To recruit Tristan in The Outer Worlds 2, find him arguing with the bartender in the 2nd Choice saloon on Free Market Station, complete his “Arbitrary Measures” quest at the refugee camp in Golden Ridge, and make sure he survives the ambush. Then return to the saloon, speak with the Broker, and talk to Tristan again.
Start Tristan’s quest at Free Market Station
- Travel to Free Market Station and enter the 2nd Choice saloon.
- Approach Tristan while he is arguing with the bartender. Offer to help with the situation involving the Broker to start “Arbitrary Measures.”
Investigate the refugee-camp attack in Golden Ridge
Meet Tristan at the refugee camp in southwestern Dorado, in the Golden Ridge area. Search all five investigation points before moving on:
- The settler’s corpse near the camp entrance.
- The destroyed automechanical.
- The terminal inside the tent on the left.
- The radio tower at the back of the camp.
- The communications array on the roof of the main building.
Keep Tristan alive during the ambush
After the investigation, mechs and drones ambush the squad. Tristan must survive this encounter for the recruitment route to continue. Consider making a manual save before presenting evidence or entering the encounter so you can retry if he is killed.
Return to the saloon to recruit Tristan
- Go back to the 2nd Choice saloon on Free Market Station.
- Speak with the Broker.
- Talk to Tristan again to complete recruitment.
What Tristan brings as a companion
Tristan Rao is a Protectorate Arbiter. His “Judgment” ability charges and delivers a powerful hammer strike that damages and knocks back its target and nearby enemies, then taunts nearby enemies. His “Supreme Arbiter Hammer” trait makes the hammer function as both a melee weapon and a grenade launcher. “Observant Adjudicator” gives a 25% chance to reveal hidden objects that your own Observation skill could not reveal, according to GameSpot’s companion guide (October 28, 2025).
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#1 Best Overall
The Outer Worlds 2 has six companions, and you can have up to two active companions at a time, according to the same guide.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The outer worlds is a new single-player first-person sci-fi rpg from obsidian entertainment and private division
- In the outer worlds, you awake from hibernation on a colonist ship that was lost in transit to halcyon, the furthest colony from earth located at the edge of the galaxy, only to find yourself in the midst of a deep conspiracy threatening to destroy it. As you explore the furthest reaches of space and encounter various factions, all-vying for power, the character you decide to become will determine how this player-driven story unfolds. In the corporate equation for the colony, you are the unplanned variable
Rank #4
![The Outer Worlds 2 – Premium Edition – PlayStation® 5 [Disc + Code in Box]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51m0DA7hhuL._SL160_.jpg)
- The Premium Edition includes: The Outer Worlds 2 base game, DLC Pass for 2 future story expansions*, Moon Man’s Corporate Appreciation Premium Prize Pack, and access to the Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack. Content Download Required.
- The Outer Worlds 2 is the eagerly awaited sequel to the award-winning first-person sci-fi RPG from Obsidian Entertainment.
- Get ready for an action-packed adventure with a new crew, new weapons, and new enemies in a new colony! So much newness!
- As a daring Earth Directorate, the entire galaxy, rests on your decisions—your strengths, your flaws, your crew, and the factions you choose to trust.
- Build your character with the abilities and choices that reflect your playstyle. The colony reacts to your every move, crafting a narrative that’s yours to own.
Rank #3
- The Outer Worlds 2 is the eagerly awaited sequel to the award-winning first-person sci-fi RPG from Obsidian Entertainment.
- Get ready for an action-packed adventure with a new crew, new weapons, and new enemies in a new colony! So much newness!
- As a daring Earth Directorate, the entire galaxy, rests on your decisions—your strengths, your flaws, your crew, and the factions you choose to trust.
- Build your character with the abilities and choices that reflect your playstyle. The colony reacts to your every move, crafting a narrative that’s yours to own.
- Recruit companions with unique traits, backgrounds, and goals, making them an integral part of the immersive story you create together.
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