I remember when I first started playing Fallout 4, I was completely overwhelmed by the sheer size of the Commonwealth. Between the super mutants, raiders, and radiation storms, I barely knew which way was up, let alone where to find those elusive Vault-Tec bobbleheads everyone kept talking about. But let me tell you, once I discovered how powerful these little collectibles were, I became obsessed with tracking them all down.
If you’re anything like me, you want to max out your character’s potential, and these bobbleheads are the key to doing just that. I’ve spent countless hours exploring every corner of the Commonwealth, and I’m here to share everything I’ve learned about finding all 20 bobbleheads in Fallout 4.
What Are Bobbleheads and Why Should You Care?
Before we dive into the locations, let me explain why these bobbleheads are so important. Each bobblehead you find gives you either a permanent +1 boost to one of your S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats or a unique bonus to one of your skills. Trust me, these bonuses add up fast and can make a huge difference in how effective you are in combat, conversations, and survival situations.
I’ve found that collecting bobbleheads early in the game can really give you an edge, especially if you’re playing on higher difficulties. Plus, there’s something incredibly satisfying about hearing that iconic ching sound when you pick one up!
All Bobblehead Locations: The Complete Guide
I’ve organized this guide by both S.P.E.C.I.A.L. bobbleheads and skill bobbleheads to make it easier to track what you’re looking for. I’ll include exact locations, tips for finding them, and what each one does for your character.
S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Bobbleheads
These seven bobbleheads will permanently increase one of your core attributes by 1 point. Even if you already have 10 in a stat, grabbing these can push you to 11, which is pretty awesome!
| Bobblehead | Effect | Location | My Personal Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | +1 Strength | Mass Fusion Building | Head to the top level where you fight the Power Armor raider boss. The bobblehead’s on a statue overlooking the lobby – I missed this one three times before finally spotting it! |
| Perception | +1 Perception | Museum of Freedom | In Concord, on a desk near Preston Garvey when you first meet him. You literally can’t miss this one if you’re doing the main quest. |
| Endurance | +1 Endurance | Poseidon Energy | In the central chamber on a metal desk. Watch out for the ghouls – they really don’t like visitors here. |
| Charisma | +1 Charisma | Parsons State Insane Asylum | On Jack Cabot’s desk during the Cabot House quest line. This one’s quest-locked, so don’t forget to do those quests! |
| Intelligence | +1 Intelligence | Boston Public Library | On a computer console in the mechanical room. The library’s crawling with super mutants, so come prepared for a fight. |
| Agility | +1 Agility | Wreck of FMS Northern Star | On the edge of the ship’s bow. The mirelurks here are nasty, so clear them out first. |
| Luck | +1 Luck | Spectacle Island | In a locker on a beached boat at the southern tip. I love this location – the view’s amazing if you survive the swim! |
Skill Bobbleheads
These 13 bobbleheads give you specific bonuses to various skills. Some of these bonuses are game-changers, especially if you focus on particular playstyles.
| Bobblehead | Effect | Location | My Personal Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barter | 5% better prices | Longneck Lukowski’s Cannery | In the metal hut overlooking the cannery floor. The robots here can be tough, so use the environment to your advantage. |
| Big Guns | +25% crit damage with heavy weapons | Vault 95 | On a radio in the living quarters. This vault is a maze – follow the signs to residential areas. |
| Energy Weapons | +25% crit damage with energy weapons | Fort Hagen Command Center | Between two refrigerators in the kitchen. You’ll come here during the main quest, so keep an eye out! |
| Explosives | +15% explosive damage | Saugus Ironworks | On a control panel in the blast furnace. The Forged here are no joke – bring your best weapons. |
| Lock Picking | Makes lockpicking easier | Pickman Gallery | Near where you meet Pickman. This one’s great for those of us who suck at lockpicking minigames! |
| Medicine | +10% stimpack healing | Vault 81 | In Curie’s office. You’ll need to complete a quest to access this area, but it’s worth it. |
| Melee | +25% crit damage with melee weapons | Trinity Tower | In the cage with Strong and Rex. The tower climb is intense, but the view from the top is incredible. |
| Repair | Fusion cores last 10% longer | Corvega Assembly Plant | On the roof at the end of a blue catwalk. This one’s tricky to reach, but so worth it for power armor users. |
| Science | +1 guess when hacking | Malden Middle School (Vault 75) | In the science labs overlooking the training area. As someone who hates hacking, this bobblehead’s a lifesaver! |
| Small Guns | +25% crit damage with ballistic weapons | Gunners Plaza | In the “On the Air” room. You’ll need master lockpicking for this one – plan accordingly! |
| Sneak | 10% harder to detect | Dunwich Borers | On a table by a lantern deep in the tunnels. This place gives me the creeps, but the bobblehead’s perfect for stealth builds. |
| Speech | +100 vendor caps | Park Street Station (Vault 114) | In the overseer’s office. You’ll find this during the main quest with Nick Valentine. |
| Unarmed | +25% crit damage with unarmed attacks | Atom Cats Garage | On a rusty car in the main garage. The Atom Cats are cool, and their garage is full of awesome power armor mods! |
My Personal Bobblehead Hunting Strategy
I’ve learned a few things from hunting these bobbleheads across multiple playthroughs, and I want to share my personal strategy with you:
Early Game Focus: I always go for the Perception and Intelligence bobbleheads first. They’re in relatively safe areas (Museum of Freedom and Boston Public Library) and the bonuses help with VATS and XP gain right from the start.
