives Damage • +1% Damage Resistance against Explosives |
Explosives increases the damage you deal with them, as well as your resistance to Explosive damage. This is perfect for players running an Explosives build.
The downside is that Explosive weapons are rare, so most of your damage will come from Throwables. Additionally, not all enemies have access to explosions, so your Explosive Damage Resistance is not as useful compared to elemental or physical resistances.
Explosives Skill Effects and Perks
Medical
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
|
Medical
|
The Medical skill increases maximum Toxicity, allowing more uses of the Medical Inhaler at a time and increased resistance to Zyranium poisoning. Investing in the Medical skill allows you to select perks that further improve your inhaler, temporarily tame creatures, and make better use of corrosive weapons.
• +7 Toxicity Crash Threshold • +5% Damage to Creatures |
Medical increases your Toxicity Crash Threshold, as well as your damage to Creatures. This allows you to use your Medical Inhaler more often and easily take down Creatures you will encounter while exploring.
While increasing your Toxicity Crash Threshold is great, this can also be done by changing primers or selecting certain Flaws. There are also comparatively fewer Creature enemies compared to Humans and Automechanicals, so the increased damage may not be as useful.
Medical Skill Effects and Perks
C-Tier Skills
Leadership
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
|
Leadership
|
The Leadership skill increases the damage and survivability of your companons. Investing in Leadership allows you to select perks that let you use companion abilities more and improve the overall effectiveness of your companions.
• +8% Companion Damage • +4% Companion Health |
Leadership increases the damage and health of your companions, making them more effective in battle.
While this may sound strong, you can do the same thing by using Mods you get from completing Companion Quests. Additionally, if you decide to play the game without companions, this skill is basically useless.
Leadership Skill Effects and Perks
Observation
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
|
Observation
|
The Observation skill reveals hidden objects inthe world and the subtle behaviors in conversations. Investing in the Observation skill allows you to select perks that lets you find more loot, track enemies, and more effectively use enemy weakpoints.
• Hidden Objectives with a difficulty at or below your skill level can be found • +15% Weakspot Damage |
The higher your Observation skill is, the higher your Weakspot Damage is. Additionally, having high levels of Observation lets you find hidden access points, as well as unlock unique dialogue options.
Although the increased Weakspot Damage is useful, it becomes useless if you cannot hit their Weakspot. Additionally, Observation's other effects have alternatives. Tristan, for example, can also mark hidden access points, while Speech covers a wider range of dialogue options compared to Observation.
Observation Skill Effects and Perks
Engineering
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
|
Engineering
|
The Engineering skill increases the effectiveness of all armor, granting inherent Damage Reduction. In conversations and while exploring, Engineering aids in the ability to act on the knowledge of mechanical systems. Investing in Engineering allows you to select perks that further increase your defenses and benefits from weapon, helmet and armor mods.
• Mechanical Systems with a difficulty at or below your skill level can be fixed. • +1% Damage Resistance |
Having a high enough Engineering skill lets you repair broken Mechanical Systems such as broken doors or robots. Additionally, each level of Engineering increases your Damage Resistance.
Even if the ability to repair broken Mechanical Systems seems useful, you can usually bypass these using either the Brawny Trait or by finding a different path using Lockpick and Hack. Additionally, you can also get Damage Resistance using Mods or stronger armor, so it is not as important a skill.
Engineering Skill Effects and Perks
Outer Worlds 2 Related Guides
Recommended Guides
The Outer Worlds 2 Guides
Comment
Author
Best Skills Tier List
Please participate in our site
improvement survey
12/2025
improvement survey
12/2025
Would you assist in
improving Game8's site?
improving Game8's site?
×
We are listening to our users' valuable opinions and discussing how to act on them.
The information collected through this survey will be used for the purpose of improving our services. In addition, the information will only be disclosed a part of a statistic in a format that will not allow identification of personal information.
Begin Survey
Not Now
×
Please rate each item regarding Game8.co's Advertisements.
Amount of Ads
Very Dissatisfied
Somewhat Dissatisfied
Fine
Somewhat Satisfied
Highly Satisfied
Placement of Ads
Timing of Ad Display
Ad Loading Speed
Safeness of Ads
Content of Ads
×
Please rate each item regarding Game8.co's Quality of Articles.
Amount of information
Very Dissatisfied
Somewhat Dissatisfied
Fine
Somewhat Satisfied
Highly Satisfied
Frequency of updates
Speed of new information
Accuracy of articles
Understandibility of articles
Readability of sentences
×
Please rate each item regarding Game8.co's Usability of the Site.
Ease of finding information
Very Dissatisfied
Somewhat Dissatisfied
Fine
Somewhat Satisfied
Highly Satisfied
Loading Speed
Use of Color
Font Size
Visibility of Images
Easy to Understand Layout
×
Please rate each item regarding Game8.co's Message Boards, Comments.
Ease of Writing
Very Dissatisfied
Somewhat Dissatisfied
Fine
Somewhat Satisfied
Highly Satisfied
Readability
Ease in Finding Information
Comment Quality
Comment Quantity
Admin Response
×
Please rate each item regarding Game8.co's Site's new design.
Please rate our site's new design
Very Dissatisfied
Somewhat Dissatisfied
Fine
Somewhat Satisfied
Highly Satisfied
Do you think that the website's design change makes the site easier to use?
Has the new design made it easier for you to find information on the site?
Has the new design improved the overall visual appeal of the site?
How would you rate your overall satisfaction with the new design of the site?
×
How likely are you to recommend Game8 to someone you know?
Very Unlikely
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very Likely
If you have other opinions regarding potential improvement to the website, please share them with us. We would appreciate your honest opinion.
Note: This is a free response section, so you can proceed without entering anything.
Note: Please be sure not to enter any kind of personal information into your response.
Note: Please be sure not to enter any kind of personal information into your response.
×
Thank You
×
Thank you for participating in our survey! Your answers will help us to improve the quality of our website and services.
We hope you continue to make use of Game8.
We hope you continue to make use of Game8.
Close
Rankings
- We could not find the message board you were looking for.
Gaming News
![Octopath Traveler 0 Review [In Progress] | Familiar, But Better](https://img.game8.co/4357336/fcaf07d58cc243e6b7319ca9b118ba16.png/thumb)
Popular Games
Genshin Impact Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Umamusume: Pretty Derby Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Where Winds Meet Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Honkai: Star Rail Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Digimon Story: Time Stranger Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Wuthering Waves Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Chaos Zero Nightmare Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Pokemon TCG Pocket (PTCGP) Strategies & Guides Wiki
Pokemon Legends: Z-A Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Elden Ring Nightreign Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Recommended Games
Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Fire Emblem Heroes (FEH) Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Monster Hunter World Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP) Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Persona 3 Reload Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
All rights reserved
© 2025 Obsidian Entertainment, Inc. Obsidian Entertainment, the Obsidian Entertainment logo, The Outer Worlds 2, and The Outer Worlds 2 logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Obsidian Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved.
The copyrights of videos of games used in our content and other intellectual property rights belong to the provider of the game.
The contents we provide on this site were created personally by members of the Game8 editorial department.
We refuse the right to reuse or repost content taken without our permission such as data or images to other sites.