The Railroad Agent (Fallout 4 Character Build)

The Railroad Agent Designed for players who thrive on stealth, precision, and tactical gameplay, this build transforms you into a covert operative working in the shadows to free synths and undermine the Institute. With a focus on high agility, advanced hacking, lockpicking skills, and the strategic use of silenced pistols and powerful revolvers, the Railroad Agent is a master of infiltration and silent takedowns. Whether you’re sneaking through enemy territories, disabling security systems, or engaging in high-stakes combat, this guide will equip you with everything you need to excel as a Railroad Agent and bring freedom to the Synths of the Commonwealth.

Railroad Agent Theme Song

Pros and Cons of the Railroad Agent Build

The Railroad Agent build in Fallout 4 offers a unique and immersive gameplay experience, emphasizing stealth, technical expertise, and strategic combat. Here’s a detailed list of the pros and cons of this build:

Pros

  1. Exceptional Stealth Capabilities
    • High Sneak Proficiency: With maxed-out Sneak and Ninja perks, the Railroad Agent can move undetected, perform deadly sneak attacks, and avoid detection from enemies and traps.
    • Enhanced Sneak Attack Damage: Perks like Mister Sandman and Ninja significantly boost sneak attack damage, making stealth kills highly effective.
  2. Versatile Combat Skills
    • Dual Weapon Mastery: The build excels in silenced pistols for stealth (The Deliverer) and high-damage revolvers for loud confrontations (Kellogg’s Pistol).
    • Explosive Expertise: Demolition Expert perks make explosives a powerful tool for ambushes and crowd control.
  3. Technical Proficiency
    • Advanced Hacking: With the Hacker perk, the Railroad Agent can access and manipulate secure terminals, turning security systems to their advantage.
    • Superior Lockpicking: The Locksmith perk ensures access to all locked containers and doors, maximizing resource acquisition and exploration opportunities.
  4. Efficient Healing
    • Enhanced Medical Supplies: The Medic perk enhances the effectiveness of Stimpaks and RadAway, ensuring quick recovery and sustained health during extended missions.
  5. Companion Synergy
    • Beneficial Companion Perks: Deacon, Piper, and MacCready provide perks that complement the Railroad Agent’s stealth and combat skills, enhancing overall effectiveness.
  6. Strong Defensive Options
    • Ballistic Weave: Upgradable clothing with Ballistic Weave offers excellent protection while maintaining a stealthy appearance.
    • Power Armor: T-51 Power Armor with Railroad Paint provides superior defense for high-risk missions, showcasing allegiance to the Railroad.

Cons

  1. Lower Endurance
    • Reduced Health and Stamina: With a lower Endurance stat, the Railroad Agent has less health and stamina than other builds, making them more vulnerable in prolonged combat.
  2. Limited Charisma
    • Fewer Dialogue Options: A moderate Charisma stat may limit the ability to pass certain speech checks, potentially missing out on unique interactions and outcomes.
  3. Dependency on Stealth
    • Stealth Reliance: The build relies heavily on stealth for optimal performance. The Railroad Agent may struggle against large groups of enemies or in open combat situations if detected.
  4. Resource-Intensive
    • Need for Ammunition and Supplies: The build’s effectiveness depends on a steady supply of ammunition and explosives, requiring regular scavenging and resource management.
  5. Complex Playstyle
    • Tactical Gameplay: Requires careful planning and strategic execution. Players must balance stealth, hacking, and combat skills to navigate missions successfully.
  6. Double Agent Role
    • Potential for Conflict: Acting as a double agent in The Institute can be challenging, requiring careful balance to maintain cover without jeopardizing Railroad goals.

Recommended Gear and Weapons for the Railroad Agent

Primary Weapons

  • The Deliverer: The primary weapon of choice for stealth operations. This unique silenced pistol is ideal for taking down enemies quietly and efficiently. It uses fewer action points in V.A.T.S., making it perfect for stealthy, critical hits.
  • Kellogg’s Pistol: When stealth is not an option and more firepower is required, Kellogg’s Pistol comes into play. This powerful revolver can use Action Points to refill on critical hits, making it highly effective in loud and fast-paced combat situations.

Apparel and Armor

  • Clothing: The Railroad Agent wears clothing that balances style and functionality for daily operations. Initially, Piper’s Coat provides a charismatic yet practical look. It can be upgraded with Ballistic Weave for enhanced protection. Later in the game, Elder Maxon’s coat may replace Piper’s for its superior defensive stats and striking appearance. It is also upgradeable with Ballistic Weave.
  • Power Armor: For missions that demand the highest level of protection, the Railroad Agent occasionally uses T-51 Power Armor with Railroad Paint. This setup offers excellent defense and signifies allegiance to the Railroad, boosting the morale of allied N.P.C.s during joint operations.

Gameplay Strategy and Tips

  • Adapt to Situations: While The Deliverer is perfect for silent takedowns, always be ready to switch to Kellogg’s Pistol when stealth is compromised. The ability to adapt quickly between these two weapons is crucial.
  • Choose Your Battles: Use the enhanced stealth capabilities to avoid unnecessary fights. Engage only when you have a clear advantage or mission objectives dictate a confrontation, especially in the early game without Ballistic Weave.
  • Upgrade and Customize: Regularly upgrade your weapons and armor. Make full use of the Gun Nut and Armorer perks to keep your gear in top condition, ensuring you always have the upper hand in stealth and direct engagements.
  • Utilize Your Environment: Use shadows, high ground, and structural cover to plan your approach. Use your agility and the environment to evade enemies or position yourself for the perfect shot.

Companion Perks for the Railroad Agent

  1. Deacon: Cloak & Dagger
    • Perk Effect: Increases sneak attack damage by 20% and the duration of stealth boys by 40%.
    • Strategic Importance: Enhances the Agent’s stealth capabilities and damage output during sneak attacks, making Deacon an invaluable companion for covert operations.
  2. Piper: Gift of Gab
    • Perk Effect: Earns double XP for speech challenges and discovering new locations.
    • Strategic Importance: Boosts experience gain, allowing the Railroad Agent to level up more quickly, which is crucial for unlocking advanced perks and abilities.
  3. MacCready: Killshot
    • Perk Effect: Increases headshot accuracy in V.A.T.S. by 20%.
    • Strategic Importance: Enhances the effectiveness of V.A.T.S. headshots, crucial for a character relying on precise, high-damage shots with pistols and rifles.
  4. Nick Valentine: Close to Metal
    • Perk Effect: One extra guess when hacking terminals and 50% faster terminal cooldown.
    • Strategic Importance: Improves hacking efficiency, ensuring the Railroad Agent can access and manipulate secure systems quickly and effectively.
  5. Codsworth: Robot Sympathy
    • Perk Effect: Grants a 50% damage resistance against robot energy attacks.
    • Strategic Importance: It provides significant resistance to robot attacks, which is helpful since many of the Railroad’s enemies are robotic.
  6. Paladin Danse: Know Your Enemy
    • Perk Effect: Increases damage dealt to Super Mutants, Synths, and Feral Ghouls by 20%.
    • Strategic Importance: Enhances combat effectiveness against common enemies, particularly Synths and Super Mutants. Be sure to acquire this perk before progressing too far into the Brotherhood storyline, as Danse’s availability as a companion might change.

Required Bobbleheads for the Railroad Agent

Collecting these specific bobbleheads will significantly enhance the Railroad Agent’s proficiency in crucial areas:

  1. Perception Bobblehead
    • Effect:  Perception stat increased by 1.
    • Strategic Importance:  This will be required to access the Demolition Expert later in the game.
  2. Lockpicking Bobblehead
    • Effect: Lockpicking is permanently easier.
    • Strategic Importance: Facilitates access to secured areas and containers, enabling the acquisition of additional resources and intelligence crucial for Railroad missions.
  3. Science Bobblehead
    • Effect: Get one extra guess when hacking terminals.
    • Strategic Importance: It enhances the Railroad Agent’s ability to hack into advanced systems, which is crucial for gathering information and manipulating enemy technology.
  4. Sneak Bobblehead
    • Effect: You are 10% harder to detect.
    • Strategic Importance: Complements the Agent’s stealth-focused tactics, making moving undetected during reconnaissance and infiltration missions easier.
  5. Explosives Bobblehead
    • Effect: Permanently gain +15% damage with explosives.
    • Strategic Importance: It boosts the effectiveness of explosives, which can be vital for ambushes, creating diversions, or clearing grouped enemies when stealth is not an option.
  6. Small Guns Bobblehead
    • Location: Effect: Permanently gain +25% critical damage with ballistic guns.
    • Strategic Importance: Increases the damage output of small firearms, such as the Deliverer, enhancing lethality in engagements that require precise shooting.

