Fallout 76 Random Encounters

While traveling throughout Appalachia, the player character may experience random encounters.

Brotherhood Caravan
Associated with the note Brotherhood requisition order.

Crashed Vertibird
A crashed vertibird, with a variety of junk, healables and weapons.

Crashed Vertibird with Feral Ghoul Crew
A crashed vertibird, with a variety weapons, junk and aid items, surrounded by feral ghouls.

Dead and Dismembered
Find Ford, holding a holotape, with a duffel bag nearby.

Dead Miner
Find a dead Hornwright miner. He has a safe key on him.

Deathclaw vs Merchant Caravan
A Deathclaw that is walking around a Deathclaw nest with a dead pack brahmin and dead merchants.

Destroyed Survivor Camp
The player character will come across a tent with two turrets and a dead survivor. After a while, a yao guai will start to attack the camp. There is no notable loot.

Free States Loner
Kora's deceased body, with the note The government's plan on it. Close by, a duffle bag with Kora's journal entry, a weapon and ammo.

Fujiniya Intelligence Base scientist corpse
Find a PRC scientist, holding the We have failed holotape.

The player character will come across a skeleton in a lab coat with a 10mm pistol and a doctor's bag lying near it. Searching the bag produces a security ID card for the Fujiniya Intelligence Base, and a holotape, revealing the skeleton to be the remains of a scientist from that facility and working for the People's Republic of China. The holotape reveals the scientist's final moments regarding being sent out to integrate with the survivors of the Great War after losing contact with their superiors in the People's Liberation Army and Communist Party of China. Satisfied that the United States of America met the same fate with being nuked, and apologizing to his comrades, the scientist declares his undying loyalty to the PRC and Communism before committing suicide.

Fresh Grave
The player character will come across a fresh grave with a headstone guarded by feral ghouls. The grave will contain random junk or apparel items.

Location Revealed

 * Pumpkin House - Location is revealed after finding the holotape Appalachia landmarks - Pumpkin House on a trick-or-treater.
 * The Rusty Pick - Location is revealed after finding the note Honky tonk flyer on a Greaser corpse.
 * Prickett's Fort - Location is revealed after finding the holotape Appalachia landmarks - Prickett's Fort on a Civil War reenactor.
 * Philippi Battlefield Cemetery - Location is revealed after finding the holotape Appalachia landmarks - Philippi's Cemetery Battlefield on a Civil War reenactor.
 * Hawke's Refuge - Location is revealed after finding the Note from Brianna Hawke and Plan: Skiing outfit on a raider corpse.

Lone Traveler
A dead lone traveler with a random rifle and a duffle bag with food/water aid items, in addition to a weapon and binoculars.

Merchant Killed by Ghouls
A deceased Responder volunteer can possibly be found next to a dead brahmin, tent and/or duffle bag. The note Volunteers needed! may be on their body or in the duffle bag. A group of nearby feral ghouls are responsible for the carnage.

Merchant Killed by Scorched
The corpse of a Responder volunteer can be found near a group of Scorched, responsible for the volunteer's death. The note Volunteers needed! will be on the volunteer's body. A dead brahmin and/or first aid box will be nearby, as well.

Mistress of Mystery Corpse
Finding the remains of a young woman begins the quest Into the Mystery if not already started.

Raider Power Armor Trap
A full set of raider Power armor. When entering it, a raider voice messes with one, saying that the armor is rigged to explode. But instead the raider dies, allows for the power armor to be taken.

Satellite Crash
A couple of Protectrons patrol the site of a crashed satellite, which contains robotic junk items such as copper tubes and military-grade circuit boards.

Scorchbeast Leavings
This object encounter involves finding several scorchbeast guano piles surrounded by bloatflies. Two skeletons are buried in the ground nearby.

Sniper Game
Involves finding the note READ CAREFULLY. The note itself will be laying on a small table. Behind it there will be a blackboard with the words "read note!" written on it. The note will ask one to put an item worth at least 20 caps into the box. If one ignores the instructions on the note, a Blood Eagle will spawn with a dog and attack the player character. Even if one places the required item, they may still be attacked.

