You’re crouched behind a crumbling Tatooine wall, scanning the Decrepit Spaceport for hidden paths, only to hit yet another rusted metal barrier blocking your route. That familiar frustration hits every Star Wars Outlaws player when encountering these seemingly impassable fences early in the game. Before you waste hours scouring for hidden collectibles or grinding side missions, here’s the crucial truth: you absolutely cannot get the Fusioncutter before a specific story moment. Unlike other tools in Kay Vess’s arsenal, this game-changing cutter arrives automatically through main quest progression—no secrets, no grinding, and no chance of missing it. This guide reveals exactly when the Fusioncutter unlocks, where to find it, and how it transforms your exploration across the galaxy.
The metal barriers you’ve been spotting since the Tatooine tutorial aren’t bugs or design oversights. They’re deliberate environmental storytelling elements that tease future exploration opportunities. Developers intentionally placed these unbreakable fences to teach players that certain areas remain locked until late-game progression. While it’s tempting to search for sequence breaks or hidden acquisition methods, the resource document confirms: “The Fusioncutter unlocks naturally through story progression” with zero alternatives. Trying to force early access will only lead to unnecessary frustration. Instead, focus your energy on advancing the main narrative—you’ll gain this essential tool precisely when the story demands it, opening previously unreachable zones galaxy-wide.
Why You Can’t Cut Metal Barriers Until Late Game
Star Wars Outlaws deliberately gates the Fusioncutter behind critical story progression, making early acquisition impossible through any method. You won’t find this tool for sale in black markets, hidden in treasure crates, or as loot from defeated enemies. The game’s design philosophy treats metal fences as natural progression gates—visible reminders of areas that will become accessible later. This intentional limitation serves two purposes: it prevents players from accessing story-sensitive content prematurely, and it creates satisfying “aha” moments when backtracking with new abilities.
Attempting to bypass these barriers before unlocking the Fusioncutter wastes valuable playtime. Common misconceptions include believing faction reputation affects access or that specific side quests trigger early acquisition. The resource document explicitly states: “No special prerequisites required” and “Players cannot obtain it earlier through side quests or exploration.” If you encounter a metal fence during early missions like the Toshara casino heist or Kijimi’s ice caves, simply note its location and move on. These barriers function as exploration bookmarks for your post-Fusioncutter adventure.
Exactly When You Get the Fusioncutter on Akiva
Your patience pays off during the “Legacy” mission on Akiva—the penultimate story quest before reaching the point of no return. This isn’t just another errand; it’s a pivotal narrative moment where Kay Vess confronts ND-5’s urgent situation beneath Myrra city. As you navigate the atmospheric catacombs filled with ancient relics and Imperial patrols, the story naturally delivers your cutting tool around the mission’s midpoint. There are no button prompts, skill checks, or optional objectives required—just follow the path as the narrative unfolds.
Mission Sequence Breakdown
- Critical Timing: Approximately 75-80% through the main campaign
- Exact Trigger: During catacomb exploration phase of “Legacy”
- Provider: Gedeek hands it over during organic dialogue
- No Fail States: Unlocked regardless of stealth success or combat choices
Gedeek doesn’t just toss you a tool; the handoff occurs during a meaningful character moment that contextualizes the Fusioncutter’s importance. You’ll receive it while discussing ND-5’s predicament, making the acquisition feel narratively earned rather than artificially gated. The moment the cutter appears in your inventory, the game immediately demonstrates its function by presenting a nearby metal barrier—your first hands-on practice before continuing the mission.
How the Fusioncutter Unlocks the Entire Galaxy
The moment Gedeek transfers the Fusioncutter, Star Wars Outlaws transforms from a linear experience into a true open-world adventure. Those metal fences that once blocked your path aren’t just obstacles—they’re now invitations to explore. The game smartly introduces the mechanic within Akiva’s catacombs first, ensuring you understand the controls before unleashing you on the galaxy. Hold the designated button (R1/RB by default), aim at the glowing seams on metal barriers, and watch as Kay slices through with satisfying sparks and metallic groans.
Immediate Access Opportunities
Your first practical test happens right in the Akiva catacombs. Look for rusted gates with distinctive honeycomb patterns emitting faint blue light—these visual cues now signal accessible paths rather than dead ends. Cutting through reveals optional routes containing valuable loot containers, lore fragments about Akiva’s history, and even hidden side quest triggers. The game uses this controlled environment to build your confidence before sending you back to earlier planets overflowing with new possibilities.
