Stealth is one of the most effective paths to success in The Outer Worlds 2. In this build guide, we’ll show you how to turn your character into a silent assassin.
Whether you want to infiltrate bandit camps undetected or slip into restricted zones, staying unnoticed in The Outer Worlds 2 takes skill and preparation. This guide walks you through everything you need to know to create the perfect stealth build.
Stealth in The Outer Worlds 2 – How It Works
To move quietly, you have to crouch (Circle/B button). Always make sure you stay out of enemy line of sight — that means behind or to the side of them.
You’ll see a bar above each enemy’s head that changes color from yellow to red when they spot you. As long as it’s yellow, you’re safe. When it turns orange, they’re suspicious and will investigate. If it goes red, you’ve been spotted, and nearby enemies will attack.
Keep an eye on your minimap in the lower-left corner to track enemy movement. Outdoors, tall grass provides cover for sneaking, while indoors, hiding behind crates or other large objects is your best bet.
Sneak Attacks – How to Assassinate Without Being Seen
For the first time in The Outer Worlds 2, you can silently assassinate enemies from behind — with a few caveats. You’ll need a knife, such as the Sentry Blade you get early in the game. Sneak up behind an enemy and press the action button when the kill icon appears.
- Important: Assassinations only work if your target isn’t stronger than you.
After taking someone out quietly, make sure to use Auntie’s Acidic Dematerializer to dissolve the body before it’s discovered. Hold Y/Triangle, select the device, and spray the corpse with LB/L1.
If you prefer ranged stealth kills, go for silenced weapons. The suppressor mod lowers firing noise and increases backstab damage — but reduces base damage. Use these only when attacking from cover.
Distracting Enemies
If assassination isn’t an option, you can lure enemies away from their positions using a Distraction Device. These throwable gadgets (select with Y/Triangle, throw with RB/R1) make noise on impact, drawing attention. You can find them in the world or craft them at workbenches. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 2x Energy Canister
- 3x Foil
- 1x Shiny Servo
Pay Attention to Gear and Mods
The right equipment makes all the difference. Choose armor pieces that grant stealth-related buffs. You can further enhance your gear with mods. One particularly useful mod for stealth builds is the Mass Distributor, which boosts your crouch-walking speed by 50%. To craft it, you’ll need 3x Mantisaur Pupils, 3x Ursnail Teeth, and 10x Nicotine.
Stealth Skills in The Outer Worlds 2: Key Attributes
At first glance, “Ex-Convict” might seem like the perfect background for a master thief. But “Lucky Charm” or “Renegade” also fit the profile nicely. Since your background mainly serves role-playing purposes and has little real impact on your build, you’re completely free to choose whatever feels right.
Attributes, however, are far more important. You’ll want to go with “Nimble,” which boosts both your crouched movement speed and your sprint speed in combat by 25%. “Brilliant” is also a solid pick, as it lets you select one additional starting skill and specialize in it with two extra points.
The most essential skill for stealth players in The Outer Worlds 2 is, unsurprisingly, “Sneak.” The higher your Sneak value, the harder it becomes for enemies to detect you while crouched. Investing points in this skill also increases your sneak attack damage — by +35% right from the first upgrade! A high Sneak value also unlocks access to fitting perks. It’s also worth training in “Melee” in case you get caught, and improving “Observation” to boost weak point damage and make it easier to spot hidden objects.
Essential Perks for Stealth Builds
Assassin: Increases your movement speed by 100% for 5 seconds after performing a stealth kill.
Requirements:
- Sneak Level 1
Silent Steps: Your footsteps remain silent for 8 seconds after leaving stealth mode.
Requirements:
- Sneak Level 6
Ghost: While crouched, you briefly become invisible and deal bonus damage when an enemy becomes aware of you. The higher your stealth level, the shorter the cooldown.
Requirements:
- Sneak Level 2
Stalker: Sneak attack damage increases by 200% when enemies investigate you, a distraction device, or a nearby corpse.
Requirements:
- Assassin perk
- Sneak Level 5
Light Step: You no longer trigger traps or mines when walking over them.
Requirements:
- Sneak Level 10
Automech Jammer: Robots detect you 75% slower and you gain a +5% critical hit chance.
Requirements:
- Hacking Level 5
Best Companion for Stealth Builds in The Outer Worlds 2
Your choice of companion can also enhance your stealth approach. For a stealth-optimized setup, Niles is the ideal ally. At level 10, you can unlock his “Spotter” perk, which reduces enemy detection range by 20%, making it easier to stay unseen. Niles also points out enemies and marks them on your minimap.
- Also worth checking out: Our Master Thief build focuses on hacking, stealing, and making quick cash.
At level 20, his “Ghost Array Mod” perk activates temporary camouflage and boosts sneak attack damage. Finally, at level 30, his “Smokescreen Emitter” cloaks you in smoke, rendering you invisible and increasing sneak attack damage even further.
