The Outer Worlds has various factors that the player has to account for in order to stay alive, one of these is having good armor as you explore the vast wastelands of different worlds. The Outer Worlds has different damage types which mean each armor type gives you resistance against something specific. Having different armors for different situations can provide some useful boosts.
Each armor piece can be classified into either the Light, Medium or Heavy category which is up to you depending on how you like your characters to roll. You can equip a headpiece and body armor, over time both of these items degrade and can be repaired on a workbench, or simply do it where you are if your Engineering skill is high enough, alternatively, a vendor can repair it for you too.
The Outer Worlds Armor
Armor provides you with Armor rating that helps you with resistance to incoming damage. Although armor rating is an important concept you will also get interesting bonuses to your stats, skills or attributes. If you find a piece of armor you’re particularly fond of you, you can add further modifications by Tinkering at a Workbench.
Armor Types
Heavy, light and medium armor types do not affect your playstyle in the way you think they do. The difference between each is the armor rating and the amount of items you can carry. Heavy Armor will have higher armor rating than Medium and Light armor but Light and Medium armor will have better bonuses to attributes and skills.
It’s better to understand that having a little extra armor rating is not going to help you that much. Your primary focus should always be the bonuses you get from said armor pieces. +5 to a Skill is better than +5 to Armor Rating. You can improve armor rating by Tinkering the item on a Workbench.
With suitable combinations of armor, you can gain significant skill bonuses for whatever situation you currently intend to deal with. With so many different skills, it is rewarding if you explore each build as you move through the game.
Armor Rating
Armor Rating works in a very simple way, with the amount of damage the enemy is dealing, let’s say it be 150, and your armor rating is 50, you’ll notice that due to your armor, you will receive exactly 100 damage. This number can change depending on the resistance bonuses provided to you from your armor type. Armor Rating is basically the amount subtracted from your total damage taken.
If you get hit on the head, your headpiece will deteriorate and similarly taking damage on your chest, your chest piece will lose armor rating.
Armor Pieces
The following list details every body armor in the game with their modifications, skill bonuses, armor types and damage reduction from each damage type should they have any.
| Name | Armor Type | Skill Bonus | Modifications | Physical | Plasma | Corrosion | Shock | N-Ray |
| Hibernation Suit | Light | Tech +5 | None | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Rebuilt Mining Gear | Light | Stealth +5 | Utility Gadget Skill Kit Armoring | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Worker Outfit (1) | Clothing | Melee +6 | None | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Worker Outfit (2) | Light | Tech +5 | None | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Makeshift Low Pressure | Medium | Tech +5 | Utility Gadget Skill Kit Armoring | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Riot Control Armor | Light | Stealth +5 | Utility Gadget Skill Kit Armoring | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Mechanics Overalls, Junior Grade | Light | Tech +5 | None | 7 | None | None | None | None |
| Retrofitted Heavy Power Armor | Heavy | Stealth +5, Heavy Weapons +5 | Utility Gadget Skill Kit Armoring | 16 | None | None | None | None |
| Cobbled Exo Suit | Light | Tech +5 | Utility Gadget Skill Kit Armoring | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Laboratory Outfit, Splash-Resistant | None | Tech +5 | None | 3 | None | None | None | None |
| Riot Control Armor (2) | Light | Stealth +5 | Utility Gadget Skill Kit Armoring | 7 | None | None | None | None |
| Standard Troop Armor | Medium | Hack +7 | Utility Gadget Skill Kit Armoring | 14 | None | None | None | None |
