Fallout 76 Lifehacks that make it easy to start over in 2025

After constantly hearing about how far Fallout 76 has arrived, and with an Ohio-focused expansion just around the corner, I finally pulled the trigger on giving the game another shot. So far, I have no regrets, because I really love my time in Appalacia, and I'm drowning in things to do. I still remember some of the common tips that were spread years ago when the game first came out, like hoarding firewood because it's hard to access when you really need it, or collecting as much material from junk as possible. However, there are a few other things I've noticed during my early adventures through the West Virginia wilderness that may prove useful to anyone inspired to reboot Fallout 76 — or try it for the first time — because of the Burning Springs update or Season 2 of the TV series.

Small tips that can have a big impact on exploration in Fallout 76

If you're anything like me, Bethesda RPGs are all about exploration. With Fallout 76I've made the conscious decision to avoid big quests until I reach level 50, as I want to get maximum level rewards from all storylines (the level 20 headstart option helps with this kind of approach). Derailing missions and raiding every nook and cranny for junk has been my bread and butter, although this can be easier said than done in some Fallout 76 places. While players can hold down the circle button to activate a flashlight on the PlayStation, the default green light isn't all that useful. However, if players specify their preferences, they can mix their Pipboy color to create the aesthetic of their choice. I highly recommend a white color, as the flashlight's brightness becomes night and day, making the looting process in dark caves and abandoned buildings a breeze.

When players start checking off seats on Fallout 76 world map, they will likely be motivated to quickly travel from point to point. However, it's worth avoiding fast travel over large distances, as the cost of the ceiling increases the more players try to travel at once. An easy fix for this is to fast travel to a vault or yellow hub area of ​​some sort that is between point A and B, as these locations are free to travel to. From there, players can then travel to their final destination, and since the free “middleman” location brought them closer to said area, the cap's cost will be significantly lower. Caps are pretty hard to come by early on, and since CAMP building plans and other items are expensive, it's important to hold on to as much currency as possible.

Events are something that players should never miss because even if they are a bit underleveled, there are usually high level players around who can carry them through the fights. As long as players slightly damage each enemy, they will receive XP for the kill, while staying in the area they will be rewarded with useful items such as Fallout 76 plans and roof on completion. Events are a great source of rewards and level progress, and if players want to stay alive within them, they'll need plenty of Stimpaks and RadAway. Fortunately, players can basically double each of these items by diluting them with purified water at a chemistry station. While this cuts their effectiveness in half, a full version is normally overkill with the amount of healing or lane removal it provides, and the diluted version is more than enough to get the job done.

Other basic tips for Fallout 76 which I would recommend for newcomers are:

• Don't ignore the “loot all nearby corpses” button, because it's really one of my favorites Fallout 76 mechanics. It's super satisfying to get bigger chunks of loot, and it's a huge time saver.

• Garbage is the hottest commodity in Fallout 76so pick up and scrap anything that isn't bolted down. Hiding all this junk is easier said than done for those without the Fallout 1st Scrapbox, but the materials are a must for crafting, repairs and CAMP building.

• Don't sleep on challenges. Fallout 76 features a solid challenge tracking system, as well as plenty of valuable rewards for players to hunt down in the seasonal Battle Passes. If players keep an eye on their dailies and weeklies (as well as their one-time tasks), they can earn tons of currency over time.

  • Some daily and weekly challenges can be easily completed by picking items from inventory, as fresh items are not always required. Also, use re-rolls for weekly challenges that you feel you won't complete, as these yield by far the most SCORE points.

• Check the Atom Shop daily, even if you don't spend real money. There's usually a free item or two up for grabs each day, whether it's repair kits, materials, or something else. For those who want cosmetics, the store regularly offers a discount on certain items, so keep your eyes open for a price reduction on your dream Fallout 76 Power Armor skins or CAMP items.

• Invest early points in strength, as carrying weight can be a nightmare until players start upgrading armor to increase their weight limit. SPECIAL cards that affect carry limited are also worth using.

How to make Fallout 76 Multiplayer safe and fun

One of the main draws of Fallout 76 has always been its multiplayer element, and there's certainly a good bit of depth in interactions with other players. However, there is one part of multiplayer that players should wait to see later: PvP. As soon as I left Vault 76 I turned on Pacifist mode in the settings so I wouldn't have to engage in PvP at all. For the most part, other players cannot kill you with this mode enabled, with one exception: trap CAMPs. These player created CAMPs often have telltale signs like long corridors or lots of cables lying around, and if players see any of these characteristics they should leave immediately. Even in pacifist mode, these traps can kill you, so be careful. Also, if you see locked items in a CAMP, DO NOT lock them. If you do, you'll be wanted, which is a status that won't go away until you die (and you'll lose some caps when you do).

But the reality is that players aren't likely to encounter many trap camps or never-do wells, because Fallout 76 the community deserves its reputation for being welcoming and helpful. In just my first two days I got a dozen free plans, a power armor chassis, and some level 50 weapons. Don't be afraid of higher level players, as more often than not they will be incredibly nice to you just for making your presence known. Visiting player camps in Fallout 76 is also a highlight, as you'll get to see the full potential of the game's creative community by looking through them. Even if you're antisocial like myself, there's a lot of fun to be had in emoting a high-level player and making a casual (or long-term) friend.

Found an error? Here's a fix!

Finally, it's worth discussing how to get around a handful of common problems Fallout 76. It's a Bethesda game after all, so you have to expect some trash. In my first 20 hours Fallout 76I have encountered three major bugs time and time again. Fortunately, there are solutions for two of them, and a way to alleviate the third problem:

1. Stuck in the environment? Pull out your power armor and head inside to escape the place, save yourself some quick travel caps and a walk back.
2. Can't trade with a teammate? Enter and exit a public event to make the trading option reappear.
3. Is your game constantly crashing? While the occasional crash will happen no matter what, many crashes can be stopped by restarting the game every three hours or so. Players have also reported that deleting redundant notes can help as well, but for me it has helped to choose when I enter and exit the game world.

There are many other little tricks that players will notice the more they play, like moving Fallout 76s CAMP device to adjust its spawn point in CAMP itself, but I can safely say that the above tips have made a big difference for me. If you are thinking of giving Fallout 76 a go, i highly recommend it. With NPCs, factions, and more mechanics like fishing, it's a much deeper and more fun game than it was when I first tried it in 2019. And if you keep these life hacks in mind, you should have no problem getting stuck into the game in time for the next major update in December.

Released

November 14, 2018

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intent Violence, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol