Course 2 of 7
Portal 2: Team Building walkthrough
Basic two-player portal tests that teach working together and pinging.
- About 8–12 min in the videos
- 6 parts · 27 steps
Steps from 10 text guides, 2 videos to watch · checked Oct 18, 2026
What each player can do here
- Atlas carries a portal gun with a pair of blue and purple portals; the two pairs work together, so either of you can step through the other's portals.
- P-body carries a portal gun with a pair of orange and red portals; the two pairs work together, so either of you can step through the other's portals.
If your skill levels differ: Both bots carry the same kind of portal gun. Pings let you mark spots and time moves without talking, and failing costs little because a destroyed bot is rebuilt within seconds. How to split the roles
Doors
Part 1 of 6. Open the doors with buttons and portals so both players reach the dual door.
- AtlasThe doors start opening once someone stands on the button in the centre of the room.
- P-bodyShoot an orange portal into the wall panel beside the alcove button, then walk through the newly opened door.
- AtlasStand on the second button, near the orange portal.
- P-bodyTurn right, shoot a red portal into the panel there, so your partner can walk through and join you.
Lasers
Part 3 of 6. Redirect laser beams with a pivot cube and portals to activate relays and receivers.
- AtlasPlace the pivot cube in the laser so it aims at the alcove side, then portal the panel it hits and a side wall to route the beam through the relay.
- P-bodyStanding on the button shows the turrets hidden behind the glass.
- AtlasPoint the laser through the glass to kill the turrets, then turn it onto the left one of the two panels sitting next to each other.
- P-bodyWalk into the glass corridor, shoot a portal at the wall panel on your right, then shoot the other at the panel across and stand under the receiver.
- AtlasFill both neighbouring panels with portals so the relay and the receiver switch on the stairs up to the dual door.
Rat Maze
Part 4 of 6. Use up and down buttons and portals to get through the maze, then redirect the laser.
- AtlasBlue portal on the panel close by, purple into the start of the maze, then go through blue and keep going until something blocks you.
- P-bodyAlternate between the down and up buttons so your partner can move through the maze blocks.
- AtlasBring the pivot cube back through the purple portal and place it so it redirects the laser beam into the adjacent panel.
Laser Crusher
Part 5 of 6. Raise each crusher in turn with the beam while the other player crosses on platforms.
- AtlasPlace the pivot cube in the beam aimed at the left receiver to raise the left crusher.
- P-bodyWalk under the raised crusher onto the goo platform, then portal to the lift rising from the goo near the other crusher.
- AtlasLet the lift rise above the crusher, then aim the beam at the right receiver to raise the right crusher.
- P-bodyJump under the crusher once it is high enough, then continue to the exit.
- AtlasSend the beam back to the left receiver, drop the cube, then pass under the crusher and take the portal over to your partner.
Where people tend to fall
- Crushers can flatten a player who goes under them before they are raised high enough.
Behind the Scenes
Part 6 of 6. Reach the office, pull both switches together, then return the disc to the player.
- AtlasUse the panel on the catwalk to portal across the gap into the office area.
- P-bodyFollow your partner to the two switches.
- BothUse the ping tool's countdown so both switches are pulled at the same time.
- AtlasGet a portal through the door before it shuts and the other on the wall, step through and look for the disc.
- AtlasBring the disc to the player and slot it in; that ends the course.
Where people tend to fall
- Doors can crush a player who stands in the doorway.
Extras and notes
- Rock/Paper/Scissors gesture (Rat Maze, on arrival). Performed automatically on arrival and unlocked in the gesture menu for both players.
- Team Building achievement: finish every chamber in Course 1; playing them in order gives it at the end of Chamber 6.
Sources (12)
Steps compiled from 10 text guides, checked Oct 18, 2026, and written in our own words. The videos are there to watch each part; they are not counted as sources for the steps. We did not play the game for this guide. A step marked “single source” rests on one guide so far.
- AnthyDaBeist: 【Portal 2 Coop】Full Game Walkthrough (+Extra Chambers) (Team Building from 5:21)
- Bolloxed: Portal 2: Co-Op - Full Game Walkthrough (Team Building from 5:10)
- Steam Community guide by rjwut, The Comprehensive Guide to Portal 2 (Wayback copy)
- Gamer Guides, Portal 2 co-op Course 1 Test Chamber 1 (Wayback copy)
- Gamer Guides, Portal 2 co-op Course 1 Test Chamber 2 (Wayback copy)
- Portal Wiki, wiki-c1-3.md
- Gamer Guides, Portal 2 co-op Course 1 Test Chamber 4 (Wayback copy)
- Portal Wiki, wiki-c1-5.md
- Portal Wiki, wiki-c1-6.md
- Portal Wiki, Cooperative Testing Initiative
- Gamer Walkthroughs, Portal 2 co-op: Chapter 1
- GamesRadar+, Portal 2 co-op video walkthrough, page 1 (Course 1: Team Building)