Surviving in the post-apocalyptic chaos of Fallout 76 heavily relies on ammunition availability. Your powerful weapons are rendered useless without a steady supply of bullets, making crafting ammo a crucial skill for players to master.
Scavenging for ammo can be a daunting task, especially for those using automatic firearms in the game. When your ammo reserves run low, the solution lies in learning how to create your own ammunition from scratch.
Crafting Ammo: A Step-by-Step Guide
To kickstart your ammo crafting journey, you need to acquire or construct a Tinker's Workbench and gather the necessary materials. The blueprint for this essential item is obtained upon completing the Second Helpings quest, an early mission that imparts survival basics in Flatwoods. Tinker's Workbenches house plans for crafting all ammo variants, including those for energy weapons.
Once equipped with the plans, you can install a Tinker's Workbench at your CAMP by collecting the following materials:
- Aluminum x8
- Gear x5
- Oil x7
- Screw x4
- Spring x4
The Ammosmith perk, found under the Agility attribute, boosts crafted ammo production by up to 80%. Pairing this perk with Super Duper from the Luck category grants a chance to double your crafting output.
Essential Ammo Components and Sourcing
Most ammo types necessitate lead and gunpowder for manufacturing. To efficiently produce standard ammunition in large quantities, position your CAMP near a reliable lead source. The Lucky Hole Mine stands out as a prime lead deposit site within Fallout 76 — consider relocating your base here, albeit prepared to face hostile threats. Remember, you must process Lead Ore into Lead Scrap at a Chemistry Station before using it for crafting.
Gyms, particularly those at the Charleston Fire Department and Green Country Lodge in Flatwoods, offer weight plates rich in lead. While heavy, these plates serve as excellent lead reservoirs, conveniently located near crafting stations.
Gunpowder can be acquired as scattered junk across the game world or looted from fallen foes. Slain Super Mutants often yield substantial Unrefined Gunpowder quantities, with the West Tek Research Center in the Savage Divide teeming with these enemies. Alternatively, you can create Gunpowder at a Chemistry Station using Acid and Cloth if preferred.
Energy weapon ammunition demands additional materials like Plastic or Copper besides lead. Scrap gathered junk to obtain these resources, ensuring to tag them in your Tinker's Workbench for easy identification. A magnifying glass icon will highlight items containing the tagged materials, streamlining your resource collection process.