Vault 76 is a location in Fallout 76. It is the first location discovered upon starting a new game and completing the prologue.
One of Vault-Tec's many Vaults across America, Vault 76 was constructed north of Flatwoods, West Virginia, in the Forest region before the Great War and was designated as the "Official Vault of the Tricentennial" by the corporation, under the tagline "Vault-Tec Salutes America."[2][3]
Background[]
Construction[]
Vault 76 was one of 17 control Vaults, part of the overarching Vault experiment. Construction began in February 2065 and ended in October 2069. The maximum capacity was stated to be 500 occupants, and construction blueprints record a capacity of 88.[4][5] The Vault was slated to open to the outside world 25 years after nuclear war so that the individuals within could emerge to recolonize Appalachia. This was so that Vault-Tec could study their recolonization efforts in comparison to the experiments within other Vaults.[4][6](Note) The day that the Vault reopened to the outside would be known as Reclamation Day.
Vault 76 was designed with LightLife geothermal for its primary power supply, and General Atomics nuclear generator as a secondary power supply,[4] but was provided with a pair of super reactors in the end.[7] Its computer control system was Brainpower 4.[4]
| Vault statistics | |
|---|---|
| Number | 76 |
| Construction begins | February 2065 |
| Construction ends | October 2069 |
| Occupants planned/actual | 500/88 |
| Months sealed planned/actual | 240/300 |
| Computer system | Brainpower 4 |
| Primary power supply | LightLife geothermal (planned)[4] Super reactor (implemented)[7] |
| Secondary power supply | General Atomics nuclear |
The overseer was instructed to ignore standard operating procedures, as Vault 76 was deemed a special project essential to rebuilding the United States in the wake of nuclear war.[8] The occupants were some of America's finest, including students from Vault-Tec University, military members, and a former White House Chief of Staff. Occupants were provided fully furnished apartments, including a bedroom, living room, bathroom and color television.[9]
At some point, Vault-Tec Assistant Chief Executive Officer Giles Wolstencroft visited to inspect the construction site, and was abducted by the Zetan aliens and taken aboard Mothership Zeta.[10]
Debut[]
The opening ceremony of Vault 76 on July 4, 2076
Vault 76 debuted on July 4, 2076,[11] seven years after its construction ended, in honor of the United States' Tercentenary/Tricentennial of its founding in 1776.[12] An opening ceremony, which was broadcasted on television, was held at the entrance and its overseer attended. However, in order to become the overseer, she had to break off her engagement with her fiancé, Evan, or be transferred to another Vault to have him join her in it.
Great War[]
After the news of the Great War broke out, Vault 76 was successfully sealed on October 23, 2077, when the air raid sirens sounded for the last time as Chinese nukes headed for American soil. The Vault-Tec security team ensured compliance and defended the individuals as they entered the Vault, authorized to use lethal force to ensure only those authorized would enter. Everyone else was considered an enemy combatant.[13] They succeeded in their mission and the Vault door was sealed for the next quarter of a century until the all-clear was given once the radiation levels had subsided to a safe threshold.
The Vault 76 overseer leading a Vault-Tec course about Pip-Boys to Vault 76 residents
This was only the beginning of the project. The occupants were a diverse group selected from every walk of life, and apart from the Vault staff, all were highly accomplished before the war and possessed competitive personalities. As such, Vault-Tec expected the Vault dwellers to present unique challenges in maintaining order. As a last resort, the overseer was granted the ability to lock down each domicile and imprison dissenters for any duration deemed appropriate, with the note to account for the fact that enforced solitary confinement can lead to psychological issues. Furthermore, the security team was provided with less-than-lethal devices to ensure compliance. Firearms and other munitions were stowed after the amended entry period.[14]
Ongoing operations[]
A room belonging to one of the dwellers
For the next 25 years, Vault 76 continued to operate as planned. The overseer found order easy to maintain, though the impressive pedigree of those the Vault sheltered and their competence led to the aforementioned unique challenges, most often challenging her authority. To provide them with an outlet for their competitiveness, the overseer instituted a number of awards for the Vault dwellers to obtain, as award ceremonies were a great way to placate even the most hardened egos (altercations aside; one lost a tooth fighting over the Best Dental Hygiene award). The high point of the program was the Vault 76 World Cup, even if it nearly broke the jukebox. The overseer credited the success to the "exemplary" service of her "loyal and dependable" senior staff.[15]
Meanwhile, outside of Vault 76, the survivors of the Great War were aware of the Vault's existence and wondered why it was still closed years later. In particular, the Responders wanted to know if they could open the Vault somehow.[16] The Vault's sealing led to the perception from outsiders that the residents of Vault 76 are cushy and privileged, while the rest of the world adjusted to wasteland life.[17]
However, Vault 76 also had another objective: the Vault's overseer was ordered to find and secure three nuclear silos all on her own after its opening. If these sites were still nuclear-capable, she was to ensure no one except Vault-Tec could access or launch nuclear ordnance. Any other authorities, government, militia or otherwise, were to be ignored, to ensure that Vault-Tec alone controlled these silos and could deny their use to any third parties, even if it meant going against any surviving United States Armed Forces personnel that would assert control of the silos themselves as part of the U.S. Department of Defense.[6][18] However, Vault-Tec may have known that the task was impossible for her to accomplish on her own, especially since they purposefully picked someone young and inexperienced for an overseer.[19]
As the Vault neared the end of its duration and approached Reclamation Day, the situation started to slowly deteriorate. In 2100, the Vault was over capacity, with hydroponics struggling to keep up with the demand and mandatory rationing instituted by the overseer. Six individuals had to be placed under disciplinary lockdown (up from four at the end of the previous year), with the morale officer tasked with pacifying rumors about Appalachia around the clock. Nobody wanted to emerge into Appalachia to fight cannibal mutants and brave burning rain.
Regardless, tensions were running high,[15] especially with some people being quite difficult to handle. Jake, an arrogant pre-War lawyer, was detested by the security team so much that only one officer could be trusted to be sent down and not strangle him.[20][21] Furthermore, the "Ressies," as the security team called them, started hacking into terminals to learn more about the Reclamation and the Activation Notices. Although the security team made a token effort to curtail unauthorized access, they all knew trying to keep geniuses out of the files was a lost cause.[22]
Preparations[]
As a result of these mounting concerns, 2102 and Reclamation Day was met with relief from all parties; some were so relieved they even broke into the stores to enjoy it early.[23] The overseer mandated a Reclamation Day party the day before the Activation Notice, opening up restricted alcohol stashes and the remaining food supplies. The happiness and cheering in the atrium as the overseer counted down to midnight were second only to the time when the first Vault child was born. The party continued well into the night when the overseer called lights out and had security help stragglers into their beds. Then, she and her team went through the final checklists. Standees and supplies were placed along the exit route to the Vault door to provide a last refresher course for the Ressies,[24] while the security team went through their duties with record speed: Wiping logs, securing non-essential gear and acquiring Reclamation Packages for themselves.[25]
Those who were sheltered by Vault 76 ultimately had no other choice as the Vault itself was designed to cease functioning and be rendered inhospitable 24 hours after opening, a feature intended to force those within to commit to reclaiming the outside world and prevent them from becoming dependent on the Vault's amenities. Studies showed that dependency was common, so the killswitch was established and set to kick in after the All-Clear message was received after the aforementioned delay. Air circulation would shut down last, giving everyone enough time to leave the Vault, but rendering it hazardous for habitation. Only robotic stewards would remain to preserve the remains, while the former inhabitants focused on rebuilding America.[26]
Reclamation Day[]
The Vault Dwellers leaving Vault 76
Vault 76 successfully opened on October 23, 2102, exactly 25 years after the Great War, in a much-celebrated event known as Reclamation Day.[18] The Vault opened and the inhabitants emerged into an unknown world, transformed by nuclear war and a quarter-century of the ensuing chaos and decay that followed. Nobody knew what to expect, as the bombs knocked out all of Vault 76's external sensors except for the Geiger counters. Additionally, the overseer had left before everyone else, leaving behind an announcement vaguely claiming she had her own mission to perform in Appalachia; in reality, she was instructed by Vault-Tec to secure three missile silos in the region.
One of the pop-ups introducing survival concepts to the emerging Vault Dwellers.
Still, some on the security team were more concerned with internal threats than external ones, as rumors were flying high of who would team up with who after leaving the Vault. The competitive inhabitants were already making alliances and pacts before exiting, and anything could happen without some sort of guiding force.[27] The team feared that the Ressies could go off the rails, breaking the respectable record of 25 years without casualties. Although some argued for arming everyone before they leave the Vault, using the surplus stocks, the overseer denied the request.[28] They received the standard survival packages and were told to run fast and far away from Vault 76 and complete their mission.[29]
Layout[]
Vault 76 is the game's starting and tutorial area, providing a direct route to the exit with few branches. The player character awakes in their apartment and has the opportunity to explore their surroundings and collect the Nuka Tapper game holotape from their personal terminal. They are only allowed to exit the apartment once they collect the Pip-Boy 2000 Mark VI from its storage rack next to the door.
Upon exiting, they enter an atrium area with detritus from the previous evening's party. The atrium is large, complete with tables, a diner and a soccer field in the middle. There is a note that cannot be taken sitting on one of the tables in the diner on the upper level, called the love note. One of the rooms on the way to the exit features a projector showing a slideshow with tips on living outside the Vault. Side routes are inaccessible but the player character can access the personnel files in the projector room, the survival displays, and the overseer's office.
