Fastest Ways To Level Up In Fallout 76

Key Takeaways

• In Fallout 76, there are several ways to boost the experience (XP) gain for leveling up faster.
• Sleeping near an ally or romantic partner extends the boost to three real-world hours.
• Sitting for 30 seconds grants a 5% XP boost.

Leveling up is an important part of most video games, and Fallout 76 is no exception. There are many methods that players can use to level up in Fallout 76. That said, some methods are better than others. The first 50 levels can be achieved in just a few hours. But, with the right methods, players can level up in mere minutes.

There’s a lot that players can do to gain XP in Fallout 76. But, by selecting the right events, grinding the right side missions, and applying the right consumables, it is possible to speed up the leveling-up process.

Updated October 24, 2024, by Benjamin Joe: Since this article was written, Fallout 76 has received the Milepost Zero update. While this update has been quite a controversial one, it has also introduced another viable way of making substantial amounts of XP. Running caravans is a great way to make some extra XP. Whether the player is hosting their own caravan, running missions, or helping other players complete theirs, caravans are the newest way of leveling up in Fallout 76. Because of this and a smattering of other minor tweaks to the game, this article has been updated to reflect some of the recent changes that have been made to Fallout 76.

14 Sleep

Having A Rest Means More XP Earned

• A 5% XP Gain Boost For Up To 3 Hours

Sleeping in Fallout 76 comes with a couple of benefits, the main one being a boost to XP. The boost lasts for two real-world hours. If a player sleeps in a random bed, they will receive a 5% XP boost after around 30 seconds of sleep. If a player sleeps near an ally or romantic partner, the time that the boost is active is increased to three real-world hours.

Players can also get a 5% XP boost for sitting around a community fire pit or in a hot tub for 30 seconds. While the boost may not seem like much, having a 5% XP boost for relaxing or resting is a good reward.

13 Lunchboxes

Grants Additional XP For Each Lunchbox Consumed

• Receive Up To A 100% Boost To XP Gain For 1 Hour

Lunchboxes are a great way to speed up the leveling-up process. They can be obtained in several different ways:

• Buying Them With Atoms
• Buying Them With Gold Bullion
• Scoreboard Rewards
• The Occasional Atomic Shop Free Item

Each Lunchbox grants a 25% XP boost for one hour. They are stackable up to 100%. So, opening four lunchboxes will grant the player a 100% XP boost. Opening Lunchboxes will also grant an XP boost to all nearby players, and it isn’t uncommon to see players opening up lunchboxes at various public events for all to enjoy. While it isn’t necessarily worth buying lunchboxes with Atoms or Gold Bullion, there are usually plenty available as season rewards to keep players stocked up.

12 Other XP-Boosting Consumables

Foods And Meds That Boost Player XP

• Use A Variety Of Consumables For Temporary XP Boosts

There are lots of consumables in Fallout 76 that affect the amount of XP players receive. Some of the most popular ones include:

• Leader Bobbleheads (5% For 60 Minutes)
• Live & Love #8 (5% For 30 Minutes)
• Canned Meat Stew (5% For 60 Minutes)
• Cranberry Relish (10% For 60 Minutes)
• Tasty Squirrel Stew (10% For 60 Minutes)

There are plenty of options for XP-boosting consumables depending on the player’s build. While it can be a little time-consuming collecting all the XP-boosting items, the rewards are more than worth it. Some of the items mentioned above can be further boosted by using the Herbivore and Carnivore mutations.

11 SPECIALS & Perks

SPECIAL Stats And Perks Can Impact XP Gain

• Each Point Into Intelligence Boosts The Amount Of XP Earned By The Player

When it comes to SPECIAL stats, intelligence is the one that affects the amount of XP a player receives. A point in intelligence increases the amount of XP earned by a little over 3%. This stacks, so by having 15 in Intelligence, players will receive a good boost to XP gain that doesn’t have a timer. A high intelligence build is particularly useful during the early stages of the game, when players are pretty limited on perk points.

As for perks, the Inspirational perk offers players a boost to XP gain. To activate this perk, the player needs to be on a public team. Inspirational has three levels to it, and it can be found in the Charisma category.

• 1 Star = 5% XP Boost
• 2 Stars = 10% XP Boost
• 3 Stars = 15% XP Boost

10 Use Intelligence Boosting Consumables And Armor Pieces

Intelligence Equals XP

• Use Unyielding Armor With A Low-Health Build To Maximize XP Gain

Because each point of intelligence equates to roughly a 3% boost to XP gain, there are several things players can do to maximize their intelligence level. While players can only have a maximum of 15 in their perk loadout, they can actually go way beyond that number.

If the player opens up their Pip-Boy and goes to stats, they will see their Special attributes. Here, they will find their overall intelligence. The higher this number, the better. Some of the things that players can do to maximize their intelligence level can be seen in the table below:

9 Hand In Technical Data

Easy XP

• Turn Over Technical Data To Earn Some Extra XP

Technical Data can be found in a few specific locations. The best place to find it is inside the desks of the Military Wing of the Whitespring Bunker. Each piece of Technical Data can be handed in at Fort Atlas or Camp Venture. Every piece of Technical Data handed in will award the player with some random loot and some XP. There’s also a small chance that the player will receive a rare plan for turning over Technical Data.

Players should be sure to hand in only one piece of Technical Data at a time. If they have more than one piece of Technical Data, then they should store all but one in their stash box and hand it in one piece at a time. Handing in more than one piece at a time doesn’t really offer any benefits to the player in terms of XP gain. Also, players should be sure to open a few lunchboxes and activate a few other XP-boosting consumables to maximize the amount of XP gained per piece of Technical Data.

