Fallout 76 contains a wide variety of creepy, secret locations to explore throughout its post-apocalyptic wasteland map. One of these areas is known as The Burrows. Located underneath Harpers Ferry, The Burrows is a complex network of underground sewage tunnels that spans the entire town. It was added as part of the Wild Appalachia expansion in April 2019.
Exploring this place isn’t for the faint-of-heart. Players can expect to encounter ghouls, hostile robots, turrets, and a legendary enemy inside. There’s also some decent loot. For characters below level 50, it’s recommended to bring an ally or two, but stronger players can solo The Burrows. Here is a list of important things to know about this new addition to Fallout 76.
10 How To Enter The Burrows
The Burrows is located deep within The Mire. There are two openings to this tunnel network; the ‘Burrows - North’ entrance is directly west of Harpers Ferry, and the ‘Burrows - South’ entrance is on the street at the southwest end of the settlement. Pay attention! They’re cleverly disguised as manhole covers on the ground, so don’t walk in circles looking for a cave.
Between the two entrances, the north one is easier to navigate. Players can walk down the main drainage tunnel for direct access to the central chamber. From there, several paths branch out into a multitude of ’neighborhood’ tunnels. Pick one and start exploring!
9 Be Prepared
This is a huge dungeon and it’s teeming with ghouls. Specifically, with level 63 Charred Feral Ghouls. Most Fallout 76 players agree that these guys aren’t easy to take down. In fact, it’s recommended that any character under level 50 should bring a strong friend or group of friends.
Many of the powerful ghouls in here are clustered in groups. Therefore, if players become detected, they will get charged by a small army. Load up with some key perks such as ‘Rejuvenated’ to survive the massive damage.
It’s also a good idea to bring a big gun or two. Their high rate of fire, combined with large magazines and modest damage, will help players to mow down those ghouls. Or just beat them with a Rocket Sledge. Either way, make sure to use the right combination of stats and weapons.
8 Quest: Waste Management
That’s right, there’s a quest in here! Following the ‘Waste Management’ questline will help give direction to what would have been aimless tunnel wandering.
Begin the mission by picking up the holotape from the unfortunate Brotherhood of Steel corpse. Players will continue through the sewer system, spending plenty of ammunition to kill enemies along the way, and end up at a locked metal gate. Clues to the key’s location can be found from reading notes on the ground. Eventually, players will find themselves in the pump control room. Fight the powerful Assaultron Dominator and get some rewards for completing the quest!
7 Valves Allow Access to Secret Rooms
Even though it’s time-consuming, exploring all of the side corridors and blocked rooms is worth the effort. Many of those areas are only opened after activating a valve wheel. For example, on the northeast end of the drainage system, spinning the valve will open an underwater pipe with two loot chests. Beware of radiation exposure while swimming, though.
One of these valves is actually crucial to completing the ‘Waste Management’ quest! Players can only access the pump control room by activating a wheel and quickly running through the open tunnel.
6 This Dungeon Does. Not. End.
Seriously. Enter The Burrows with empty pockets and a Scrap Kit or two, because even seasoned explorers will be baffled by the labyrinth of side rooms, hidden passages, and large chambers. A ridiculous level of detail is common in all Fallout titles - Fallout 76 is no exception.
Try not to think about the hour(s) spent navigating The Burrows. Players should appreciate the intricate layout and story of this former refugee settlement. There are a lot of interesting anecdotes to be found along the way from terminals, paper notes, and unique items.
5 Getting Lost Is A Given
Again, getting lost is part of the fun here. And that’s what Fallout 76 players seem to love about the game. Bethesda developers are the best at creating massive, complex cave systems, and trying to keep track of where to go can be frustrating.
A good rule of thumb is to take all loot and clear all enemies from a new room as soon as possible. This way, if players find themselves in the same area, the ghoul corpses are a great ‘bread crumb’ indicator. Empty chests and shelves are pretty telling as well.
4 There’s A Toilet… And Other Funny Stuff
Even post-apocalyptic wastelanders understand the importance of toilet paper. At the south entrance of The Burrows, players will find a wooden staircase that ends in a dirt hole. Toilet paper is featured on top of the adjacent crates. That’s right; the game developers made sure to put an actual bathroom station into this underground settlement.
There are several other laugh-worthy Easter Eggs hidden within The Burrows. Another great example is Doctor Ken’s Chem Den. Next to the flashing neon ‘The Doc is in’ sign, players will find several coolers stuffed with chems, a creepy patient bed with handcuffs, and a terminal. Don’t ask.
3 Plenty Of Scrap Parts, Decent Loot
Many Fallout 76 veterans have criticized The Burrows for its lack of legendary loot and unique items. However, success in this game is ultimately determined by a player’s reserve of scrap parts, because scrap allows them to strengthen weapons and armor.
The Burrows is full of useful scrap parts if players know which items to look for. Plus, there is a legendary drop and several bobbleheads to loot. This definitely justifies spending several hours searching every nook and cranny of the underground settlement. Nothing ‘fancy,’ but plenty of ‘practical.’
2 Feel Free To Stay Awhile
One of the hardest obstacles to overcome in Fallout 76 is the player’s carrying capacity. With workbenches, players can reduce their weight by scrapping items picked up in The Burrows. This tunnel system happens to have at least one tinker bench, one chemical bench, two cooking stations, and one weapon repair bench. Players can scrap miscellaneous items and repair frequently-used weapons when needed.
What else does a nuclear adventurer need? Food and water! Luckily, there are plenty of these items scattered throughout each room in The Burrows. Eat and drink everything from these hidden caches and be able to stay underground for a long time.
1 A Stealthy Approach Is Recommended
Sure, power armor and Gatling Guns are fun. But are they the best idea when there are feral ghouls hidden in every corner? Players should pay special attention to side passages and hidden rooms throughout The Burrows, as these are frequently stuffed with high-level Feral Ghouls.
Craft some Chinese Stealth Armor, add a weapon silencer, and proceed with caution. Ghouls in here can even crawl out of rubble and dirt piles as players pass by, so make sure to look backward frequently.
NEXT: Fallout 76: 5 Ways The Wastelanders Update Made The Game Better (& 5 Things That Need To Be Improved)
