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If you take synth Shaun with you during The Nuclear Option, he goes to the headquarters of the faction that destroys the Institute. With the Minutemen he is at the Castle, and with the Brotherhood of Steel he is aboard the Prydwen. If you leave him behind, he stays in the Institute and dies in the nuclear explosion, except on the Railroad route, where Tinker Tom says he will teleport Shaun out and arrange his care.
Which Shaun this covers
This article is about the child synth Shaun, designation S9-23, who was created by the original Shaun (Father). It is not about the original Shaun. The choice of whether to take him or leave him happens during The Nuclear Option, the faction quest in which you destroy the Institute.
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Where he goes if you take him
The faction you side with determines his destination. The table below reflects the locations given in current quest reference documentation for Fallout 4.
| Faction that completes The Nuclear Option | If you take Shaun | If you leave Shaun behind |
|---|---|---|
| Minutemen | Castle | He dies in the Institute explosion |
| Brotherhood of Steel | Prydwen | He dies in the Institute explosion |
| Railroad | Railroad headquarters is listed as an optional location for him; the reference documentation does not give a further detail for this outcome | Tinker Tom says he will teleport Shaun out and arrange his care; he does not appear again in the game after that dialogue |
What happens if you leave him behind
Leaving Shaun behind removes him from the rest of the game in every route. The outcome differs by faction only in how he exits the story.
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Minutemen and Brotherhood of Steel routes
Shaun stays in the Institute when it is destroyed and dies in the explosion. You will not see him again, and you will not get any of his later interactions.
Railroad route
Tinker Tom offers to take Shaun out of the Institute before the blast. The dialogue says he will teleport Shaun to safety and arrange his care. The game does not show Shaun again after that conversation, so the player never learns where he ends up.
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- Freedom and Liberty Do whatever you want in a massive open world with hundreds of locations, characters, and quests. Join multiple factions vying for power or go it alone, the choices are all yours
- Be whoever you want with the special character system. From a power Armored soldier to the charismatic smooth talker, you can choose from hundreds of perks and develop your own playstyle
- New next generation graphics and lighting engine brings to life the world of fallout. From the blasted forests of the common wealth to the ruins of Boston, every location is packed with dynamic detail
- Intense first or third person combat can also be slowed down with the new dynamic Vault Tec Assisted Targeting System (V.A.T.S) that lets you choose your attacks and enjoy cinematic carnage
What taking him changes later
If Shaun comes with you, he remains available for item-gathering and crafting interactions after the Institute is gone. These include the Wazer Wifle. Those interactions are the only later payoff tied to his survival, so the choice matters for players who want them and matters little otherwise.
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- An all-new next generation graphics and lighting engine brings to life the world of Fallout like never before. From the blasted forests of the Commonwealth to the ruins of Boston, every location is packed with dynamic detail.
- Intense first or third person combat can also be slowed down with the new dynamic Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System (V.A.T.S) that lets you choose your attacks and enjoy cinematic carnage.
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