Highlights
- The mining helmet in Fallout 4 is particularly useful for settlement building when placed on a mannequin, as it creates a unique spotlight effect.
- Unlike other lights, the mining helmet doesn't require power and can be adjusted to different colors at an armor workbench.
- Players should consider equipping settlers with mining helmets to further illuminate their Fallout 4 settlements and potentially improve their overall design.
A Fallout 4 player has highlighted the mining helmet's useful utility with settlement building when paired with a mannequin. The Fallout series lacked settlement building until the release of Fallout 4, and while it has been explored thoroughly since its debut, many players still aren't aware of this technique years later.
Since Fallout 4 launched, countless players have shared their impressive settlements, with some utilizing mods, and others working with what the vanilla experience offers. Though settlement building is limited to areas of Fallout 4's Boston like Covenant, Sanctuary Hills, and The Castle, some players make these locations unrecognizable by making Diagon Alley, an AT-AT, and more. Using an example of Fallout 4 without mods, one player has discovered a useful trick in their Red Rocket settlement when pairing a mining helmet with a mannequin.
Reddit user AperhamLincoln recently shared a screenshot from Fallout 4 focusing on a Red Rocket truck stop that's illuminated by a mining helmet. The mining helmet placed on a mannequin acts as a spotlight that's pointed directly at the Rocket portion of the sign and garage underneath it. Unlike most lights that players can put around their Fallout 4 settlements, these mining helmets don't require power to light up what's in front of them, making them a useful item for brightening up certain areas. The light coming from the mining helmet can also be adjusted to blue, purple, and red at a Fallout 4 armor workbench. Changing the light's color may help players match a color scheme or theme that's used throughout their settlements.
Similar to the mannequins that can be placed around Fallout 4 settlements, the mining helmet can also be given to settlers to illuminate the areas even more. Though mining helmets can be found at Scrap Palace and College Square Station, most are located at Dunwich Borers and Saugus Ironworks. Noting a potential similarity between Fallout 4 and Skyrim mannequins, one fan suggested that these objects may be paralyzed NPCs that actually turn the headlamp lights on. Because the Fallout 4 mining helmet only offers 3 Damage Resistance, few players explore open-world Boston equipped with it unless they're delving into dark areas.
Given that some of the infamous Fallout 4 settlements are missing this mining helmet detail, some may be improved upon after AperhamLincoln's discovery. While Fallout 4 players often neglect the mining helmet on their playthroughs, builders may think twice before passing on the loot.
Fallout 4 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