Galaxy-Wide Exploration Revolution
Once acquired, the Fusioncutter works universally across all nine planets. That Decrepit Spaceport in Tatooine’s Western Dune Sea? The metal fences blocking hangars during your initial visit now yield to your cutter. Kijimi’s frozen undercity, Toshara’s mining complexes, and even Canto Bight’s restricted zones become fully explorable. Crucially, the resource document confirms: “Once obtained, the Fusioncutter can be used to access previously blocked areas across the entire galaxy.” Every metal barrier you noted during early play now represents potential credits, gear, and story content waiting to be discovered.
Where to Find Locked Metal Fences Before the Fusioncutter
During your initial playthrough, metal barriers appear consistently in specific high-value locations. The most prominent early example is Tatooine’s Decrepit Spaceport in the Western Dune Sea’s eastern section. Here, multiple rusted fences block hangar entrances containing vendor stalls and repair stations—teasing resources you’ll desperately need later. Other critical pre-Fusioncutter encounter zones include:
- Kijimi’s Ice Caves: Barriers blocking underground smuggling tunnels near the city’s eastern edge
- Toshara’s Mining Outposts: Fences sealing off equipment sheds behind the main refinery
- Akiva’s Outer Districts: Gates blocking Imperial supply caches during early city exploration
Smart Recognition and Tracking Strategy
When encountering these barriers pre-Fusioncutter, look for specific visual markers: rusted metal frames with hexagonal perforations and faint blue energy seams along the edges. These distinctive patterns differentiate Fusioncutter-required barriers from regular obstacles. Instead of futilely trying to climb or shoot them, activate your scanner to tag these locations. The game’s map will remember tagged points, making post-acquisition backtracking effortless. Remember the resource document’s key insight: these barriers “serve as indicators of areas that will become accessible later,” so treat them as exploration checklists rather than frustrations.
Why You Can’t Miss the Fusioncutter (No Missables!)
Relief time: the Fusioncutter is 100% guaranteed with zero conditions. Your faction standings—whether you’ve charmed the Hutt Cartel or angered the Pykes—won’t affect acquisition. Failed stealth attempts during earlier missions? Irrelevant. Skipped side content? No penalty. The resource document explicitly states: “This acquisition occurs as part of the natural story progression within the mission” with no optional triggers.
This intentional design choice prevents progression blockers and ensures all players experience the same exploration payoff. Unlike games where missable tools create replay pressure, Star Wars Outlaws delivers the Fusioncutter automatically during “Legacy” regardless of your choices. There’s no hidden requirement to “unlock the unlocker”—just progress the main story as intended. This eliminates unnecessary stress and keeps focus on the narrative journey rather than completionist anxiety.
Top 3 Planets to Backtrack With Your New Fusioncutter
Once Gedeek hands you the cutter, prioritize these high-reward backtracking destinations where metal barriers conceal significant content:
Tatooine’s Decrepit Spaceport
Return to the Western Dune Sea’s eastern section immediately. Cutting the main hangar fence reveals a fully stocked vendor, a rare weapon mod, and the “Sandscraped Secrets” side quest triggering from a nearby terminal. This location alone provides enough credits to upgrade your S57 pistol—making it the most efficient first stop.
Kijimi’s Frozen Undercity
Head to the ice caves beneath the city’s entertainment district. Previously impassable metal gates now open to smuggling tunnels containing the “Frostbound Contraband” questline. This path leads to a unique thermal detonator blueprint and a permanent reputation boost with the local crime syndicate—critical for endgame faction requirements.
Toshara’s Mining Complex
Visit the refinery’s rear storage yards where fences blocked equipment sheds. Cutting through reveals a hidden cantina with rare consumables, a slicer terminal for unlocking bonus objectives, and the “Ore Dust Memories” lore collection. This area also contains one of only three locations to find the coveted “Gungan Glitterstim” consumable.
The Fusioncutter fundamentally reshapes your Star Wars Outlaws experience from constrained narrative to expansive criminal sandbox. By understanding its story-gated acquisition during Akiva’s “Legacy” mission, you’ll stop fighting the game’s design and start playing smarter. Those metal barriers you’ve been cursing? They’re not obstacles—they’re treasure maps. The moment Gedeek hands you that cutter, the galaxy transforms: every rusted gate becomes a gateway to credits, gear, and untold stories. Focus on reaching that pivotal catacomb scene, then immediately backtrack to Tatooine’s spaceport for the highest-impact rewards. Within hours of unlocking this tool, you’ll uncover enough hidden content to feel like you’ve discovered an entirely new game. Your path to the Fusioncutter is fixed, but the exploration freedom it unlocks is boundless—just like the Star Wars underworld itself.
