How long does power armor last?

Power armor in Fallout 4 is powered by Fusion Cores, which provide roughly 20 minutes of real-time or approximately 10 hours of game time when jogging at the default pace. The duration of power armor use can vary depending on activities such as sprinting, jetpacking, and holding breath while sniping, as these actions cause a significant drain on fusion cores.

Understanding Power Armor Durability

To maximize the use of power armor, it’s essential to understand what affects its durability and how to manage Fusion Core consumption.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

1. What happens when a Fusion Core runs out? It is immediately swapped with a new one if you have a spare Fusion Core in your inventory. If you don’t, then you walk instead of running, can’t sprint, and can’t use VATS.
2. Can you recharge fusion cores in Fallout 4? No, but you can sell them for other cores or find new ones.
3. Can you farm fusion cores in Fallout 4? Yes, Nuka-World is a great spot, especially the Nuka-World junkyard, which has the most fusion cores in the game.
4. Can you pickpocket fusion cores in Fallout 4? With the Pickpocket perk, players can steal fusion cores from NPCs who wear them.

Power Armor Management

5. Should you sprint in power armor? No, sprinting will cause the Fusion Core to deplete faster, and it’s not necessary unless you need to get around quickly.
6. Do companions drain fusion cores? No, companions don’t need Fusion Cores to use power armor, but their armor can degrade quickly due to damage.
7. Is power armor watertight? Yes, power armor is watertight.

Fusion Core Information

8. Do Fusion Cores Respawn? Yes, Fusion Cores found in boxes will respawn with the cell, but those in generators do not.
9. Why do Fusion Cores drain so fast? Actions like jetpacking, running, and holding breath while sniping can cause a large drain on fusion cores.
10. Can you craft fusion cores in Fallout? Yes, Fusion Cores may be crafted at chemistry stations, and crafted Gatling lasers will also produce one Fusion Core.

Additional Tips

11. Where is the best place to buy fusion cores in Fallout 4? Trades that sell Power Armor parts will likely have some fusion cores in stock, such as the Brotherhood of Steel and Atomic Cats shopkeepers.
12. Are there any fusion cores in Sanctuary? Yes, you can find a Fusion Core close to Sanctuary east of the town in the basement of the USAF Satellite Station Olivia.
13. Do settlers drain fusion cores in Fallout 4? No, settlers do not drain Fusion Cores, but they may wear and leave power armor in unexpected places.

Technical Questions

14. Is fusion energy endless? In theory, nuclear fusion could provide virtually limitless clean, safe, and affordable energy if replicated on Earth at an industrial scale.
15. Can fusion cause a black hole? No, nuclear fusion reactors cannot generate black holes, and even if micro-black holes were possible, they wouldn’t cause damage to Earth.