The Lawbringer background in The Outer Worlds 2 is designed for players who want to embody the Earth Directorate’s strict moral code—acting as a frontline protector, commanding their squad, and enforcing order with overwhelming firepower. This build focuses on strong leadership, consistent ranged damage, and high durability, giving you everything you need to play the role of a spacefaring enforcer.

Lawbringers aren’t subtle. They fight with authority, stand at the front of their squad, and inspire their companions through heroic presence. Instead of stealth or trickery, they rely on leadership, firepower, and defensive strength to resolve conflicts.
Best Traits for a Lawbringer
| Trait | Effect |
|---|---|
| Heroic | -20% Companion Ability Charge Time |
| Brawny | Knock down enemies by sprinting/sliding (5s cooldown) |
| Dumb (negative) | Locks 5 unneeded skills (e.g., Sneak, Hack, etc.) |
1. Heroic (Positive Trait)
The most important choice in this build. Heroic reduces companion ability cooldowns, letting your squad unleash their strongest attacks far more frequently. A Lawbringer rallies allies through action, so this trait directly supports your fantasy of leading the charge.
2. Brawny (Positive Trait)
Brawny allows you to knock down enemies by sliding or sprinting into them, giving you more crowd-control options when closing distance. This helps you maintain battlefield control while also reinforcing your frontline role.
3. Dumb (Negative Trait)
While it may seem like a strange fit, this negative trait allows you to lock out skills you’d never want anyway—Lockpick, Hack, Sneak, Explosives, and Science. None of these align with the righteous, by-the-book approach of a Lawbringer.
Best Skills for a Lawbringer
| Skill | Note |
|---|---|
| Leadership | Boosts companion damage/health and reinforces your squad command presence |
| Guns | Your go-to combat style—direct, lethal, and righteous |
| Speech | Enhances dialogue control, intimidation, and hero speeches |
| Engineering | Improves armor and survivability—perfect for a frontline commander |
1. Leadership
Your most important skill in the entire build. Leadership increases companion performance, strengthens your team identity, and allows your squad to contribute far more effectively in every encounter. A Lawbringer is as strong as the allies they command.
2. Guns
Guns are the Lawbringer’s primary tools of justice. Investing here boosts overall firearm damage and ensures consistency across shotguns, rifles, and pistols. This is your foundational offensive skill.
3. Engineer
Engineering provides increased armor effectiveness, giving you more resistance as a frontline fighter. A Lawbringer isn’t meant to hide—this skill keeps you standing.
4. Speech
Speech adds more than dialogue options. With certain perks, Speech increases your damage output, letting you turn leadership presence into measurable combat power.
Best Perks for a Lawbringer
| Perk | Effect |
|---|---|
| Inspiring Commander | +5% Companion Command meter per kill |
| Crabble Rancher | +10% Ranged Damage; +20% Crit Chance when mag is half-empty |
| Bulletshield | +10% Damage Resistance; +10% Base Health |
| Space Ranger | +2.5% Damage per point in Speech |
1. Bulletshield
- Extra damage resistance
- A sizable base health boost
You become harder to kill and naturally draw enemy aggro—perfect for a tank-like enforcer.
2. Crabble Rancher
- Higher ranged damage
- Increased critical chance
Since this build leans fully into gunplay, this perk ensures that every shot you fire hits harder.
3. Inspiring Commander
- Companion command meters fill faster with every kill
- Paired with Heroic, this creates an aggressive rhythm where your team unleashes abilities almost nonstop.
4. Space Ranger
- Damage scales with Speech skill
- Turn your charisma and heroic persona into real combat impact. It’s thematic and extremely practical.
Best Weapons for a Lawbringer
| Weapon Type | Use Case |
|---|---|
| Shotgun | Close-range crowd control |
| Marksman Rifle | Mid-to-long-range tactical damage |
1. Shotguns
Ideal for close-range encounters. Their burst damage and spread make them perfect for clearing rooms and handling melee enemies who try to rush you.
2. Marksman Rifles
Great for mid- and long-range fights. A Lawbringer needs flexibility, and rifles let you pick off threats before they get too close.
Together, these two weapon types ensure you’re prepared for any combat scenario the game throws at you.
Best Armor for a Lawbringer
Heavy Armor
Heavy armor offers the highest damage reduction in the game, giving you the durability expected of a loyal Earth Directorate agent who stands between chaos and order. You don’t need mobility—you’re here to confront danger head-on.
Recommended Playstyle
To get the most out of this build:
- Lead from the front. You’re the anchor of your squad.
- Trigger companion abilities as often as possible. Your perks and traits are designed to fuel them.
- Use your Shotgun in tight areas and swap to a Rifle when the field opens up.
- Stand your ground—your armor and perks are built to absorb punishment.
- Use Speech options whenever possible, since they contribute to both role-play and damage scaling.
The Lawbringer is one of the most satisfying playstyles in The Outer Worlds 2. You command your team, assert battlefield control, and maintain a heroic presence that reinforces the Earth Directorate’s ideals. With strong leadership, powerful firearms, and heavy armor, this build captures the essence of a protector who meets threats head-on and never backs down.
Read More:
- The Outer Worlds 2 Skyrim Reference Explained
- The Outer Worlds 2 Console Commands & Mod Loader Installation Guide
- The Outer Worlds 2: How to Find de Vries’ Safe Room
- How to Upgrade Companions in The Outer Worlds 2 and Boost Their Abilities Fast
- All The Outer Worlds 2 Keybinds – Full PC and Controller Controls Guide
If you want a character who feels authoritative, resilient, and mechanically impactful, this Lawbringer setup offers one of the best experiences in the game. Play Now!