Conquering the Commonwealth: Unlocking the Hardest Achievement in Fallout 4

The Commonwealth wasteland is a treacherous landscape teeming with mutated creatures, ruthless raiders, and moral dilemmas. Amidst this chaos, Fallout 4 offers a plethora of achievements and trophies for players to conquer. However, one stands out as the most notoriously challenging: Benevolent Leader.

The Benevolent Leader achievement requires the player to reach maximum happiness (100%) in a large settlement. While seemingly straightforward, the intricate and often unpredictable settlement mechanics make this a true test of patience, resource management, and strategic planning. Many players give up out of frustration while trying to reach this achievement. It’s not the most difficult thing to do in the game, but because of the finickiness, it is the most difficult achievement.

Why is Benevolent Leader so Difficult?

The difficulty of Benevolent Leader stems from a few key factors:

• Unpredictable Happiness: Settlement happiness is a complex calculation influenced by numerous factors, including food, water, defense, beds, jobs, and the presence of shops. Even when all needs appear to be met, happiness can fluctuate without clear explanation. This alone is the main factor in making the achievement so annoying for players.
• Settler Preferences: Settlers have individual needs and preferences. Some may be unhappy with assigned jobs or living conditions, negatively impacting overall settlement happiness. Keeping track of everyone and their potential issues requires constant monitoring and adjustment.
• Settlement Size: Achieving 100% happiness becomes significantly harder in larger settlements. The more settlers you have, the more challenging it is to meet everyone’s individual needs and maintain a high level of overall satisfaction.
• Raid Attacks: Frequent raid attacks can drastically lower settlement happiness. Even with adequate defenses, raids can still occur, requiring immediate attention and resource expenditure to repair damage and restore morale.
• Lack of Clear Feedback: The game provides limited feedback on the specific reasons behind happiness fluctuations. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to identify and address the underlying issues affecting settler morale.

Strategies for Achieving Benevolent Leader

Despite the challenges, achieving Benevolent Leader is possible with careful planning and execution. Here are some effective strategies:

1. Choose a Small Settlement: Start with a smaller settlement like Sanctuary Hills or Red Rocket Truck Stop. The fewer settlers you have to manage, the easier it will be to reach 100% happiness.
2. Limit Settler Population: Aim for a settlement population between 10 and 12 settlers. Use a radio beacon to attract new settlers gradually and avoid overwhelming your resources.
3. Meet Basic Needs: Ensure your settlement has ample food, water, and beds for every settler. A good rule of thumb is to produce more than what is required.
4. Prioritize Defense: Build a strong defense system to protect your settlement from raid attacks. A defense rating of at least twice the combined food and water production is recommended.
5. Assign Jobs Carefully: Assign settlers to jobs they enjoy, such as farming, scavenging, or manning defense posts. Varying the jobs will allow you to cater to different preferences.
6. Build Shops and Clinics: Shops and clinics provide settlers with jobs, resources, and a sense of community. Prioritize building a variety of shops to cater to different tastes.
7. Maximize Space: Make sure the settlers are not all grouped together in the same place.
8. Monitor Happiness Regularly: Keep a close eye on settlement happiness and address any issues promptly. Talk to settlers to identify their concerns and make necessary adjustments.
9. Utilize Companion Perks: Certain companions, like Cait, have perks that can boost settlement happiness. Recruit these companions and take them with you on quests to unlock their benefits.
10. Be Patient and Persistent: Achieving Benevolent Leader requires patience and persistence. Don’t get discouraged by setbacks and continue to fine-tune your settlement until you reach 100% happiness.

Other Difficult Aspects of Fallout 4

While the Benevolent Leader achievement stands out as the most challenging, other aspects of Fallout 4 can also prove difficult:

• Survival Mode: Fallout 4’s Survival Mode introduces new challenges such as hunger, thirst, fatigue, and disease. Overcoming these obstacles requires careful planning, resource management, and strategic decision-making.
• Open Season Quest: Initiated by Preston Garvey or through exploration in Nuka-World, the Open Season quest tasks the player with eliminating all raider gangs in Nuka-World. This quest demands significant firepower, strategic planning, and a willingness to confront overwhelming odds.
• Certain Locations: Certain locations in Fallout 4 are notorious for their high concentration of dangerous enemies. Dunwich Borers, Quincy Ruins, and Gunners Plaza are just a few examples of areas that require caution and preparation.
• Mythic Deathclaws: Mythic Deathclaws are among the most formidable creatures in Fallout 4. Encountering one of these beasts can be a daunting challenge, requiring powerful weapons, strategic maneuvering, and a bit of luck.