Suitcase Mystery
A suitcase is alone with only a skeleton near by. The suitcase has one of six unnamed notes inside that can lead the player character to loot at a random location.

Survivor Camp vs Supermutants
One encounters a dead civilian near a tent, surrounded by a couple of super mutants. The corpse of the civilian carries the Volunteers needed! note and several food items.

Undetonated Ordnance
The player character may come across an undetonated bomb sitting in a pile of debris. Interacting with the bomb will give them the option of cutting a red wire, blue wire, or green wire to defuse it. Cutting the wrong wire will cause the bomb to subsequently begin beeping and explode, similar to an exploding vehicle in size. Cutting the right wire will defuse the bomb and allow the player character to collect scrap from the device. If the bomb is successfully defused it will beep only once. The bomb can then be looted of crystal shards, fiber optics bundles, nuclear waste, copper, and steel scrap. The appropriate wire to cut changes for each encounter.

Unusual Pipe
A pipe labeled "unusual pipe" spewing gas with a corpse carrying the Pipe... note nearby. Inhaling the gas grants the "Unusual Pipe" effect, causing mild hallucinogenic visuals for 25 seconds and regenerating Hit Points for 30 seconds at a rate of four per second.

Wendigo Versus Dead Caravan
1-3 wendigos patrol the perimeter of dead merchants and pack brahmin, in addition to minor loot.

Wrecked Tank with Robots
The abandoned wreck of a tank. There are the skeletons of two soldiers by it and three ammo boxes. It is guarded by two Mister Gutsies and an assaultron. They are hostile at first glance due to their red health bars, but they won't attack player characters immediately. They will warn the player characters to move on and not linger around the tank. If the player characters obey and move away, the robots will hold their fire, but if the player characters attack or linger too long, they will open fire, forcing player characters to kill them if they want to collect the loot in the ammo boxes.

Autominers Digging
Three auto-miner Protectrons dig into the ground with their drill hands, ignoring the player character and focusing on mineral extraction.

Brahmin Wrangler
Involves meeting with a Mister Handy, Mr Herder, and three brahmin: Mindy, Mertle and Matilda. Grants 50 XP. Sometimes, Mr Herder and his Brahmin will be ambushed by a Sheepsquatch, forcing the player character to try and protect the Brahmin from the Sheepsquatch at the request of Mr Herder.

Conflicted Robot
This encounter is exclusive to the Ash Heap. It involves meeting the roaming Beckley Protectron, a modified construction Protectron. It shouts slogans relating to anti-automation causes, ironic given its nature as a robot.

Crashed Plane
Location found by listening to holotape Scope out the crash, held by a Scorched believer.

Critter Tracking
Encounter with Miss Nanny Rachel. She will ask the player character if they have a recon scope on a given firearm. Equipping the recon scoped weapon will enable the encounter to continue. Rachel will then ask the player character to "mark" one type of randomized critters (such as chickens or opossums) with the recon scope's aiming feature. Once all the critters have been marked, Rachel will thank the player character and reward them with a random weapon mod.

Dead Cultists
Associated with the notes Cultist's invitation and Cultist's reply.

Dead Brahmin Herd
Five dead brahmin within proximity, with the associated items on death.

Dead Responder
The player character will come across the corpse of a dead Responder, possibly beside a duffle bag containing materials. The Responder's assignment note will be either on their person or in the duffle bag.

Disabled Protectron
Associated with the Responder Protectron config tape. Grants 250 XP.

Escaped Inmate
The corpse of a man wearing a straight jacket. His corpse contains crazed ramblings, a radbear, and a table spoon.

Follow the Trail
A non-hostile observant radstag will appear. Following them leads one to buried treasure inside a hollow stump.

Free Samples - General's Steak House
One meets the General's Steak House Protectron, advertising for The General's Steakhouse.

Free Samples - Wavy Willards
One meets the Wavy Willard bot randomly in Appalachia, advertising for the Wavy Willard's Water Park.

Mama's Rage
Involves a baby mega sloth.

