Listen, we’ve all been there. You’re trekking through the ruins of downtown Boston, your inventory is screaming at you because you’re carrying too many desk fans, and suddenly a Super Mutant Suicider starts beeping. That rhythmic, high-pitched chirping is the universal Fallout signal for "run." He’s got a Fallout 4 mini nuke strapped to his hand, and he isn't planning on a peaceful negotiation.
But here’s the thing about the M42 Fat Man and its ammunition: it’s the most misunderstood tool in the Commonwealth.
Most players treat the mini nuke like a "get out of jail free" card. They save them up, hoarding dozens in a floor-safe at Home Plate, waiting for a legendary Mythic Deathclaw that never shows up. Then, when they finally pull the trigger, the projectile hits a piece of invisible collision on a rusted car or a stray leaf, and—boom—it’s a quick-load screen. The mini nuke is basically a handheld tactical nuclear warhead, specifically a M65 atomic projectile scaled down for infantry use, and it demands respect that most players just don't give it.
The Physics of the Fallout 4 Mini Nuke
It’s heavy. Really heavy.
In survival mode, a single mini nuke weighs 12 units. That’s more than some fully upgraded pistols. If you’re playing on standard difficulty, the weight is zero, but the "cost" remains high in terms of utility and rarity. You aren't just firing a bullet; you’re lobbing a physical object with a distinct arc.
Unlike the Gauss Rifle or a sniper, the Fat Man launches the Fallout 4 mini nuke using a catapult mechanism. This isn't high-velocity stuff. If you aim directly at a distant Behemoth, you’re going to hit the dirt fifty feet in front of him. You have to aim high. It’s essentially a violent game of lawn darts where the dart can level a city block.
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Why the blast radius is trickier than it looks
Ever noticed how you sometimes survive a blast that looked like it was right on top of you, but other times you die from a shot that seemed a mile away? That’s the "spherical damage" calculation at work. Fallout 4 calculates damage from the center of the explosion outward. If there’s even a tiny piece of geometry—like a lamp post or a thin wooden crate—between your character’s center-mass and the center of the nuke's detonation, the game might calculate that you’ve taken zero damage.
Conversely, the "fragmentation" isn't really a thing here. It’s pure energy and radiation. The base damage is a staggering 450 points, but that’s before you start messing with the Demolition Expert perk or the Heavy Gunner skills.
Where to Actually Find Them (Without Dying)
You can’t just craft these things at a chemistry station. Well, not without mods. In the vanilla game, mini nukes are a finite, precious resource. You have to scavenge.
One of the most reliable spots is the Robotics Disposal Ground northeast of Sanctuary. There’s one sitting right there on a concrete slab near the sentry bot. It’s probably the first one most players ever see. Then there’s BADTFL Regional Office, where you can snag one in the evidence locker.
But honestly? The most sustainable way to "farm" them is to hunt the hunters. Super Mutant Suiciders are a renewable source of mini nukes if you have the guts to play it risky. If you shoot the Suicider in the head or the legs, he dies without detonating. You can then walk up to his corpse and loot the Fallout 4 mini nuke right off his cold, green hand. It takes nerves of steel. If you accidentally hit the right arm (the one holding the nuke), the whole area goes up in smoke. It’s high-stakes gambling for ammo.
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The Kleptomaniac’s Guide to Nukes
- Check the Fort Strong armory; it’s a goldmine for heavy ordnance.
- The Castle has them tucked away in the tunnels once you reclaim it for the Minutemen.
- KL-E-0 in Goodneighbor usually sells one, but it’ll cost you a couple hundred caps depending on your Charisma.
- Arturo in Diamond City is another reliable vendor, though his prices are "Diamond City steep."
The Big Boy: Doubling the Chaos
If you’re talking about the Fallout 4 mini nuke, you have to talk about the Big Boy. This is a unique Fat Man launcher sold by Arturo in Diamond City. It has the "Two-Shot" legendary effect.
Here’s the weird part: it only consumes one mini nuke per shot but launches two.
Mathematically, it’s the most efficient weapon in the game. You’re essentially doubling your ammo capacity instantly. If you add the MIRV launcher modification to the Big Boy, things get genuinely broken. The MIRV split usually turns one nuke into six smaller cluster bombs. With the Big Boy, that's twelve mini-explosions from a single trigger pull. The frame rate will drop. Your GPU will cry. The screen will turn into a white void. But whatever was standing in front of you? It’s gone. It’s not just dead; it’s erased from the game’s memory.
Survival Mode Changes Everything
In Survival, the mini nuke stops being a fun toy and starts being a logistical nightmare.
You can’t carry ten of them. You can barely carry two. This forces a shift in strategy. You don’t bring the Fat Man "just in case." You bring it for a specific mission. Are you going to take on the Mirelurk Queen at the State House? Okay, pack one nuke. Maybe two. But that means you’re leaving behind the extra food, water, and stimpaks you’d usually carry.
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The Fallout 4 mini nuke in Survival becomes a "surgical strike" tool. You sneak into range, lob the shell, and pray it hits the target because you don't have a backup shot. It adds a layer of tension that is completely missing from the base game. Every pound of gear matters. Every shot has to count.
Technical Quirks and Misconceptions
There’s a common myth that you can "shoot" a mini nuke out of the air. You actually can't, at least not easily in real-time. However, in V.A.T.S., you can target the nuke held by a Suicider.
Another thing: the radiation. People think the mini nuke is a radiation weapon. It’s not. Well, it deals some rads, but the primary damage is physical/explosive. If you’re fighting a Ghoul or a Super Mutant (who are healed or unaffected by rads), the nuke still kills them because of the massive kinetic force. Don't let the "nuke" name fool you into thinking it's just a dirty bomb. It’s a sledgehammer made of fire.
Making the Most of Your Ordnance
To truly master this weapon, you need to invest in the right perks.
- Demolition Expert: This is non-negotiable. At rank 4, your explosives do double damage and have a massive spread. It also gives you a throwing arc for grenades, which helps you visualize how the Fat Man will fire.
- Heavy Gunner: Increases the base damage of the launcher itself.
- Bloody Mess: Because if you’re using a nuke, you might as well go all in on the spectacle.
Don't use it indoors. Seriously. The collision boxes in Fallout 4 are notoriously "janky." You might think you have a clear shot through a doorway, but the game thinks the tip of the nuke hit the doorframe. Result? Instant death. Only use the mini nuke in wide-open spaces like the Glowing Sea or the outskirts of the city.
Actionable Steps for the Aspiring Nuclear Power
If you want to dominate the Commonwealth with the Fallout 4 mini nuke, stop hoarding them and start using them strategically.
- Go to the Robotics Disposal Ground immediately after leaving Vault 111. It's an easy, low-level way to get your first nuke and a Fat Man launcher (hidden behind the car piles).
- Focus on the Suiciders. Don't panic when you hear the beep. Use V.A.T.S. to target their legs. Once they're down, finish them with a headshot. This is the only way to "farm" this ammo type effectively without spending thousands of caps.
- Modify for weight. If you're using a Fat Man, use the "Shielded Barrel" if you're worried about durability, but honestly, keep it light.
- The "V.A.T.S. Trick": If you’re worried about missing a long-distance shot, use V.A.T.S. even if the hit percentage is low (like 30%). The game's homing logic for V.A.T.S. projectiles is surprisingly forgiving with the Fat Man, often "curving" the nuke to ensure it hits the target's general area.
The mini nuke isn't just ammo; it’s a statement. It tells the Raiders, the Synths, and the mutated monsters that the Commonwealth isn't theirs anymore. Just make sure you aren't standing too close when you say it.