Finding some Fallout 76 power armor locations is probably one of the big early aspirations in the game. The iconic armor is high on everyone's wish list and getting a full set will mean visiting numerous power armor locations - you get a leg here, an arm there and, with multiple variants to build, it'll take a while before you get a complete lot.
We're not crazy enough to try and find them all though. The spawns aren't always guaranteed and not always in easy to reach locations - ironically you need power armor sometimes to, um, find power armor. Instead we've focused on the most likely, easy to reach options you can rinse out in search of parts. All these armor sets should be in open, low level areas and if any locks or hacking is involved it's only a level one problem.
As we hinted at earlier, Fallout 76 power armor spawns aren't always guaranteed. They will always appear in specific locations, just not all the time. Plus anyone on the map could have taken it before you arrived. Because of that you'll have to visit and revisit areas, maybe quitting out to find a new server if you get really unlucky. Over time you'll find all the legs, arms and other bits you need to assemble a full set. It is possible to craft stuff eventually but in the early stages you'll have to find it.
You'll also need fusion cores to run your Fallout 76 power armor. These can usually be found in the power generators you often find near armor on the Fallout 76 map. If these yellow machines are lit up, there's a power core for you to take.
For more details read on to find out everything you need to know about finding Fallout 76 power armor and power cores, as well the different level constraints different types have.
How to use Fallout 76 power armor
You’ll find Fallout 76 power armor scattered around the map, apparently in a mix of regular and random locations (check our Fallout 76 power armor location map below for more on that). Finding a set however is only the start of your mecha-suit journey as there’s more to things here than just finding metal legs and putting them on.
When you first find some Fallout 76 power armor you’ll have to strip off all the actual armor to leave a bare frame before you can get in it. This is because while there’s no level limitation on the frame, there will be on the armor pieces that equip on it, so the arms, legs, chest and helmet. The level restrictions break down as follows:
- Raider Power Armor - level 15+
- T-45 Power Armor - level 25+
- T-51 Power Armor - level 30+
- T-60 Power Armor - level 40+
- X-01 Power Armor - level 50
There’s also a new form of excavator armor that boosts resources when mining. That's crafted and unlocked as part of a mission called Miner Miracles that you can only access at level 25 so it's not a good starter option.
So reiterate, you can wear the frame at any level, but you will need to be the appropriate level to equip any of the actual armor pieces on it. Even a bare frame has bonuses however, increasing strength, boosting all forms of damage resistance and making you immune to falling damage. You will however need a fusion core to power it, without one you won’t be able to run, use power attacks or aim with VATs. From what we’ve seen so far fusion cores can be found in generators that often appear near power armor locations and, if you see one, it’s likely worth checking to see if there’s some armor nearby.
So, when you first find some power armor you’ll need to take all the bits off (by storing them in your inventory) before you get in it. When you leave you’ll be able to ‘collect’ it which will add it to your apparel inventory. It’ll also be collected automatically if you leave the area, disconnect or enough time passes, so you don’t have to worry about losing it. As we understand the current system you can have as many sets you like but only ‘bind’ to one that then can’t be used (/stolen) by anyone else.
Fallout 76 power armor map locations
So far we’ve discovered 15 Fallout 76 power armor locations of varying authenticity based on our own discoveries and that of the Fallout 76 community. It looks like they don’t always appear in a known location, although it’s not clear whether that’s due to someone else taking them first or because they’re randomly spawned. The yellow frame that supports them does seem to be constant though, so if you find one of those maybe try fast travelling away and back again to see if it respawns. It also looks like standalone suits of power armor can also appear in more random locations around the map without a stand. It’s possible that a better luck stat might help you there.
This is a work in process for the time being as we find, add and confirm more Fallout 76 power locations to the map (and feel free to add any you find in the comments below). For the time being these are locations where Fallout 76 power armor has been found so far.
1 Striker Row
The Ash Heap maybe isn't the best place to head to straight away as you'll need breathing protection and probably a half decent level to survive. But if you can make it there's some power armor out in the open in a rock alcove at Striker Row near some road barriers. There's also some in a Red Rockets station near by.
2 Nuka-Cola plant
You can’t really miss the Nuka-Cola plant once you get near it because the building is the shape of a giant bottle. Head south/south west of Vault 76 and you should find it near a fork in the river. Once inside (you might need to pick a lock) find the basement and look for a big room with a yellow crane/bulldozer type machine. You should find some power armor in the corner.
