The Great Coil Caper: Unearthing Those Pesky Compression Coils in Outer Worlds 2's 'Hazard a Gas'
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Jeff dives into the frustratingly fun 'Hazard a Gas' quest in The Outer Worlds 2, offering a wizard's guide to finding all 15 elusive compression coils across Golden Ridge while poking fun at the absurdity of fetch quests and praising helpful features like arachnophobia mode. This guide, originally by Josh Broadwell for Polygon, provides precise locations to ease your cosmic scavenger hunt.
Right then, space cadets! Back into the glorious, darkly humorous expanse of The Outer Worlds 2 we go! Now, I reckon if you're anything like me, you've probably just crash-landed your digital derrière into the notorious 'Hazard a Gas' quest and immediately wondered if you've stumbled into some sort of cosmic practical joke.
Fifteen 'tiny' compression coils, scattered across a 'massive wasteland' with 'little help'? Sounds less like a quest and more like a wizard's prank gone spectacularly wrong, doesn't it? Like trying to find a single glitter bomb in an entire nebula after it's already detonated. Bloody hell. (Big thanks to Josh Broadwell over at Polygon for wrangling the original intel on this cosmic goose chase – we're just adding a bit of Jeff-magic, you know?).
Sure, you *can* cough up some bits for a 'bit' of help – which, fair dinkum, only covers about a fifth of the bloody things. Or, if you're feeling particularly rebellious against the tyranny of fetch quests, the Auntie's Choice soldier offering this little gem *does* have other ways you can earn his favour. Just saying. You don't actually *have* to complete this coil caper to advance, but who doesn't love a good treasure hunt... even if the treasure is a bunch of glorified space paperclips?
So, where are these elusive little buggers hiding, you ask? Mostly tucked away in Auntie's Choice drop pods, scattered like forgotten space junk across the glorious, yet often geometrically frustrating, central and western Golden Ridge. Expect to do some serious vertical scaling – think rock formations, old tram platforms that look like they've seen better millennia, and even a couple of decidedly un-fun Verachnid caves. And by 'Verachnid', the game means 'giant, unsettling space spiders'. If those eight-legged nightmares give you the jitters (and who can blame you, mate?), do yourself a solid and crank up that arachnophobia mode. A genuine quality-of-life enchantment, that one!
And for the love of all that is shiny and double-jumpable, *please* make sure you've got your double jump space boots equipped. Some of these coils are on perches so high, you'd think they were trying to escape gravity itself. Seriously, it's impossible to reach a few without 'em. And if you're anything like me, navigating Dorado can feel like trying to map a constantly shifting dimension. So, while you're at it, maybe keep that *Outer Worlds 2* interactive map handy. Just a thought.
Now, for the juicy bits! Here's where those pesky coils are lurking:
### 'Hazard a Gas' Compression Coil Locations in The Outer Worlds 2
* **Near Matriarch's Mercy:** First up on our magical mystery tour: head southwest of Matriarch's Mercy. You're looking for a pod snuggled right against a cliff wall, like a shy space snail. Inside? A grand total of **two coils**. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy... for now.
* **Behind Alexandra Station:** Next, we're off to the Alexandra Station. Remember where you first rocked up on this planet, probably still blinking from hyperspace? Head out, walk northeast *around* the station, and follow a path up the rocks. This path, naturally, leads into a small den of spiders. Because, *of course* it does. Prepare for a skirmish, then snag your **three coils** from the pod.
* **On the old tram platform:** Ah, the old tram platform east of the Extraction Center. This one's a proper traversal challenge, a bit like a magical parkour course. You'll need to double jump your way across the *rails* themselves, starting from the ground-level ones near the station. Keep hopping like a space rabbit until the track ends, turn left, follow the path, and *voila*! You're on the platform, probably greeted by a rather grumpy Mantisaur. You can try to be a hero, or you can do what any self-respecting digital wizard would do: rush in, grab your **two coils**, and make a hasty, dramatic exit. Your call, mate.
* **Near the Extraction Center:** This one's a bit more straightforward, bless its little heart. Just west of the Extraction Center, you'll find a pod partially sunk into the ground. It has just **one coil** inside, but hey, every bit helps, right?
* **Scrapper's Den:** Another easy win! This one's right near the Scrapper's Den fast travel point, and it hides a single coil. Like finding a tiny, shiny Easter egg – not quite a legendary, but still satisfying.
* **In the Verachnid cave:** Okay, back into the creepy crawly territory. Exit Fort Endurance via the western elevator, and plunge into the Verachnid cave. Just a short way in, you'll spot the pod with **two coils**. And keep your eyes peeled – there's another sneaky coil near a corpse right next to it. Talk about a grim discovery!
* **Next to Fort Endurance:** Leave Fort Endurance, head down the cliff, then turn back north. Now, here's where things get spicy: you'll need to activate your shield gadget to protect yourself from the 'zyranium'. What *is* zyranium? Probably some sort of radioactive pixie dust. Rush in, grab the **two coils**, and get out before your character starts glowing green. Or, you know, worse.
* **Near the science outpost:** Last one! This pod's between the science outpost and the trenches, up on a small ledge. Inside, you'll find your **final coil**. The grand finale! Pat yourself on the back, you magnificent coil-hunter.
Phew! Once you've gathered all those pesky coils – a true feat of intergalactic spelunking, if you ask me – head back to Medicalist Cormier at Outpost Opportunity. Your reward for this epic scavenger hunt? A decent chunk of XP, some handy Bits (always useful for those impulse space purchases), a trauma kit (because, let's be honest, you probably needed it after those spiders), some rather snazzy Sentience armor, and a plasma pistol barrel mod. Not bad for chasing down glorified space paperclips, eh?
Now go forth, fellow adventurers, and conquer the rest of Arcadia! And if you're looking for more arcane knowledge – like snagging that double jump while you're still on Paradise Island or tracking down missing comics for the 'Purloined Propaganda' quest – you know where to look. May your jumps be true and your loot bags be plentiful!
Tags: The Outer Worlds 2, Quest Guide, RPG, Exploration, Sci-Fi Gaming
Original article: Polygon