Deciding between the Crabble Claw and Raptidon Fin for Inez in The Outer Worlds 2 seems like a big choice, and that’s because it is. Picking which monster piece Ethel Tinsley grafts onto Inez’s body will change how she fights and what role she plays on your team — and you can’t change your mind.
Below, we explain how the graft works, what you get from both, and whether you should pick the Crabble Claw or Raptidon Fin in The Outer Worlds 2.
What does Inez’s graft do in The Outer Worlds 2?
Image: Obsidian Entertainment/Xbox Game Studios via Polygon
Getting either graft option requires you to defeat a powerful monster — a giant, bone-white crabble for the claw or a Raptidon Matriarch for the fin. You can get both parts, and the game marks both monsters on your map, but The Outer Worlds 2 only lets you choose one to fix Inez’s graft. The choice is permanent and cannot be reversed.
Choosing a graft unlocks Inez’s skill tree, where you can pick a new skill every five levels. This is the only way for Inez to gain a skill and do anything other than fire her rifle during combat, so if you plan on having her accompany you, it’s a good idea to complete this mission as soon as possible. Fixing Inez’s graft does not grant you a mod kit for changing how her skills work in battle. That happens much later, after you receive a recorded message from her former companion on the Auntie’s Choice flagship.
The Crabble Claw has two basic functions. It fires plasma balls, the same as the crabble spitters who’ve plagued your time on Paradise Island so far, and it wears down an enemy’s armor more quickly than standard weapons do. Plasma impacts also stack and cause enemies to take extra burn damage over time.
The Raptidon Fin also has two functions. It lets Inez turn invisible for a brief time. That doesn’t matter much in terms of enemies discovering you during stealth segments, since they never pay attention to your companions. However, it does mean she can slip away during combat without enemies following her, which lets her survive a bit longer without you having to revive her. More importantly, the Raptidon Fin lets Inez heal you, something no other companion aside from V.A.L.E.R.I.E. can do.
Should you pick the Crabble Claw or Raptidon Fin for Inez?
Image: Obsidian Entertainment/Xbox Game Studios via Polygon
We recommend choosing the Raptidon Fin. The Crabble Claw seems like an excellent choice, but in our experience, the base plasma damage and the burn damage-over-time effect are quite low, even when Inez is at higher levels. Unless you’re specializing in Leadership and perks that let companions use their abilities more often, it’s just not much of a game changer. You also have plenty of ways to reduce armor more quickly and effectively on your own, like using a Bio-Mass Pistol. Its corrosion damage practically evaporates armor, and the pistol’s high rate-of-fire means you’re able to reduce armor much more quickly than Inez can with her skill.
VAL is the only other companion who can heal you, which automatically makes the Raptidon Fin more valuable. You can pair Inez with VAL and have a ready source of non-toxic healing in combat, handy if you’ve crashed out on the inhaler or need to conserve charges. Or if you aren’t keen on keeping VAL around and want to use another companion, you’re not missing out on a healer.
Later updates for both mutations unlocked through the skill tree improve their capabilities, but don’t drastically change them. The Crabble Claw, for example, will leave a pool of plasma that damages any enemy who comes into contact with it, while the Raptidon Fin generates a cloud of healing mist. They’re helpful upgrades, but they don’t drastically change how either graft works. They just make the effect bigger.
For more help on your Arcadia adventure, check out our Outer Worlds 2 beginner guide and recommendations for the best skills and best perks. Don’t forget to grab your double jump while you’re still on Paradise Island, between helping Milverstreet or Kaur and getting into the Fairfield armory. And speaking of Eden, our guide for how to handle the final Vox Relay Station choice explains the outcomes of your actions and how to get around harming anyone.