Required Magazines for the Railroad Agent

Collecting these specific magazines will significantly enhance the Railroad Agent’s abilities and effectiveness in the field:

  1. You’re SPECIAL!(Perception)
    • Effect: Grants one additional S.P.E.C.I.A.L. point.
    • Strategic Importance: Allocate this point to Perception to improve V.A.T.S. accuracy and overall situational awareness, which is crucial for precise shooting and detecting threats.
  2. U.S. Covert Operations Manual
    • Effect: Increases your sneak ability with each issue.
    • Strategic Importance: Enhances the Agent’s stealth capabilities, making moving undetected and executing silent takedowns easier.
  3. Guns & Bullets
    • Effect: Each issue increases the critical damage with ballistic weapons.
  4. Tumblers Today
    • Effect: Makes lockpicking easier with each issue.
    • Strategic Importance: It improves the Agent’s lockpicking skills, which are essential for accessing restricted areas and acquiring valuable resources.
  5. Astoundingly Awesome Tales
    • Effect: Provides various bonuses such as damage resistance, improved healing, and increased critical hit damage.
    • Strategic Importance: Offers a variety of valuable bonuses that enhance survivability and combat effectiveness.
  6. Live & Love
    • Effect: Provides bonuses related to companion abilities.
    • Strategic Importance: While not all companions are good at stealth, these bonuses can still be helpful when the Agent is not operating alone.
  7. Wasteland Survival Guide
    • Effect: Each issue provides various survival-related bonuses.
    • Strategic Importance: Enhances survival skills, such as increased healing from food and drink, which can be crucial during long missions.
  8. Scav! (Issues 1 and 4)
    • Effect: Provides bonuses to looting and scavenging.
    • Strategic Importance: Improves the Agent’s ability to find valuable resources and ammunition vital for sustained operations.

Starting S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Allocation

  • Strength (3): Sufficient for basic equipment needs without hindering mobility.
  • Perception (3): Modest level to handle firearms adequately.
  • Endurance (2): Low, reflecting the character’s reliance on avoiding direct confrontation.
  • Charisma (5): Enables more persuasive dialogue options, crucial for manipulating enemies and gaining allies.
  • Intelligence (6): High intelligence for advanced hacking and better experience gains.
  • Agility (8): The focal point of this build is providing excellent stealth capabilities and a better action point economy.
  • Luck (1): Minimal investment, as this build focuses on skill and strategy over chance.

Railroad Agent Perk Progression Levels 1-10

This early-stage progression prioritizes stealth, lockpicking, and hacking capabilities, ensuring the Agent can navigate and operate effectively in various scenarios:

  • Level 2: Sneak 1
    • Effect: Become 20% harder to detect while sneaking.
    • Rationale: Enhances stealth capabilities, making moving undetected and performing silent takedowns easier.
  • Level 3: Gunslinger 1
    • Effect: Non-automatic pistols do 20% more damage.
    • Rationale: Increases the effectiveness of the Deliverer, ensuring stronger damage output during stealth attacks.
  • Level 4: Locksmith 1
    • Effect: Ability to pick Advanced locks.
    • Rationale: It provides access to more locked containers and areas, which is critical for gathering resources and information.
  • Level 5: Sneak 2
    • Effect: Become 30% harder to detect while sneaking and no longer trigger floor-based traps.
    • Rationale: Further improves stealth and safety while navigating hostile environments.
  • Level 6: Hacker 1
    • Effect: Ability to hack Advanced terminals.
    • Rationale: Enhances hacking skills, allowing access to more secure systems for information and security bypass.
  • Level 7: Gunslinger 2
    • Effect: Non-automatic pistols do 40% more damage and have increased range.
    • Rationale: It continues to boost the effectiveness of the Deliverer, making it even more lethal in combat.
  • Level 8: Locksmith 2
    • Effect: Ability to pick Expert locks.
    • Rationale: Expands lockpicking capabilities, opening up more resource acquisition and exploration opportunities.
  • Level 9: Hacker 2
    • Effect: Ability to hack Expert terminals.
    • Rationale: Further improves hacking skills, allowing access to even more secure systems and potentially turning turrets or robots to your side.
  • Level 10: Ninja 1
    • Effect: Sneak attacks with melee weapons do 3x damage; sneak attacks with ranged weapons do 2.5x damage.
    • Rationale: Significantly increases the damage of sneak attacks, enhancing the lethality of stealth-based combat.

