Montelli's Dilemma in The Outer Worlds 2: Kill, Spare, or Just Re-spec Your Expectations?
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Deciding Montelli's fate in The Outer Worlds 2 feels like a monumental choice, but Jeff's discovered it's a bit of a wizard's trick, with its true impact mostly appearing in end-game slides and a tricky skill point dilemma that might make you reconsider your mercy. Ultimately, saving Montelli requires significant Speech investment, which could be better spent on other, more immediately impactful decisions.
Right then, fellow spacefarers and connoisseurs of corporate dystopia! Jeff here, ready to dive headfirst into another one of those delicious moral quandaries Obsidian Entertainment loves to throw our way in The Outer Worlds 2. This time, we're talking about Montelli – that bloke you're wondering whether to send off to the great corporate cafeteria in the sky or give a gentle nudge towards redemption.
It *feels* like a massive, universe-shifting decision, doesn't it? The kind that makes you chew on your controller for a good ten minutes, pondering the very fabric of justice and consequence. But here’s the kicker, mate, and a bit of gentle skepticism for ya: while it *is* a choice with an outcome, it’s a bit of a slow-burn magical ripple, rather than an immediate explosion of consequences. Turns out, you won't see the full chaotic beauty (or lack thereof) of your decision until the very, very end of your Outer Worlds 2 adventure.
**The Great Skill Point Conundrum**
See, the real head-scratcher here isn't just about Montelli's fate, it's about your precious skill points. According to the astute observations of Josh Broadwell over at Polygon, saving Montelli requires a bit of an investment. You'll need to charm your way through some conversations with Corbin – specifically, getting him to side with you takes a couple of points in **Speech**, or a handy 'Writ of Conscription' if you've got Hogarth's blessing. But wait, there's more!
Once you reach Montelli himself, you’ll need to do a bit of digital spelunking, reading all the entries on his terminal. *Then*, and only then (and with Corbin's cooperation), can you unlock the dialogue option that suggests he’s just following orders. After that, fair dinkum, you need a whopping **five points in Speech** to deliver the final persuasive blow that convinces him to stand down. It's a proper silver-tongued saga, that one.
**So, What Happens If You Spare The Bloke?**
After all that palaver, all that careful conversation and skill point allocation, what’s your grand reward for showing mercy? Well, your Outer Worlds 2 ending slides will give Montelli a little shout-out. That's largely it for the story impact, believe it or not. You still get access to De Vries' safe room and, crucially, Montelli's Chainspark Cannon – a rather zappy shock machine gun that sounds like it could clear a room of corporate drones faster than you can say 'stock option'.
And if you decide to go the less diplomatic route and put him down? Same deal, you still get the weapon and access to the safe room. No immediate universe-shattering ramifications, just a different blurb on those end-game slides. It’s like picking between two shades of digital paint – the final picture looks pretty similar, eh?
**Jeff's Two Cents: The Practical Wizard's Approach**
This is where my inner digital wizard starts wondering about the *why* behind game design. Obsidian's really playing with our expectations here. Josh Broadwell's playthroughs (and my own chaotic experiments, naturally) revealed a fascinating wrinkle: you might find yourself with enough skill points to either save Montelli *or* make a more impactful decision later on, like saving Fairfield and Westport in the Vox Relay Station dilemma (which, for the record, often requires a hefty investment in **Hack**).
If you're spread a bit thin on your skills, or you've been leaning into other areas, you might not even *have* the option to save Montelli without a complete respec. And honestly, if you're stuck between being a merciful negotiator for Montelli or saving potentially more people with that valuable Hack skill, the Polygon guide recommends offing Montelli and putting those points into something that makes a bigger splash immediately after. Sometimes, a bit of calculated chaos is the most effective approach, eh?
It's a classic Outer Worlds move, making you think a choice is huge, only to subtly nudge you towards a more pragmatic (or violent) solution depending on your build. So, whether you unleash your inner diplomat or just send Montelli packing, remember to always weigh those skill points against the actual, tangible outcomes. Happy adventuring, and don't forget to question everything! (Except maybe your double jump – that's just good sense.)
*Original insights and guide by Josh Broadwell for Polygon.*
Tags: Outer Worlds 2, Obsidian, RPG Decisions, Gaming Guide, Player Choice
Original article: Polygon