Encounters can be unique or repeatable. Unique encounters can only occur once per play-through whereas repeatable ones can occur at multiple locations.
Random encounter locations are divided into two groups. Some encounters occur only in one group of locations (A in the location table's "Group" column); others occur only in the second group of locations (B in the location table's "Group" column). Very few encounters are available in all locations.
'Type A' encounters, in practical terms, have only one spawn point in the area they can appear, and will usually not leave the immediate area around it unless drawn or forced away from it. The few 'Type A' encounters not set to stay near their spawning point will eventually move to predetermined destinations or patrol routes far across the map. Such movement, however, is often limited to the player being within the same map cell, resulting in the encounter being lost or misplaced when the player leaves the area.
'Type B' encounters are slightly more complex. Though Type B encounters always follow a predetermined patrol route at an encounter location, they have multiple, sometimes less than apparent, spawning points. They can also cover the distance of up to two full-sized map squares (as seen in one's Pipboy). Additionally, due to terrain features, the AI pathing between spawning points (which are also way-points) can create a broad and sometime elaborate patrol route.
The location information provided in this article is by no means the sole triggering method for the listed encounters. Trigger zones can be as far reaching as the distance between spawning points, which can result in accidentally and unknowingly triggering and locking an encounter. Most spawn points for encounters are positioned in such a way as to have the encounter appear from around blind corners so as not have the encounter appear out of thin air, and to have opposing factions appear at the farthest spawn points from one another. Using the wait feature along an encounter's patrol route within view of a spawn point can cause an encounter to be seen appearing abruptly as it moves to where the player is.
The encounters are grouped by living characters or creatures they contain. There are no duplicate listings; if you are looking for an encounter which involves multiple parties, make sure to check all potentially relevant sections.
There are encounters not described below which involve the Talon Company, the Enclave, raiders, and super mutants which are scripted events occurring at specific locations. These encounters are not random. See individual location pages for encounters outside of what is listed below.
Note : if the player happens to have changed his Karma orientation during the game (either by losing Karma when Karma was positive, or by accomplishing positive acts while Karma was negative), it is possible to be, although rarely, attacked by both Regulators and Talon Company mercs, and sometimes even at the same time.
Approaches that will trigger the encounters are listed below.
| Closest map marker
| Directions
| Group
| Trigger Zone
|
| Dunwich Building
| West of the building there is a radioactive pool. North of it there is a canyon which can be accessed only from the pool. You must approach it on the road from the building, jumping down the cliffs will not trigger.
| A
|
|
| VAPL-84 Power Station
| From any directions, the event is at just west of the gates.
| A
|
|
| Jocko's Pop & Gas Stop
| Head east in the direction of the large advertisement board on top of hill then E-SE. The location of the event is southeast of the board.
| A
|
|
| Jocko's Pop & Gas Stop
| NW of it, up on the highway.
| A
|
|
| MDPL-16 Power Station
| From any directions, the event is at the back of the building.
| A
|
|
| Chaste Acres Dairy Farm
| West of it at the Red Rocket, from any directions.
| A
|
|
| Greener Pastures Disposal Site
| West of it there is a broken bridge. The event location is exactly south of the alien crash site, from any directions.
| A
|
|
| Clifftop Shacks
| North of it there is a radioactive pool, the event is there. You must approach it on the lower canyon road. Going simply north then jumping off the cliffs will not trigger, so jump down the suspension bridge then go north.
| A
|
|
| Clifftop Shacks
| Continue north from the previous pool then go W-NW until the next pool with another event in the canyons.
| A
|
|
| Regulator HQ
| W-NW of it there is a large group of dead trees. The event is just before them, down in the canyon.
| A
|
|
| Regulator HQ
| Head east for the large tree. Quicksave and head exactly east. The event is at the fallen part of the highway.
| A
|
|
| Minefield
| Head west then north on the road for MDPL-13 Power Station. Quicksave just before reaching the pylon on the left. The event is at the water tower. Alternate approaches exist from the east and north of the tower.
| A
|
|
| Super-Duper Mart
| Right in front of it. Approaching from Farragut West Metro Station will not trigger. Best approach: from southwest direction. There is a fence at the back of the Super-Duper Mart. Quicksave at the southernmost point of the fence then go northeast.
| A
|
|
| Relay Tower KX-B8-11
| Go approximately Southeast for the water tower. When you get to the half-destroyed telephone pole, go East. The encounter will spawn below the cliff.
