Can You Avoid Killing Virgil in Fallout 4? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, you absolutely can avoid killing Virgil in Fallout 4. In fact, there are multiple ways to ensure his survival, depending on your choices throughout the game and your allegiances with the different factions. Whether you aim to cure him, leave him as a Super Mutant, or simply avoid making him hostile, understanding the nuances of your interactions with Virgil is key. This guide will provide a deep dive into the mechanics surrounding Virgil, his questline, and how to keep him alive and potentially even recruit him.
Understanding Virgil’s Character and Questline
Virgil is a unique character in Fallout 4. A former scientist working for the Institute, he subjected himself to the Forced Evolutionary Virus (FEV) to escape their grasp, transforming himself into a Super Mutant. He resides in a cave within the Glowing Sea, and his main desire is to be cured of his mutation. The questline surrounding Virgil is intertwined with the main storyline involving the Institute and offers several decision points that influence his fate.
Your initial meeting with Virgil occurs during the main quest “The Glowing Sea,” where he provides information crucial to finding the Institute. After returning from the Institute, you can choose to either provide him with the serum, leave him as a Super Mutant, or, through certain actions, trigger his hostility. Your choices dictate whether Virgil lives, dies, or remains a permanent resident of his rocky cave.
Key Factors Influencing Virgil’s Survival
Several factors play a crucial role in determining Virgil’s fate:
- Your relationship with the Institute: If you become an enemy of the Institute or destroy them before giving Virgil the serum, he will likely become hostile.
- Whether you provide him with the serum: Curing Virgil is the most straightforward way to ensure his survival and potentially recruit him as a settler.
- Your actions within his cave: Certain actions, such as wearing Power Armor with specific modifications (Targeting HUD), or destroying his turrets can trigger hostility.
Avoiding Hostility: Practical Tips
Here are some practical tips to avoid making Virgil hostile:
- Remove Power Armor before entering his cave: If you are wearing Power Armor, especially with a Targeting HUD, Virgil may become hostile. Exit the armor before entering the cave to prevent this.
- Do not attack his defenses: Avoid damaging or destroying his turrets and Protectron.
- Avoid being an enemy of the Institute (initially): Maintaining a neutral or friendly relationship with the Institute until you acquire the serum is crucial.
- Choose dialogue options carefully: Some dialogue choices may trigger hostility, so always consider the potential consequences of your words.
Curing Virgil: The Path to Friendship
The most definitive way to ensure Virgil’s survival is to cure him. Here’s how:
- Gain access to the Institute: Follow the main storyline to gain entry to the Institute.
- Acquire the Serum: Retrieve the serum designed to cure Virgil from the Biogel Lab.
- Return to Virgil: Take the serum back to Virgil in his cave.
- Give him the Serum: Select the dialogue option to give him the serum.
After giving Virgil the serum, wait approximately three in-game days and return to his cave. You will find that he has transformed back into a human. He will express his gratitude and offer you the use of his lab, making all items within available for looting. At this point, you can choose to let him live peacefully or recruit him to a settlement (if you have the Vault-Tec Workshop DLC).
The Consequences of Destroying the Institute
Destroying the Institute before curing Virgil has significant consequences. Without the serum, he remains a Super Mutant and, more importantly, becomes hostile towards you due to your actions against the Institute. In this scenario, avoiding a confrontation is difficult, and killing him may be the only option to complete the quest.
What Happens If You Don’t Give Virgil the Serum?
If you choose not to give Virgil the serum and leave him as a Super Mutant, he will remain in his cave in the Glowing Sea. He will continue to provide limited dialogue options and essentially remain a static character. You can still visit him, but he won’t offer any new quests or significantly alter his behavior. However, it is important to note that not curing him locks you out of the chance to recruit him as a settler later on.
Recruiting Virgil as a Settler
If you have the Vault-Tec Workshop DLC, you can recruit Virgil as a settler after curing him. Simply speak to him after he transforms back into a human, and he will express a desire to leave the Glowing Sea. You can then direct him to one of your settlements.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can you save Virgil Fallout 4?
Yes, you can save Virgil in Fallout 4. The most reliable method is to acquire the serum from the Institute and administer it to him, which turns him back into a human and prevents him from becoming hostile.
2. How do you make Virgil not hostile?
To prevent Virgil from becoming hostile, avoid entering his cave in Power Armor with a Targeting HUD. Also, do not attack his defenses, and maintain a neutral relationship with the Institute until you have the serum.
3. Why does Virgil keep attacking me in Fallout 4?
Virgil will attack you if you are an enemy of the Institute, if you destroy any of his defenses, or if you enter his cave wearing Power Armor with a Targeting HUD.
4. What happens if you don’t give Virgil serum?
If you don’t give Virgil the serum, he remains a Super Mutant in his cave. He will not become human and will not be recruitable as a settler.
5. What happens to Virgil if you join the institute?
Even if you become the director of the Institute, there is no dialogue option to have the cured Virgil return to the Institute. He will remain in his cave or at a settlement if recruited.
6. What happens if you bring X6-88 to Virgil?
Bringing X6-88 to Virgil has no effect on their interaction, even though X6-88 ordered Kellogg to kill Virgil.
7. Does Virgil ever become human?
Yes, Virgil becomes human if you provide him with the serum acquired from the Institute. After approximately three in-game days, he will revert to his human form.
8. Should you give the serum to Virgil?
Giving the serum to Virgil is the most beneficial option. It allows you to complete his questline peacefully, potentially recruit him as a settler, and prevents him from becoming hostile.
9. Does Virgil get cured Fallout 4?
Yes, Virgil gets cured if you give him the serum. He transforms back into a human after a few in-game days.
10. Can Virgil become a settler?
Yes, you can recruit Virgil as a settler after curing him, provided you have the Vault-Tec Workshop DLC.
11. Can you recruit Virgil after destroying the Institute?
No, you cannot recruit Virgil as a settler after destroying the Institute because he becomes hostile and cannot be cured.
12. What happens to Virgil if you become enemies with the Institute?
If you become enemies with the Institute before curing Virgil, he will likely become hostile towards you.
13. What are the benefits of curing Virgil?
The benefits of curing Virgil include completing his questline peacefully, gaining access to his lab resources, and potentially recruiting him as a settler.
14. How long does it take for Virgil to transform after giving him the serum?
It takes approximately three in-game days for Virgil to transform back into a human after giving him the serum.
15. Does Virgil provide any unique benefits as a settler?
Virgil does not offer unique benefits as a settler compared to other settlers. However, recruiting him provides a satisfying conclusion to his story arc and adds a unique character to your settlements.
Conclusion: Making the Right Choice for Virgil
Whether you choose to cure Virgil, leave him as a Super Mutant, or face him as an enemy, your decisions have lasting consequences in the world of Fallout 4. Understanding the factors that influence his behavior and questline ensures that you can make informed choices that align with your gameplay style and moral compass. Saving Virgil can be both a rewarding and strategic decision, contributing to a more complete and satisfying Fallout 4 experience. Remember to explore the vast resources available on sites like Games Learning Society, found at GamesLearningSociety.org, to enhance your understanding of game mechanics and narrative choices.