| Protective Clothing With Safety Harness | Light | Dialog +5 | Utility Gadget Skill Kit Armoring | 6 | None | None | None | None |
| Work Gear, Farm-Friendly | Clothing | Melee +5 | None | 3 | None | None | None | None |
| Colony Ship Guard Armor | Medium | Melee +5 | Utility Gadget Skill Kit Armoring | 18 | None | None | None | None |
| Standard Troop Armor (L12) | Medium | Dodge +7 | Utility Gadget Skill Kit Armoring | 19 | None | None | None | None |
| Day Wear, Option 1 | Clothing | Stealth +5 | None | 4 | None | None | None | None |
| Work-Gear, Farm-Friendly (L8) | Clothing | Defense +5 | None | 3 | None | None | None | None |
| Mixed Use Outfit | Clothing | Ranged +5 | None | 3 | None | None | None | None |
| Laboratory Outfit, Splash-Resistant (L8) | Clothing | Leadership +5 | None | 3 | None | None | None | None |
| Elite Troop Armor | Heavy | Block +5 Stealth +5 | Utility Gadget Skill Kit Armoring | 53 | None | None | None | None |
| The Refined Byzantite | None | Ranged +5 | None | 5 | None | None | None | None |
| ClassicWear Express (L7) | None | Ranged +5 | None | 3 | None | None | None | None |
| ClassicWear Umbra (L20) | None | Tech +5 | None | 3 | None | None | None | None |
| ClassicWear Umbra (L2) | None | Dialog +5 | None | 2 | None | None | None | None |
| ClassicWear Express (L1) | None | Leadership +5 | None | 5 | None | None | None | None |
| ClassicWear Express (L13) | None | Leadership +5 | None | 5 | None | None | None | None |
| The Manager (L8) | Clothing | Hack +5 | None | 3 | None | None | None | None |
| The Manager (L10) | Clothing | Engineering +5 | None | 3 | None | None | None | None |
| The Oxonian (L14) | Clothing | Persuade +5 | None | 4 | None | None | None | None |
| The Oxonian (L18) | Clothing | Science +5 | None | 6 | None | None | None | None |
| Colony Shop Uniform, Captain (L18) | Light | Leadership +5 | None | 22 | None | None | None | None |
| Day Wear, Option 1 (L13) | Clothing | Ranged +5 | None | 5 | None | None | None | None |
| Leaded Armor (L15) | Medium | 2-Handed Melee +7 | Utility Gadget Skill Kit Armoring | 24 | None | None | None | None |
| Streetwear, Basic (L9) | Light | Melee +5 | None | 11 | None | None | None | None |
| Ordnance Control Armor Gold (L16) | Medium | Defense +5 | Utility Gadget Skill Kit Armoring | 26 | None | None | None | None |
| Elite Troop Armor Gold (L17) | Heavy | Dodge +5 Stealth +5 | Utility Gadget Skill Kit Armoring | 41 | None | None | None | None |
| Dur-A-Bull Guards | Light | Ranged +5 | Utility Gadget Skill Kit Armoring | 11 | None | None | None | None |
| Anti-Riot Gear (L13) | Medium | Long Guns +7 | Utility Gadget Skill Kit Armoring | 21 | None | None | None | None |
| Ordnance Control Armor (L14) | Medium | Ranged +5 | Utility Gadget Skill Kit Armoring | 22 | None | None | None | None |
| Cobbled Exo-Suit (L3) | Light | Tech +5 | Utility Gadget Skill Kit Armoring | 5 | None | None | None | None |
| Ordnance Control Armor Gold (L29) | Medium | Leadership +5 | Utility Gadget Skill Kit Armoring | 54 | None | None | None | None |
| Elite Troop Armor Gold (L30) | Heavy | Block +5 Stealth +5 | Utility Gadget Skill Kit Armoring | 84 | None | None | None | None |
| Braxington Formal Wear | None | Leadership +5 | None | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Freeman Business Suit | None | Tech +5 | None | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Town & Country | None | Leadership +5 | None | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Classic Semi-Formal | None | Defense +5 | None | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Fall Plaid Collection | None | Tech +5 | None | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| SubLight VP Armor | Light | Intimidate +10 | Laminated Silver Tongue Kit | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 31 |
| Inmate Uniform, Style T | Clothing | Melee +5 | None | 8 | None | None | None | None |
| Colony Ship Uniform, Captain | Light | Leadership +5 | None | 22 | None | None | None | None |
Head Armor
All the head armor pieces you can wear which surprisingly includes a very fashionable fedora for you to rock across the galaxy.