Mannequin Friends
The player character will come across four mannequins with flower vases underneath them and a green chest containing various items. One of five paper notes (randomly selected between All gone, Memorials, Not sorry, Remember them and Survive) will be in the chest.

Military Recruitment
A Recruiter Gutsy offers to join the United States Armed Forces and go to Camp McClintock.

Morse Code Eyebot
A Responder eyebot is seen hovering along transmitting a message in Morse code. It repeats the same two messages back to back as it continues onward, sometimes doubling back on its path back and forth. Sometimes, a non-hostile scorchbeast will be flying overhead.

Note to Dungeon
Find five corpses with the scavenger's note on them.

Paranoid robot about to explode
A Mister Handy cries piteously for help. If it is interacted with, it will explain that it is on the verge of a malfunction that could cause it to explode. The Mister Handy pleads with the player character to repair it, and collapses into a heap on the ground. Fixing the robot requires two pieces of steel, one piece of copper and one military-grade circuit board; the reward is a weapon mod.

Prizewinner - Mr. Handy delivers a player a prize
The player character will occasionally be approached by a Mister Handy called Mr Prize-bot, that claims the player character has won a prize from the Great Appalachian Sweepstakes, and will give them random items or the G.A.S. prize certificate.

Random Air Drop
A random encounter of a supply drop as if requested from a relay tower. Contains random aid items and a weapon.

Revenge For a Settler
Associated with the note last words. Grants 250 XP

Save the Animals
A Mr. Handy called Mr Veterinarian will be leading two to three stray cats while calling for help. He requests that whoever is in earshot help him get the cats to the Wixon homestead. The Scorched at Wixon homestead are hostile to Mr. Veterinarian and will attempt to kill him on arrival.

Scorchbeast Droppings
The player character may find several bloatflies hovering about Scorchbeast guano piles that contain various items.

Story Time with Miss Nanny
The player character may occasionally find a Miss Nanny in the wilderness that will randomly tell one of six children's stories about Cinderella, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Little Pigs or Hansel and Gretel. Waiting and listening to her entire story will reward random aid items.

Tameable animal
The player character may occasionally find a lone creature wandering the wastes. These non-aggressive animals can be tamed with Animal Friend. Once tamed, they will head to the C.A.M.P. and act as a guard. They take up 10% of the camp budget.
 * List of possible animals

Treasure Hunter
A dead treasure hunter is found carrying a random treasure map, two boiled water and a machete.

Tyler County Fair Traveling Barker
This encounter involves meeting the Mister Handy known as Mr. Barker. He advertises the Tyler County Fairgrounds, which is marked on the player character's map if it has not yet been discovered. Mr. Barker is accompanied by an eyebot that endlessly broadcasts carnival music.

Uncanny Caverns Free Pass Winner
Find Willie with a box of Blamco Brand Mac and Cheese and The Golden Holotape. Reference towards Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory. This encounter can only be found in the Savage Divide region.

Wendigo Returning to Cave
This is encountered by the wendigo cave.

Wise Mothman!
A non-hostile mothman with purple eyes roams the area and is non-essential.

Two Mr. Handies Talking Back and Forth in Endless Loop
Ms. Nanny Mia and Mr. Handy Vlad are encountered by the player character, asking each other random questions and answering with random responses.

Eyebot Evangelist
Involves a wandering eyebot, Preacher Levenson, inviting one to go to Haven Church to repent.

Eyebot Pied Piper
A non-hostile eyebot followed by five non-hostile radrats, playing "The British Grenadiers" on a flute recording.

Free Roaming Gutsy
The Free States Gutsy will give the player character the note The Free States.

Handy Walker
While traveling the roads, the player character will encounter a Mister Handy walking four mongrels. The mongrels will be hostile to the player character. The Mister Handy has no reaction to the mongrels being killed.

Morse Code Eyebot
A Responder eyebot is seen hovering along transmitting a message in Morse code. The message reads "Reconnaissance of designated location recommended. Stand by to receive coordinates. Tactical assessment. Possible situation developing." If followed, it will simply repeat the same message as it continues onward, sometimes doubling back on its path and repeat its patrol until the area is left.