Railroad Agent Perk Progression Levels 11-20

This mid-stage progression focuses on further enhancing stealth capabilities, boosting damage output, and improving survivability through better armor:

  • Level 11: Mister Sandman 1
    • Effect: Silenced weapons do 15% more damage.
    • Rationale: Enhances the damage of the Deliverer, making it even more effective in stealth operations.
  • Level 12: Sneak 3
    • Effect: Become 40% harder to detect while sneaking and running no longer adversely affects stealth.
    • Rationale: Further improves stealth capabilities, allowing for greater mobility while remaining undetected.
  • Level 13: Action Boy 1
    • Effect: Action Points regenerate 25% faster.
    • Rationale: Increases agility and responsiveness, enabling more frequent use of V.A.T.S. and sprinting during combat.
  • Level 14: Armorer 1
    • Effect: Access to base level and Rank 1 armor mods.
    • Rationale: Enables the application of Ballistic Weave to clothing once unlocked through the Railroad storyline, significantly boosting defense while maintaining a stealthy appearance.
  • Level 15: Gunslinger 3
    • Effect: Non-automatic pistols do 60% more damage and have improved hip-fire accuracy.
    • Rationale: Continues to boost the effectiveness of the Deliverer, ensuring strong damage output in combat.
  • Level 16: Ninja 2
    • Effect: Sneak attacks with melee weapons do 4x damage; sneak attacks with ranged weapons do 3x damage.
    • Rationale: Significantly increases the damage of sneak attacks, making stealthy eliminations even more deadly.
  • Level 17: Mister Sandman 2
    • Effect: Silenced weapons do 30% more damage.
    • Rationale: Further boosts the damage output of the Deliverer, enhancing its lethality in stealth operations.
  • Level 18: Locksmith 3
    • Effect: Ability to pick Master locks.
    • Rationale: Maximizes lockpicking capabilities, allowing access to the most secure containers and areas for valuable resources and intelligence.
  • Level 19: Action Boy 2
    • Effect: Action Points regenerate 50% faster.
    • Rationale: Maximizes agility and responsiveness, allowing for sustained use of V.A.T.S. and increased mobility during combat.
  • Level 20: Armorer 2
    • Effect: Access to Rank 2 armor mods.
    • Rationale: Enables further enhancement of armor, providing better protection while maintaining the ability to move stealthily.

Railroad Agent Perk Progression Levels 21-30

This stage emphasizes refining hacking skills, boosting medical efficiency, further enhancing stealth, and maximizing the potential of primary weapons:

  • Level 21: Hacker 3
    • Effect: Ability to hack Master terminals.
    • Rationale: Maximizes hacking capabilities, allowing access to the most secure systems for critical information and strategic advantages.
  • Level 22: Medic 1
    • Effect: Stimpaks restore 40% more lost health, and RadAway removes 40% more radiation.
    • Rationale: Improves healing efficiency, which is crucial for maintaining health during prolonged engagements.
  • Level 23: Sneak 4
    • Effect: Become 50% harder to detect while sneaking, and you no longer trigger enemy mines.
    • Rationale: Enhances stealth capabilities to near maximum, making it much easier to navigate hostile areas undetected.
  • Level 24: Medic 2
    • Effect: Stimpaks restore 60% more lost health, and RadAway removes 60% more radiation.
    • Rationale: Further improves healing efficiency, ensuring rapid recovery during and after battles.
  • Level 25: Armorer 3
    • Effect: Access to Rank 3 armor mods.
    • Rationale: Allows advanced armor modifications, significantly boosting defense while maintaining mobility.
  • Level 26: Gun Nut 1
    • Effect: Access to base level and Rank 1 gun mods.
    • Rationale: Begins maximizing the effectiveness of The Deliverer and Kellogg’s Pistol through weapon modifications.
  • Level 27: Gunslinger 4
    • Effect: Non-automatic pistols do 80% more damage and have a chance to disarm opponents.
    • Rationale: Further increases pistols’ damage output and utility, making them even more potent in combat.
  • Level 28: Gun Nut 2
    • Effect: Access to Rank 2 gun mods.
    • Rationale: Continues to enhance weapon modifications, improving damage, accuracy, and other critical stats.
  • Level 29: Demolition Expert 1
    • Effect: Your explosives do 25% more damage, and you can craft explosives at any Chemistry Station.
    • Rationale: Adds versatility to your combat tactics, allowing for effective use of explosives in challenging situations.
  • Level 30: Mister Sandman 3
    • Effect: Silenced weapons do 50% more damage.
    • Rationale: Maximizes the damage of silenced weapons, making The Deliverer extremely lethal in stealth operations.

Railroad Agent Perk Progression Levels 31-40

This stage further enhances the Agent’s medical skills, weapon modifications, hacking capabilities, and stealth, ensuring they are fully prepared for the most challenging encounters in the Commonwealth:

  • Level 31: Medic 3
    • Effect: Stimpaks restore 80% more lost health, and RadAway removes 80% more radiation.
    • Rationale: Significantly boosts healing efficiency, ensuring rapid recovery and sustained combat effectiveness.
  • Level 32: Gun Nut 3
    • Effect: Access to Rank 3 gun mods.
    • Rationale: This enhancement further enhances weapon modifications, maximizing damage, accuracy, and other critical stats for The Deliverer and Kellogg’s Pistol.
  • Level 33: Hacker 4
    • Effect: When hacking, you never get locked out of a terminal if you fail.
    • Rationale: Ensures consistent access to all terminals, which is critical for gathering intelligence and bypassing security.
  • Level 34: Ninja 3
    • Effect: Sneak attacks with melee weapons do 10x damage; sneak attacks with ranged weapons do 5.3x damage.
    • Rationale: Maximizes the damage of sneak attacks, making stealth kills incredibly effective.
  • Level 35: Demolition Expert 2
    • Effect: Your explosives do 50% more damage, and grenades gain a throwing arc.
    • Rationale: Increases the effectiveness and accuracy of explosive devices, adding versatility to combat strategies.
  • Level 36: Demolition Expert 3
    • Effect: Your explosives do double damage.
    • Rationale: Further enhances explosive damage, ensuring that grenades and mines are highly lethal.
  • Level 37: Demolition Expert 4
    • Effect: Your explosives do 150% more damage and affect a larger area.
    • Rationale: Maximizes the damage and area of effect for all explosives, making them devastating in combat.
  • Level 38: Sneak 5
    • Effect: You are 50% harder to detect and can run while sneaking.
    • Rationale: Achieves maximum stealth capability, allowing for unparalleled movement and evasion.
  • Level 39: Action Boy 3
    • Effect: Action Points regenerate 75% faster.
    • Rationale: Maximizes agility and responsiveness, enabling frequent use of V.A.T.S. and sustained mobility during combat.
  • Level 40: Armorer 4
    • Effect: Access to Rank 4 armor mods.
    • Rationale: Provides the highest level of armor customization, ensuring maximum protection and durability.