| A
|
|
| Relay Tower KX-B8-11
| Approach the tower from any direction. The event will occur on the east side of the tower, directly between the fence and the rock wall.
| A
|
|
| Temple of the Union
| Go exactly west for the small gap in the highway and stop just as soon you have left the fallen part of it. Then head north for the larger gap.
| A
|
|
| Temple of the Union
| Go south staying on the road. Pass the advertisement board, the truck, and quicksave after the pole on the road before the car wrecks. The event will be at the 4-way crossing.
| A
|
|
| Temple of the Union
| Going to the entrance will trigger an event inside, in front of Hannibal's door.
| A
|
|
| Canterbury Commons
| Go east, then follow the road between the buildings to north. Keep north, cross the brahmins. Go down, the event is in the narrows northeast.
| A
|
|
| Robot Repair Center
| Approach from Canterbury Commons following the road to east then south between the buildings. Just as soon the road would turn west, quicksave, then go to the Robot Repair Center.
| A
|
|
| National Guard Depot
| Locate the water tower in front of National Guard Depot and head exactly north from there passing the car wreck under the highway until you are halfway between the highway and elevated railroad lines (should be a whirlwind there). From there go exactly northeast. If successfully triggered, the event is under the railroad gap, exactly north.
| A
|
|
| Corvega Factory
| From the factory go W for the two large advertisement boards next to the highway. Then follow the highway S-SE, the event is under the highway near the Red Rocket.
| A
|
|
| Corvega Factory
| Go east to the car advertisement board and continue east. The event triggers almost immediately at northeast in the narrows.
| A
|
|
| F.Scott Key Trail & Campground
| There is a wood shack up in the rocks. Head west from the campground for the brain fungus, then you should be able to climb up at the southern part of the rocky wall. Quicksave before start climbing. The shack is N-NW from there.
| A
|
|
| Shalebridge
| Follow the elevated railroad line northwest until you find the gap right after the train. From the gap go south to the top of the hill. The event is downwards, southwest of the highest point of the hill.
| A
|
|
| Vault 101
| On the top of the hill westwards near the highway, there is a farmhouse with the event. Any approach will work.
| A
|
|
| Jury Street Metro Station
| go south for the broadcast tower, then go exactly southwest. The event is down in the canyon.
| A
|
|
| Meresti Trainyard
| approach from southeast, quicksave at the corner of the fence. The event is between the tunnel exits.
| A
|
|
| Broadcast Tower LP8
| any approach should work, the event is there.
| A
|
|
| Broadcast Tower LP8
| N-NW, under the turning highway.
| A
|
|
| Broadcast Tower LP8
| NW, up on the hill with a lot of trees W of turning highway.
| A
|
|
| Broadcast Tower LP8
| Even more northwest, west of the train wreck. The event is there where the whirlwind is.
| A
|
|
| WKML Broadcast Station
| Event is in front of station, approach it from the stairs.
| A
|
|
| Roosevelt Academy
| To the west, where train wreck is.
| A
|
|
| Sewer Waystation
| Go southwest to the Talon Company Camp, then continue south. The event is in the next - destroyed - building.
| A
| Trigger
|
| Wilhelm's Wharf
| Go northwest, the event is behind the building W of Wilhelm's Wharf.
| A
|
|
| Anchorage Memorial
| Any approach will do, in front of the statues.
| A
|
|
| Fort Bannister
| East of it, nearly in line with the northern fence of Fort Bannister. N-NW of Enclave Camp.
| A
| Trigger
|
| Tenpenny Tower
| There is a Red Rocket east of it. South of the rocket there is an abandoned building, the event is there.
| A
|
|
| Alexandria Arms
| In front of it. Approaching it from Arlington Library will not trigger, so come from Citadel or Flooded Metro.
| A
|
|
| Flooded Metro
| Approach it from W, event is next to the escalators.
| A
|
|
| Red Racer Factory
| Between the factory and the building W of it. Any approach will do.
| A
|
|
| Evergreen Mills
| South of Evergreen Mills, northwest of VAPL-84 Power Station, north of the ruined part of the highway. Any approach will do.
| A
|
|
| MDPL-05 Power Station
| in front of it. Approach it only on road, descending on cliffs will not trigger.
| A
|
|
| Raven Rock
| Southwards on the road. Event is about southwest of MDPL-05 Power Station.
| A
|
|
| Chryslus Building
| At the ruined building southeast of it. Approach from Farragut West Metro Station!
| A
|
|
| Broadcast Tower KB5
| Approach from northwest!
