You earn a small amount of scoreboard score every 10,000 XP, so maximizing XP gain in the background adds up over a season. If you find yourself pushing hard at the end of a season, having a solid XP setup already in place makes a real difference.
Guide
Maximizing XP
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Table of Contents
Overview
Team & Mutations
Join a Public Casual Team
Being on a Casual team grants bonus Intelligence, which directly increases the XP you earn. Public teams are easy to join from the social menu and require no coordination.
Herbivore & Carnivore Mutations
The Herbivore and Carnivore mutations double the positive effects of their corresponding food type — including XP buffs from food. Pick whichever mutation fits your playstyle and eat the matching foods for doubled effect.
Use the Food & Drink reference to find foods that offer XP bonuses for your preferred mutation type.
Buffs & Items
Food Buffs
Several foods grant Intelligence or direct XP bonuses. Combined with the Herbivore or Carnivore mutation, these effects are doubled. Stack food buffs before starting an XP session for a noticeable boost.
Bobbleheads, Magazines & Camp Items
Some bobbleheads, magazines, and placeable camp items grant XP or Intelligence buffs. Magazines and bobbleheads aren't always worth hunting down specifically for XP sessions — tracking them down can be time consuming and they're not worth actively pursuing. Use them if you happen to have them available, but don't build your session around finding them.
Lunchboxes
Opening a lunchbox grants an XP boost that lasts one hour. The boost stacks up to four lunchboxes at a time. Lunchboxes can be purchased with Atoms, bought in-game with Gold Bullion from Samuel and Mortimer — the Gold Bullion vendors for each faction — are sometimes offered as a free item from the Atomic Shop, and occasionally appear as a scoreboard reward.
Best way to use lunchboxes
Open a lunchbox at a public event. The buff applies to all nearby players, and other players are likely to share one back. This is the most cost-effective way to get the stacked boost without spending multiple lunchboxes yourself.
XP Gear
If you regularly grind XP near the end of a season, consider building a dedicated XP set. Legendary mods can be applied to weapons and armor that increase Intelligence and other stats that affect XP gain.
Use the Legendary Mod reference to find mods that boost Intelligence.
Farming Routes
Prioritize Events
Events award generous XP on completion. Run events as your primary activity and fill the gaps between them with creature farming. Super Mutants are one of the most effective creatures to farm between events, as the XP they award increases significantly when your other buffs are active.
WestTek Research Center — Super Mutant Farm
WestTek Research Center has a private interior entrance that allows fast, repeatable Super Mutant farming. Super Mutants give solid XP and the route loops quickly.
WestTek Route
- 1Enter the WestTek Research Center. Head to the door on the right side of the entrance.
- 2Use the terminal in that hallway to open the door. This leads to a two-level interior where Super Mutants and Mutant Hounds spawn.
- 3Clear the area, then take the elevator on the left of where you entered to the lower level.
- 4Clear the first few rooms off the elevator — around five Super Mutants typically spawn here.
- 5After about a minute, the upper area respawns. Take the elevator back up and repeat the route.