The Nuclear Option | Fallout 4 Wiki

The Nuclear Option is a Quest for Fallout 4. The Nuclear Option is the culmination of the game's main narrative. The options and objectives depend on the Faction you ally with. This quest becomes available after completing the essential Quests in your respective chosen Faction with the exception of The Institute. Click on the appropriate option below for a quest walkthrough for each Faction.

Press that button and you not only defeat our enemy, you restore order and decency to the Commonwealth. It's time, Paladin. The Institute and their synth abominations must be eradicated.

How to Unlock The Nuclear Option Quest in Fallout 4

• Brotherhood of Steel Method - Given by Elder Maxson if the player character finished Show No Mercy; if they advanced in the Molecular Level with the Brotherhood of Steel, they were previously granted this.
• Minutemen Method - Retrieved from Sturges in the event that the player character finished Old Guns, or acquired beforehand if they progressed through the Molecular Level with the Minutemen.
• Railroad Method - Retrieved from Desdemona to the player character who successfully completed the Tradecraft quest to join the Railroad, or acquired if they utilized the Railroad to progress through the Molecular Level.

Fallout 4 The Nuclear Option Quest Notes & Tips

Notes, Tips, and other helpful information for this quest are indicated in this section.

• Notes, Tips, and others go here.
• This quest has reported some bugs:
  • All Platforms:
  • On PC:

The Nuclear Option Video Guides for Fallout 4

• Video Guide links go here.

Fallout 4 The Nuclear Option Quest Walkthrough

Brotherhood of Steel Method

NOTE: This quest is only available if you have chosen allegiance to the Brotherhood of Steel. Head through the robotics area, defeating Synth enemies along the way. Drop through the hatch to enter the BioScience lab, and continue towards the reactor entrance, which at this point has had its blast door activated.

Press the button at the central elevator to enter Father's quarters. You will obtain the password to override from him, or you can hack the terminal. Do either, and activate the Master Security Lockdown Override. You may trigger an evac warning to spare lives; this is an optional choice.

Go back through Advanced Systems to enter the reactor chamber. If you haven't evacuated the facility, you will encounter synths and scientists. Access the reactor door and then activate the housing.

Proctor Ingram will teleport you to the Institute Relay Control Room. Speak to Elder Maxson, and then Ingram will mention a child nearby. Speak to him and you have 2 options:

• Agree to save him and look after him, at which point Ingram will look after him until you reunite at Boston Airport.
• Say the child must stay.

Speak into the relay and teleport to the Mass Fusion Building roof where you can press a button to complete your mission. Speak with Elder Maxson to conclude your main quest journey.

Minutemen Method

Your affiliation with the Minutemen is reaching a culmination and your next move is to go to The Institute (Location). Speak with Preston Garvey and Sturges who will tell you how to enter the Institute. The data you stole during Inside Job revealed to them the location of an Institute teleporter. Sturges gives you Institute Relay Targeting Sequence to insert into the terminal in the Institute and an Automatic Laser Musket.

Travel to the river in Cambridge, east of Greentech Genetics. It is recommended to wear a Hazmat Suit or Power Armor here to negate the radtiation of the river. Dive into the water and swim to the Public Works Maintenance area. Once there activate the keypad.

Open the gate and drop through the pipe to access the swer. Locate and follow the white piper with arrows on it through the sewer. Hack the terminal or pick the lock of the door, and head through the hole in the wall. Alternatively, head through the open security door northeast of the first door. Fight your way to the open pipe and go in to access the Institute. Open the hatch to enter.

Load the targeting sequence that Sturges gave you into the relay terminal to teleport Preston and some Minutemen in. Speak with Preston to obtain a Fusion Pulse Charge. Head through the robotics area, defeating Synth enemies along the way. Drop through the hatch to enter the BioScience lab, and continue towards the reactor entrance, which at this point has had its blast door activated.

Press the button at the central elevator to enter Father's quarters. You will obtain the password to override from him, or you can hack the terminal. Do either, and activate the Master Security Lockdown Override. Preston will ask you to trigger an evac warning to spare lives; it is your choice to comply or not.

