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Start Fallout 76 by leaving Vault 76 and speaking with Lacey and Isela to begin “Wayward Souls.” From there, follow the original main story while using the quest log to keep your next objective clear. The original questline remains available alongside the later Wastelanders and Brotherhood of Steel stories, so there is no single required, uninterrupted route through every quest. The key pause comes during Wastelanders: you can work with both the Settlers and Raiders for a time, but a later choice creates a point of no return.
Where to begin after leaving Vault 76
Once outside Vault 76, meet Lacey and Isela to start “Wayward Souls.” Bethesda describes this introduction as a way to learn core mechanics, including setting up your first C.A.M.P., before you follow the larger story of Appalachia and its surviving people. You can use this early stretch to get comfortable with exploration, crafting and quest objectives rather than rushing toward later content.
The original main quest remains playable after the Wastelanders update. Wastelanders adds its own main story and faction choices; it does not replace the original questline. The Brotherhood of Steel story is another thread, with Steel Reign continuing the events of Steel Dawn.
What order should you do the main quests in?
There is no established universal sequence that you must follow across the original story, Wastelanders and the Brotherhood of Steel content. A practical approach is to follow the story objective currently taking you through Appalachia, then switch to another thread when you want a change of pace or meet its unlock requirements. The quest log—not an assumed master sequence—is the best guide to what is available to you now.
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- Begin with “Wayward Souls.” Follow the introduction outside Vault 76 and use it to learn the basic systems.
- Keep one story objective in view. Before fast traveling, read the objective’s action verb and destination. This helps distinguish the actual next step from a marker or optional activity.
- Take purposeful detours. If the objective reveals that you need a resource, better equipment or a crafting plan, do a nearby task that addresses that need, then return to the same story thread.
- Check the quest log after major interactions. After dialogue, using a terminal or turning in a quest, confirm the next objective and look for newly added quests.
These are routing suggestions, not official rules that restrict which quests you may do. If a quest feels too difficult, Bethesda recommends exploring the Forest and returning after you have gained a few levels. Its newcomer’s guide also points to an early Responders quest leading to Morgantown Airport, where you can find the Small Backpack Plan and craft the backpack at an Armor Workbench.
When to start the Wastelanders faction story
The full Wastelanders main quest opens in Sutton at level 20, according to Bethesda’s Wastelanders quest and NPC overview. It introduces the Settlers and Raiders. You can do quests for both factions during part of the lead-up, so meeting or helping one side early does not by itself mean you have made the final commitment.
Pause when the game presents the later point of no return. Before choosing, read the current quest prompt and decide which faction’s story you want to pursue. The official overview establishes that the choice becomes binding at that point, but it does not provide a complete current comparison of faction rewards. Do not assume every decision is reversible; use the live quest text to understand what the specific choice will lock in.
How the Brotherhood of Steel quests fit
Steel Reign continues the Brotherhood of Steel story begun in Steel Dawn and concludes that storyline. Bethesda’s Steel Reign announcement lists level 20 or higher and completion of “The Best Defense” as its unlock requirements. It then directs the player to Russell Dorsey at Fort Atlas for “A Knight’s Penance.” Those are the published requirements from the 2021 announcement; check your in-game quest screen in case later updates have changed what is required.
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Prepare for longer or combat-heavy quests
Before setting out on a longer operation, make sure your primary weapon and a backup are repaired, leave room for quest rewards, and bring healing items and ammunition. Let the quest’s actual enemies and objectives guide your preparation: there is no established universal level, ammunition count or build requirement for the main quests covered here. If you hit a difficulty wall, step away for useful exploration or preparation, then return to the same objective rather than restarting your route from scratch.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Sources and scope
Bethesda’s beginner and quest-structure pages document the opening, faction story and Brotherhood requirements, while a current walkthrough and routing guide supports the objective-first navigation advice. The Steel Reign unlock details above are specifically the requirements Bethesda published in 2021, not a guarantee that a later patch has left them unchanged. These sources do not establish a complete quest-by-quest order for every current update or a full, current Settlers-versus-Raiders reward comparison.
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- ATOM PACK — Add 500 Atoms to your Fallout 76 balance.
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- CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION — Spend Atoms on a variety of customization items for your character.
- ATOMIC SHOP — Visit the in-game Atomic Shop to see what is available.
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