Outbound \u2014 Mountains & Endings (Chapter 4)
Endgame biome. Rose Minerals, Adamant Metal, Chrome Ore, the Reactor Core, and every ending route.
Chapter at a glance
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Biome | Mountains |
| Tier range | T2–T5 |
| Headline resources | Rose Minerals (T5 only), Adamant Metal, Chrome Ore |
| Total resource nodes | ~15 |
| Signal tower | 1 (Summit beacon — final ending trigger) |
| Reward at completion | Endings + post-game free-roam |
Pre-flight checklist
Do not enter Mountains without these:
- Insulated Cabin module on the van (Fabricator T1).
- Reinforced Axe + Steel Pickaxe.
- Pathmaker chassis.
- 30+ Salt-preserved food.
- Homing Boots equipped \u2014 the summit waypoints are essential.
Objectives in order
- Drive from Coast to Mountains entrance. North-east route. Pin the summit beacon on the map.
- Mine all 6 Rose Mineral nodes. The Homing Boots arrow points to the closest one when you pin them on the map. This is the bottleneck of the entire run.
- Mine 10 Adamant Metal + 8 Chrome Ore. Adamant Metal in the central peaks; Chrome Ore on the northern glacial face.
- Return to base. Craft the Reactor Core. 1 Adamant Metal + 4 Hardened Metal + 2 Electronics + 1 Rose Mineral. See power guide.
- Install the Reactor Core on the van. Unlocks late-game power-hungry crafts (Phase Lens, Communicator).
- Craft the Communicator. 2 Rose Mineral + 1 Adamant Metal + 1 Phase Lens.
- Drive to the Summit beacon. Pathmaker only \u2014 the switchbacks are tight.
- Activate the Communicator at the summit. Triggers the ending choice.
The three endings (spoilers ahead)
Spoiler-light summary; full requirements on the ending guide.
- Stay (Settler ending) \u2014 decline the rescue. Triggered by completing all 4 signal towers before activating the Communicator.
- Leave (Rescue ending) \u2014 accept the rescue. Default option if no special requirements are met.
- Together (Convoy ending) \u2014 leave with the Coastline trader and other NPCs. Triggered by max-trust dialogue with each NPC.
- Hidden \u2014 Companion ending \u2014 requires the dog companion alive at the summit. See dog companion page.
Post-ending free-roam
Outbound retains a post-ending free-roam save where you keep all your gear and progress except the Communicator. Useful for chasing remaining collectibles or DLC content.
Common Chapter 4 questions
What is Rose Minerals used for in Outbound?
Tier 5 crafts only — Reactor Core, Phase Lens, and the endgame Communicator. Mountains is the only biome where Rose Minerals spawn, and there are only ~6 nodes in the entire chapter. Track every one.
How many endings does Outbound have?
Three primary endings plus one hidden ending tied to the dog companion. The choice trigger is during the final Communicator interaction in the Mountains summit.
Do I need the Schoolie to reach Mountains?
No — Pathmaker is the recommended chassis here. The Schoolie’s long wheelbase fails Mountain switchbacks.