| Name | Armor Type | Skill Bonus | Physical | Plasma | Corrosion | Shock | N-Ray |
| Piecemeal Mining | Light | 1-Handed Melee +5 | 4 | None | None | None | None |
| Patched Low Pressure | Medium | Lockpick +5 | 9 | None | None | None | None |
| Beanie, Light-weight | Light | Block +5 | 2 | None | None | None | None |
| Riot Control Helmet | Light | Determination +5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Reconditioned Exo Helmet | Light | Sneak +5 | None | None | None | None | None |
| Mining Helmet, Grade 1, With Light | Clothing | Heavy Weapons +5 | 5 | None | None | None | None |
| Overhauled Power Helmet | Heavy | None | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Mining Helmet, Grade 1 | Clothing | Hack +5 | 6 | None | None | None | None |
| Ordnance Control Helmet | None | Persuade +5 | 18 | None | None | None | None |
| Riot Control Helmet (2) | Light | 1-Handed Melee +5 | 7 | None | None | None | None |
| Standard Troop Helmet | Light | Science +5 | 14 | None | None | None | None |
| MoonMan Helmet (Costume) | Clothing | Lie +5 | 3 | None | None | None | None |
| Advanced Defensive | Heavy | None | 24 | None | None | None | None |
| Advanced Defensive (L11) | Heavy | None | 26 | None | None | None | None |
| Padded Helm | Clothing | Lockpick +5 | 4 | None | None | None | None |
| Mark 7 Cranial Protector | Clothing | Handguns +5 | 3 | None | None | None | None |
| Mining Helmet, Grade 1 (L4) | Clothing | Heavy Weapons +5 | 5 | None | None | None | None |
| Precision Spectrum Magnification Mono-Lens | Clothing | Engineering +5 | 3 | None | None | None | None |
| Reinforced Head Wear, Class S | Clothing | Medical +5 | 3 | None | None | None | None |
| Lab Protective Monocle | None | Persuade +5 | 4 | None | None | None | None |
| Elite Troop Armor (Helmet) | Heavy | None | 22 | None | None | None | None |
| Full Cranial Helmet | Heavy | None | 16 | None | None | None | None |
| Advanced Defensive (L21) | Heavy | None | 53 | None | None | None | None |
| Ordnance Control Helmet (L20) | Medium | Handguns +5 | 33 | None | None | None | None |
| Standard Troop Helmet (L18) | Light | Persuade +5 | 29 | None | None | None | None |
| Hat, Wide-Brimmed (L13) | Clothing | Dodge +5 | 5 | None | None | None | None |
| Hat, Wide-Brimmed (L25) | Clothing | 2-Handed Melee +5 | 11 | None | None | None | None |
| Heavy Grade Face (L14) | Light | Determination +5 | 11 | None | None | None | None |
| Mark 7 Cranial Protector (L6) | Medium | Handguns +5 | 3 | None | None | None | None |
| Space Aviator Glasses (L13) | Medium | Hack +5 | 5 | None | None | None | None |
| Vented Mark 3 Helmet (L13) | Medium | Inspiration +5 | 21 | None | None | None | None |
| Eye Covering, Standard (L21) | Clothing | Lie +5 | 9 | None | None | None | None |
| Riot Control Helmet Gold (L13) | Light | Handguns +5 | 10 | None | None | None | None |
| Leather Helm With Goggles | Medium | Medical +5 | 21 | None | None | None | None |
| Ordnance Control Helmet Gold (L18) | Medium | Persuade +5 | 29 | None | None | None | None |
| The Oxonian | Clothing | 2-Handed Melee +5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| SugarOps Helmet | Heavy | +10% N-Ray Damage +5% Plasma Damage | 36 | None | None | None | None |
| The Duchess | Clothing | Handguns +5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Bowler, Business Formal | Clothing | Inspiration +5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Fedora, Red-Banded | Clothing | Determination +5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Advanced Defensive Helmet Gold | Heavy | None | 46 | None | None | None | None |
Companion Armor
As you level up in the Outer Worlds, your companions don’t, which is why you need to upgrade everything that your companions uses in order to make them be able to withstand the high level battle with you. If you don’t upgrade their stuff then they will not be a very good companion is difficult fights.
It is very easy to shift their weapons and armor along with the perks that you can have with them. But in this section we will only discuss their armor and how we can change or upgrade it.
Upgrading Companion Armor
Go to inventory and by opening up the menu, for this you have to press Tab. Choose the companion from the list of companion names which is at the bottom of the screen. When you do the weapon in use of the companion will be visible. For armor, you will have to move to the next tab and there at the top, the currently equipped armor will be visible. The bottom will display the inventory items related to the armor that you have.
If you drag them to the equipped slot then your companion will have the new item equipped and the item that was equipped will be removed. It is recommended that you upgrade the item using Workbench before you equip it.
