The wasteland of Fallout 4 is a harsh and dangerous place. Without preparation, the Sole Survivor will struggle as they begin their journey to find out what happened to their son Shaun. In the Commonwealth, having the best gear and and best weapons is what ensures one's ability to survive, so having the right tools of destruction is absolutely vital.

However, in true open-world survival game fashion, Fallout 4 doesn't just hand out its best weapons on a silver platter. Many of them are in hidden locations or unmarked spots, which necessitates the right skills or even a dash of luck to even stumble across in the first place. If you're on the hunt for a new, powerful weapon, here's where to find the 25 best weapons in Fallout 4.

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Updated on April 29th, 2021 by Anastasia Maillot: While fans very patiently wait for any news on Bethesda's potential Fallout 5, returning to Fallout 4 isn't a half bad idea given how much there is to see and experience in the wasteland of the Commonwealth. A great challenge players can set for themselves is to find some of the most powerful weapons and collect them all.

Given how many of the best weapons in Fallout 4 tend to be hidden or locked behind a quest, it's pretty easy to miss them even years after the game's initial release. With that, here are the most powerful weapons in Fallout 4 and where you can find them without a hassle.

25 Cryolator

Fallout 4 Cryolator in its case

The Cryolator is one of the most unique best weapons in the game, and as the name implies, it freezes whatever it comes across. Although this weapon only really becomes available later on in the game once you've leveled your lockpicking skills to Master, it's actually shown to the player within the first ten minutes of gameplay in Vault 111, inside a locked glass case.

Unfortunately, the Cryolator's downside, as with many rare weapons, is the lack of ammo. You'll need to add in a crystallizing barrel mod to ensure you won't run out Cryo rounds, and gain some additional range as well. Still, it's more of a show off weapon than actually effective, since the projectile speed of the crystals is incredibly slow.

24 Shishkebab

Melee weapons also count as some of the best weapons in the game. The Shishkebab, which could best be described as a flaming sword, is among the best melee weapon choices. The sword deals both regular and energy damage. If you've joined the Minutement, you'll eventually receive a side quest known as Out of the Fire, which sends you to help the Finch Farm.

Abraham Finch asks the Sole Survivor to deal with the nearby raider gang, the Forged, which his son Jake Finch has joined after stealing his father's precious sword. Clear the neighboring factory, Saugus Ironworks and defeat the leader Slag to save Jake, and Abraham will let you keep the Shishkebab.

23 The Problem Solver

Fallout 4 the problem solver

In Nuka-World, an easy to miss weapon can be gained just by passing a successful speech check with gang leader Mason. After becoming the Overseer and being sent to speak with each of the three leaders of Nuka-World's three raider groups, approach Mason who's located in the Bradberton Amphitheater in Nuka Town.

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During your dialogue with Mason, make sure to pick all of the most aggressive and assertive options with him. You'll need a high Charisma rating to pass some of the checks. At the end, Mason will be impressed by your assertiveness and gift you with The Problem Solver, one of the best weapons and handmade rifles in Fallout 4 that deals more damage with each consecutive shot.

22 Furious Power Fist

Fallout 4 furious power fist

The Furious Power Fist is a neat little glove that makes your fists tougher and also increases damage done by consecutive punches on the same target. It's the best weapon in Fallout 4 for any tanky, melee weapon lovers who prefer to fight up close and personal.

You just have to take it off of Swan, a super mutant mercenary, who really doesn't want to give it up. To find Swan, head to the center of Boston, near where the Freedom Trail begins and the subway entrance to Vault 114 from which Nick Valentine needs to be rescued. Swan is dormant during the day, with just a small piece of his back sticking out from his pond, but at night time between 1 AM and 5 AM he patrols the pond area.

21 Alien Blaster

Fallout 4 Alien Blaster Pistol

 

The post-apocalyptic future doesn't just hold flaming swords and laser weapons. Alien blasters are also a weapon option for the more adventurous survivor. The caveat to this unique blaster is that without the Science! perk maximized, ammo for the blaster is extremely limited, so you'll definitely want to make sure you unlock that perk. Essentially, it'll let you use fusion cells as ammo.

