Discover everything you need to know about the best Gunslinger build in The Outer Worlds 2, including the best skills and weapons.
The Gunslinger build in The Outer Worlds 2 revolves around wielding guns, weak-point damage, mobility, and staying in medium to close-range fights. Choosing the best skills, perks, traits, armor, companions, and weapons is crucial in every aspect for this setup. While Lawbringer is the best background for the Gunslinger build, we include Nimble, Resilient, and Dumb.
Guns, Observation, Speech, Science!, and Lockpick are the best skills while running this setup to become a powerful Gunslinger character. The Rattler Pistol, Plasma Pistol, and The Simplifier are the best more effective weapons to use because they deal massive damage, allowing you to dominate the enemies. In this guide, we’ll discuss the best Gunslinger build in The Outer Worlds 2, including the best armor and perks.
Best Background For Gunslinger Build
Lawbringer is the best background option for the Gunslinger build in Outer Worlds 2 because you’re a gunslinging Earth Directorate Agent. You are a champion of the people, whether they want one or not. The law is not to be trifled with, and neither are you.
The other best background option for this setup is Renegade. You may have lived a life that skirted the laws of any colony you were operating in, but that’s what you were paid for.
The background choices will mostly come up in dialogue, where you can select a response based on your background. Most of the time, you get a different reaction from the NPC you’re talking to, but sometimes passing a check lets you get a little more from them. Your background will let you interact with the world. Make your choice based on your gut instinct and don’t give too much thought to the background.
Best Traits For Gunslinger Build
Nimble, Resilient, and Dumb are the best traits for the Gunslinger build in Outer Worlds 2. You need to pick a negative trait while choosing two positive traits. You can lock out Melee, Sneak, Explosives, Science, and Speech after selecting Dumb.
1. Resilient
Resilient in Outer Worlds 2 makes it so death is prevented for 3 seconds, the first time you would have died in combat. It basically gives you 3 seconds to get safe and heal. This trait is naturally compelling at higher difficulties, but less so at lower or normal ones.
2. Nimble
Nimble increases your craft speed and combat sprint speed by 25%. This is a large amount and very noticeable in practice. So, if you plan on a melee and a gunslinging character, this is a great trait to compensate for its power at a base. You can move from cover to cover or dodge enemy attacks easily, as it boosts the movement speed.
3. Dumb
Dumb is a negative trait that makes it so that during skill selection, you have to lock five of the available skills. This means you can never put points into them. You get two skill points a level up, and each skill has a maximum of 20, and you can have a max character level of 30.
Best Skills For Gunslinger Build
Guns, Observation, Speech, Science!, and Lockpick are the best skills for this setup, boosting your overall damage in combat.
1. Guns
Guns increase your range damage as well as your armor penetration. This does come up sometimes in dialogue. This skill is very rarely used in object checks, but mostly as flavor text options when it comes up in dialogue.
2. Observation
Observation in Outer Worlds unveils hidden objects in the world. Investing in this skill allows you to find. This skill is basically useless in the game. What this skill does is that hidden objects with difficulty at or below your skill level can be found. This just gives you a little UI pop-up, and if you go and hover over a certain object, it’ll then be highlighted for you.
3. Speech
Speech is just like Leadership, but Speech occurs very often in dialogue checks, rarely in object checks. This skill itself also increases your damage to humans. You’re going to fight a lot of humans for the most part here.
4. Science!
Science! is a skill that’s focused on your gadgets, like the time dilation, but there are multiple gadgets in this game as well. Plus, it also affects your non-physical damage types as well, and the amount of damage that those attacks actually do. This will come up occasionally in dialogue and object checks.
5. Lockpick
Lockpick in Outer Worlds 2 allows you to unlock locked containers and doors. Investing in Lockpick skill allows you to select perks that provide the ability to pickpocket humans. This skill does give you an evasion chance, which is nothing to sneeze at. So, you just avoid damage.
Best Perks For Gunslinger Build
Sharpshooter, Crabble Rancher, Gun Runner, Eden Windage, Bulletshield, Makeshift Armorer, and Commando are the best perks for the Gunslinger build because they improve your total damage output with your weapons. Choosing these perks is essential because they make your power Gunslinger character in the game and enhance your survivability.
- Sharpshooter- it grants +100% sneak attack damage, +30% damage to far enemies, and -15% damage to near enemies.
- Crabble Rancher- Provide +10% ranged damage and +20% critical chance.
- Gun Runner- Grants -50% ranged weapon spread and movement penalty to accuracy -50%.
- Eden Windage- It grants +25% weapon range and +25% weakspot damage.
- Bulletshield- It grants +10% damage resistance to your character in combat and +10% base health.