Mothman!
A mothman may either stalk and/or attack the player character. A regular mothman may disappear if approached by the player character, leaving with a flash of light. A stalking mothman may attack and escape shortly after. A vengeful mothman will attack the player character without retreating afterwards, and chase after them if the player character attempts to escape.

Responders Eyebot
A Responders eyebot patrols the area, on forest watch patrol. Interaction results in two outcomes upon being scanned by the eyebot. If the player character is not wearing a Responder outfit, the eyebot will decline access to the forest watch program and further comment. However, if the player character is wearing a Responder outfit, the eyebot will comment on the forest watch program and any possible threats within the area. Usually with the eyebot ending dialogue with no threats found and wishing the player character well.

Scorched Patrol
The player character can come across a group of Scorched roaming the Forest. One of them will be carrying a Responder's note in their inventory.

Sentry Bot Patrol
One encounters a sentry bot patrol.

Super Mutant Patrol
Five super mutants patrol the area, often in single file lines.

Wandering Responder Protectron Merchant


The player character may occasionally find a wandering Vendor bot Responder traveling through a region of the Forest, partied up alongside a pair of eyebots and a pack brahmin. They can potentially sell a variety of outfits and plans that cannot be found anywhere else.

Wendigo By Night
As dusk approaches in-game, the player character may suddenly be attacked by a wendigo.

Bandit Bot
A seemingly innocent Mister Handy will ask the player for help, and then accost the player character, informing them to drop an item of value or the robot will attack. Dropping an item of meager value, such as junk, will pacify the robot. The robot will then inform the player character to leave. Refusing to either drop junk or leave will make the now named Mr. Bandit to turn hostile and attack. Destroying the mister handy will allow the player character to loot the junk given to the robot just beforehand.

Brahmin Quill Attack
A dead brahmin with spoiled meat, three mysterious quills, and brahmin hide that can be looted.

Dead Brahmin
Two dead brahmin corpses surround a sheepsquatch "nest" while a sheepsquatch howl can be heard in proximity to the encounter.

The Insult Bot
The Insult Bot Protectron moves towards the player character, informing the player character to wait, then insulting them in a variety of ways. Upon the verbal insult being delivered, a note appears in the player character's inventory and the Protectron thanks the player character for participating.

Lemonade Stand
A small wooden lemonade stand, marked with blue and yellow balloons. The sign reads "LƎMONADE $50," with a flower drawn around the "o." Mr. Squeeze, a yellow Mister Handy, sits behind the counter selling lemonade. One may also purchase the lemonade recipe, and hard lemonade recipe, among other items.

Raider's Last Laugh
Power armor surrounded by traps and mines. A raider corpse has the Dead raider's note on him.

Sleeping Sheepsquatch
A sheepsquatch sleeping in its nest. When approached, it will leap up and attack the player.

Super Mutant Massacre
Five dead super mutants carrying mysterious quills are accompanied by one alive, and injured, super mutant who is non-hostile, mourning his dead comrades from a sheepsquatch attack.

Raider punk
Spawns the Raider punk.

Settler forager
Spawns the Settler forager.

Settler wanderer
Spawns the Settler wanderer.

Blood Eagle Execution
Two Settlers will be found tied to a refrigerator, surrounded by a group of Blood Eagles. One of the Blood Eagles has a missile launcher, which they will use to blow up the captured Settlers.

Blood Eagle Hostile Camp
This random encounter has several variants, all of which feature hostile Blood Eagles. One variant features the Blood Eagles by themselves, or near deceased settlers or super mutants. There are also two variants featuring deceased Mothman cultists in the Blood Eagle camp, during which the Cultist's final pleas notes and/or the unique fancy glass junk items may be acquired.

Behemoth and Floaters
A scene encounter in which the player encounters a super mutant behemoth being followed by 3 floaters.

Car Fail
This scene encounter would have involved finding a mechanic attempting to repair a car. Claiming that he has been working on the car for over five years, he would declare that it is finally fixed before the car explodes, killing him. This encounter is not enabled in-game.

