Outbound makes it obvious from the beginning that signal towers are your main resource for unlocking additional recipes and blueprints, but what’s not clear is how the game decides which set of new craftables to put in front of you. Sometimes it seems like it’s all left up to RNG, while other encounters may lead you to believe they’re all ordained by specific triggers.
It gets especially frustrating when you’re worried about how to unlock new tools in Outbound, since those items are often what stands between you and the next biome or new resource. After a bit of testing, I’m here to say there’s not a nice and tidy answer to the mystery, either. Some signal tower downloads are locked behind RNG, while others seem to rely on specific triggers, but I’ve got a few tips for helping you collect more.
How to unlock new tools and recipes in Outbound
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Just like Outbound teaches you from the beginning, a vast majority of new tools and other downloadable blueprints will come from signal towers. The map you start in will always open with the same few tower downloads, but as you explore more, you’ll be asked to choose one recipe from two or three options, and that’s where the indecision anxiety creeps in.
So let’s start with this first tip: If you’re worried about permanently sacrificing those cute new shelves in favor of a much-needed axe upgrade, don’t be. Outbound eventually cycles all of the downloads you forgo the first time back into another pool of offerings, though it’s true you have some sway on when or what new crafting recipe is offered next.
Tips for downloading new recipes at Outbound’s signal towers
- I recommend prioritizing new tool downloads and upgrades when they’re available, with the Axe and Pickaxe taking priority over the Sickle.
- Many of your recipes will come from reactivating signal towers you’ve already visited.
- Skipped recipes eventually cycle back into available downloads at other towers (or the same tower after it’s reactivated).
- You can track what tools and other blueprints you’ve unlocked by opening your journal and tabbing through the various collection categories.
- The biggest determining factor for what recipes the next signal tower offers seems to be the map, and your journal will highlight what biome you’ve discovered new downloads in (or where to search for missing entries).
- Bringing a friend along for some Outbound co-op doesn’t hurt your chance at new recipes, either. It doesn’t matter who interacts with the signal tower; the new recipe unlocks for anyone playing on that save file.
- Reaching new milestones can trigger new downloads to become available at signal towers. I noticed things like lighting several campfires or visiting a new point of interest would make a tower elsewhere ping with new offerings.
- Recipe downloads are not always tied to specific tower locations, either. For instance, I was always offered the same three tool downloads (Axe I, Pickaxe I, and Scythe I) at the second signal tower I interacted with, even when I started a new game and visited a different tower.
- Some signal towers also seem to reactivate simply by ‘playing’ the game, even if that means just leaving it running. I left Outbound open in the background while I was busy with another window, and noticed a tower reactivate while my character stood still.
- And while most new recipes will come from signal towers, keep in mind there are a handful of collectible blueprints you’ll find inside points of interest, or by spending your bottle caps at vending machines.
I don’t fault you for wanting to science out how to unlock new tools and other craftables in Outbound, but even after doing all of that testing, I still think you’re better off ignoring too many ‘rules’ and just playing. It’s irritating advice when you want a straight answer, I get it, but I promise the downloads will keep funneling in as you drive.
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