Flaws | The Outer Worlds 2 Wiki

Flaws in The Outer Worlds 2 are permanent buffs and debuffs that the player can acquire throughout the game. Flaws can be thought of as conditions that affect the player character's physical, mental, and emotional well-being, akin to real-world conditions. Flaws can manifest in many different ways through the habits of the player, and once encountered, the player can choose to accept or reject a Flaw. Once a player accepts a Flaw, it is there permanently and cannot be removed. This page lists all the Flaws available in The Outer Worlds 2 and details their effects, as well as how they are acquired.

The Outer Worlds 2 Flaws Guide

The Outer Worlds 2 Flaws Table of Contents

What are Flaws in Outer Worlds 2

Flaws in Outer Worlds 2 are permanent conditions that you can acquire based on the player character's patterns and habits. These conditions can significantly affect your playstyle by providing a more dynamic trade-off of buffs and debuffs. Unlike the previous design for Flaws, where you get 1 perk point in exchange for a negative trait in the first Outer Worlds, Flaws in Outer Worlds 2 offers more flexible and stylized effects.

How Do Flaws Work in The Outer Worlds 2

Flaws in The Outer Worlds 2 are "quirks" that are detected by the game based on the behavioral patterns of the player. Once the game detects this, a notification will flash on the screen, offering a Flaw. Flaws give both a buff and a debuff, which counteract the effects of the other. Flaws are a permanent condition that will affect the player character in certain aspects of the game.

An example would be by gazing at the sun for too long, you'll be able to unlock the Sungazer Flaw, and once accepted, you'll be able to permanently heal while outside during the day at the cost of having reduced vision and a +100% ranged weapon spread debuff.

How to Unlock Flaws in Outer Worlds 2

Flaws in Outer Worlds 2 have been redesigned and now provide a stronger trade-off with more dramatic effects. You can unlock Flaws by simply playing the game, and the system itself will pick up on the player's behavioral patterns and habits. Patterns such as habitually stealing items across the world will eventually trigger the Kleptomania flaw. While you can trigger the parameter for this intentionally, playing the game as is will eventually unlock them through your unique playstyle.

Game-Breaking Flaws in Outer Worlds 2

While some Flaws have a more or less direct effect, there are Flaws that will impact the rest of your playthrough. These usually pop up with a warning telling you that it is not recommended on your first gameplay. These Flaws will permanently affect the interactions you'll have and the behaviour of NPCs, totally changing the pace of the game.

While accepting these Flaws will alter your playthrough, it will, however, provide you with a more unique and perhaps comedic gameplay. We recommend picking them once you've finished your first run.

Can you Remove Flaws in Outer Worlds 2

Flaws are permanent buffs and debuffs that you can unlock by playing the game. Once a Flaw pops up, you can either accept or reject it. Once you've decided to accept a Flaw, it will remain until the end of your character's playthrough, so you'll have to be careful and plan around the long-term effects of how you want to play. You can head over to the bottom of the page to see all of the Flaws available.

