Outward is an open-world survival RPG where you play as an ordinary person — no chosen one narrative, no power fantasy. You're a villager paying off a debt while exploring a hostile world where every expedition requires preparation: food, water, warm clothes, healing supplies, and a plan. The game's defining feature is its consequence system — dying doesn't reload a save but triggers a unique defeat scenario (dragged to a bandit camp, rescued by a stranger, washed ashore). Magic isn't innate; you must sacrifice max health permanently to gain mana through a dangerous ritual. The Definitive Edition includes the Soroboreans and Three Brothers DLC expansions, adding new regions, mechanics, and faction content.
This guide covers everything you need: core mechanics, the best builds, equipment worth investing in, location progression, and the tips that actually make a difference.
Core Mechanics
survival RPG
Survival mechanics include hunger, thirst, temperature, sleep, and disease. Traveling without food drains stamina recovery. Cold weather without warm clothing causes hypothermia. Sleeping outdoors risks ambush events. Every expedition from town requires packing supplies, making preparation as important as combat skill.
no hand-holding
No quest markers, no minimap icons, no GPS waypoints. Quests give text directions like 'head northeast from Berg until you reach the burning tree.' You navigate using landmarks, a compass, and your map (which doesn't show your position). Getting lost is part of the experience.
backpack management
Your backpack determines carry capacity but also affects combat — wearing a large pack slows dodge rolls and movement. Dropping your backpack before combat (dedicated keybind) dramatically improves combat mobility. Managing what to pack for each trip is a genuine strategic decision.
split-screen co-op
The entire game is playable in local split-screen co-op with a second player. Both players share the world and can tackle content together. Co-op makes combat more manageable and splitting pack duties more efficient. Online co-op is also available.
faction quests
Three mutually exclusive factions (Blue Chamber Collective, Heroic Kingdom of Levant, Holy Mission of Elatt) each offer a unique quest line and rewards. Choosing one locks the other two permanently. Faction choice determines which region becomes your home and what endgame abilities you access.
Builds Overview
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warrior | A | Drop backpack before combat, use two-handed power attacks to stagger enemies, manage stamina between swings. | Physical Damage, Impact, Stamina Management |
| Mage | S | Place sigils on the ground, cast combo spells through them for amplified effects, manage mana and cooldowns between casts. | Mana Pool, Spell Combinations, Cooldown Management |
| Rogue | A | Coat weapons with poison, apply status effects through quick hits, dodge enemy attacks while effects tick damage. | Attack Speed, Status Effect Application, Dodge Timing |
| Shaman | A | Cast boons before combat for stat enhancement, place totems at fight locations, engage with enhanced melee. | Boon Duration, Totem Effectiveness, Mixed Stats |
| Mercenary | B | Adapt gear and abilities to each situation rather than specializing. Carry diverse equipment for diverse challenges. | Balance across all stats |
Warrior (A-Tier): Melee builds using heavy weapons and armor. The Warrior Monk breakthrough (faction-dependent) adds physical damage bonuses. Two-handed weapons like the Brand Greatsword deal massive damage per hit. Slow but devastating with proper stamina management.
Mage (S-Tier): Magic requires sacrificing max health at the Conflux Mountain ritual to gain mana. Spell combos (placing a fire sigil then casting spark) create powerful AoE effects. The Philosopher breakthrough increases mana and spell damage. The most versatile endgame build.
Rogue (A-Tier): Dagger and bow builds emphasizing speed and status effects. Rogue breakthrough gives backstab damage bonuses. Apply poison and bleed through coated weapons, then dodge while effects do the work. Less frontline damage but safer combat through kiting.
Shaman (A-Tier): A hybrid build using totems and elemental boons. The Cabal Hermit breakthrough provides wind infusion. Shaman builds use boons (self-buffs) and totems (placed AoE effects) for sustained combat advantage. Requires setup time but very strong in extended fights.
Mercenary (B-Tier): Jack-of-all-trades build using a mix of combat, magic, and survival skills. The Mercenary approach doesn't specialize, making it weaker at any single thing but adaptable to every situation. Best for first playthroughs when you don't know what challenges await.
For full build breakdowns with gear and stat priorities, see our Outward builds guide.
Equipment Guide
| Equipment | Why It Matters | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Greatsword | A fire-enchanted greatsword dealing physical + fire damage with every hit. | Warrior |
| Horror Bow | The best bow in the game with highest base damage and built-in decay damage (armor-reducing effect). | Rogue |
| Jade Lich Mace | A mace that reduces mana costs by 15% while equipped. | Mage |
| Manticore Greataxe | A greataxe dealing poison damage on hit. | Shaman, Warrior |
| Fang Weapons | A weapon set crafted from manticore fangs with built-in poison. | Rogue |
Brand Greatsword: A fire-enchanted greatsword dealing physical + fire damage with every hit. Found in the Hallowed Marsh through a quest. The fire damage applies burning, adding DOT to every melee hit. One of the strongest two-handed weapons in the game.
Horror Bow: The best bow in the game with highest base damage and built-in decay damage (armor-reducing effect). Obtained through the Blue Chamber Collective faction quest. Decay damage reduces enemy physical resistance, making follow-up hits more effective.
Jade Lich Mace: A mace that reduces mana costs by 15% while equipped. Found in a specific dungeon in the Abrassar desert region. The mana cost reduction is build-defining for Mage builds, allowing more spell casts per encounter.
