So, Bethesda finally did it. They officially brought the Enclave back into the Commonwealth. If you've been playing the Fallout 4 Echoes of the Past quest, you know it isn't just some tiny piece of filler content. It’s actually a pretty substantial addition that came along with the 2024 "next-gen" update.
Honestly? It's kind of wild that it took this long.
The Enclave has always been the ultimate "love to hate" faction in the Fallout universe. They’re the remnants of the pre-war United States government, and they're basically obsessed with "purity"—which usually means killing anyone who isn't them. While the Brotherhood of Steel and the Institute were busy fighting over synths, the Enclave was apparently just chilling in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to jump back in. This questline finally lets you face off against them in a way that feels meaningful for the first time in years.
How to actually start Echoes of the Past
You don't need to hunt for a specific NPC or find a hidden holotape in the middle of nowhere. If you have the update installed, the quest triggers automatically once you get near the Saugus Ironworks area or simply reach level 20. A signal starts pinging on your Pip-Boy. It's the "Enclave Homing Beacon."
Follow it.
You’ll end up in a frantic skirmish right off the bat. A group of Enclave soldiers has an ambush set up, and they aren't messing around with pipe pistols. They come at you with heavy armor and plasma weapons. It’s a sharp difficulty spike if you’re under-leveled. Once you clear the initial group, you find a note on a colonel's body that mentions a "disturbed" signal and a secret facility. This kicks off a hunt across the Commonwealth that feels a lot more like Fallout 3 than most of the base game content in Fallout 4.
Tracking the Signal: The Road to the Atlantic Offices
Most people think this is just a "go here, kill that" quest. It’s not.
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Well, okay, there is a lot of killing. But the atmosphere is different. You’re tracking a literal radio frequency through the Glowing Sea and into the heart of the ruins. The quest eventually leads you to the Atlantic Offices. This place is a death trap if you aren't careful. It’s cramped, dark, and filled with Enclave Remnants who have way better gear than the average Raider.
You'll notice something interesting here. The level design in Fallout 4 Echoes of the Past leans heavily into environmental storytelling. You find terminal entries detailing how this specific cell survived. They weren't part of the main Rig that blew up in Fallout 2, nor were they part of the Raven Rock contingent from Fallout 3. These guys are survivors trying to rebuild a power base in the north.
The combat inside the office building is intense. You aren't just fighting guys in Power Armor; you’re fighting the Enclave’s ideology. They’ve set up specialized turrets and barriers. If you’re a stealth player, good luck. The tight corridors make it very hard to stay hidden once the first plasma bolt flies.
The Reward: More Than Just Power Armor
Let's talk about the loot because, let's be real, that's why we do these quests. Completing this storyline unlocks a massive amount of "Creation Club" content that was previously paid but is now part of the base game update.
You get the Enclave Colonel Uniform. You get the Tesla Cannon—which is an absolute beast for crowd control. You also get the Heavy Incinerator. If you miss the feeling of being a walking tank from the older games, the Heavy Incinerator is your best friend. It lobs balls of fire that linger on the ground. It’s chaotic. It’s dangerous. It’s very "Fallout."
- X-02 Power Armor: This is the sleek, black armor seen in Fallout 3. It has high energy resistance and looks terrifying in the rain.
- Hellfire Power Armor: Built for heat resistance. It’s bulkier and looks like a furnace on legs.
- Enclave Weapon Skins: You can finally make your gear look like it belongs to the most high-tech military force in the wasteland.
The best part? Once you clear the main quest, Enclave patrols start appearing randomly in the Commonwealth. It adds a whole new layer of danger to your late-game exploration. You could be walking to Diamond City and suddenly get jumped by a vertibird dropping off three soldiers in X-02 suits. It keeps the world feeling alive and hostile.
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What Bethesda Got Right (and Wrong)
There is a lot of debate in the community about whether this quest fits the lore. Some purists argue that the Enclave should be dead and gone after the events of the earlier games. However, the writing in Fallout 4 Echoes of the Past does a decent job of explaining their presence as a fractured, desperate remnant rather than a global superpower.
One thing that’s objectively great is the variety. This isn't just one quest. It acts as a hub for several "Enclave Remnants" sub-quests. You have to hunt down various encampments around the map to fully stop their influence. These outposts are scattered—one is near the Glowing Sea, another is near the coast. It forces you to revisit areas of the map you might have ignored for a hundred hours.
The downside? The voice acting for the new content is... sparse. Because this was originally Creation Club content, there isn't a ton of new dialogue from your companions regarding the Enclave. Nick Valentine or Piper won't have deep philosophical debates with you about the return of the pre-war government. It feels a bit like a "standalone" experience inside a larger world, which can be slightly immersion-breaking.
Combat Strategies for Surviving the Enclave
If you’re playing on Survival difficulty, Fallout 4 Echoes of the Past is a nightmare. Plasma weapons deal split physical and energy damage. Most armor sets in the early game are biased toward one or the other. To survive, you need high energy resistance.
Don't rush the Atlantic Offices. Use explosives. The Enclave soldiers tend to group up in doorways. A well-placed Nuka-Grenade can end a fight before it starts. Also, bring a companion who can tank. Strong or a kitted-out Ada are perfect for soaking up plasma fire while you pick them off with a Gauss Rifle or a high-caliber sniper.
Another tip: hack the terminals. Many of the Enclave outposts have turrets that can be turned against them. Since they rely so heavily on technology, a high Intelligence or Science! build actually makes this questline much easier.
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The Long-Term Impact on Your Save File
Once you finish the "main" part of the quest and shut down the radio signal, the Enclave doesn't just vanish. As mentioned, the random encounters become a permanent fixture. This is actually a great way to farm high-end materials. Enclave armor scraps down into valuable components like Aluminum, Nuclear Material, and Circuitry.
If you’re building massive settlements, you’re going to need those resources.
The quest also integrates with the "Slog" and "Saugus Ironworks" areas. It makes that part of the map feel much more relevant. Usually, after you finish the "Out of the Fire" quest, there’s no reason to go back there. Now, it’s a hotspot for high-level combat.
Actionable Steps for Players
To get the most out of this content, follow this specific progression:
- Wait until Level 25: While it triggers at 20, the Enclave's plasma weapons will melt you if you haven't upgraded your armor yet.
- Stock up on Pulse Grenades: These deal massive damage to Power Armor. You can find them frequently at vendors like Arturo in Diamond City or KLE-O in Goodneighbor.
- Clear the Enclave Outposts first: Before heading to the Atlantic Offices, find the smaller camps. This gives you a feel for their tactics and lets you loot some X-02 pieces early.
- Check your "Special" Tab in the Workshop: After the quest, you’ll find new Enclave-themed workshop items. Use these to build a "reclaimed" Enclave base. It’s a fun roleplay opportunity.
- Save the Tesla Cannon for the Boss: Without spoiling the final encounter, you’ll face a heavily armored commander. The Tesla Cannon’s chain-lightning effect is the fastest way to strip his health.
The Enclave’s return isn't just a nostalgia trip. It’s a challenge that updates the Commonwealth for a modern audience. It bridges the gap between the old-school lore of the West Coast and the modern setting of the East Coast. Whether you think they belong there or not, they’re here, and they brought the best gear in the game with them. Load up, grab your stimpaks, and go hunt some remnants.