All Flaws in The Outer Worlds 2

Name	Description & Effect	How to Unlock
Anger Mismanagement	You get irrationally angry at the smallest of slights. In your fury you're worse at blocking, but your power attacks deal more damage. +50% Damage Received while Blocking +25% Power Attack Damage	Anger Mismanagement is triggered by constantly using melee weapons and by not blocking attacks from the enemies.
Bad Knees	Years spent crouching have really done a number on your knees. They ache and squeak, but as long as you stay crouching you can ignore the pain. +50% Crouch Speed Crouching emits a 10m radius sound that hostiles can hear and investigate	Bad Knees is triggered by constantly crouching for long periods of time.
Bibliomania	You have an unhealthy obsession with books, and are left exhausted when talking with others. You have a permanent bonus to your max health, but talking to anyone will reduce it for a long duration. +20% Base Health -30% Base Health for 2m after a conversation	Bibliomania is unlocked by constantly reading logs and documents.
Compulsive Liar	You don't know why you lie; you just do. Whenever you have the opportunity to lie, you must, but you've gotten so good at it you can lie about anything. During conversations, dialogue options that allow you to lie must be chosen. The Skill requirements for lying are now ignored.	Compulsive Liar is unlocked by constantly choosing the [Lie] dialogue when interacting with NPCs.
Consumerism	You're the reason our marketing works. Promotions and sales have riddled your brain, and you're more interested in buying the next big thing than financial planning. -15% Vendor Prices -10% Sell Value at Vendors	Consumerism is unlocked by playing the Premium Edition of The Outer Worlds 2. This Flaw will automatically unlock once you've cleared the Prologue.
Dangerously Curious	Your curiosity often gets the best of you. When hacking into terminals or other pieces of tech, you'll often waste Bypass Shunts to learn an extra thing or two. +1 Bypass Shunts Required to Hack +100% Experience from Hacking	Dangerously Curious triggers by constantly hacking terminals across Arcadia.
Dependent	Some lead from the front; you tend to lead from the back as much as possible, becoming dependent on your allies. You deal less damage in general but gain a large bonus to damage if attacking an enemy your companions recently attacked. -10% Damage +25% Damage to enemies recently damaged by a companion	Dependent triggers if you continuously fight in the backlines or if you're always behind your companions.
Drug Addiction	You've used the inhaler so much you've become reliant. Individual uses are no longer as potent, but you've built up tolerance from overuse. -20% Health restored by the Medical Inhaler -40% Toxicity received from the Medical Inhaler	Drug Addiction is unlocked by constantly using the Inhaler.
Easily Distracted	Your skills are erratic to say the least, but a jack of all trades is often times better than a master of one. You can raise more skills faster, though it'll be harder to ever maximize any particular one. When leveling, you can only add skill points into your lowest non-zero Skill or any Skill you have no points in already. +1 Skill Points Gained per level	Easily Distracted is unlocked by allocating your skill points in different skills or by allocating points in other skills that you don't specizlize in.
Easily Startled	You're so easily surprised that you always try to get the jump on enemies. Getting caught leaves you open to damage for a short time, but you are better at stealth now. -25% Footsteps Volume -25% NPC Awareness Detection Rate Your Damage Resistance and Evasion are ignored for 8s when caught by an enemy.	Easily Startled is unlocked by repeatedly getting spotted by enemies prior to going stealth.
Energy Hog	You're constantly leaving the lights on and wasting energy. Your gadget energy now recharges more slowly, but you have an overall larger reserve to use or waste. -25% Energy Recharge Rate +50 Gadget Energy Meter Max	Energy Hog is unlocked by constantly using Gadgets.
Flawed	Life hasn't been easy for you, but you've learned to power through any of your disadvantages and come out better for it. WARNING: This flaw drastically changes the experience and is not recommended for your first playthrough. Flaws must be accepted, but you gain an extra perk point every 5 levels. This bonus is retroactive.	Flawed is unlocked by accepting more than two Flaws on your playthrough.
Foot-in-Mouth Syndrome	You've been racing through conversations and seem to hate the idea of having to talk with others. Your choices in conversations are now randomly picked for you after a few seconds, but you gain a bonus to all experience earned. +15% Experience Earned Dialogue Options are now chosen randomly after a certain amount of time.	Foot in Mouth Syndrome is unlocked by constantly speeding through conversations with NPCs.
Gluttony	Food, food, food. You don't let a single bite or drop go to waste. Your food and drink now heal for more, but you move a bit slower in combat. -10% Combat Movement Speed +15% healing from Food and Drink	Gluttony is unlocked by repeatedly consuming food in Outer Worlds 2.
Hermit	Your self-reliance has made you an outcast. Vendors are less eager to sell to you and prices are increased but you gain a chance to receive double resources when you break down items. +50% Vendor Prices 25% chance to double items on Breakdown	Hermit is unlocked by constantly breaking down items and crafting on the Workbench..
