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Outer Worlds 2

Best Ex-Convict Build

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✧ 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

This is a guide to the best build for the Ex-Convict Background in Outer Worlds 2. Find out what the best Ex-Convict build is, which traits and skills to get, as well as what weapons and armor to equip.

List of Contents

Best Ex-Convict Traits

Positive Traits

Brawny IconBrawny Sliding or sprinting into hostiles will knock them down. Cooldown: 5s
Resilient IconResilient Death is prevented for 3s the first time you would have died each combat.

The Brawny trait suits someone strong enough to knock down anyone who stands in their way, forged by years behind bars that hardened your body to endure pain and survive.

All that time spent in prison has also made you even more Resilient, allowing you to seemingly cheat even death itself.

Best Traits

Negative Traits

Abrasive IconAbrasive Reputation with any faction can never increase above Neutral, preventing any bonuses that would be gained from having a positive reputation with a faction such as vendor discounts.

As an ex-convict with a criminal history, earning favor with factions is unlikely due to the stigma tied to your past, making the Abrasive trait a fitting choice. You may be far more inclined to crack heads than make friends.

Best Background

Best Ex-Convict Skills

Best Skills
Melee SkillMelee Lockpick SkillLockpick Observation SkillObservation Sneak SkillSneak

As an Ex-Convict, you have learned to make effective use of whatever is at hand as Melee weapons. You know how to deal damage and defend yourself effectively with them, and will be your primary source of damage in combat.

Lockpicking was always something that helped you get by, while your Observation skills let you notice things others cannot and read people to survive. After getting out, you honed your Sneak abilities to move under the radar to avoid the watchful eyes of the law once more.

Best Skills

Best Ex-Convict Perks

Perk Effects
Heavy HandedHeavy Handed ・Knocks down enemies hit with a melee power attack.
BulletshieldBulletshield ・+10% Damage Resistance
・+10% Base Health
PickpocketPickpocket ・Allows you to pickpocket NPCs
PsychopathPsychopath ・Damage increased by +10%, +20% or +40% against enemies with Cautious, Begrudging or indignant factions respectively.

The Ex-Convict build focuses on dealing heavy melee damage and staying alive in close combat, with Heavy Handed and Bulletshield being ideal choices for this setup. Pickpocket is also a valuable skill, letting you steal extra resources from those around you, perhaps one of the habits that landed you behind bars in the first place.

Since the Ex-Convict is not exactly known for making friends, you can turn the hatred of others to your advantage with the Psychopath perk, which lets you deal more damage to factions you have a bad reputation with. There will be plenty of those if you also selected the Abrasive Trait.

You can also grab stealth damage perks such as Assassin and Vital Striker if you want to focus more on sneak kills.

Best Perks

Best Ex-Convict Weapons

Melee Weapons

Melee weapons are your choice, with this build offering the versatility to charge in head-on during loud and chaotic battles, or to eliminate enemies silently with stealth when striking from behind.

Best Weapons Tier List

Best Ex-Convict Armor

Medium Armor is the Best

Medium Armor offers the best balance between Evasion Chance and Damage Reduction, while still maintaining solid Combat Sprint Speed. It is the ideal choice for the Ex-Convict thanks to its versatility.

It allows you to both move cautiously through danger and strike hard and loud when needed, offering both mobility and survivability.

Best Armor Tier List

Outer Worlds 2 Related Guides

The Outer Worlds 2 - Builds Partial Banner

Best Builds

All Character Builds

Character Builds
Stealth Science
Gunslinger Melee
Leadership

All Background Builds

Background Builds
Ex-Convict Gambler
Lawbringer Professor
Renegade Roustabout

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