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.
Outward features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order — what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cierzo | Starting area | Home base (if debt paid), starting quests, basic equipment | Mage |
| 2 | Berg | Early-mid game | Blue Chamber faction, cold-weather gear, forest resources | Mage |
| 3 | Monsoon | Mid game | Holy Mission faction, Brand Greatsword, swamp resources | Warrior |
| 4 | Levant | Mid-late game | Heroic Kingdom faction, desert dungeons, best merchants | Warrior |
| 5 | Harmattan | Late game (DLC) | DLC content, new faction, corruption mechanic, endgame challenges | Warrior |
Cierzo — Starting Area
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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Starting area |
| Key Rewards | Home base (if debt paid), starting quests, basic equipment |
| Recommended Build | Mage |
| Key Equipment | Horror Bow |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of survival RPG — this is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Berg.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Berg — Early Game
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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Early-mid game |
| Key Rewards | Blue Chamber faction, cold-weather gear, forest resources |
| Recommended Build | Mage |
| Key Equipment | Horror Bow |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering no hand-holding — it's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Horror Bow if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Monsoon.
Monsoon — Mid Game
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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Mid game |
| Key Rewards | Holy Mission faction, Brand Greatsword, swamp resources |
| Recommended Build | Warrior |
| Key Equipment | Horror Bow |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Brand Greatsword becomes accessible here — prioritize getting it.
- Master backpack management for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Levant — Late Game
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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Mid-late game |
| Key Rewards | Heroic Kingdom faction, desert dungeons, best merchants |
| Recommended Build | Warrior |
| Key Equipment | Brand Greatsword |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Brand Greatsword should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- faction quests mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Harmattan.
Harmattan — Endgame
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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Late game (DLC) |
| Key Rewards | DLC content, new faction, corruption mechanic, endgame challenges |
| Recommended Build | Warrior |
| Key Equipment | Brand Greatsword |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Mercenary for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order — Cierzo → Berg → Monsoon → Levant → Harmattan. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner — Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment — Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough — Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush — Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Outward Guides
- Outward Outward Overview
- Outward Best Builds
- Outward Tier List
- Outward Walkthrough
- Outward Beginner's Guide
- Outward Tips & Tricks
- Outward Weapons Guide
- Outward Combat Guide
- Outward Boss Guide
- Outward Crafting Guide
- Outward Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Outward, check out these related guides:
- Elden Ring Maps & Locations — rpg game with similar mechanics
- Baldur's Gate 3 Maps & Locations — rpg game with similar mechanics
- Cyberpunk 2077 Maps & Locations — rpg game with similar mechanics