Several Mister Handies are positioned throughout the Vault on the route to the exit and man stations at which the player character can acquire their C.A.M.P. and a few other basic necessities as they prepare to leave. After leaving, no one can return to the interior, but new characters created will always start in the Vault.
| Equipment stations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Image | Name | Attendant | Items |
| 1 | 
|
Stay Hydrated | Worthy | Rad-X Purified water |
| 2 | 
|
Health & Medication | Cavendish | Stimpak RadAway |
| 3 | 
|
Power is Key | Higgenbottom | Cloth x5, Steel x5 Wood x5 Adhesive x3 |
| 4 | 
|
Join a Team | Merriman | Party hat |
| 5 |
|
Camping Made Easy | Crowley | C.A.M.P. |
| 6 | 
|
Get a Job | Poole | Black-rim glasses Perk cards Pen |
Outside, the Vault entrance terminates in a large terrace still decorated to mark the tricentennial celebrations. As of patch 1.0.85.0, there is also a donation box where veteran players can leave items for new arrivals to collect. The same patch also replaced Liberators found in the parking lot with regular feral ghouls.
Wastelanders added two additional characters outside, two wastelander women who came to investigate Vault 76. They add as the first opportunities to start the heist story arc from the update, as well as The Wayward side quests.
Inhabitants[]
Interior[]
Exterior[]
Mentioned[]
Notable loot[]
- Orders from Maria Chavez - A note that can sometimes spawn on a Responder corpse down the stairs from the Vault.
- Overseer's log - Vault 76 - Holotape, inserted into the overseer's terminal in her office, or obtained from Pennington outside the Vault.
- Scouts' Life - issue #01
- Nuka Tapper - Holotape game, inserted into the terminal in the player character's room (fixed spawn and is otherwise not obtainable outside of randomized magazine spawns).
- CAMP - The player's C.A.M.P. is obtainable here.
- Pip-Boy 2000 Mark VI - Next to the player's door.
- Welcome to the Wasteland - A note, nailed to the rookie donation box near Pennington.
- Anglers wanted - Note, outside pinned to a barrel.
Notes[]
- Clarifications
- ^ (Note) In Fallout 3, the Citadel's Vault-Tec terminal includes a listing of Vault 76 which says the Vault is intended to open 20 years after its sealing.[4] In Fallout 76, the overseer's terminal in Vault 76 instead says that the Vault is intended to open 25 years after its sealing.[6] This latter date is the one used in Fallout 76, since Reclamation Day officially occurred in 2102.
- Trivia
- Vault 76 can not be re-entered after leaving. Players must create a new character to explore it again.
- Vault 76 is actually not a single player instance in a public server, as players can encounter each other which is why they spawn in different but identical-looking rooms in the beginning. It is rare for players to encounter other players in Vault 76, however.
- A newscaster in Fallout 4 reporting before the Great War in the Commonwealth mentions the debut of Vault 76 the previous year, in honor of America's Tercentenary.[12]
- Reuben Gill and ZAX 1.3c within Vault 51 discuss the opening of the Vault on Reclamation Day, where ZAX refuses Gill's command of opening their Vault so that he could travel to Vault 76.[30]
- Vault 76 cannot be nuked in the quest I Am Become Death.
Welcoming Committee is a quest cut from the location.- The door and surrounding decoration of Vault 76's entrance are designed to resemble the Vault-Tec logo.
Appearances[]
Vault 76 appears only in Fallout 76 and is mentioned in Fallout 3, its add-on Mothership Zeta, and Fallout 4.
Behind the scenes[]
Vault 76 decorated for the 5th Anniversary
- In the quarters that the player character wakes up in at the start of the game, there is a sticky note on the mirror in that bathroom, bearing the message "Don't put TP on backwards!" This is a reference to viral debates about toilet paper orientation. The debate extended to Fallout 4 after its release, as players argued about the "under" orientation of the toilet paper in the Sole Survivor's house. In 2025, the twentieth in-game season for Fallout 76, Glow of the Ghoul, included two CAMP items that further reference this debate: the toilet paper holder ("under" orientation) and the "correct" toilet paper holder ("over" orientation). The bathroom in Vault 76 uses the "over" orientation.
- When reaching the first checkpoint, the "celebration" music from Fallout Shelter plays.
- In the Japanese version of Fallout 76, Reclamation Day is known as "Saisei no hi" (再生の日). "Saisei" (再生) has the theme of "life" and "biology" in its name, thus the term could be translated as Rebirth Day, Revival Day, Regeneration Day or Regrowth Day. "Seisei" also has the meaning of coming back from either death or severe injury, which would be the Great War in this case.
- Vault 76 was featured in an official Bethesda livestream for the Fallout 76 5th Anniversary event, in which the Vault's exterior was decorated and the Vault 76 overseer delivered a three minute speech to begin the parade.
- A trailer for Fallout 76 erroneously claims Vault 76 was the first to be opened after the Earth was destroyed by the Great War. For more information, see here.
Gallery[]
| Exterior |
|---|
| Player character apt |
|---|
                                                      |
| Equipment stations |
|---|
               |
| Vault interior |
|---|
                                  Vault 76 jumpsuit Tricentennial poster                                       |
| Checkpoints |
|---|
       |
| Vault door |
|---|
                          |
| Concept art and signage |
|---|
 Concept art  Construction plans  Vault door on the map  No clip view  Vault 76 jumpsuit seen in the achievement Never Go It Alone  Poster  Poster  Poster   Concept art, wearing a Vault 76 jumpsuit  Vault 76 layout  Vault 76 layout |
References[]
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