3 Point Pleasant
You might head Point Pleasant’s way to check out the Mothman Museum but while you’re there you can also grab some power armor. Look for a bridge in town, if you can find the church you should be near it - aim for the 'M' of the Mothman sign on the map and look for a green pharmacy. With the pharmacy on your left head up the stairs on your left and you should see a building with a hole smashed in the wall. Head through the hole and when you come out the other side take the stairs to the roof immediately on your left. You should see a wooden path other the top of the bridge, head over it and take the right hand fork you encounter about half way. Look down to your right as you reach the next rooftop and you should see some power armor near a red sofa.
4 WV Lumber Co
In the far north west of the map, near the river, you’ll find the WV Lumber Co. It’s a lumber Mill full of Super Mutants, so minus points. But there’s power armor, so every cloud.
5 Hornwright Industrial Mining Company
In Charlestown, south of Vault 76 near a river junction, you should be able to pick up a mission called The Motherlode involving a beacon that will take you to some power armor. It’s not a quick mission, involving getting keycards and completing an exam on a terminal but you’ll find some power armor at the bottom of some stairs along the way.
6 Unmarked cave
Head way north, directly above Vault 76 and look for an unmarked cave at a location called The Crosshair. There’s Raider Power armor inside.
7 Aaronholdt Homestead
North, and a touch west of Vault 73, you’ll find a farm called the Aaronholdt Homestead. There’s a shed near several grain silos with a power generator outside (grab the core) and in there you’ll find some power armor waiting. You'll need to find the key if you can't pick it open, which is on a nearby body.
8 Moundsville Penitentiary, in the prison yard
There are a lot of Super Mutants around Moundsville Penitentiary so maybe not a place to hit up early on. When you can handle it, blast your way through the hole in the wall around the back and head for the building in the centre of the yard.
9 Morgantown Train Yard
Near MorganTown, east of Vault 76, you'll find a train yard. On the western side there's a watch tower and between the two warehouses in front of it you should find a green army train carriage. Inside you'll find some power armor.
10 Silo shed north of Billing Homestead
Directly north of the Nuka-Cola plant you’ll find the Billing Homestead, and in the northern part of that you’ll find some grain silos and a shed. Check the shed for some power armor.
11 Camp Venture
Find camp Venture in the south east of the map and you should find some power armor In the yard.
12 Watoga
Near the big tower in Watoga, in the south east of the map, you’ll find a crashed vertibird and signs of a fight. Right by the vertibird you’ll find some power armor on the floor. There's also some to find on the roof of a nearby emergency building.
13 Drop Site V9
In the far, far south east you’ll find a place called Drop Site V9. There’s some power armor in there, and in Survey Camp Alpha just to the west.
14 Clarksberg
Near Wavy Willard’s Water Park, a little ways south of it, you’ll find Clarksberg. It’s a small town and full of angry robots, apparently the only survivors of a human/machine labour dispute. Look for a tall building with a fire escape on the side that doesn’t reach the ground. Head behind it and you’ll find a barricade with “Man Before Machine” written on it and some stairs up. Follow that roof around to the right and you reach the fire escape. The power armor will be in the next floor up.
15 Belching Betty
You can find some power armor near Bernie, around the shaft at Burning Mine on the Eastern side of Ash Heap.
16 Arktos Pharma
When you reach the area look for the Arktos Pharma garage on the left hand side. Use the stairs and walkways over the buses to reach the hole in the ceiling and upper floors. The power armour is locked in a room behind a computer terminal with a hacking level of 0.
17 Wade Airport 1
At Wade airport you should find a small aircraft hangar at the northern end of the runway by the flight tower. There’s some power armor in the hanger.
18 Wade Airport 2
Look for the blue trailer at the southern end of the runway which has some power armor inside. You’ll need a lockpick skill level 2 to open the door but other than that it’s yours for the taking.
19 Silva Homestead
At the Silca Homestead look for a round barn with a red tractor inside. There should be some power armor in a power armor frame at the back of the building. You might find some radroaches in there but they're low level.
20 Black Bear Lodge
hen you get to Black Bear Lodge you should see a small barn with a fallen tree on it to the west of the bigger building. The power armor’s in there, just as you go in the door.
21 Poseidon Energy Plant WV-06
There are few buildings at the Poseidon Energy Plant but look for the biggest one with the blue pipes and these army vehicles outside three sets of doors. Go through any of the doors and straight ahead until you see these stairs going down. Follow the corridor around until you see a room with a workbench in and some power armor at the back.
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