- Makeshift Armorer- it grants +1 Armor Value to your equipped armor for every 25 hits crafted.
- Commando- This perk provides an additional weapon slot, allowing you to carry one more weapon during your journey.
The Outer Worlds 2 offers 90 unique perks to choose from. Earn perk points by simply leveling up your character in the game. Some perks unlock only after you’ve picked several earlier perks. After choosing a set of Tier 1 perks, you gain access to Tier 2 perks, then later Tier 3. The perks are tied to your chosen skills and build style. This gives you bonuses in combat, exploration, and dialogue.
Best Flaws For Gunslinger Build
Overprepared is the best Flaw for this setup because it gives you 50% more ammo at the expense of a damage debuff if you have no ammo. However, it also provides -40% Damage for 8s after a weapon’s magazine hits empty.
Teetotaler is another best option because it provides +25% Health restored by the Medical Inhaler and +25% Toxicity received from the Medical Inhaler.
You can also choose N-Radiated because it allows you to be Invisible to enemies and deal bonus damage. There is a 5% chance you will become Camouflaged automatically when you take damage in a fight.
Flaws can really mix up how you play and are entirely optional. However, you cannot choose the Flawed Floor. It makes it so you get an extra perk point every five levels retroactively, but have to accept all flaws offered to you moving forward, making you one big bag of flaws. Flaws are optional, but they allow stronger perk builds, especially on higher difficulties.
Best Armor for the Gunslinger Build
Equipping the best armor is essential for this setup to protect your character from the incoming damage in combat. You can equip both head and chest armor. An armor piece can have the mod slot. Choose the armor that suits your playstyle and complements the build synergy.
1. Patient Step
Patient Step is a unique armor and is best to choose while running the Gunslinger build in Outer Worlds 2. It allows you to move freely during Tactical Time Dilation, a key feature for a mobile playstyle like a gunslinger. You can use the slowed-down time to your advantage, lining up critical shots without being penalized for moving. This unique armor can be located on the second planet, Dorado, making it an accessible item for players who want a gear upgrade.
2. Prescience
Prescience is also another good option because it provides you with a solid balance of Evasion, Damage Resistance, and Combat Sprint Speed. It offers a powerful Error Correction mod, granting you an Evasion chance. However, it highly depends on Science! Skill.
3. Manager’s Tasking Hat
Manager’s Tasking Hat is a good armor piece because it gives a 30% bonus to magazine size, which is excellent for a gunslinger who relies on frequent shots. The Inspiring Authority mod marks enemies that hit you, causing companions to prioritize attacking them. You can find the Manager’s Tasking Hat by opening a high-security strongbox in a house located west of Westport Town.
Best Weapons For Gunslinger Build
Outer Worlds 2 offers several weapons, and each one has distinct stats. Choosing the best weapon is crucial as the combat result highly depends on it.
Main Weapons
The Rattler Pistol and Plasma Pistol are used for this build due to their damage-dealing capability. The Snakebite mod turns the Rattler revolver’s short rounds into shotgun shells, which deal high damage up close. The high damage output allows it to be effective in combat situations, even against tougher enemies.
Plasma Pistol is also the best weapon to use because it has a burn effect. It deals damage over time, which is great against common enemies. This weapon can be modified with different damage types, making it versatile. The shock damage mod is extremely effective against mechanical enemies. Plasma damage is resisted by mechanical enemies and Mantisaurs.
Alternate Weapon
The Simplifier is an alternate option to choose if you don’t have the Plasma Pistol in the game. This weapon has high weak spot damage and no falloff point.
Choosing the best weapon in the Gunslinger build to retain the variety and flexibility. Choose from melee weapons, handguns, long guns, heavy weapons, and more. Each weapon comes with a different damage type, and enemies will have resistances and weaknesses. You can equip four weapons at a time and swap between them to dominate the enemies in combat. Each weapon comes with a set of mods. This can boost performance or add unique effects.
Best Companions for the Gunslinger Build
Marisol and Aza are the best companions for the Gunslinger build in Outer World 2 because they complement your playstyle. While Marisol is a stealth assassin, Aza is a great companion who excels in melee range fights.
You need to equip Marisol for max range support with light armor and a sniper rifle. Outer Worlds 2 offers different companions, and each has distinct roles like melee tank, ranged DPS, or support.
Best Gadgets For Gunslinger Build
Tactical Time Dilation and Gas-Energy Deflection Apparatus are the best gadgets for the Gunslinger build. You enter the Tactical Time Dilation by using the TTD gadget. This allows you to slow down time and attack the enemies safely. The Gas-Energy Deflection Apparatus grants a shield that will help reduce the damage.