Kleptomania	You just have to have it. Doesn't matter what it is, but if it isn't yours, you want it. You'll occasionally steal things automatically, but anything you've stolen sells for significantly more. WARNING: This flaw significantly changes the experience while in settlements. Not advised for players looking for a relaxing experience in towns. +100% Vendor buying price for stolen items The player character automatically steals items in settlements and towns.	Kleptomania is unlocked by stealing items after a certain number of times.
Luddite	New technology confuses and frustrates you. Your max gadget energy is reduced and recharges slower, but as long as your energy is full you gain bonus damage resistance. -25% Energy Recharge -25% Gadget Energy Meter Max +10% Damage Resistance	Luddite is unlocked by playing the game without using a gadget for a long period of time.
N-Radiated	Travel through the N-Ray Range has left you fundamentally changed. Whenever you take damage of any type, you have a chance to take additional N-Ray damage and automatically become camouflaged. Whenever you take damage, there is a 5% chance you become Camouflaged automatically, but take an additional 5% of your max health as N-Ray damage. Camouflaged: Invisible to enemies and deal bonus damage. Cooldown: 30s	N-Radiated Flaw is unlocked once you've completed the N-Ray Range section of Outer Worlds 2.
Overprepared	Missing only a shot or two? Doesn't matter you've already reloaded. If you ever let a weapon run out of ammo you'll deal less damage for a short time, but all your guns now hold more ammo. +50% Magazine Size -40% damage for 8s after a weapon's magazine hits empty	Overprepared is unlocked by reloading your weapon before it gets depleted numerous times.
Profligate Spender	You're not particularly good with money and it has been noticed by your crew. VALERIE has opened a savings account in your name. A portion of acquired bits are automatically stored for later. Each level you receive a dividend of those bits, with larger payouts every 5 levels. At level 30 your account is closed and you receive a payout in full with interest. 75% of all bits received are stored by VALERIE until level 30. Earn 25% of stored bits on level up as interest. Earn an additional 25% interest every 5 levels. At level 30, receive 150% of your total stored bits.	Profligate Spender is unlocked by spending huge amounts of Bits in your playthrough.
Reckless Leadership	Your leadership techniques leave a bit to be desired, with your companions often finding themselves in harm's way. You are no longer able to revive your companions in combat, but whenever one does go down, your other companion will get a boost. They are fully healed and immediately fill their companion ability meter. You can no longer revive Companions. When a Companion goes down, the other Companion gets a significant boost. They are fully healed, and their companion ability meter is filled.	Reckless Leadership is unlocked by repeatedly having your Companions die during combat.
Snobbish	You don't like getting your hands dirty and don't have the stomach for manual labor. You can no longer breakdown your items, but any crafting materials you find sell for more. +20% vendor price for crafting materials You can no longer break down items.	Snobbish is unlocked by constantly purchasing resources from vendors.
Sungazer	You couldn't help but stare into the gentle glow of Arcadia's stars. Your eyesight has been permanently damaged, increasing your spread with ranged weapons, but you've created a lasting connection with the daylight. Permanent Damage to your vision +100% Ranged Weapon Spread Continually heal while outside during the day up to 50% Health	The Sungazer is unlocked by staring at the bright sun while outside for long periods of time. This Flaw will be offered to the player as soon as they meet the condition.
Technophobia	Automechanicals chill you to your core. They deal more damage to you, but you deal more damage to them. +20% Damage to Automechanicals +20% Damage taken from Automechanicals	Technophobia is unlocked by constantly fighting with automechanicals.
Teetotaler	You avoid drugs to a fault, leaving you particularly vulnerable to their effects. Toxicity gained from using the inhaler is increased, but the inhaler is more potent on your pure metabolism. +25% Toxicity received from the Medical Inhaler +25% Health restored by the Medical Inhaler	The Teetotaler flaw can be triggered if you avoid toxicity buildup from using the inhaler and avoiding the haze of Zyranium.
Treacherous	You're not made for fighting fairly. Your max health is reduced, but enemies lose track of you quicker, and you deal bonus sneak attack damage. -25% Base Health +50% Enemy Awareness Depletion Rate +100% Sneak Attack Damage	Treacherous is unlocked by repeatedly playing in stealth. Crouching and sneaking up on enemies can help trigger this Flaw.
Tunnel Vision	You have your favorite and don't see much use in branching out from it. You lose your second weapon slot but gain a bonus to armor penetration as long as you don't swap weapons. Loses your second weapon slot Gain a bonus to your armor penetration	Tunnel Vision is unlocked by equipping only 1 weapon for an extended period of time.
Wasteful	Conserving and preparing for the future are overrated. You can be careless, but sometimes things just work out. You'll always find ammo when scavenging things you kill, but your reckless demeanor makes you an easy target for vendors. +25% Vendor Prices Killed enemies always drop ammo	Wasteful is unlocked by constantly running out of ammo.

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- Anonymous
  11 Aug 2026 01:50
  I'm playing on Xbox and the first time a flaw pops up I can't accept or reject
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- Anonymous
  23 Feb 2026 00:08
  With the exception of Consumerism, Easily Distracted, Flawed and Sungazer, you need to be level 5 for them to start appearing.
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