The Outer Worlds 2 – How to Get the Commander’s Safe Key
If you’ve just finished the first tutorial mission in The Outer Worlds 2, you might have noticed a locked safe inside your private quarters. This guide by Wizard Worm explains exactly how to find the Commander’s Safe Key, open the chest, and get a permanent stat boost early in the game.
🧭 Step 1: Location – The Commander’s Safe
After the tutorial, you’ll return to your ship for the first time. Head straight to your private quarters (the same room that was locked during the tutorial).
- Inside, you’ll see a metal safe on a small table near the wall.
- The safe contains a unique collectible card that gives a permanent stat bonus.
- However, it’s locked, and you’ll need either:
- Commander’s Safe Key (recommended early on), or
- Lockpick skill level 4 (unavailable this early).
Since most players won’t have lockpicking yet, you’ll need to find the key manually.
🗝️ Step 2: How to Get the Commander’s Safe Key
- Exit your private quarters and go back toward the first floor of the ship.
- Walk straight ahead down the main corridor until you reach a large open room.
- Look for a small control desk and some stacked crates in the corner.
- Crouch and check underneath or behind the containers — the Commander’s Safe Key is hidden there.
💡 Tip: The area is dimly lit, so turn on your flashlight (L key or D-Pad Down) to spot it more easily.
Once you’ve picked it up, the key will automatically be added to your inventory.
🔓 Step 3: Unlock the Safe and Claim the Reward
Now that you have the key:
- Return to your private quarters.
- Interact with the safe to unlock it.
- Inside, you’ll find a collectible stat-boosting card (a permanent passive upgrade).
This reward gives you a small but lasting stat increase — a great early advantage in combat, dialogue, or stealth.
🧠 The stat bonus applies instantly upon collecting the item, no need to equip or activate anything.
💎 Bonus Tip: The Commander’s Room Secrets
While exploring the ship:
- Check all nearby desks and lockers — several contain ammo, consumables, or crafting materials.
- Look at the terminal near your bed for lore notes and a secondary quest trigger tied to your ship AI.
- Some builds have a hidden datapad that starts the “Forgotten Crew” side quest (keep an eye out).
🧩 Why It’s Worth Doing
| Reason | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Early Stat Boost | +1 permanent attribute bonus |
| Exploration XP | Gain experience for discovering the ship secret |
| Resource Loot | Find extra crafting materials nearby |
| Achievement Progress | Counts toward “Collector” progress (Collectibles Tracker) |
⚙️ Summary
| Objective | Action |
|---|---|
| Unlock the Safe | Find Commander’s Key or reach Lockpick Lv.4 |
| Key Location | First floor, hidden near crates |
| Reward | Permanent Stat Boost Card |
| Best Time | Immediately after tutorial mission |
| Difficulty | Easy (Exploration-based) |
✅ Final Thoughts
The Commander’s Safe Key is one of the first hidden secrets in The Outer Worlds 2 and teaches players to look closely for environmental details.
If you’re aiming for 100% completion, this collectible counts toward the Hidden Collectibles achievement and is one of the most rewarding early finds in the game.
Stay curious — the game hides many more secrets like this one aboard your ship and in the first colony region.