| A
|
|
| Deathclaw Sanctuary
| Go due west from the Dickerson Tabernacle Chapel building. Activates upon entering the canyon. Quicksave before passing under the first rope bridge. The encounter occurs where the canyon turns north.
| A
|
|
| SatCom Array NW-05a
| Go Northeast and before you get to the top of the hill, go North-Northwest. Go towards the pylon in the distance and save before you go up the hill. Right before you get to the pylon, turn left. The encounter will spawn by the destroyed pylon.
| A
|
|
| Fort Constantine
| The event spawns North-Northeast, but you need to go East and around the Bomb Storage buildings. Make your way up the cliffs and go West to the middle of the border of coordinates X:5, Y:17 and X:6, Y:17.
| A
|
|
| MDPL-21 Power Station
| Go north following the power lines until you find a bent power pylon. Keep north in the canyon jumping down. After passing the suspension bridge, keep northwest through the water.
| A
|
|
| SatCom Array NW-07c
| Go south from the scavenger's fallen dish, then keep southwest direction. The event is about halfway between the Array and the destroyed elevated railroad, S-SW from the dish.
| A
|
|
| SatCom Array NW-05a
| Go Southwest to the radioactive pool. The encounter will spawn below. This encounter might not spawn after the Waters of Life quest because an Enclave checkpoint spawns there.
| A
|
|
| VAPL-66 Power Station
| South of the station, W of a Dot's Diner, where the radioactive pools are.
| A
|
|
| Jalbert Brothers Waste Disposal
| Any approach will do. Event is in front of the eastern building.
| A
|
|
| Yao guai tunnels
| Go northwest, up the hill. Event is in the canyon at the radioactive pool.
| A
|
|
| Rockopolis
| Right in front of it, any approach will do.
| A
|
|
| Megaton
| Go W until the road under the fallen highway. Then follow that road southwest until the Enclave advertisement board (quicksave before the tree). Event is behind the board, down there.
| A
|
|
| Megaton
| Get to the southernmost outer part of Megaton. Then go southwest, the event is between the highway remnants and the other road above in the rocks.
| A
|
|
| Nuka-Cola Plant
| Approach from Andale. Event is W of the plant, E of the blue car.
| A
|
|
| Vault 106
| S of the entrance, upwards.
| A
|
|
| Bethesda Ruins
| West at the Red Rocket. Fast travel to Bethesda ruins then go W.
| A
|
|
| Vault 108
| Head S to the two trees then keep heading S-SE until you can climb up through a short ridge. After climbing up, go back down and go E, the event is there at the whirlwind.
| B
|
|
| Arefu
| Go to the boat under Arefu, then head northwest. Event is on the left bank after a while.
| B
|
|
| Broadcast Tower KB5
| Go southwest where the road turns by the water near the pond. Cross between the pond and the water, then head W-SW under the highway, go up a bit then turn back, the event is between the pond and the highway.
| B
|
|
| Broadcast Tower KT8
| Descend the canyon N of it, try heading northeast. When crossed the narrows and could go N and E, turn back, and go N to the bent tower, the event is there.
| B
|
|
| Broadcast Tower KT8
| Head exactly E until you find a N-S path. Follow it to north; when it forks, keep right where the event is.
| B
|
|
| Broadcast Tower LP8
| Go far up north where the last white train wreck is. Descend W in the canyon, and head northeast, the event is there, under the railroad line.
| B
|
|
| Broadcast Tower LP8
| Head exactly N until there are two small patches of rad brain fungus. Go under the highway to northwest, then turn northeast, cross the bridge and head N to the event.
| B
|
|
| AntAgonizer's Lair
| Head up the trail to the North. Follow it around the cliff and the event will spawn to the northeast behind the rocks.
| B
|
|
| Charnel House
| Head N-NE, until you are on the road, and follow it N. Pass the blue car but go exactly W after it and before the shack. Event is on the top of the hill.
| B
|
|
| Chaste Acres Dairy Farm
| Go northwest to the Red Rocket, then follow the road starting eastwards, leading northeast. As soon as you are seeing the blue car, the event is right of you, W of the building.
| B
|
|
| Chryslus Building
| Fast-travel to the place and turn 90-degrees to your right towards the parking lot. From there, take the road to the North. At the crossing, turn left and the event will be at the bottom of the road next to the destroyed building on the right.
| B
|
|
| Chryslus Building
| Follow the road to the Red Rocket, event is behind the building N of it.
| B
|
|
| Cliffside Cavern
| Head up E, then leave the path to N when you are able to do it. Go N-NW, and follow that path leading to a canyon with the event.