Mid Game Priority: Once I’m level 10-15, I make a beeline for the Charisma bobblehead. The extra charisma helps with speech checks and settlement management, which becomes more important as you progress.
Late Game Cleanup: The trickier ones like Small Guns (needs master lockpicking) and the ones in dangerous locations like Dunwich Borers I save for when I’m higher level and better equipped.
Pro Tip: I always keep a separate save file before entering major locations where bobbleheads are found. There’s nothing worse than missing one and having to fight your way back through hordes of enemies!
2026 Common Mistakes to Avoid
I’ve made plenty of mistakes while hunting bobbleheads, so let me help you avoid them:
- Not checking quest requirements: Some bobbleheads (like Charisma) are locked behind specific quests. I once spent an hour trying to get into Parsons State Insane Asylum before realizing I needed to do the Cabot House quests first!
- Ignoring the environment: Bobbleheads are often placed on desks, shelves, or statues that blend into the environment. I’ve walked right past them multiple times because I wasn’t paying attention to details.
- Going in unprepared: Some locations are incredibly dangerous. I learned this the hard way when I tried to grab the Luck bobblehead at level 5 and got destroyed by mirelurks.
- Forgetting to check your collection: There’s a bobblehead stand in Vault 81 where you can display your collection. I use it to track which ones I still need to find.
Advanced Tips for Completionists
If you’re like me and want to 100% complete your bobblehead collection, here are some advanced tips I’ve picked up:
Settlement Display: You can craft bobblehead stands at any settlement workshop. I love creating a dedicated “trophy room” in my main settlement to show off my collection.
Companion Synergy: Some companions have unique dialogue when you find certain bobbleheads. I always bring Nick Valentine when hunting in the Boston area – he has some great lines about the city’s history.
Perk Planning: Knowing which bobbleheads you’ll get can help with perk planning. For example, if you know you’ll get the Intelligence bobblehead, you might not need to put as many points into INT during leveling.
Challenge Runs: Try doing a bobblehead-only run where you can only level up using the stat boosts from bobbleheads. It’s surprisingly fun and forces you to explore areas you might otherwise skip!
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bobbleheads are there in Fallout 4?
There are exactly 20 bobbleheads in Fallout 4 – 7 that boost your S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats and 13 that provide skill bonuses.
Can I get bobbleheads after the main story?
Absolutely! All bobbleheads remain accessible after completing the main story. I actually prefer hunting them post-game when I’m more powerful and can focus purely on exploration.
What happens if I miss a bobblehead?
Don’t worry! You can always go back and get any bobbleheads you’ve missed. I’ve gone back to locations dozens of levels later and had no problem retrieving them.
Do bobbleheads respawn?
No, bobbleheads don’t respawn. Once you’ve collected one, it’s gone from that location forever. This is why I always double-check I’ve actually picked it up before leaving an area.
Can bobbleheads push my stats above 10?
Yes! If you have 10 in a S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stat and find the corresponding bobblehead, it will increase that stat to 11. This is incredibly powerful for min-maxing your character.
Are there any bobbleheads that are missable?
Technically, no bobbleheads are permanently missable, but some are tied to specific quests or require high-level perks. The Charisma bobblehead is probably the most “missable” since it’s quest-locked, but you can always do the Cabot House quests later.
My Final Thoughts
Hunting down all 20 bobbleheads in Fallout 4 has been one of my favorite gaming experiences. There’s something incredibly satisfying about exploring every corner of the Commonwealth and being rewarded with these permanent stat boosts. I’ve found that taking the time to collect them all makes me feel more connected to my character and more invested in the world.
Whether you’re a completionist like me or just want to give your character an edge, I hope this guide helps you on your bobblehead hunting journey. Remember to take your time, enjoy the exploration, and don’t be afraid to consult this guide when you get stuck!
Want more Fallout content? Check out our complete guide to Bethesda’s Fallout universe for even more tips and tricks. And if you love gaming guides like this, browse our gaming section for the latest strategies and walkthroughs!
Happy hunting, and may your S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats be ever in your favor!
Bookmark this guide for future reference – I’ll be updating it regularly with any new tips or location changes. And don’t forget to share your own bobblehead hunting stories in the comments below!