Fallout 4: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the easiest achievement in Fallout 4?

The Masshole achievement is widely considered the easiest in Fallout 4. It simply requires killing 300 people, which is a natural byproduct of completing most quests and exploring the Commonwealth.

2. Is there a Fallout 4 achievement for playing on a specific difficulty?

No, Fallout 4 does not have any difficulty-related achievements. You can change the difficulty setting at any time without affecting your ability to unlock achievements.

3. What is the hardest Fallout game overall?

Many players consider Fallout 2 to be the most challenging entry in the series. Its unforgiving gameplay mechanics, complex quests, and high level of difficulty make it a true test of skill and strategy.

4. How long does it take to achieve 100% completion in Fallout 4?

Achieving 100% completion in Fallout 4 typically takes around 213 hours, according to player averages. This includes completing all main quests, side quests, exploration, and achievement hunting.

5. What is the best skill (perk) to invest in early in Fallout 4?

The Rifleman perk is an excellent early-game investment. Rifles are common, versatile, and effective against a wide range of enemies, making Rifleman a valuable asset in the early stages of the game.

6. What is the weakest weapon in Fallout 4?

The Flare Gun is generally considered the weakest weapon in Fallout 4. Its primary function is to signal for help, but its limited combat capabilities make it virtually useless in most situations.

7. What is the rarest enemy encounter in Fallout 4?

Dusky Yao Guai are one of the rarest and most powerful enemy encounters in Fallout 4. These formidable creatures are a serious threat to even well-equipped players.

8. Who is the most evil character in Fallout 4?

Shaun (Father), the leader of the Institute, is arguably the most evil character in Fallout 4. His cold and calculating demeanor, combined with his ruthless pursuit of scientific progress, make him a truly despicable antagonist.

9. What is the scariest quest in Fallout 4?

Pickman’s Gift is widely regarded as the scariest quest in Fallout 4. The quest revolves around a serial killer named Pickman, who has a disturbing fascination with the player character.

10. Which vault in Fallout is considered the cruelest?

Vault 11 stands out as one of the cruelest experiments conducted by Vault-Tec. The vault’s inhabitants were forced to select one of their own for annual sacrifice, creating a culture of fear and paranoia.

11. What is the scariest location in Fallout 4?

Dunwich Borers is often cited as the scariest location in Fallout 4. This abandoned quarry is steeped in mystery and features unsettling references to the works of H.P. Lovecraft.

12. Does Dogmeat affect the Lone Wanderer perk in Fallout 4?

No, having Dogmeat as a companion does not negate the benefits of the Lone Wanderer perk. This allows you to enjoy the benefits of both a companion and the perk’s stat boosts.

13. Is there a level cap in Fallout 4?

Technically, there is no official level cap in Fallout 4. However, reaching level 65,535 can cause the game to crash. Realistically, there is no point in leveling past level 300.

14. How do you acquire the maximum amount of caps in Fallout 4?

Building and selling purified water at settlements is a reliable way to earn caps quickly. Additionally, investing in the Cap Collector and Fortune Finder perks can significantly boost your earning potential.

15. Is it possible to change the game settings to make the Benevolent Leader achievement easier?

Yes, you can adjust the difficulty settings without impacting the achievement progress. However, remember that the difficulty of the enemies is not really a factor in the achievement so changing the difficulty won’t really make a difference. The main difficulty of Benevolent Leader comes from the finickiness of the settlement mechanics, which is the same no matter the difficulty.

Further Learning

For more in-depth information about gaming and learning, explore the resources available at the Games Learning Society website, GamesLearningSociety.org. The Games Learning Society explores how games are used in education and beyond!

Mastering the Benevolent Leader achievement in Fallout 4 is a testament to your strategic thinking, resource management, and unwavering patience. While challenging, the sense of accomplishment upon reaching 100% happiness in your settlement is truly rewarding.