You’ve spent dozens of hours wandering the Mojave. You’ve dealt with Benny, maybe saved or sacrificed President Kimball, and stood atop Hoover Dam while the world burned around you. But for most players, the credits roll and that’s it. They miss the Long 15. They miss the actual, physical consequence of their choices in the Lonesome Road DLC. Honestly, if you haven’t stood on that radiated stretch of asphalt, watching your own faction's soldiers crawl toward you as ghoulified husks, you haven't seen the dark heart of Fallout: New Vegas.
The Long 15 isn't just a location. It’s a gut punch.
It is the literal manifestation of the Courier’s "scorched earth" policy. If you decide to launch the nukes at the end of Ulysses’s journey, and you point those warheads toward the New California Republic, this is where they land. It’s a secret, high-level endgame area that most casual players never even see. It’s brutal. It’s radioactive. And it’s arguably the best piece of environmental storytelling Obsidian ever tucked away in a corner of the map.
Getting There Without Dying (Mostly)
Let’s be real: you don't just "stroll" into the Long 15. You have to earn the right to see this nightmare. First off, you need the Lonesome Road DLC. You have to play through the entire narrative of the Divide until you reach the final confrontation with Ulysses at the High Road.
When the prompt comes up at the missile terminal, you have to choose to nuke the NCR.
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It’s a heavy choice. It wrecks your reputation with the Republic instantly. But once the deed is done, a new map marker appears on the western edge of the Mojave, right near the Mojave Outpost. You’ll see a gate that was previously locked "from the other side." Now, it’s wide open, leading into a loading screen that takes you straight into the radiated ruins of the NCR's primary supply line.
Expect radiation. Lots of it. If you aren't wearing a Rad-Suit or chugging Rad-X like it’s Nuka-Cola, you’re going to melt before you see the first enemy. The background radiation here is persistent and punishing, peaking around +10 rads per second in some of the cratered areas.
The Horror of the Marked Men
What makes the Long 15 so unsettling isn't just the green glow. It’s the people. Or what used to be people. You aren't fighting generic raiders here. You are fighting Colonel Royez and his detachment of NCR Heavy Troopers.
Except they aren't troopers anymore.
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The lore here is grim. When the nukes hit the Long 15, the soldiers stationed there weren't killed instantly. Instead, the intense radiation and the unique atmospheric conditions of the Divide (which are hinted to have bled over) stripped their skin off while keeping them alive. They became "Marked Men." They are trapped in a state of perpetual agony, held together by nothing but sheer military discipline and the radiation that mutated them.
Colonel Royez is the big bad here. He’s wearing a unique set of Scorched Sierra Power Armor—which, by the way, is one of the best items in the game because it actually regenerates your health. Fighting him is a nightmare. He has massive HP, he’s backed up by snipers, and the terrain is a narrow, cluttered highway filled with overturned trucks and debris. You can't just run and gun. You have to use the environment, or you’ll get picked off by a Marksman Carbine before you even see the Colonel's glowing eyes.
Why the Loot is Worth the Karma Hit
Is it worth being a "Villain" to the NCR just to see a stretch of broken road? From a gameplay perspective, absolutely. The Long 15 is home to some of the most "broken" gear in the game.
- The Scorched Sierra Power Armor: As mentioned, this is a T-45 variant that looks incredibly cool with a bear skin draped over the shoulder. Unlike most power armor, it focuses on survival, offering +2 Health Regen per second. In a game where every hit counts, passive healing is a godsend.
- The Great Bear Grenade Rifle: A unique Thump-Thump variant that deals massive area damage.
- The Moral Weight: Okay, this isn't an item, but the dialogue changes and the way the world reacts to your "nuclear option" adds a layer of depth that most modern RPGs are too scared to touch.
There's something deeply poetic about the Long 15. The NCR prides itself on being the "civilized" choice for the wasteland, the group bringing back roads, taxes, and law. By nuking their primary supply route, you aren't just killing soldiers; you are severing the umbilical cord that keeps the Mojave connected to California. You are effectively killing the Republic's dream of expansion.
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Survival Tips for the Discerning Courier
If you’re actually going to go in there, don't be a hero. The snipers in the Long 15 have an insane line of sight. I’ve seen players get headshotted from across the map because they thought they were safe behind a rusted car.
- Bring a Sniper Rifle: Specifically, the Anti-Materiel Rifle with Explosive Rounds. You need to take out the Marked Men snipers before they see you.
- Rad-Away is your best friend: Don't wait for the ticker to hit 500. Keep your rads low.
- The Flare Gun: If you kept the Flare Gun from earlier in the DLC, use it. It scares off the Marked Men for a few seconds, giving you time to reload or reposition. It’s basically a "panic button" for the Long 15.
Most people think the "Dry Wells" (the Legion equivalent of this area) is harder, but I disagree. The Long 15 feels more claustrophobic. It’s a straight shot down a ruined highway where there is nowhere to hide. It’s a gauntlet in the truest sense of the word.
The Real Legacy of the Long 15
People still talk about New Vegas years later because of stuff like this. It’s not just a map expansion; it’s a consequence. The Long 15 represents the moment the Courier stops being a delivery person and starts being a force of nature.
When you stand at the edge of that ruined highway, looking at the tattered NCR flags flapping in the radioactive wind, you realize that war doesn't just change—it destroys everything it touches. The Long 15 is the physical proof that your choices in the Mojave have a body count.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Playthrough
To get the most out of this experience, try these specific steps:
- Wait until Level 45+: This area is designed for the level cap. Going in early is a suicide mission unless you are a stealth-build god.
- The "Double Nuke" Strategy: If you want the loot from both the Long 15 and Dry Wells without permanently ruining your reputation, do Lonesome Road before you go to the Strip for the first time. When you exit the Lucky 38 after meeting Mr. House, your crimes against both the NCR and Legion are forgiven. You get the gear, you see the areas, and you still get to play the "Good Guy."
- Loot the Trucks: There are several crates hidden inside the overturned trailers on the highway. Most players run straight for Royez and miss the high-tier ammo and weapon mods hidden in the back of the trucks.
- Check the Corpses: Many of the "dead" soldiers on the ground aren't actually dead—they're containers. They often hold unique notes and high-value supplies that flesh out the story of the final moments of the Long 15.