Early in your journey through The Outer Worlds 2, you’ll stumble upon one of the game’s more intriguing locked containers—Kaur’s War Chest. While it’s tempting to simply walk past another locked box, this particular chest deserves your attention. It contains some genuinely useful gear that can give you a solid advantage during the early hours of your playthrough, especially if you’re playing on higher difficulties.
The catch? You’ll need either some light skill investment or a bit of sneaky finger work to crack it open. Let me walk you through both methods so you can grab that loot without wasting time.
Finding Kaur’s War Chest: The Shack Near Fairfield
Location Details:
- Region: Paradise Island (your first major area)
- Nearest Settlement: Fairfield
- Direction: West of town
- Landmark: Small wooden shack
After you complete the opening mission and land The Incognito on Paradise Island, Fairfield becomes your hub. Kaur’s War Chest sits in a modest shack just west of this settlement—you really can’t miss it if you’re doing any exploring whatsoever.
Pro tip: This is one of those early-game discoveries that rewards players who take the scenic route instead of fast-traveling everywhere. The shack is close enough to Fairfield that you’ll likely spot it during your first few side quests in the area.
Once you enter the shack, the chest is immediately visible on the floor to your right. It’s hard to miss—the game clearly wants you to engage with this little puzzle.
Two Ways to Open the War Chest
Here’s where things get interesting. The Outer Worlds 2 gives you options, which is always appreciated in an RPG.
Method 1: The Lockpicking Route (No Keycard Needed)
If you’re building a stealth or tech-focused character, this is your path:
Requirements:
- Lockpick Skill: Level 5
- Consumable: 1 Mag-Pick
Why This Works: You gain 2 skill points per level-up, so reaching Lockpick 5 happens naturally if you’re investing in that tree. Mag-Picks are craftable, purchasable from vendors, or scattered throughout the world in toolboxes and supply crates.
My take: This is actually the cleaner method if you’re planning a lockpicking build anyway. You’ll need those skills for countless other containers throughout the game, and learning where to find Mag-Picks and Bypass Shunts becomes essential knowledge.
Method 2: The Pickpocketing Route (Get Kaur’s Keycard)
For those who want the “intended” solution or just enjoy a bit of larceny:
Step-by-Step Process:
- Unlock the Pickpocket Perk
- Requires: Lockpick skill at Level 1
- Cost: 1 perk point
- This is a permanent ability that opens up theft opportunities across the game
- Return to Kaur’s Office
- Location: The large building in Fairfield where you made the choice between Kaur and Milverstreet
- Enter through the main entrance, then head to her private office
- Execute the Pickpocket
- Approach Kaur from behind while she’s distracted
- When the prompt appears, hold the button to pickpocket
- You’ll snag the Kaur’s War Chest Keycard
Important note: Make sure you’re in stealth mode (crouched) and that Kaur isn’t looking in your direction. Failed pickpocket attempts can tank your reputation with her faction, which you definitely don’t want early in the game.
What’s Actually Inside Kaur’s War Chest?
Let’s talk about whether this is even worth your time. Here’s the loot breakdown:
Standard Contents:
- Bits (currency) – A decent chunk of early-game money
- Designator Triple Barrel Shotgun – A solid weapon for close-quarters combat
- Kaur’s Korroder – A unique weapon with special properties
- Various crafting materials
Bonus Loot (with Treasure Hunter Perk):
- Additional Bits
- Extra crafting materials
- Potentially rare components
The Quest Conflict: Important Warning
Here’s something the game doesn’t make obvious: If you’ve already completed the “Above and Beyond Repair” quest and sided with Kaur, the chest won’t contain Kaur’s Korroder. That’s because you receive it as a quest reward instead.
This is actually smart design—the game prevents you from getting duplicate unique weapons—but it can be disappointing if you were expecting double loot. My advice? If you want both the keycard theft experience AND the full chest contents, grab the chest before completing that particular quest line.
Is Opening Kaur’s War Chest Worth It?
Short answer: Yes, especially if you’re in the first 3-5 hours of gameplay.
The Designator Triple Barrel Shotgun alone makes this worthwhile for players who enjoy aggressive combat styles. Shotguns in Outer Worlds 2 are incredibly satisfying, and having a reliable one early can change how you approach enemy encounters in Fairfield’s surrounding areas.
The Bits are helpful too—early-game economy can be tight, and every vendor purchase counts when you’re still figuring out your optimal starting build.
Additional Tips for New Players
Since you’re dealing with locks and loot, here are some related mechanics worth understanding:
- Invest in Lockpicking early if you’re playing a solo character. The number of locked containers in this game is staggering, and you’ll miss significant loot without it.
- Pickpocket thoughtfully. The Pickpocket perk is incredibly useful throughout the entire game, not just for Kaur. You can steal keycards, access cards, and valuable items from NPCs across multiple planets. Just be smart about when and where you do it.
- Consider the Treasure Hunter perk if you’re playing a loot-focused character. It adds bonus items to containers you open, which compounds over dozens of hours. For completionists and those who want to maximize their resources, it’s a solid investment.
- Don’t stress over the keycard. Seriously. Unless you’re roleplaying a master thief, the lockpicking route is perfectly viable and probably faster depending on where you are in the skill tree.
Related Resources You’ll Find Helpful
As you continue your journey through The Outer Worlds 2, these guides will help you tackle other challenges:
- Complete Achievement/Trophy Guide – All 48 Unlocks
- Best Traits Ranked – Complete Tier List
- All Companions Recruitment Guide
- Beginners Guide – Tips & Tricks
- All Backgrounds & Traits Guide
- What to Do First Guide
- How Long to Beat – Main Missions & Playtime
- Flaws System Complete Guide
Final Thoughts
Kaur’s War Chest represents one of those small but meaningful early-game decisions that makes The Outer Worlds 2 engaging. Do you invest in skills? Do you become a thief? Do you just grab a Mag-Pick and move on with your life?
Whatever route you choose, the loot inside is worth the minor effort. The weapons will serve you well through the early Paradise Island content, and the experience of cracking your first significant container sets the tone for the exploration and problem-solving that defines the rest of the game.
Plus, if you’re anything like me, leaving a locked chest unopened feels wrong on a fundamental level. The completionist in me won’t allow it.
Now get out there and claim your loot—Kaur probably won’t even notice it’s missing.
More Outer Worlds 2 Guides:
- High Security Lockboxes & Advanced Decryption Keys Guide
- Commander’s Safe Key Location – How to Open
- Advanced Decryption Keys Farming Guide
- All Perks Complete List & Requirements
- How to Get More Weapon Slots
- Increase Max Health Guide
- Inhaler Charges Guide & Healing Tips
- Max Level Cap Guide
