Fusion core (Fallout 4)

The fusion core is a type of ammunition in Fallout 4.

Characteristics
Fusion cores are used to power and activate suits of power armor. Each core provides roughly twenty minutes real time (or approximately 10 hours game time) of power armor use when jogging (default pace). Actions based on Action Points (AP) usage, such as holding breath when using scoped weapons, sprinting, utilizing V.A.T.S., or Jetpack modules causes the power to drain much faster, whereas walking consumes less power and remaining stationary drains none. Fusion cores have a total charge of 100.

Fusion core lifespan can be extended by 10% by collecting the Repair bobblehead, and by up to 100% by investing points in the Nuclear Physicist perk.

The Gatling laser utilizes fusion cores as its ammunition, each core providing 500 shots. Nuclear Physicist can increase the number of shots per core up to 1000, but the magazine capacity will remain at 500. Also combining with Repair bobblehead, the total amount of shots can be raised to 1100.

Fusion cores can also be ejected from power armor suits if one has the highest level Nuclear Physicist perk and no other explosive devices are currently equipped. Ejected cores land a short distance behind the user where they act as a sort of timed mine with a destructive force similar to that of a Fat Man's projectile. Note that contrary to the perk description, the cores cannot be actually thrown like regular grenades.

In addition to fixed locations below, fusion cores may also spawn in groups of four in certain ammo boxes across the Commonwealth. Cores can also be spawned in other container types by means of an eyebot pod, but only one at a time.

Locations

 * Sentry bots carry 2 or more fully charged fusion cores that can be recovered after the robot has been destroyed.
 * It is possible to pickpocket fusion cores from characters equipped with a power armor such as Brotherhood of Steel members and Atom Cats.

Behind the scenes

 * The fusion core is most likely powered by nuclear fusion. This possibility is strengthened by the fact that the Fallout universes machines are almost exclusively powered by either solar or nuclear energy.
 * In previous installments in the Fallout universe, power armor is said to be powered by a TX-28 microfusion pack that can power the suit for over a century. It is never explained why a brand-new pack can be exhausted within 24 hours.

Bugs

 * Sometimes, putting a fusion core into the armor may send both the fusion core or armor straight down, through the floor. Reloading a previous save is the only known fix.
 * Completely draining a fusion core while in power armor and having a weapon not be fully loaded at the time may cause the game to show that the player character has no ammo for the said weapon. Solution: Unequip and re-equip the weapon.
 * Having multiple fusion cores at the same level the power armor had when the Sole Survivor stepped into it may result in them all draining with the one in the power armor.

Gallery
Rdzeń fuzyjny Ядерный блок Ядерний блок