You’re walking through the Mojave, minding your own business, when you see that familiar gear-shaped door. If you’ve played Fallout: New Vegas, the words Vault 34 probably trigger a specific kind of internal groan. It’s that high-pitched chime of the Geiger counter. It’s the sound of a dozen Glowing Ones sprinting through a flooded hallway while you’re desperately trying to find a terminal that isn't broken. Honestly, it’s one of the most polarizing locations Obsidian ever designed. Some players love the challenge, while others think it’s a buggy, radiation-soaked nightmare that isn't worth the RadAway.
Most people head there because they want the loot. They want the All-American or they want to finish the Boomers' questline. But Vault 34 is more than just a glorified armory. It’s a case study in how a "social experiment" goes horribly wrong when you give everyone a gun. It’s cramped. It’s confusing. And if you aren't prepared, it will kill you faster than a Deathclaw at Quarry Junction.
The Over-Armed Disaster of Vault 34
The backstory here is classic Fallout. While other Vaults were testing things like sleep deprivation or gambling addictions, Vault 34 was simple. They just overstuffed the armory and didn't lock the door. Basically, every citizen was armed to the teeth. For a while, it worked? Sorta. People were happy because they felt safe, but eventually, the population grew too large. The Overseer tried to implement a permit system for weapons and restrict the right to bear arms to maintain order.
Predictably, the residents didn't take that well.
A group led by a man named Pearl decided they’d had enough and fought their way out. These people eventually became the Boomers we meet at Nellis Air Force Base. But the people who stayed behind? They weren't so lucky. During the riots and the fighting, the cooling system for the reactor took a massive hit. The vault started leaking radiation like a sieve. You see the results the second you step inside: a tomb of feral ghouls who used to be security guards and scientists.
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It’s a tragedy, really. The very weapons meant to protect the residents became the catalyst for their isolation and eventual mutation. When you explore the lower levels, you aren't just looking for loot; you're walking through the remains of a civil war that nobody won.
Navigating the Radiation and the Layout
Don't go in there without 20+ RadAway. I’m serious. The radiation in Vault 34 isn't just a background annoyance; it’s a ticking clock. Even with a high Medicine skill or a Rad-X pumping through your veins, you’re going to be soaking up +2 to +10 rads per second in some areas.
The layout is a mess. It’s intentional, but that doesn't make it less frustrating. You have the upper level, the lower level, and the flooded sections. To get anywhere, you need to find the security stations to unlock the Overseer’s office. This involves diving underwater—which is its own brand of stress—to find submerged bodies carrying terminal passwords.
- Find the flooded living quarters.
- Search the bodies of the technicians under the desks.
- Use those passwords to drain the water at the terminal.
- Finally, head to the security office to unlock the Overseer’s door.
It sounds simple on paper. It’s not. Between the maze-like corridors and the Glowing Ones that keep resurrecting their fallen friends, you’ll likely get turned around at least once. If you’re playing on Hardcore mode, the weight of the RadAway alone becomes a logistical hurdle. You have to balance your inventory between healing supplies and the heavy weapons you’re inevitably going to find.
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The Overseer and the Impossible Choice
Once you finally fight your way into the Overseer’s office, you’re met with a Glowing One who used to be the boss. He’s significantly tougher than the standard ghouls. After you put him down, you reach the reactor terminal. This is where New Vegas hits you with one of its trademark "no right answer" moral dilemmas.
The reactor is failing. You have two choices. You can vent the radiation, which saves the lives of a few trapped survivors still breathing in a sealed part of the vault. Or, you can chose to seal the reactor entirely.
Here is the catch: If you save the survivors, the radiation leaks into the surrounding soil, ruining the chance for the sharecropper farms near New Vegas to provide food for the region. If you seal the reactor, the sharecroppers succeed, but the trapped vault dwellers die.
There is no "perfect" ending here. Most players choose the sharecroppers because it helps more people in the long run, but hearing the voices of the survivors over the intercom makes it a heavy choice. It’s a microcosm of the entire game—sacrificing the few for the many, or clinging to individual lives at the cost of the community.
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Why the Loot Makes it All Worth It
If you can survive the radiation and the moral weight of your choices, the rewards are top-tier. Vault 34 houses the All-American, a unique Marksman Carbine that is arguably one of the best all-around weapons in the game. It uses 5.56mm ammo, which is everywhere, and it has a scope and a high fire rate. It’s a beast for long-range sniping and mid-range skirmishes.
Then there’s the Pulse Gun. If you’re doing the "Auld Lang Syne" quest for Arcade Gannon or just hate Brotherhood of Steel paladins, this thing is essential. It does massive damage to robots and Power Armor. You’ll find it in a very specific locker in the armory, provided you have the key (or a high enough Lockpick skill).
You’ll also walk away with a mountain of Riot Gear, C-4, and combat armor. The armory is essentially the jackpot of the Mojave. Just make sure you have enough strength or a companion like Rex or Boone to help you carry it all out.
Survival Tips for Your Next Run
- Bring a Rebreather: You get this from the Boomers during their main quest. It lets you breathe underwater indefinitely. Without it, searching those flooded rooms is a nightmare of drowning and rads.
- Lead Belly and Rad Resistance: If you’re building a character specifically to raid vaults, these perks are lifesavers. Otherwise, just chug Rad-X before entering any room with a "danger" sign.
- VATS is your friend: The ghouls in here move fast. They’ll swarm you in the narrow hallways. Using VATS to take out their legs will give you the breathing room you need to manage your radiation levels.
- Don't forget the C-4: There are several containers in the armory that are locked behind high-level checks. If you aren't a master lockpicker, bring some explosives.
Vault 34 remains one of the most memorable locations in Fallout: New Vegas because it demands so much from the player. It’s a gear check, a skill check, and a moral check all rolled into one. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s dangerous. But honestly? That’s exactly why we keep going back to the Mojave.
Actionable Next Steps
Before you head into the vault on your next playthrough, make sure you've visited the Boomers at Nellis first. Getting the Rebreather makes the flooded sections trivial. Also, stop by the clinic near New Vegas and buy the radiation resistance implant if you have the caps; it makes the ticking clock of the reactor leak much more manageable. If you're looking for the All-American, it's on a table in the armory—don't leave without it, or you'll regret having to make the trip twice.