| B
|
|
| Clifftop Shacks
| Cross the bridge and go southwest almost until the highway. Descend and go north into the canyon. (That will likely trigger an A-type encounter further north in the canyon, too.)
| B
|
|
| Clifftop Shacks
| Descend to the canyon near the bridge and go southwest, west, northwest, north so you are almost at the bridge again.
| B
|
|
| Corvega Factory
| From the factory, go northwest until you get to a stop sign. Take a left and take another left before the blue car. The encounter will spawn behind the last house on the left.
| B
|
|
| Corvega Factory
| Go the E wall of the building where the blue truck and car is. From the car go S to the white truck under the railway. Follow the road; the event is behind the destroyed building right of another blue car.
| B
|
|
| Dickerson Tabernacle Chapel
| Go to the shack at the 3-way crossing, then follow the road north.
| B
|
|
| Dunwich Building
| Go northeast then northwest until you are east and a bit north of F.Scott Key Trail & Campground. The event is there.
| B
|
|
| F. Scott Key Trail & Campground
| Head exactly north, and just as you have passed the narrows, go E, the event is there.
| B
|
|
| Fairfax Ruins
| East of the fast travel arrival point. Head east up the road to the south edge of the fence around the water tower. The encounter will spawn on the east side of the car dealership and proceed east toward the scavenger's bridge. (If coming from Grayditch, a separate encounter will spawn nearer the Red Rocket.)
| B
| Trigger
|
| Farragut West Metro Station
| Head east, it is just around the corner.
| B
|
|
| Fordham Flash Memorial Field
| Go S-SE where the whirlwind is behind the big rock, cross the road, then head back W by the road until the gap, where the event is.
| B
|
|
| Fort Bannister
| Go to Fort Bannister Ground Zero, descend the crater and go to the front of the truck. Then exit the crater eastwards through the canyon, the event is at the end of it.
| B
|
|
| Grayditch
| Proceed south out of Grayditch to the scavenger's bridge. Head west across the bridge toward the car dealership. The encounter will spawn between the dealership and the Red Rocket station(nearer to the Red Rocket). It will advance north to the ruined house.(If coming from the Fairfax Ruins, a separate encounter will spawn at the dealership, then proceed east.)
| B
|
|
| Girdershade
| Follow the highway westwards until it touches the rocky cliffs, and cross between its pillars. Event is at north, left of trees.
| B
|
|
| Grisly Diner
| Follow the road with the wrecks N, event is in the highway gap.
| B
|
|
| Greener Pastures Disposal Site
| Head south from Office building, then up west at the second truck. After going up go back and go southeast until the whirlwind.
| B
|
|
| Greener Pastures Disposal Site
| Head E-SE from Office building until the southeastern pool. From there go southeast and S near the rocky wall.
| B
|
|
| Hallowed Moors Cemetery
| Go Northwest to the road and follow it to the crossing. Jump over the girder and the encounter will spawn by the destroyed house.
| B
|
|
| Jalbert Brothers Waste Disposal
| Follow the road E, event is behind the "Stop the red menace" billboard near the power station.
| B
|
|
| Jury Street Metro Station
| Go exactly S for a long time until you find a rad pool with shacks and a lot of car wrecks. N-NE of it there is a crater-like place with a tree in the center, go there. The event is upwards at the cliffs, in northwest.
| B
|
|
| Jury Street Metro Station
| Take a circle around the metro entrance, then head to the destroyed house with a car and a sewer entrance in S-SW direction, the event is behind it.
| B
|
|
| MDPL-13 Power Station
| Go to the East side of the Power Plant, overlooking the Wasteland and align yourself with the center smokestack. Go East and around the rock formation. Continue East until you're just about between the coordinates X:12, Y:13 and X:13, Y:13. Head Northeast ( there should be a rock formation on your left and two thin trees on your right ) and the event will spawn below.
| B
|
|
| Minefield
| Follow the road Southwest until you see a blue car. Circle it and follow it back towards Minefield. The encounter will spawn just around the curve.
| B
|
|
| National Guard Depot
| Go North Past the street and the destroyed yellow car and onto the next street. Turn East and cross the circular road. The event will spawn on top of the cliff to your left.
| B
|
|
| Northwest Seneca Station
| Head west by southwest, until you find a lot of car wrecks near the water. Then go northwest by the water until the boat. Then enter the canyon under the highway N-NE, the event is at the wrecked train.