Go back through Advanced Systems to enter the reactor chamber. If you haven't evacuated the facility, you will encounter synths and scientists. Access the reactor door and then activate the housing.

Sturges will teleport you to the Institute Relay Control Room. Speak to Preston, and then Sturges will mention a child nearby. Speak to him and you have 2 options:

• Agree to save him and look after him, at which point Sturges will look after him until you reunite at Sanctuary or other location you sent Sturges to live.
• Say the child must stay.

Speak into the relay and teleport to the Mass Fusion Building roof where you can press a button to complete your mission. Speak with Preston to conclude your main quest journey.

Railroad Method

NOTE: This quest is only available if you have sworn allegiance to The Railroad and have completed the Railroad quest Rockets' Red Glare. Speak to Desdemona and accept her task to infiltrate The Institute.

Relay into The Institute (Location) and link up with Z1-14. Committing to the cause at this point will cause any of The Institute Quests you've had in progress to fail so before speaking with Z1-14, make sure you've wrapped up any essential or radiant quests for them you were hoping to finish with the exception of End of the Line which will make the Railroad hostile. Once ready, eliminate the room of hostiles and Desdemona and other members of the Railroad will port in and hand you a Fusion Pulse Charge which you will be using to bring an end to the conflict for good.

Head through the robotics area, defeating Synth enemies along the way. Drop through the hatch to enter the BioScience lab, and continue towards the reactor entrance, which at this point has had its blast door activated.

Press the button at the central elevator to enter Father's quarters. You will obtain the password to override from him, or you can hack the terminal. Do either, and activate the Master Security Lockdown Override. You may trigger an evac warning to spare lives; this is an optional choice.

Go back through Advanced Systems to enter the reactor chamber. If you haven't evacuated the facility, you will encounter synths and scientists. Access the reactor door and then activate the housing.

Tinker Tom will teleport you to the Institute Relay Control Room. Speak to Desdemona, and then Tom will mention a child nearby. Speak to him and you have 2 options:

• Agree to save him and look after him, at which point Tom will look after him until you reunite at the Railroad base.
• Say the child must stay.

Step into the relay and teleport to the Mass Fusion Building roof where you will press activate a detonator to complete your mission and rid the Commonwealth of the Institute. Speak with Desdemona to conclude your main quest journey.

Fallout 4 The Nuclear Option Quest Objectives

Brotherhood of Steel Method Objectives

• Talk to Elder Maxson
• Reach Institute reactor
• Use terminal to override Institute lockdown
• (Optional) Issue evacuation order
• Reach the reactor
• Plant fusion pulse charge inside reactor
• Talk to Elder Maxson
• Talk to Proctor Ingram
• Talk to Shaun
• Step into the relay
• Activate detonator
• Talk to Elder Maxson

Minutemen Method Objectives

• Talk to Preston Garvey
• Talk to Sturges
• Gain access to The Institute
• Activate Institute Relay
• Talk to Preston Garvey
• Reach Institute reactor
• Use terminal to override Institute lockdown
• (Optional) Issue evacuation order
• Reach the reactor
• Plant fusion charge inside reactor
• Talk to Preston Garvey
• Talk to Sturges
• Talk to Shaun
• Step into the relay
• Use the detonator
• Talk to Preston Garvey

Railroad Method Objectives

• Talk to Desdemona
• Talk to Z1-14
• Kill everyone in the relay control room
• Talk to Desdemona
• Reach the reactor
• Use terminal to override Institute lockdown
• (Optional) Issue evacuation order
• Reach the reactor
• Plant fusion pulse charge inside reactor
• Talk to Desdemona
• Talk to Tinker Tom
• Talk to Shaun
• Step into the relay
• Activate detonator
• Talk to Desdemona

The Nuclear Option Quest Rewards in Fallout 4

Quest Complete - The Nuclear Option Fallout 4 Rewards:

• 1500+ XP
• Automatic laser musket