Railroad Agent Perk Progression Levels 41-50

This final stage focuses on perfecting lockpicking skills, maximizing weapon damage, enhancing endurance, and boosting medical efficiency to prepare the Railroad Agent for the toughest challenges in the Commonwealth:

  • Level 41: Locksmith 4
    • Effect: You can pick Master locks and never break a bobby pin.
    • Rationale: This ensures the Agent can access any locked area or container without losing bobby pins, which is critical for resource acquisition and exploration.
  • Level 42: Gunslinger 5
    • Effect: Non-automatic pistols do double damage and have a chance to cripple a limb or disarm opponents.
    • Rationale: Maximizes pistols’ damage output and utility, making The Deliverer extremely powerful in combat.
  • Level 43: Gun Nut 4
    • Effect: Access to Rank 4 gun mods.
    • Rationale: Provides the highest level of weapon customization, ensuring maximum effectiveness for The Deliverer and Kellogg’s Pistol.
  • Level 44: Endurance +1
    • Effect: Increases Endurance from 2 to 3.
    • Rationale: Boosts overall health and stamina, improving survivability in extended combat scenarios.
  • Level 45: Rifleman 1
    • Effect: Non-automatic rifles do 20% more damage.
    • Rationale: Begins enhancing rifle damage, making Tinker Tom’s Special an effective ranged option with a stealth weapon.
  • Level 46: Rifleman 2
    • Effect: Non-automatic rifles do 40% more damage and ignore 15% of a target’s armor.
    • Rationale: Further improves rifle effectiveness, increasing damage and armor penetration.
  • Level 47: Rifleman 3
    • Effect: Non-automatic rifles do 60% more damage and ignore 20% of a target’s armor.
    • Rationale: Increases rifle damage and armor penetration, making long-range stealth attacks more lethal.
  • Level 48: Rifleman 4
    • Effect: Non-automatic rifles do 80% more damage and ignore 25% of a target’s armor.
    • Rationale: Maximizes rifle damage and armor penetration, eliminating heavily armored targets.
  • Level 49: Rifleman 5
    • Effect: Non-automatic rifles do double damage and ignore 30% of a target’s armor, with a chance to cripple a limb.
    • Rationale: Provides the highest level of damage and utility for rifles, making Tinker Tom’s Special a devastating ranged weapon.
  • Level 50: Medic 4
    • Effect: Stimpaks restores all lost health, and RadAway removes all radiation.
    • Rationale: Maximizes medical efficiency, ensuring the Agent can fully recover health and remove radiation, maintaining peak performance.

LEVEL 50 STATS AT NORMAL DIFFICULTY

Carry Weight: 230

Max AP: 140

Max HP: 295

Vats Accuracy: 20%

Crit Meter Per Hit: 6.5%

XP Bonus: 18%

Maximum Settlement Population: 15

How to Play Guide for the Railroad Agent

The Railroad Agent build in Fallout 4 is designed for players who enjoy stealthy, tactical gameplay focusing on high-tech skills and precise combat. This guide will help you maximize the potential of your Railroad Agent, ensuring you can effectively navigate the Commonwealth and support the Railroad’s mission.

Start the Railroad Storyline Early

  • Access Key Equipment: Begin the Railroad questline as soon as possible to unlock The Deliverer, Ballistic Weave, and Tinker Tom’s Special. These items are crucial for the build’s effectiveness.
  • Join the Railroad: Completing early Railroad missions will grant you access to these critical tools and significantly enhance your stealth and combat capabilities.

Embrace Stealth Tactics

  • Move Silently: Prioritize the Sneak perk to stay undetected while moving through hostile areas. Use cover and shadows, and avoid open spaces to minimize the risk of detection.
  • Utilize Stealth Attacks: Equip The Deliverer for silent eliminations. With perks like Ninja and Mister Sandman, your sneak attacks will deal massive damage, allowing you to take down enemies quietly and efficiently.
  • Strategic Positioning: Always plan your approach. Use vantage points and high ground to scout enemy positions and create a strategy for silent takedowns.

Master Hacking and Lockpicking

  • Hack Terminals: Invest in the Hacker perk to access advanced terminals. This allows you to disable security systems, unlock doors, and gather critical information.
  • Pick Locks: Maximize the Locksmith perk to open locked containers and doors. This skill is essential for obtaining valuable loot and finding alternate paths through enemy strongholds.

Optimize Combat Efficiency

  • Use V.A.T.S. for Precision: Rely on V.A.T.S. to target enemy weak points. With MacCready’s Killshot perk, headshots become more accurate, increasing your lethality.
  • Switch to Heavy Firepower When Needed: When stealth fails, switch to Kellogg’s Pistol for decisive, loud confrontations. The Gun Nut perk ensures your weapons are continually optimized for maximum damage.
  • Deploy Explosives: Use the Demolition Expert perk to make your explosives more effective. Grenades and mines can be helpful for crowd control or ambushing groups of enemies.