| B
|
|
| Oasis
| Go to the edge of the map, there is a 3-way crossing on the W-E road to up south between two whirlwinds. Go up, then right at the next 3-way crossing.
| B
|
|
| Paradise Falls
| Go the northern bounds of Paradise Falls, where a road leads to North. Follow it. After the crossing, keep going north, following the rut north, northwest directions and stop when it turns west. Turn back and go exactly in southeast direction, the event is around at the second tree.
| B
|
|
| Reclining Groves Resort Homes
| Fast-travel to the MDPL-13 Power Station. Take the road West into Reclining Groves Resort Homes. The encounter will spawn up the hill at the second house from the destroyed monorail track.
| B
|
|
| Red Racer Factory
| head north by the other building, follow the curve. The event is under the scavenger's bridge.
| B
|
|
| Regulator HQ
| Head exactly north until you'll see a fallen tree. Go just as much as you have came since the HQ. You are in position, if there is a large rocky hill in front of you and another fallen tree near northeast. Go to there and north upwards. Event is just up.
| B
|
|
| Relay Tower KX-B8-11
| Go Southeast toward the water tower. The encounter will spawn beside the rock wall by the water tower.
| B
|
|
| RobCo Facility
| Go east on the road, until the advertisement board, then go back to the southwest corner of the building.
| B
|
|
| Rock Creek Caverns
| Go W, then N for the destroyed house, but stop on the road and follow it eastwards. The event is behind the car.
| B
|
|
| Five Axles Rest Stop
| Follow the road northeast. The event is in the river below.
| B
|
|
| MDPL-21 Power Station
| Go West-Northwest and keep to the cliff's wall. Follow it up and around. The encounter will spawn under the cliff East-Northeast of SatCom Array NN-03d.
| B
|
|
| SatCom Array NN-03d
| Go W to the shack with the Outcasts, then head North. The event is at the top to the left.
| B
|
|
| SatCom Array NW-05a
| Go to the blue car at the raider camp West of the array, then go North. The encounter will spawn by the water ahead.
| B
|
|
| Scrapyard
| Exit Scrapyard to south and go to Enclave advertisement board. Then head west by Scrapyard's fence until the rock after the southwest corner of Scrapyard. The event is behind it.
| B
|
|
| Smith Casey's Garage
| Head N on the road, pass the trucks and the roadblocks, the event is at the car.
| B
|
|
| Springvale School
| Go Southeast towards the road. Continue down the road and the encounter will spawn around the rock just past the destroyed house.
| B
|
|
| Temple of the Union
| Go South and look for a fallen tree to your left. From that tree, go East to the isolated tree. The encounter will spawn to the Southeast.
| B
|
|
| Temple of the Union
| Go South towards the car billboard and to the army truck. Go Southeast from the truck and the event will spawn up the hill.
| B
|
|
| The Silver Lining Drive-In
| From the drive-in's fast travel arrival point, go exactly southeast toward the powerline tower, drop into the shallow ravine, from there proceed clockwise around the southwest perimeter of the drive-in. The encouter will spawn between the big screen and Faded Pomp Estates.
| B
|
|
| VAPL-58 Power Station
| Go to the northwest corner of the station's fence. Then go southeast, pass the shack, the event is southeast from there.
| B
|
|
| Arefu
| Fast-travel to Arefu and go down to the car billboard. From there, go Southwest and the event will spawn on the road.
| B
|
|
| VAPL-84 Power Station
| Follow the pylons west by southwest, then turn south at the whirlwind after the broken pylon and go back to power station southeast then northeast.
| B
|
|
| Vault 101
| Follow the road south until passing between the highway remains and the pillar, where the road turns W. Then go back on the road, the event is halfway between Vault 101 and the water tower.
| B
|
|
| Vault 87
| Find the pond northwest of Vault 87. Go north through the canyon, then turn east, the event is there.
| B
|
|
| Warrington Trainyard
| Go W-NW by the northern fence, then up the hill a bit. There should be some enemy around. Then you can go back for the event, as it is around the rocks looking like a cavern / vault entrance (without the door) east from you, north from the broken parts of the fence.
| B
|
|
| Yao guai tunnels
| Go S to the large lonely tree. There turn back and head to north by northeast, the event is about halfway between the tree and yao guai tunnels.
| B
|
|
| Yao guai tunnels
| Go N, the event is not far from there.
| B
|
|
| Megaton
| Fast-travel to Megaton and exit. Go right and around to the South end. The encounter will spawn behind the two big trees to the southeast.
| B
|
|