Cultist Hostile Camp
Involves finding three Cultist's scrawlings.

Cultists with Mothman
Cultists are gathered around an effigy with the Mothman.

Dino and Carla's Wedding Anniversary
Two former Vault dwellers, Dino and Carla, are met at a campsite in the Forest at night celebrating their 50th anniversary. They reminisce on meeting in high school, getting together a few months before the Great War, and their time in their Vault before asking the player character to leave.

Distrustful Raider
A Raider attempts to intimidate the player character, calling them "just another thug lookin' for an easy way out." One can threaten him in return with Charisma 8+ or a Crater reputation check, then a further Strength 12+ or another Crater reputation check. In response, he will back down and offer some random loot as appeasement.

Fake Gold Bars
A shopping cart holding three fake gold bars, found between the corpse of Private Miller and Tom's now-destroyed robot. The robot holds the note meetup, and Miller holds the note requisition form.

Former Bullies
The corpses of two bullies are found. Nearby is a note entitled bully's note.

Friendly Raider
A Raider offers a casual greeting. Replying rudely negatively affects Raider reputation, while telling him the player character mistook him for a settler from Foundation positively affects Raider reputation.

Injured Raider
An injured Raider can be found laying on the ground clutching his side. When approached, he'll say he was caught by surprise and attacked by some Settlers. Talking with the Raider will cause him to ask the player for some spare ammo. If the player chooses to do so, they will be awarded with positive reputation for the Raiders.

Lucy the Cat's Grave
A child can be found a few feet away from a grave with a toy alien that can be picked up. A picture of a cat can also be seen at the tombstone that cannot be picked up. The child will mourn the loss of her cat Lucy, who was killed by a mole rat. Should the player character pick up the toy alien, she will engage them about the theft. One has an option to give it back or keep it. Deciding to keep it will cause her to cry and call the player character a monster. Deciding to give it back, the child will be pleased and give the player character a toy rocketship.

Memento - Take My Picture
The player character meets a scavenger who asks them to take his photograph, so that he has a memento for his daughter. Using a ProSnap Deluxe camera to take the picture, one can then comment on the quality of the photo in conversation with him. The scavenger's request can also be denied, at which he will express disappointment.

The Naturalist
This scene-type random encounter would have involved meeting the Naturalist, a unique character offering insight into some of Appalachia's wildlife. This encounter is not enabled in-game.

Object - Sniper Game
Involves finding the note READ CAREFULLY. The note itself will be laying on a small table. Behind it there will be a blackboard with the words "read note!" written on it. The note will ask one to put an item worth at least 20 caps into the box. If one ignores the instructions on the note, a Blood Eagle will spawn with a dog and attack the player character. Even if one places the required item, they may still be attacked.

Protectron Repair
A scavenger is working on a Protectron. If the Protectron is interacted with a prompt states, "The Protectron seems to be partially running. It is unable to move". If the scavenger is talked to, the Vault Dweller can pass an INT 8+ check letting them work on the robot. The Dweller can either leave, fix the Protectron, or sabotage the Protectron.

Radstag Hunter
The player character will encounter a hunter looking for radstag in the wilderness. After talking to him, a radstag will appear and attack. If the radstag is killed, the hunter will celebrate, and declare his intention to cook it into stew.

Raider Chef
A Raider met at a campsite offers a random recipe to the player character.

Raider Lockpick Request
A Raider scavver trying to pick a lock requests bobby pins from the player character. He can be given one bobby pin or twenty bobby pins, and will hand over a variable amount of random minor loot in return.

Returning Camper
Involves finding four Camper's notes.

Settler Vs. Possums
Involves finding a Settler attacking a pack of possums. If one kills the possums, the Settler will remark that the possums had been bugging them for weeks, and the player character will receive a small amount of Settler reputation.

Settler Vs. Raiders/Raiders Vs. Settlers
Involves finding one of the factions camping out at a location being attacked by the opposing faction. If one of the factions is defeated, survivors from the faction that was aided will award the player character with a small amount of reputation for that faction.