Manticore Greataxe: A greataxe dealing poison damage on hit. Obtained through the Heroic Kingdom of Levant faction. The poison application on every hit means even basic attacks stack toxic damage. Pairs well with Shaman builds that use boons.
Fang Weapons: A weapon set crafted from manticore fangs with built-in poison. The Fang Dagger is the fastest poison applicator in the game. Crafted at a specific forge using manticore materials. The entire Fang weapon line shares the poison theme.
Location Progression
| Location | Level Range | Key Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Cierzo | Starting area | Home base (if debt paid), starting quests, basic equipment |
| Berg | Early-mid game | Blue Chamber faction, cold-weather gear, forest resources |
| Monsoon | Mid game | Holy Mission faction, Brand Greatsword, swamp resources |
| Levant | Mid-late game | Heroic Kingdom faction, desert dungeons, best merchants |
| Harmattan | Late game (DLC) | DLC content, new faction, corruption mechanic, endgame challenges |
Cierzo: The starting town on the coast. Your home is at risk of being taken in the opening quest if you can't pay 150 silver within 5 days. Cierzo provides basic merchants, crafting, and the initial questline. The beach has easy enemies for early combat practice.
Berg: A mountain town and home of the Blue Chamber Collective faction. The surrounding Enmerkar Forest is lush with resources but dangerous. Berg merchants sell advanced recipes and cold-weather gear.
Monsoon: The Holy Mission of Elatt's headquarters in the Hallowed Marsh. A swampy region with unique enemies and environmental hazards (disease from swamp water). The Brand weapon is available through quests here.
Levant: The Heroic Kingdom's capital in the Abrassar desert. Heat management replaces cold management. The desert contains the game's hardest dungeons and the Jade Lich. Levant has the best merchants.
Harmattan: The Soroboreans DLC region with a new town and faction. Features a corruption mechanic and the game's most challenging combat encounters. Accessible after completing one faction quest line.
Tips That Actually Matter
- Drop your backpack (dedicated key) before every fight. The movement speed and dodge improvement is dramatic and can be the difference between life and death.
- Sleep in towns or use the Camping skill in safe areas. Sleeping in the wild triggers random ambush events that can kill you before you wake up.
- The magic ritual at Conflux Mountain permanently reduces your max health. This is intended — magic is powerful enough to justify the tradeoff. Sacrifice 3 times for 30 mana, which is sufficient for most builds.
- Pack water skins (multiple), food that doesn't spoil (travel rations), and warm/cool clothing for every expedition. Running out of supplies mid-journey is the most common death cause.
- Faction choice is permanent and defines your endgame. Research all three factions' rewards before committing. The Holy Mission gives the best magic abilities, Blue Chamber gives the Horror Bow, Levant gives the Manticore weapons.
- Defeat scenarios are not failures — they're content. Being knocked out triggers unique events (kidnapped, rescued, washed up) that provide different gameplay experiences. Embrace them.
- Crafting recipes aren't in a menu — you discover them by combining items. A guide or wiki helps, but the discovery system is part of the game's charm.
- Silver is scarce early on. The most reliable income is selling cooked food (recipes improve selling price) and bandit loot. Don't waste silver on equipment you can craft.
- Temperature management requires appropriate clothing. Desert gear in winter will freeze you; heavy armor in summer causes heatstroke. Carry a set for each environment.
- Co-op makes the game significantly easier. Two players can split backpack duties, coordinate combat, and share supplies. If struggling solo, invite a friend.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not paying the 150 silver debt in the opening quest, losing your house. The house provides free storage and sleeping — losing it early significantly complicates the game.
- Fighting with the backpack on. The combat mobility difference between wearing and dropping a backpack is enormous. Always drop it before engagement.
- Choosing a faction based on aesthetics rather than rewards. The faction rewards (weapons, abilities, spells) define your endgame build. Research them first.
- Hoarding supplies at home instead of bringing enough on expeditions. You need food, water, and appropriate clothing for every trip. Under-packing kills more players than enemies do.
- Ignoring magic because the health sacrifice seems bad. 30 permanent health lost for access to powerful spell combos is one of the best tradeoffs in the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Outward hard?
Yes, intentionally. You're not a hero — you're an ordinary person in a dangerous world. Preparation and knowledge matter more than combat skill. The difficulty is part of the identity. Co-op significantly eases the experience.
Can you play Outward solo?
Yes, fully soloable. Combat is harder solo since there's no one to help when you're knocked down. The defeat scenario system ensures you always continue playing even after losing a fight.
Is the Definitive Edition worth it?
Yes. The Soroboreans and Three Brothers DLCs add two new regions, new skills, and significant endgame content. The Definitive Edition includes all DLC and quality-of-life improvements.
How does death work in Outward?
There is no traditional death. Being knocked out triggers a defeat scenario — you might wake up in a bandit camp, be rescued by a traveler, or wash ashore somewhere new. Each scenario is unique content. You never reload a save.
What to Read Next
- Best Outward Builds — Detailed breakdowns with gear, stats, and playstyle guides
- Outward Tier List — Current meta rankings
- Outward Walkthrough — Step-by-step progression from start to endgame
- Outward Beginner's Guide — First session essentials
- Outward Tips & Tricks — Advanced strategies and hidden mechanics
