Fallout 4: Ultimate Guide to the Best Merchants and Unique Items in the Commonwealth
Key Takeaways:
- Variety of Unique Items: From rare weapons to unique armor, Fallout 4’s merchants offer special items that can make a huge difference in gameplay.
- Strategic Buying and Selling: Knowing which merchants to visit and what items to buy or sell can optimize your Caps and resources.
- Merchants Across Locations: Unique traders can be found from Diamond City to Far Harbor, offering specialized goods worth seeking out.
Exploring Fallout 4’s Commonwealth opens up a network of merchants selling weapons, armor, chems, and junk that are essential for survival. While many vendors offer general items, some specialize in unique, one-of-a-kind weapons and gear with game-changing stats. From Diamond City’s renowned dealers to the hidden traders of Far Harbor, here’s a guide to the top merchants and items in Fallout 4.
1. Smiling Larry – Rare Weapons via Random Encounter
Location: Random Encounter; recruitable for settlements
Inventory: Junk, random items; special weapon – Reckoning (unique Ripper variant)
Smiling Larry is a random encounter merchant, making him tricky to find. He may appear at specific spots on the map, so be prepared to reload your game a few times to locate him. If you can recruit him to one of your settlements, he becomes an invaluable asset. His most notable item is Reckoning, a Ripper weapon that reduces damage by 15% when standing still a powerful choice for close-combat play.
Note: Some players, especially on PC, have reported bugs where Larry becomes unresponsive, making him harder to interact with.
2. Allen Lee – Legendary Weapons in Far Harbor
Location: Far Harbor
Inventory: Legendary weapons and mixed items
Allen Lee is among the first merchants you encounter in Far Harbor. He sells two unique weapons: the Admiral’s Friend, a harpoon gun with doubled damage when hitting enemies at full health, and the Fish Catcher, a pole hook weapon that reduces VATS points by 40%. These are especially effective with specific perks, allowing players to dominate in combat.
3. Slim – Low-Profile Chem Vendor
Location: West of Hester’s Consumer Robotics
Inventory: Selection of chems
Slim is a lesser-known chem vendor located in a hard-to-spot area, offering a variety of chems to keep your character ready for action. Though he doesn’t stock unique items, he’s a reliable source for chems when your supply runs low.
4. Myrna – Diamond City’s Junk Specialist
Location: Diamond City
Inventory: Junk for crafting and settlement building
Myrna is an essential vendor for players who need junk for crafting and building. Despite her distrustful nature, she’s a top option for junk collectors, especially as settlements expand. Players focusing on settlement crafting should keep her in mind as a key resource.
5. Arturo – Diamond City’s Arms Dealer
Location: Diamond City
Inventory: Weapons, armor, and unique items like Old Faithful and Protector’s Left Armguard
Arturo is a mainstay in Diamond City, selling a vast array of weapons and armor. His unique items include Old Faithful, a laser pistol with a double-damage effect on full-health enemies, and two powerful armor pieces, the Protector’s Left and Right Armguard. Arturo’s shop is a go-to for ammunition and essential gear upgrades, especially for endgame settlement defenders.
6. Kleo – Goodneighbor’s Robotic Arms Dealer
Location: Goodneighbor
Inventory: Weapons, unique armor pieces, and the Partystarter missile launcher
Kleo is an Assaultron with a dark sense of humour, residing in Goodneighbor. She stocks a range of unique items, including the Partystarter, a missile launcher that offers explosive enjoyment in the wasteland. Kleo also carries the Devastator’s Chestpiece and Right Greave, making her an excellent vendor for both offensive and defensive gear.
7. Cricket – Traveling Weapon Trader
Location: Bunker Hill and other locations
Inventory: Spray n’ Pray weapon, lead, silver, springs
Cricket is a traveling merchant specializing in weapons. She’s known for Spray n’ Pray, a submachine gun with explosive rounds, making it one of the most powerful weapons in Fallout 4. Her inventory is essential for players needing junk components like lead and silver. Cricket’s weapon is particularly effective when paired with perks that enhance explosive damage.
8. Alexis Combes – Vault 81’s General Merchant
Location: Vault 81
Inventory: Unique items like Overseer’s Guardian, rare crafting materials
Alexis Combes is the resident vendor in Vault 81 and offers rare materials such as fiber optics and nuclear components. She stocks Overseer’s Guardian, a combat rifle that fires two projectiles per shot, making it an invaluable weapon. Save Austin’s life during the “Hole in the Wall” quest to unlock a 10% discount on her items, a useful perk for frequent traders.
9. Vault-Tec Rep – Former Salesman Turned Ghoul
Location: Hotel Rexford, Goodneighbor; recruitable to Sanctuary Hills
Inventory: Apocalypse Left Greave, rare building supplies
The Vault-Tec Rep is a pre-war character who, after the bombs, turns into a ghoul. Players can recruit him to Sanctuary Hills, where he serves as a high-level merchant selling rare junk and the Apocalypse Left Greave armor piece. His setup in Sanctuary Hills makes it easy to manage and store resources for crafting.
10. Proctor Teagan – Brotherhood of Steel Quartermaster
Location: Prydwen
Inventory: Unique armor, power armor, and weapons like Death From Above
Proctor Teagan is the Brotherhood of Steel’s dedicated vendor, offering unique power armor pieces and Brotherhood-specific weapons. Players can purchase items like the Commando Chest Piece and Death From Above missile launcher after completing certain Brotherhood missions. With the most extensive inventory of unique items among vendors, he’s essential for anyone playing through Brotherhood of Steel missions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which merchant in Fallout 4 has the best weapons?
Arturo in Diamond City, Cricket, and Proctor Teagan all offer unique and powerful weapons. Each provides items suited to different combat styles, from explosive rounds to Brotherhood-exclusive weapons.
How can I recruit merchants to my settlements?
Certain merchants, like Smiling Larry and the Vault-Tec Rep, can be recruited to settlements. Building a trading emporium and meeting the right conditions can help bring these vendors into your base.
What are the best items to sell to merchants in Fallout 4?
Items such as pre-war money, rare junk, and high-value weapons like Spray n’ Pray or excess power armor parts are great to sell for extra Caps.
Is there any way to increase discounts with merchants?
Yes, specific quest outcomes (like saving Austin in Vault 81) or perks, such as the Cap Collector perk, can improve prices and discounts with certain merchants.
