Fallout 76 can be a bit overwhelming for new players. With its expansive world, survival elements, and a slew of mechanics that are only loosely explained, it’s easy to get lost—literally and figuratively. Whether you're venturing out from Vault 76 for the first time or coming back after a long break, these 29 beginner tips will help speed up your early progress and avoid common pitfalls. This guide is written by a fellow Wastelander who’s made plenty of mistakes so you don’t have to.
1. Don’t Rush Out of the Vault
Take your time exploring Vault 76. While there aren’t enemies here, there’s loot, terminals with lore, and useful starter items like RadAway and healing salves.
2. Follow the Overseer’s Questline Early
The Overseer’s mission gives you direction, solid rewards, and exposes you to game mechanics gradually. It’s the closest thing Fallout 76 has to a tutorial.
3. Scrap Everything You Pick Up
Carry weight is limited, so make scrapping a habit. You’ll unlock crafting recipes by scrapping weapons and armor frequently.
4. Use Stash Boxes Wisely
Stash boxes are your lifeline early on. Learn to manage your inventory and stash excess materials you don’t need right away.
5. Set Up a Strategic CAMP
Place your CAMP somewhere central on the map. Flat terrain near resources (like water or wood) makes for a great base location.
6. Prioritize Weight Reduction Perks
Early on, Strength and Agility perks that reduce the weight of junk, food, and ammo are incredibly valuable.
7. Stick With One Weapon Type
Pick a weapon type (e.g., rifles or melee) and focus on upgrading it. This keeps ammo and perk use efficient.
8. Use Melee Early Game
Melee weapons are effective and don’t require ammo. Great for conserving resources.
9. Scavenge Public Workbenches
Workbenches across the map often have materials and enemies guarding them. Once cleared, they can be a good source of loot and experience.
10. Farm Events for Fast XP
Public events like “Tea Time” or “Feed the People” are great for loot, caps, and experience. They also introduce you to the broader community aspect.
11. Team Up for XP Boosts
Joining a team gives you bonus XP and access to shared perks if you're on a public or custom world.
12. Don’t Hoard Junk—Tag for Search
Use the “Tag for Search” feature in your crafting menus to find only what you need.
13. Cook Your Food
Raw meat spoils fast. Cooking not only prevents spoilage but often gives buffs.
14. Water is Essential
Boiled water is easy to make and essential for survival. Stock up regularly.
15. Use RadAway Sparingly
Radiation is part of the game. Don’t purge all rads unless you’re dangerously low on max health.
16. Use Vendors and Vending Machines
Sell your excess loot to NPC vendors or set up your own vending machines at your CAMP to make extra caps.
17. Buy Fallout 76 Caps Online for Convenience
If you’re short on caps or want to get ahead a bit quicker, many players choose to buy Fallout 76 Caps online. It’s an option if you’re looking to spend more time adventuring and less time grinding.
18. U4GM is a Trusted Marketplace
A lot of players recommend U4GM as the best site to buy Fallout 76 Items because of its fast delivery and secure transactions.
19. Don’t Ignore Daily and Weekly Challenges
These give Atoms and resources that are otherwise hard to come by. They’re worth checking regularly.
20. Join a Faction Early
Whether it's the Settlers or Raiders, joining a faction early gives access to unique vendors and story content.
21. Always Repair Your Gear
Weapons and armor degrade. Carry a repair kit or materials and don’t let your best gear break in the middle of a fight.
22. Explore Low-Level Areas Thoroughly
The Forest region is full of hidden lore, side quests, and safe XP zones. Milk it before moving to tougher regions.
23. Stockpile Ammo When You Can
Use workshops and crafting stations to keep your ammo topped off. Switching to melee helps conserve it too.
24. Don’t Fast Travel Too Often
Fast traveling costs caps unless it's to your CAMP or Vault 76. Walk when you can to save money and discover hidden locations.
25. Know When to Buy and When to Craft
Crafting is great for personal use, but buying specific rare weapons or armor from other players or marketplaces like U4GM can sometimes be more time-efficient.
26. Use the Map Filters
Filter the world map to find nearby events, workshops, or vendors. It saves a lot of scrolling and confusion.
27. Plan Your Build Early
Use online tools or community templates to plan your S.P.E.C.I.A.L. and perk card layout before hitting level 50.
28. Explore with Purpose
The Wasteland is massive. Set goals—whether it’s visiting all train stations, finding a new bobblehead, or completing a faction questline.
29. Don’t Burn Out—Play at Your Own Pace
Fallout 76 is meant to be a long-term experience. Some grind is inevitable, but the game is more enjoyable when you chase what you want rather than what you feel like you should be doing.
Whether you're playing solo, co-op, or PvP, these tips will help make your early game smoother and more enjoyable. And if you ever find yourself stuck or short on resources, remember that it’s okay to look for help—either through player communities, in-game vendors, or trusted marketplaces like U4GM.