Settlers/Raiders Vs. Creatures
Involves finding members of one of the factions at a random location (such as Slocum's Joe, Braxson's Quality Medical Supplies, or various unmarked locations,) being attacked by various enemies. Enemies may range from ants or feral ghouls to even an assaultron. If successfully aided, any faction members still alive will award the player character with a small amount of reputation for that faction.

Settler with Pack Brahmin
A Settler will be trying to run away from something with his two pack brahmin. Interacting with him causes him to reveal that what he's fleeing from has caught up to him and a battle ensues. After all the enemies are killed, if both pack brahmin were killed upon interacting with the Settler again, he's upset at having lost his livestock and his means of living. Through the right conversation choices, a player character can help him out by offering some caps in return for some of the brahmin meat and milk that can be salvaged from the carcasses. This earns a little bit of reputation with the Settlers as thanks for helping him.

Scientists
Two scientists, one male and one female, found at a campsite in the Forest at night. The female scientist is studying mutations in the local wildlife. The male scientist is studying the soil and measuring environmental damage.

Scientist and Soldier
One male scientist and one female Army soldier, found at a campsite at night. They remark about their partnership, such as how the scientist makes explosives for the soldier to use.

Soldiers
Two Army soldiers, a male private and a female lieutenant, found at a campsite. The lieutenant wears a helmet and remarks about it, as well as her partnership with the private. The private may ask her for advice, as well as remark about his childhood in the Scouts and the pair's time in a Vault.

Super Mutants Admire Floater
A short dialogue between two super mutants discussing the nature of their newfound floater ally. The super mutants and floater are hostile, requiring the player character to eavesdrop to hear the entire conversion. Appears at small campsite encounter locations.

Scavenger Admires Weather
A scavenger comments on their enjoyment of the clear weather, to which one can reply positively, neutrally, or negatively. Interestingly, this can occur even when it is raining or storming.

Scavenger Chef
Similarly to the raider chef, a scavenger met at a campsite praises the merits of good cooking and offers the player character a random "gourmet" recipe.

Scavenger Cutting Wood
A scavenger is met chopping wood. He will mention that he has cut too much wood and offer some to the player character.

Scavenger Drunkard
A drunken scavenger asks for more alcohol. He will take beer, whiskey, and rum. He may mention the Wayward in dialogue. If given more than three beverages, he will expire, allowing one to loot whatever little he has on him.

Scavenger Gold Panner
A scavenger is found at a riverbank panning for gold and may tell one to get away from their "claim." They may also have dialogue where they offer to give the player character some ammo. If one accepts, they will receive some random ammunition.

Scavenger Trader
A scavenger trader, found at various locations throughout Appalachia, offers to do business with the player character.

Scavenger Treasure Hunter
A scavenger offers the player character a random treasure map, saying that they cannot understand it.

Settler Offers Aid
A Settler comments that the player character is "looking a bit rough" and offers an aid item. One can request a single stimpak, RadAway, or Rad-X.

Settler Surveyor
A Settler is met at a vantage point, including lookouts such as the Dolly Sods lookout, and talks about their exploration efforts.

Travel - Chased by Chickens
A terrified scavenger is seen making hysterical comments as they run from a chicken close in pursuit. If one kills the chicken, the wastelander will be thankful and offer the beast's meat.

Wandering Storyteller
A wandering storyteller with two dogs is met at various small campsite encounter locations and offers stories about his encounters with various cryptids.

Water Beggar
A thirsty Settler begs for water. One can give them either dirty or purified water in exchange for variable amounts of Settler reputation, or one can refuse to help them.

Steel Dawn encounters
 

BoS Mother and Son
The Vault Dweller encounters a mother and son, Amelia and Michael, arguing near a malfunctioning Brotherhood recruiter Protectron. Michael's father was killed by raiders, and he attempts to convince his mother that joining the Brotherhood of Steel means they can learn how to protect themselves. The Vault Dweller can attempt to convince Amelia to join the Brotherhood, the Raiders at The Crater, the Settlers at Foundation, or the Dweller can attempt to convince Michael to enjoy being a kid while he still can.