8 Use Mutations

Mutations Can Help Players To Level Up Faster

• Mutations Like Egg Head Give A Big Boost To The Player’s Overall Intelligence Level

Since intelligence directly impacts the amount of XP that a player can gain, using intelligence-boosting mutations is a great and simple way of gaining some extra XP. The Egg Head mutation boosts the player’s intelligence level by 6. This can be further increased if the player is using the perk Strange in Numbers. Also, by utilizing either the Carnivore or Herbivore mutation, the player can further boost the rate at which they gain XP.

As mentioned in a previous entry, some consumables boost the amount of XP the player earns. The Carnivore and Herbivore mutations will increase the XP boost of certain items. For example, Cranberry Relish is a fruit-based meal, and therefore, it is affected by the Herbivore mutation. So, instead of player receiving a 10% XP boost, they will receive a slightly increased boost to the standard 10% boost.

7 Joining A Public Team

• Earn Up To A +4 To Intelligence For Joining A Casual Team

Each public team comes with a unique boost. The most popular one is the Casual Team. A full Casual Team grants each player a +4 to Intelligence, which, as mentioned, boosts XP gained. If a player wants to play an Expedition or a Daily Operation, then there are team options that are designed for that.

For an extra boost to XP, being close to a teammate can award the player with extra XP for kills made by teammates. It is important to note that this only works while the player is close to their teammates.

6 Daily Operations

A New Mission Every Day

• Run Daily Ops Missions For Good Loot, Lots Of Ammo, And Plenty Of XP

Daily Operations are repeatable missions that Fallout 76 players usually pass on. While it isn’t the best way to level up, completing Daily Ops during Double Mutation weekends is actually very rewarding. Combine that with Lunchboxes and other XP buffs, and it becomes a quick way to level up.

Every 24 hours, the Daily Operation will change. Some are easier than others, but overall, Daily Ops aren’t difficult to complete with a couple of teammates. They can be done more than once in a given day. So, if the Daily Operation is easy, then it may be worth completing it two or three times with a few other players.

5 Expeditions

Lots Of XP In Less Than 15 Minutes

• Running Expeditions With A Full Team Can Net The Player Thousands Of XP Points In Minutes

Expeditions were added to Fallout 76 in 2022 with the introduction of The Pitt. Players could initially only lead an expedition once per day after completing a few daily quests. Thankfully, things are now much better. With the Atlantic City update, players can do as many Expeditions as they like.

The best option for Expeditions is The Most Sensational Game. This Expedition can be completed in under 15 minutes. Doing it with a full team not only increases the completion speed but also doubles the amount of XP a player receives. More XP means faster level-ups.

4 Use Explosive Weapons

Tag Enemies For Bonus XP

• Gain Extra XP By Tagging Nearby Enemies With Explosive Weapons

When completing things like Public Events in Fallout 76, it can be hard to get shots in on enemies. This is due to the number of other players shooting and using explosives. By using explosive weapons, it is possible to tag surrounding enemies. This means that a player using an explosive weapon will be awarded XP for all enemies tagged.

This also works with the Tesla Rifle. A player doesn’t need to kill an enemy to gain XP; they just need to cause some damage. So, by hitting as many enemies as possible, more XP can be earned.

3 High XP Events

Certain Events Offer Greater XP Gain

• Keep An Eye Out For Top-Tier Public Events And Boss Battles As They Offer Lots Of XP

There are lots of events in Fallout 76. Unfortunately, not all of them offer large amounts of XP. That said, there are a handful of events that players flock to due to how much XP can be earned.

• Scorched Earth
• Radiation Rumble
• Guided Meditation
• Line in The Sand
• Eviction Notice
• One Violent Night
• Neurological Warfare
• A Colossal Problem

Each event listed above shares one thing in common: high volumes of enemies. While completing an event rewards gamers with XP, most players will earn more XP by killing enemies during the event than they will for completing the event itself.

Out of all the events above, there are two that stand head and shoulders over the rest in terms of XP gain: Eviction Notice and Radiation Rumble. It’s possible to level up multiple times during one of these events. So, if one pops up on the map, it’s worth joining straight away. That said, it’s important not to begin the event immediately; it’s always worth waiting a couple of minutes to give other players a chance to join.

2 Running West Tek

Level Up In No Time With West Tek

• Repeatedly Kill And Respawn The Super Mutants Inside West Tek For An Unlimited Amount Of XP

Most veteran Fallout 76 players know about West Tek. It is a facility packed full of Super Mutants. By heading there armed with Nuka Grenades and a good weapon, players can expect to rack up some serious XP.

Doing this on a team while using Lunchboxes and other XP buffs makes for an incredibly fast way to level up a character. This method doesn’t work for low-level players, as it requires good weapons, high damage resistance, and lots of grenades and ammo. But for experienced players, this is among the best ways to level up in Fallout 76.

1 Complete Caravan Events

Fallout 76’s Newest Way Of Earning XP

• Caravan Events Can Be Completed Pretty Quickly And Give Players A Relatively Decent Amount Of XP

While it definitely isn’t as effective as running West Tek or completing Expeditions, caravan events are relatively decent for earning XP. Not only that, but they also allow Fallout 76 players to earn the game’s newest form of currency, Supplies. Supplies can be used to upgrade caravans, hire help, and decorate the interior of Milepost Zero.

This feature, upon release, has received some negative backlash surrounding its rather lackluster implementation. However, it looks like the developers will be changing and expanding this feature in the upcoming months. As for the missions themselves, players will need to defend caravans as they make their way through the Skyline Valley region. Players will encounter all sorts of enemies, ranging from Mole Miners to Deathclaws and more. For the most part, multiple players tend to join these missions, so gamers shouldn’t have too much of a hard time getting the Brahmin to where they need to be, safely.