Outer Worlds 2 Kaur vs Milverstreet Decision: Complete Choice Guide & Consequences

The Outer Worlds 2 wastes no time throwing meaningful choices at you, and the Kaur versus Milverstreet decision in Fairfield is one of the first that genuinely matters. Both are members of Auntie’s Choice faction, but they have wildly different philosophies about how to handle the Protectorate threat.

This isn’t just a “pick one and forget about it” situation—your choice dramatically alters which missions you tackle, what rewards you earn, and even which companions you can recruit early on. I’ve played through both paths, and honestly, one is significantly more beneficial for most playstyles. Let me break down exactly what happens with each choice so you can make an informed decision.

Understanding the Philosophical Divide

Before diving into mechanics and rewards, it’s worth understanding why these two are at odds:

Acquisitions Officer Kaur represents the militaristic, aggressive approach. She wants to crush the Protectorate through direct action and sabotage. Think overwhelming force and infrastructure destruction.

Minister Milverstreet takes a more subtle, psychological approach. He believes in converting Protectorate members rather than destroying them—winning hearts and minds instead of battles.

Neither is objectively “good” or “evil,” which is classic Outer Worlds storytelling. Your choice reflects your playstyle and roleplay preferences as much as it does practical considerations.

The Kaur Path: Sabotage and Shockwaves

Mission Chain: Direct Action

If you throw your support behind Kaur, you’ll immediately receive the “Above and Beyond Repair” mission. This sets you on an aggressive path focused on infrastructure destruction.

First Mission Objectives:

1. Travel to the Euphoria Coast Automech Repair Center (far southeast Paradise Island)
2. Sabotage the facility
3. Acquire the Gas-Energy Deflection Apparatus gadget

What is the Gas-Energy Deflection Apparatus?
This gadget creates a temporary shield that protects against both status effects and direct damage. It’s essentially a panic button for when fights get overwhelming—incredibly useful throughout the entire game.

Second Mission: “Ascent in the Howling Tower”

After completing the sabotage, Kaur sends you to the Skycutter power plant on Paradise Island’s northwest coast. This is a full dungeon-style instance that culminates in sending a devastating shockwave to the Vox Relay, crippling their technical infrastructure.

Kaur’s Rewards Breakdown

Here’s what you’ll earn by siding with Kaur:

Equipment:

• Kaur’s Kuirass – Solid defensive body armor for early-game survivability
• Kaur’s Korroder – A corrosive damage weapon that spreads Infection status among enemies (excellent for crowd control)
• Gas-Energy Deflection Apparatus – Shield gadget (though you can get this with Milverstreet too)

Strategic Benefits:

• Early access to corrosive damage type
• Strong defensive gear for tank builds
• Direct path to disrupting the Vox Relay

The Downsides of Choosing Kaur

Let’s be real: Kaur’s path has some frustrating drawbacks.

Travel Time Issues:
Both major locations—the Automech Repair Center and Skycutter power plant—are far from Fairfield. You’ll spend significant time just running across the map, which slows down early-game momentum.

Difficulty Spike:
The Skycutter power plant is genuinely tough at lower levels. I’d recommend being at least Level 6 before attempting it, which means you might need to grind side content first. Check our leveling guide if you’re struggling with early progression.

No Early Companion Access:
This is the big one. Kaur’s questline doesn’t lead you to any companions, meaning you’re solo longer than necessary.

The Milverstreet Path: Subterfuge and Recruitment

Mission Chain: Hearts and Minds

Choosing Minister Milverstreet unlocks the “A Refreshing Bit of News” mission, which takes a more psychological warfare approach.

First Mission Objectives:

1. Travel to the nearby Ministry of Accuracy
2. Gather intel on Protectorate Mind Refreshment methods
3. Recruit Inez as your first companion

This is huge. The Ministry of Accuracy is close to Fairfield, and you’ll encounter Inez during this mission—the game’s first recruitable companion. Getting a companion this early dramatically improves your combat effectiveness and opens up new dialogue options.

If you want to optimize Inez’s abilities, check our Inez Graft Choice guide for customization recommendations.

Second Mission: “Brain Benders of Auntie’s Choice”

After delivering your findings, Milverstreet sends you to Westport with a fascinating objective: gain Vigilant Hogarth’s trust, then convince him to abandon his post and lead his people to Fairfield.

This involves:

1. Traveling to Westport (requires crossing the Protectorate Bridge)
2. Earning the Vigilant’s trust through dialogue and actions
3. Subtly sabotaging Westport to force his hand
4. Acquiring the Writ of Conscription

Why the Writ of Conscription Matters

The Writ of Conscription is one of several methods to access the Vox Relay—a critical story location. Having this official document opens up diplomatic options that might otherwise require violence or stealth. If you’re planning multiple approaches to the Vox Relay decision, this flexibility is invaluable.

Milverstreet’s Rewards Breakdown

Equipment:

• Topmost Coat – Quality body armor suitable for various builds
• Limited Production Gentleperson’s Oxonian Hat – Milverstreet’s signature headwear with bonus Crit Chance and Crit Damage

Strategic Benefits:

• Early companion recruitment (Inez)
• Official Vox Relay access via Writ of Conscription
• Shorter travel distances between objectives
• Lower difficulty curve overall

The Hat is Better Than It Sounds:
Don’t sleep on the Oxonian Hat. Critical hit builds are powerful in Outer Worlds 2, and getting crit bonuses this early accelerates your damage scaling. Pair it with the right perks and you’ll be landing devastating shots consistently.

Direct Comparison: Which Path is Objectively Better?

Let me cut through the complexity with a practical breakdown:

Choose Kaur If:

• You’re roleplaying an aggressive, militaristic character
• You want early corrosive damage weapons
• You prefer tank builds and defensive stats
• You don’t mind longer travel times and tougher combat

Choose Milverstreet If:

• You want the most efficient early-game progression
• You prioritize getting companions quickly
• You prefer diplomatic solutions and multiple quest approaches
• You’re building toward a critical hit-focused character
• You want smoother difficulty scaling

My Recommendation: Milverstreet Wins for Most Players

Unless you have specific roleplay reasons to support Kaur, Milverstreet’s path is objectively more beneficial for the majority of playthroughs. Here’s why:

1. Companion Access Matters More Than You Think

Getting Inez early means:

• Extra damage output in combat
• Someone to draw enemy aggro
• Additional dialogue options in conversations
• Faster mission completion overall

Combat in Outer Worlds 2 is significantly easier with companions. Going solo through Kaur’s path means struggling through tougher fights unnecessarily.

2. The Writ of Conscription Provides Long-Term Value

Multiple story paths require Vox Relay access. Having an official writ opens diplomatic channels that pure combat approaches don’t. This becomes especially important when navigating faction relationships later in the game.

3. Better Reward Scaling

While Kaur’s corrosive weapon is nice initially, you’ll find better weapons soon enough. The Oxonian Hat’s crit bonuses, however, remain relevant throughout the entire game if you’re building for critical hits.

4. You Still Get the Shield Gadget

This is crucial: even if you choose Milverstreet, you can still acquire the Gas-Energy Deflection Apparatus. You’re not permanently locked out of it, so Kaur’s path doesn’t have an exclusive reward advantage.

What About the Other Rewards?

Both paths technically give you access to similar gear categories—body armor and weapons. The differences are:

Kaur’s gear favors:

• Physical defense
• Corrosive damage type
• Status effect spreading

Milverstreet’s gear favors:

• Critical hit builds
• Versatile armor options
• Stylish appearance (if that matters to you)

Neither set is “best in slot” for the endgame, so choose based on your starting build rather than assuming either is mandatory.

Can You Change Your Mind Later?

Unfortunately, no. Once you commit to either Kaur or Milverstreet, you’re locked into that questline for this playthrough. This is a permanent decision that affects:

• Which missions you complete
• Which rewards you receive
• When you can recruit Inez
• How you initially access the Vox Relay

If you’re achievement hunting or want to experience both storylines, you’ll need separate playthroughs or multiple save files.

Tips for Both Paths

Regardless of which leader you trust, here are some universal tips:

Before Making Your Choice:

• Complete available side quests to gain levels and gear
• Stock up on Inhaler Charges and consumables
• Review your starting build to ensure it aligns with your chosen path
• Consider what to do first to optimize early progression

If You Choose Kaur:

• Level up to at least 6 before attempting Skycutter
• Bring plenty of healing items
• Invest in defensive perks early
• Save before major combat encounters

If You Choose Milverstreet:

• Focus on building trust with Vigilant Hogarth through dialogue choices
• Explore the Ministry of Accuracy thoroughly for loot
• Equip Inez immediately after recruitment
• Take advantage of shorter travel distances to complete side content

The Faction Reputation Angle

Your choice doesn’t dramatically impact your overall Auntie’s Choice reputation—both Kaur and Milverstreet are faction members, after all. However, your approach style (military aggression vs. diplomatic conversion) might influence how other factions perceive you later.

If you’re concerned about maintaining positive relationships with multiple factions throughout the game, Milverstreet’s diplomatic approach generally creates fewer burned bridges. For comprehensive faction management strategies, see our complete factions guide.

Does This Choice Affect the Ending?

Without spoiling specifics, this early decision sets tonal precedents but doesn’t directly determine your ending. The Outer Worlds 2 tracks numerous choices throughout the campaign, and your final outcomes depend on the cumulative weight of all your decisions, not just this one.

That said, choosing Milverstreet’s path provides more flexibility in future diplomatic situations, which can open up additional ending possibilities. Kaur’s aggressive approach doesn’t lock you out of “good” endings, but it establishes a pattern of direct action that some factions remember.

Frequently Asked Questions

External Resources

For more background on The Outer Worlds series, the official game page, and to purchase the original game, check out these resources.

Final Verdict: Trust Milverstreet

After playing through both paths multiple times, my recommendation is clear: choose Minister Milverstreet unless you have compelling roleplay reasons to support Kaur’s military approach.

Milverstreet’s path offers:

• Earlier companion recruitment
• More efficient progression
• Better long-term rewards (Writ of Conscription + crit gear)
• Lower difficulty curve
• Greater diplomatic flexibility

Kaur’s path is perfectly viable and offers interesting combat challenges, but for most players—especially those on their first playthrough—Milverstreet provides the smoother, more rewarding experience.

The beauty of The Outer Worlds 2 is that no choice is objectively wrong from a story perspective. Both leaders have valid philosophies, and both paths lead to interesting content. But from a pure gameplay optimization standpoint, Milverstreet edges ahead.

Whichever you choose, commit to it fully and enjoy the consequences. That’s what makes these games memorable—not finding the “perfect” path, but living with your decisions and seeing where they lead.

Related Guides:

• All Companions Recruitment Guide
• Beginner’s Tips & Tricks
• Best Starting Builds
• All Backgrounds Guide
• How to Get More Weapon Slots