Like every good companion in The Outer Worlds 2, Inez comes with her own personal mission — but hers plays out a bit differently. Her first companion quest, Better Than Nature, doesn’t just expand on her backstory; it directly determines what combat ability she’ll unlock. Knowing which ability you want ahead of time makes this quest a lot simpler.
This guide will walk through the steps to get started with Better Than Nature, where to head, and what each upgrade does, so you can decide on a path that fits your playstyle best.
How to Start
After you recruit Inez, she’ll open up about the mechanical graft on her arm. It’s malfunctioning, causing her pain — and if it’s not replaced soon, it could kill her. She’ll ask you to help her find Ethel Tinsley, a biomechanical expert in Fairfield.
Head to Ethel’s lab, which is on the edge of town, by following the map marker. After talking with her, she will confirm that Inez requires a new organic graft, and in order for her to make one, she’ll need samples from one particular creature. You have two targets to choose from:
- The Skeleton Crabble
- The Raptidon Matriarch
You only need to hunt down one of them, but you can do both if you’re feeling ambitious. Each boss leads to a different upgrade path for Inez.
Hunting the Skeleton Crabble
Of the two, the Skeleton Crabble is easier and more convenient. Its nest is near Fairfield, and the area is open enough to allow you to keep your distance while fighting.
The Crabble itself hits hard but moves slowly, and it’s accompanied by a few smaller creatures. Use the space around you to your advantage-grenades are great for crowd control, and long-range weapons can allow you to avoid Crabble’s sweeping attacks.
If you’ve got Niles at your party, his companion ability can make all the difference here. He’ll be taking the Crabble’s attentions and giving you room to land critical shots, while he dishes out heavy damage in return.
After Crabble goes down, take a Graft Sample from the remains and head back to Ethel.
Hunting the Raptidon Matriarch
The Raptidon Matriarch is tougher — not just because of her strength, but because of where she’s hiding. Her den is located in the northern region of Paradise Island, near the Vox Relay, and getting there takes a bit of effort.
It can be reached in several ways:
- Completing a quest for the Protectorate Warden guarding the main bridge.
- Doing side quests for Milverstreet or Kaur in Fairfield.
- Crossing the river on the east side by hopping over a sunken ship requires a double jump.
- Entering from the west through a toxic zone, you’ll need to survive zyranium poisoning.
But once you make it across, you’ll see the Matriarch’s territory surrounded by smaller Raptidons. When the fight starts, Inez will lure the Matriarch out — but it’s up to you to handle the rest.
The key to surviving the encounter is crowd control. Take out the smaller Raptidons first so you’re not overwhelmed, then focus your fire on the Matriarch. Shock weapons and AoE attacks help manage the chaos.
Once you defeat her, gather the Matriarch Sample, then head back to Ethel’s lab to finish the graft.
Which Option Should You Choose?
Your choice decides which combat ability Inez gains permanently.
- Skeleton Crabble Sample: Grants Inez an attack where she fires shell shards that shred enemy armor; great if you’re light on damage dealers.
- Raptidon Matriarch Sample: Inez gains the ability to stealth mid-fight and throw healing packs, perfect for support-heavy builds.
If you already have a good medic in your party, such as VAL, then the Crabble upgrade can add some much-needed offense. If you don’t already have healing support, though, the Raptidon graft is a great alternative. The Raptidon graft feels more versatile personally. Being able to cloak and heal mid-combat will be what keeps your entire squad alive during those harsher missions. Regardless of which route you take, Inez also opens up her signature companion ability called The Magic Bullet. When activated, she cloaks near your position and drops a healing burst, combining offence with defence in a single move.
