Melee Weapons

Lore & Background

The Outer Worlds is set in an alternate future where megacorporations dominate society. The colony of Halcyon, a star system consisting of six planets (though not all are fully colonized), was founded and is governed by the Halcyon Holdings Corporation, a coalition of thirteen megacorporations. Players explore large, open spaces on different planets, encountering various NPCs who offer side quests and optional objectives. Combat is one of the primary ways to interact with the world, and melee weapons are a key part of the game's assortment of firearms and melee weapons. Some weapons have unique damage types, allowing players to inflict elemental damage on enemies. Weapons are divided into rarity; the rarer the weapon, the stronger they are. Weapons break down with use but can be repaired at workbenches with weapon parts. They can be further customized and upgraded to improve their efficiency. Weapons and armor are collected through exploring the game world, looting enemy corpses, or purchasing from vendors. There are also five unique 'Science Weapons' with special and unusual effects.

In Their Own Story

The air in the maintenance tunnels of Edgewater was thick with dust and the hum of failing life support. My pistol clicked empty, the last round spent on a skittering mutant. Before I could reach for my knife, a hulking figure lunged from the shadows. There was no time to aim, only to react. I raised my heavy wrench, feeling the cold weight in my grip, and swung with everything I had. The impact was sickeningly solid, a reminder that in the Outer Worlds, sometimes the most reliable weapon is simply what you have on hand.

Reader's Guide

To improve melee combat effectiveness, players invest skill points in the Melee skill tree, one of seven different skill trees (Melee, Ranged, Defense, Dialog, Stealth, Tech and Leadership). Once sufficient points are invested in a skill tree, players can upgrade individual skills in each skill tree and receive threshold benefits that further boost the player character's ability. Players can also unlock perks which grant single bonuses or effects. Players may also opt to gain flaws, which provide a debuff, in exchange for an additional perk point. These can be obtained when players fail certain gameplay segments repeatedly or engage in harming behaviors such as alcohol abuse or frequently falling from height. For optimal builds, pair this skill with high Strength stats to maximize damage potential, as strength determines the character's baseline ability in combat and provides additional inventory space. Equip heavy armor to withstand the inevitable retaliation from enemies closing in.

Did You Know?

• The Outer Worlds was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in October 2019, with a Nintendo Switch port in June 2020.
• The game was developed by Obsidian Entertainment, led by Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky, creators of the original Fallout (1997).
• Players can use persuasion, lying, or intimidation to avoid combat altogether, and a large number of quests can be resolved in non-violent ways.
• The game's setting diverges from real history in 1901, when U.S. President William McKinley was never assassinated, leading to a hyper-corporate society.
• The Outer Worlds sold over four million units by August 2021, surpassing expectations.

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