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.
These tips go beyond the basics. They're the strategies experienced players use to play more efficiently, the hidden mechanics most people miss, and the optimizations that compound over a full playthrough.
Essential Tips
1. Drop your backpack (dedicated key) before every fight
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.
2. Sleep in towns or use the Camping skill in safe areas
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.
3. The magic ritual at Conflux Mountain permanently reduces your max health
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.
4. Pack water skins (multiple), food that doesn't spoil (travel rations), and warm/cool clothing for every expedition
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.
5. Faction choice is permanent and defines your endgame
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.
6. Defeat scenarios are not failures — they're content
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.
7. Crafting recipes aren't in a menu — you discover them by combining items
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.
8. Silver is scarce early on
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.
9. Temperature management requires appropriate clothing
Temperature management requires appropriate clothing. Desert gear in winter will freeze you; heavy armor in summer causes heatstroke. Carry a set for each environment.
10. Co-op makes the game significantly easier
Co-op makes the game significantly easier. Two players can split backpack duties, coordinate combat, and share supplies. If struggling solo, invite a friend.
Advanced Strategies
Build Optimization
The difference between an average build and an optimized one is massive:
For 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.
- Core gear: Brand Greatsword, Ammolite Armor, Predator Leggings
- Stat priority: Physical Damage, Impact, Stamina Management
For 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.
- Core gear: Jade Lich Mace (mana cost reduction), Mage Robes, Lexicon
- Stat priority: Mana Pool, Spell Combinations, Cooldown Management
Mechanic Interactions
Understanding how Outward's systems interact is where the real optimization lives:
survival RPG + no hand-holding: Survival mechanics include hunger, thirst, temperature, sleep, and disease. Combined with no hand-holding, no quest markers, no minimap icons, no gps waypoints.
backpack management + split-screen co-op: Your backpack determines carry capacity but also affects combat — wearing a large pack slows dodge rolls and movement. When paired with split-screen co-op, the entire game is playable in local split-screen co-op with a second player.
faction quests scaling: 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.
Equipment Efficiency
| Equipment | Best Use Case | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Greatsword | Warrior | A fire-enchanted greatsword dealing physical + fire damage with every hit. |
| Horror Bow | Rogue | The best bow in the game with highest base damage and built-in decay damage (armor-reducing effect). |
| Jade Lich Mace | Mage | A mace that reduces mana costs by 15% while equipped. |
| Manticore Greataxe | Shaman, Warrior | A greataxe dealing poison damage on hit. |
| Fang Weapons | Rogue | A weapon set crafted from manticore fangs with built-in poison. |
Location Efficiency
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.
Berg (Early-mid 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.
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.
Levant (Mid-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.
Harmattan (Late game (DLC)): 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.
Mistakes Even Veterans Make
- 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.
Efficiency Quick Reference
| Aspect | Optimal Choice | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Build | Warrior | A-tier, best overall |
| Starter | Mage | Most forgiving for learning |
| Equipment | Brand Greatsword | Best resource-to-power ratio |
| First area | Cierzo | Home base (if debt paid), starting quests, basic equipment |
| Priority mechanic | survival RPG | Everything else builds on this |
Pro Quick Tips
- 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.
- Start with Mage, switch to Warrior when ready
- Invest in Brand Greatsword above everything else
- Clear areas in order: Cierzo → Berg → Monsoon → Levant → Harmattan
- survival RPG + no hand-holding together are stronger than either alone
For full build details, check builds. For progression path, see the walkthrough.