A version of the blaster can be found in Nuka-World after helping the Hubologists in their quest. Otherwise, if you don't have the DLC, there's one in an unmarked location nearby Oberland Station and Beantown Brewery. Enter the nearby cave, and fight off the alien to get the blaster and some ammo. With pretty nice range, accuracy and damage, it's easily one of the best weapons in Fallout 4.

20 Lorenzo's Artifact

Fallout 4 Lorenzo's Artifact

Radiation is one of the great threats of the wasteland, so it's no surprise it's also the main function of one of the best weapons in Fallout 4. Thanks to Lorenzo's Artifact gun the Sole Survivor can weaponize the power of gamma rays against their enemies. While the weapon is advertised as a radiation weapon, it's good to note that it actually does pure damage rather than radiation damage. Still, its ability to knock back and stun enemies is greatly useful.

To start off the quest, you need to be employed by the Cabot family. Visit the Third Rail in Goodneighbor to get hired by Edward Deegan, and complete all the Cabot family quest, and make sure to side with Jack Cabot against Lorenzo to receive this gun as a reward.

19 Spray N' Pray

Fallout 4 spray n pray

The Spray and Pray easily the best unique SMG weapon in Fallout 4 loaded with high tier mods and inherently fires explosive rounds, which spread damage in an area of effect. It's an extremely expensive weapon, and most likely you won't be able to afford it early on, unless you invest in Charisma and bartering in particular to lower prices.

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Buy it from Cricket the wandering merchant. There's a few set locations you can wait for her at, such as the entrance of Diamond City, the outside of Vault 81 and Bunker Hill. You might need to wait several days before she appears, but if you got the coin, this a solid investment for any build with the Commando perk.

18 The Harvester

Fallout 4 The Harvester

Far Harbor DLC owners will definitely want to get their hands on this fun and unique melee weapon, which has the effect of staggering enemies on top of dealing damage and having extremely fast speed. It also makes a terrifying sound when used on enemies.

To find this, head over to Echo Lake Lumber. As you secure the location for a potential new settlement, head to the second floor of the biggest building. A red trunk will be waiting for you there, with the Harvester tucked inside.

17 Kremvh's Tooth

Fallout 4 Kremvh's Tooth

Another one of the best melee weapons is Kremvh's Tooth, which is found in one of the spookiest locations in all of the Commonwealth. With a unique mod that marks it as a sacrificial blade, Kremvh's Tooth deals a lot of damage and applies poison and bleeding damage on top. It also has a distinct shape, despite being marked a a machete.

Head to Dunwich Borers, the home of a dark cult that seems to have implanted itself there. The machete is at the very bottom of the location, in a small tunnel where you'll find an eerie-looking altar.

16 Grognak's Axe

Fallout 4 Grognak's Axe

Still in the category of the best melee weapons, if there's one thing Bethesda loves to do, then it's to cross-reference its games. This The Elder Scrolls themed axe is just the kind of easter egg you would expect from Bethesda, and it's actually not that bad of a melee weapon. Enemies will not only get staggered by Grognak's axe, but will also take bleeding damage.

The axe is pretty easy to find in central Boston. Head to Hubris Comics, and the axe is hidden behind the front desk of the venue, inside a display case. In order to unlock it, you'll need to have Advanced level lockpicking skills, or get Cait to open the case for you.

15 Ashmaker

Fallout 4 Ashmaker

Miniguns are generally a terrible weapon choice, but if that's part of your character build, then at least go for this unique variant, the Ashmaker which also sets your targets on fire for an additional few damage points. You'll get the best minigun in Fallout 4 as a reward from Fahrenheit if you decide to side with her at the end of the Big Dig quest.

To start the quest, head to the Goodneighbor, and find Bobbi No-Nose in one of the narrow streets, behind a door. She'll offer you a job without giving much of an explanation, but if you accept it, she'll take you on a heist to the strongroom of Diamond City. However, as is typically the case, things don't exactly go as planned. You'll also find a set of power armor during this quest.

14 Good Intentions

Fallout 4 good intentions

There's quite a bit of lore floating around the Minutemen, with the Quincy disaster being the last remarkable event before the Sole Survivor becomes the standing general. Head south towards these infamous Quincy Ruins, where more lore can be discovered on the terminals, detailing how a Minuteman called Clint betrayed his faction.