Manage Resources and Healing

  • Scavenge Efficiently: Collect ammunition and supplies regularly. The Scrounger perk can help find more ammo, ensuring you’re always prepared for a fight.
  • Use Medical Supplies Wisely: Invest in the Medic perk to enhance the effectiveness of Stimpaks and RadAway. This ensures you can recover quickly from damage and radiation.

Leverage Companion Perks

  • Select the Right Companion: Choose companions whose perks complement your playstyle. For example, Deacon’s Cloak & Dagger perk boosts sneak attack damage, while Nick Valentine’s Close to Metal improves hacking efficiency.
  • Maximize Companion Abilities: Use companion perks to gain additional benefits in stealth, combat, and hacking. Switch companions as needed to adapt to different mission requirements.

Equip Appropriate Gear

  • Stealth Gear: For a balance of protection and stealth, wear upgradable clothing with Ballistic Weave. We used Piper’s Coat for our playthrough in the early game, then upgraded to Elder Maxon’s Coat. Once you have access to Ballistic Weave, it’s a matter of your aesthetic preference as long as it can be upgraded.
  • Power Armor: Use T-51 Power Armor with Railroad Paint for high-risk missions. This provides superior defense while showcasing your allegiance to the Railroad.

Explore and Adapt

  • Explore Thoroughly: Search every location for valuable items, magazines, and bobbleheads that enhance your abilities.
  • Adapt Tactics: Be flexible with your approach. Use stealth and precision as your primary strategy, but be ready to adapt to open combat when necessary.

Double Agent

  • Institute Infiltration: To complete the Railroad storyline, you must infiltrate The Institute and act as a double agent. Follow the main storyline to gain access to The Institute.
  • Balance Loyalties: While working undercover, maintain your cover by completing Institute missions. Balance your actions to ensure you do not jeopardize your standing with the Railroad.
  • Final Confrontation: Near the end of the storyline, you must make critical decisions aligning with the Railroad’s goals. Be prepared for the final confrontation and the strategic maneuvers required to bring about The Institute’s downfall.

Backstory of the Railroad Agent

One figure stands resilient and defiant in the shadowy underbelly of the Commonwealth, where the light of hope often flickers and dies. Known only as “The Ghost” within the clandestine circles of the Railroad, she is a master of espionage, a silent protector of freedom, and a relentless adversary of the Institute.

Early Life

She was named Evelyn Shaw, born in the pre-war world’s ruins. Her early years were spent in the chaos of post-apocalyptic Boston, a world ravaged by nuclear devastation and overrun by danger. Evelyn’s parents, once prominent scientists, were taken by the Institute when she was just a child. Orphaned and alone, she learned to survive in the harshest conditions, honing her skills in stealth and combat out of necessity.

Discovery by the Railroad

Evelyn’s life changed when she was discovered by a Railroad operative during a mission to sabotage an Institute facility. Impressed by her agility, resourcefulness, and unyielding spirit, they recruited her into the Railroad. Here, she found a cause worth fighting for—rescuing synths from the oppressive grip of the Institute, the very entity that had torn her family apart.

Training and Rise

Under the tutelage of Railroad veterans, Evelyn excelled. She quickly mastered the use of advanced weaponry, hacking, and lockpicking and developed unparalleled skills in stealth. Her favored weapons became The Deliverer for silent operations and Kellogg’s Pistol for when subtlety was no longer an option. Evelyn’s ingenuity and determination earned her the codename “The Ghost,” a testament to her ability to move unseen and strike without warning.

Legacy

Evelyn Shaw, The Ghost, is a legend within the Railroad. Her actions have saved countless lives and brought the fight against the Institute to new heights. Yet, despite her successes, she remains driven by a personal vendetta—to dismantle the organization that destroyed her family and to ensure that no one else suffers the same fate. The Ghost’s story is one of resilience, vengeance, and the unyielding pursuit of justice in a world where shadows and secrets reign supreme.