In The Outer Worlds 2, leveling up feels as rewarding as uncovering a new corporate conspiracy-but how far can you actually go before hitting the cap? Here’s everything we know about the game’s maximum level and what it means for your next adventure through the Halcyon colonies.
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How does the level cap affect skills and perks?
The level cap in The Outer Worlds 2 limits how much you can improve your character’s skills and unlock new perks. Once you reach the maximum level, you can no longer gain experience to increase your attributes or acquire additional perks, which means you need to plan your skill progression carefully to maximize your character’s effectiveness before hitting the cap. This system encourages strategic choices in developing your playstyle and specialization throughout the game.
As you gain skill and perk points by leveling up, the level cap limits the number of skill points and perk points you can acquire in The Outer Worlds 2. You start with four skill points (plus two if you pick the “Brilliant” trait) and gain two skill points per level, which means you’ll have a maximum of 62-64 skill points when you hit the level cap.
The skill cap in The Outer Worlds 2 is level 20, so you can level three skills to their maximum and have two points to spare if you obtain 62 points. Of course, you can also divide those points over more skills, but since you won’t be able to reach max level on every skill, it’s best to pick a few skills to level first.
As for perks, you obtain one perk point every two levels, up to 15 perk points in total. This means you can’t unlock every perk either, so choose wisely! We’ve got a guide on the best early game perks to help you get started.
How many skill points and perks at max level
At max level (Level 30) in The Outer Worlds 2, you will have earned a total of 58 skill points and be able to unlock up to 15 perks for your character. This means you can spend these 58 skill points across the available skills and choose 15 perks from the perk list by the time you reach the maximum level cap.
-Calculate total skill points including quest and shard rewards
When including both level-up rewards and extra skill points from quest and shard-like bonuses, the total possible skill points in The Outer Worlds 2 at max level (30) is higher than 58. Besides the 58 skill points from leveling, additional points can be gained from specific quests and through finding special items called “Skill Shards”. The exact number of bonus skill points varies based on how thoroughly side quests are completed and all shards are found, but players report a maximum of around 66-70 total skill points at level 30 if all quest and shard rewards are obtained.
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Skill points from leveling: 58.
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Estimated quest and shard bonuses: 8-12.
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Max total skill points: 66-70.
For a perfectly thorough completionist run, expect up to 70 skill points by the time you hit the level cap if you do all side quests and collect every available skill shard.