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Clint is still around, and can be defeated for a powerful laser rifle known as Good Intentions, which is among the best laser guns in Fallout 4. Any critical hits landed on an enemy will put them into a state of frenzy, and with decent damage, it's a nice little reward for taking revenge for Preston.

13 Old Faithful

Fallout 4 Old Faithful

Old Faithful is a laser pistol, (unless you are a high level, then it becomes a rifle) that you can simply buy in Diamond City from Arturo Rodriguez. Old Faithful offers the Instigator perk which causes double damage against enemies at full health.

Since nearly all of Fallout 4's combat starts against enemies that are at full health, it's nice to have a reliable way to deal a massive amount of damage right at the start as an opening move.

12 Righteous Authority

Fallout 4 Righteous Authority

Righteous Authority is your reward from Paladin Danse for completing the introductory mission for the Brotherhood of Steel and one of the best weapons in Fallout 4. Head over to the Cambridge Police Station where the three Brotherhood members are fighting off ghouls and help them in combat to begin your quest.

With Righteous Authority your critical hits will deal double damage and fill your critical hit meter 15% faster. It's worth a trip even if you dislike the Brotherhood of Steel, simply because of the critical hit effects.

11 Party Starter

Fallout 4 Party Starter

The Party Starter is a missile launcher that can be bought from KL-E-O, the Assaultron merchant in Goodneighbor. It also does bonus damage against human-shaped enemies too.

A normal drawback to missile launchers is that ammo weighs a lot and you have to reload between shots. With the right mods, however, these caveats can be fixed fairly easily as well. It's a wonderful niche weapon for those funny, niche character builds, and it packs a solid punch.

10 Overseer's Guardian

Fallout 4 Overseer's Guardian

The Overseer's Guardian features an armor-piercing receiver and night vision scope, both of which are ideal for dispatching pesky armored foes at a long distance.

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Two different variations of it can spawn in the game, either a short or long barreled one. As an extra it even fires an extra round per shot, potentially doubling your damage. To get your hands on it, head to Vault 81 and speak with Alexis Combes, the local vendor.

9 Wastelander's Friend

Fallout 4 Wastelander's Friend

The Wastelander's Friend is good for a laugh from a visual standpoint but is also surprisingly useful. It is a standard ten millimeter pistol with a super long extended magazine.

It gives the weapon an ammo capacity of 24 up from 8, that's three times as many rounds before reloading. It also includes a couple of other mods such as a recon scope and a grip. If this sounds right up your alley, head over to Bunker Hill and look for a vendor called Deb.

8 Le Fusil Terribles

Fallout 4 Le Fusil Terribles

Le Fusil Terribles is an extra powerful combat shotgun you can pick up in Libertalia, in the north-east of the Commonwealth. Head on up to the captain's cabin, which is located at the end of the floating encampment, and is the biggest building in sight.

The shotgun features a special effect that causes 25% more damage to foes in general, in addition to limb damage. It also features a much more massive recoil, potentially directly upwards depending on your aiming skills, which can make handling it quite irritating. Still, it's the best shotgun in Fallout 4.

7 The Last Minute

Fallout 4 The Last Minute

The Last Minute is a unique Gauss rifle that deals an extra 50% damage to your enemy's limbs and ranks as one of the best energy weapons in Fallout 4. When you're being chased by a horde of Deathclaws, a couple well-placed shots to their legs will truly save the day.

For it to become available, you'll have to complete the quest Old Guns over at the Castle, which is a Minutemen exclusive quest. Once the Castle is secure, you can speak with Ronnie Shaw, who will sell you the gun.

6 Splattercannon

Fallout 4 Splattercannon

 

Another powerful weapon for players with the Nuka-World DLC is the Splattercannon. It's a fantastic alternative to those who didn't get the chance to complete the dialogue check with Mason and get their hands on The Problem Solver, since the Splattercannon has the exact same Legendary effect.

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Each consecutive shot deals more damage on the same target. It's one of the best handmade rifles in the game, and a really solid choice. Moreover, with enough money, it's easy to buy it from Aaron Corbett over at the Nuka-Town marketplace. Just prepare to pay an arm and a leg for it, unless you have decent Charisma to lower the price.