Although junk is something that sounds completely worthless, when it comes to Fallout 4, it’s actually invaluable. Junk is used for so many things from mods on guns, to mods on armor, to settlement building, to some mission requirements.
Junk is an integral part to Fallout 4, and it’s important you know where to find it, what it is used for, and how to scrap it.
There are three divisions-settlement junk, weapons and armor junk, and random junk. All three of these can be found throughout the game and are all great ways to get the components that you need.
One thing to note is that there are various perks that will help aid in how much junk you receive from scrapping things, as well as giving you more rare components when you scrap things.
Where to Find Junk
Although settlements use a lot of junk as its building components, most settlements come with an abundance of things to scrap. One of the first things to do when it comes to working on a new settlement is go around and scrap everything that is highlighted yellow as those are items that cannot be moved or reused. You will simply scrap them for their components.
As you progress through the game, you will find yourself with lots of underpowered guns and armor that you no longer use. Instead of just dropping them randomly, or letting them sit unused in a container, make sure to scrap them to get some of the more rare components of the game.
Random junk is probably one of the most prevalent items in the post-apocalyptic city of Boston and surrounding areas. You honestly do not have to look very far to find it. From cartons of cigarettes to desk fans, these are all made of components that you can use for various things.
What Is Junk Used For?
As already mentioned, junk is used for a variety of things. The important thing about junk is that it consists of components. When junk is scrapped, it gives you the components which can then be used for different things-building and upgrading.
There are thirty-one base components ranging from acid to wood with the more important ones being adhesive, copper, and springs.
When you are working on a settlement, you will use lots of wood, metal, and even concrete to build your buildings and walls. Turrets and other defensive structures also require steel, but you will also need things like circuitry, gears, and oil.
Other uses are mods to your weapons and armor. If you find a gun that you like using but isn’t quite getting the job done, take it to the weapons workshop and start tinkering. There are various improvements that can be made to increase damage, range, magazine capacity, and other factors of your weapons.
How to Scrap Junk
Scrapping junk is very easy. It is recommended that you do it primarily at a workshop that is connected to as many settlements as possible. This will make sure that you maximize the usefulness of the junk that you scrap.
Anything that you scrap will automatically be stored and subsequently used when building in the settlement or a settlement connected via supply lines.
To scrap settlement junk, simply open your workshop, and go to an item in your settlement that can be scrapped (highlighted green or yellow when you look at it). If it is yellow, it can only be scrapped and you simply need to press the “scrap” button. If it’s green, it can be scrapped, but it can also be stored and moved (which will save you resources if you plan to use that item at any point).
To scrap weapons or armor, simply drop the weapon or armor you wish to scrap near a workshop, open the workshop and look at the item, and press the “scrap” button.
To scrap random junk simply walk up to a workshop (found in the settlements), and press the “transfer” button. This will open a screen that shows your inventory and your workshop’s inventory. Simply press the “store all junk” button, and it will automatically be stored in your workshop.
Conclusion
An old adage says “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. In Fallout 4, that statement is very true. Junk is something that you should hoard, search for, and even fight for as it will truly help you conquer the wild Commonwealth.