Mastering the Synth Relay Grenade in Fallout 4: A Comprehensive Guide
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The Synth Relay Grenade in Fallout 4 is a fantastic tactical tool, allowing you to call in a Gen 1 synth to aid you in combat. So, how do you get your hands on more of these handy devices? There are two primary methods:
- Purchasing from the Synth Requisition Officer: After completing the main quest and siding with the Institute, you can purchase up to 30 Synth Relay Grenades at a time from the Synth Requisition Officer located within the Institute. This is the most reliable method for acquiring a steady supply.
- Finding them in the Institute: Keep your eyes peeled while exploring the Institute Advanced Systems area. You can find eight grenades lying on a table in the small weapons testing area.
Now, let’s delve deeper into the nuances of using Synth Relay Grenades and related aspects of the Institute’s technology with some frequently asked questions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Synth Technology
Q1: What exactly does a Synth Relay Grenade do?
A: Throwing a Synth Relay Grenade spawns a level 5 Generation 1 synth at the point of impact. This synth will act as reinforcement, fighting alongside you against your enemies. While Gen 1 synths aren’t the toughest, they can provide valuable distraction and additional firepower, particularly in the early to mid-game.
Q2: Are Synth Relay Grenades worth the cost?
A: That depends on your playstyle and current resources. Early on, these grenades can be lifesavers, especially in challenging encounters. Later, once you’re swimming in caps and have access to more powerful weaponry and companions, they become less essential. However, they’re still fun to use and can add a unique tactical element to your battles. Remember, the Games Learning Society often analyzes game mechanics, so you can compare the effectiveness of different strategies.
Q3: Where exactly is the Synth Requisition Officer?
A: The Synth Requisition Officer is located within the Institute’s Advanced Systems division. After taking the elevator down to the main Institute area, navigate towards the Advanced Systems section. You’ll find the officer stationed there, ready to supply you with Institute tech, including Synth Relay Grenades.
Q4: Can I get Synth Relay Grenades if I destroy the Institute?
A: Sadly, no. The ability to purchase Synth Relay Grenades is tied directly to your allegiance with the Institute. Once you destroy the Institute, the Synth Requisition Officer is no longer accessible, and you won’t be able to acquire more grenades through this method. Any you have will be your last.
Q5: Are there any other ways to summon Synths for assistance?
A: Aside from Synth Relay Grenades, the main other method involves using the Institute beacon. However, these beacons are only available during the Airship Down quest and are removed from your inventory afterward. They are intended to summon synths to aid you in the Boston Airport area during that specific mission.
Q6: Does Synth retention make the Railroad hostile towards me?
A: Not necessarily. As long as you don’t side with the Institute during the Bunker Hill quest (specifically, by letting the courser take the synths there), you should remain on good terms with the Railroad. Completing Synth Retention itself doesn’t automatically make you an enemy of the Railroad, but siding with the Institute in Bunker Hill will sever that relationship.
Q7: What about Acadia? What happens if I tell the Institute about the Synth Refuge?
A: If you choose to inform the Institute about the existence of Acadia, the synth refuge on Far Harbor, they will dispatch a team to subdue and capture the escaped synths. This action will have significant consequences for your relationship with the residents of Acadia and the overall story of the Far Harbor DLC.
Q8: I keep hearing about X6-88. What happens to him if I destroy the Institute?
A: Surprisingly, even after destroying the Institute during the Nuclear Option, X6-88 will not become hostile. He will even accompany you through the teleporter. It is important to note that he will disappear once you start the quest in many playthroughs.
Q9: Speaking of Synths, how can I tell if a settler in my settlement is a Synth?
A: Identifying a synth settler is tricky. There’s a 50/50 chance that an accused settler is actually a synth. The only definitive ways to confirm your suspicions are to:
- Interrogate them: Attempt a difficult dialogue check. Success doesn’t guarantee they aren’t a Synth, but failure often confirms it.
- Kill them: After killing the accused settler, check their corpse for a Synth component. If they have one, they were indeed a synth.
Be warned: Accusing and killing innocent settlers will negatively impact your settlement’s happiness and potentially turn other settlers hostile.
Q10: Sturges seems… different. Does he know he’s a synth?
A: It’s unlikely Sturges knows he’s a synth, just like Danse. As a Gen 3 synth, he’s indistinguishable from a normal human. The only way to know for sure would be through killing him or accessing the Institute’s records. Even if he did know, it doesn’t mean he’d automatically side with the Institute.
Q11: What’s the deal with Recruitment Beacons? How do I get more settlers?
A: Recruitment Beacons are a great way to attract settlers to your settlements.
- Build a beacon: You’ll find the beacon under Power > Miscellaneous in the workshop menu.
- Provide power: Connect the beacon to a generator using a wire.
- Turn it on: Activate the beacon.
The beacon will broadcast a signal, attracting settlers over time until your settlement reaches its maximum population (10 + your Charisma stat). Remember, a happy settlement is more likely to attract new settlers, so ensure your settlers are well-fed, hydrated, defended, and have access to amenities like shops and entertainment. More information on how game design and game mechanics are related can be found at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Q12: Salvage Beacons sound useful. How do they work?
A: Salvage Beacons allow you to remotely transfer loot to your settlements.
- Build a Communications Station: Place one in your settlement (found under Resources > Miscellaneous).
- Assign a settler: Assign a settler to the Communications Station.
- Craft Salvage Beacons: Create them at a Chemistry Station under Utility.
- Place the beacon and loot: Place a Salvage Beacon in a container in the world, along with the loot you want to move. The assigned settler will then collect the loot and bring it back to the settlement.
Q13: Do locations ever respawn their loot?
A: Yes, loot does respawn in Fallout 4, although the respawn time varies depending on the location. Some locations, like the Thicket Excavation, respawn very quickly (as little as 2 in-game days). Others may take longer. This allows you to revisit areas and gather more resources over time.
Q14: For the Signal Interceptor quest, who should I ask for help?
A: For the Signal Interceptor quest, you need help from a faction. You can ask:
- Paladin Danse from the Brotherhood of Steel.
- Preston Garvey from the Minutemen.
- Desdemona from the Railroad.
The choice depends on which faction you want to align yourself with.
Q15: Should I give the Holotape back to Sturges?
A: Giving the holotape to Sturges doesn’t impact the Minutemen quests. You can retrieve the tape from him and pursue the Railroad or Brotherhood of Steel endings without hindering your Minutemen progress.