Master the Art of Terminal Hacking in Fallout 76 for Ultimate Domination

Bethesda's post-apocalyptic games are famous for presenting players with intriguing obstacles. In the Fallout series, they have taken it a step further by introducing a hacking mechanic that allows players to delve into systems and unlock terminals containing valuable information.

However, Fallout 76 poses a challenge when it comes to its terminals - not everyone is familiar with the mechanics of hacking or decoding, or the meaning behind the unusual symbols displayed on the terminal screens. This guide aims to provide beginner survivors in Appalachia with the essentials of terminal hacking in Fallout 76.

Fallout 76 Terminal Hacks, Explained

In Fallout 76, the mechanic known as 'terminal hacking' allows players to obtain blueprints, notes, and Power Armor plans. Terminals are divided into three levels of lock complexity: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. The difficulty of the hack escalates as the terminal level increases, with Level 1 being the simplest and Level 3 being the most difficult.

To successfully hack a terminal, players must select the correct code word from a randomized list of terms. Each hacking session grants players four attempts before temporarily locking them out for a few seconds.

The Quickest Way to Hack Any Terminal

Hacking terminals in Fallout 76 involves a guessing game where guessing the password accurately on the first try is not possible. However, there are ways to improve the odds. Players can eliminate possibilities by selecting connected [] {} <> () symbols to remove unsuitable words.

Additionally, Fallout 76 hackers can utilize the Likeness Score to expedite the process of unlocking terminals. The Likeness Score indicates the number of letters in the wrong password that are in the correct position. For example, if the incorrect code is "TEXT" and the Likeness Score is 2, the correct answer could potentially be "TEA" or "TAXES."

Terminal Hacking Perk Cards in Fallout 76

In Fallout 76, players are required to equip Hacker perk cards in order to access terminals, as they come with three difficulty levels. These perk cards not only decrease the lock-out time after four incorrect attempts, but also allow players to unlock high-level terminals when stacked.

It's important to note that unlike other perk cards in Fallout 76, the Hacker card cannot be upgraded. Therefore, players must obtain Expert Hacker and Master Hacker cards individually.

Players don’t need to equip Hacker cards all the time. They can swap these perks with other cards when there’s a terminal around, and remove them when hacking is done.

Best Locations for Easy Terminal Hacks (Code Cruncher Trophy/Achievement)

The best spots for low-level terminal tricks are Camp McClintock, Landview Lighthouse, Mama Dolce's, and the Wade Airport. These points of interest offer Level 0 terminals that anyone can hack without needing a Hacker card.

To unlock the Code Cruncher trophy or achievement, players are required to unlock a minimum of 50 terminals. To achieve this, they can utilize the method of server-hopping and revisit specific locations such as McClintock, Landview Lighthouse, Mama Dolce’s, and the Wade Airport, where easy terminals can be hacked.

Fallout 76 can be played on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.