Welcome to the Codebreaker merit badge guide for Fallout 76! While this is another fairly straightforward merit badge, we’d recommend holding off on this one unless you’re high enough level to launch a nuke, and you’ve received the proper clearance to do so. Now that legendary perks have been added to the game, the Master Infiltrator perk makes this much more convenient than it used to be. Before we get into some tips and tricks, here are the requirements for the merit badge.

Pass “Codebreaker” knowledge exam at an exam terminal
Hack into skill level “0” terminals (x/3)
Hack into skill level “1” terminals (x/3)
Hack into skill level “2” terminals (x/3)
Hack into skill level “3” terminals (x/3)
Solve a nuke launch code sequence by launching a nuke

If you’re looking for the questions and answers to the exam, those will be in an expandable box down below. Requirements 2-5 simply require hacking terminals of various challenge levels three times each. If you don’t have all three hacking perks, or you don’t have three intelligence to allocate the cards (we won’t judge…probably), then you can have one or more teammates share one perk each with you. Or, you can go the easy route, and equip the Master Infiltrator perk we mentioned at the top. We’ve posted four maps at the bottom, made using the fantastic Mappalachia tool, that have level 0, 1, 2, and 3 rank unlocks, respectively, but please note these are open world locations only. Opening any of the pictures will expand it, making it easier to see and navigate. There are also some that can be found inside of buildings (nuclear silos, for example), let us know if you’d like to have us add those as well.

The final requirement is to input the correct code to launch a nuke. If you’re a glutton for punishment, you can try to solve the nuke launch sequences by yourself, but we’d highly recommend simply going to Nukacrypt and getting this week’s code for the launch silo of your choice. Given you have to clear the silo before you can input the code, you’ll need to be a general in the Enclave, and have a nuclear keycard as well (if you don’t have one, they’re easy enough to source from the Enclave, or they’re also commonly in player vendors). We’d recommend having decent gear, and being at least level 35-40, unless you have a friend or a team that can carry you.

Level 0-3 Hacking Locations, Open World Only, Via Mappalachia Tool

Door-Opening Terminals (Rank May Vary)

Codebreaker Questions and Answers

Alfonso is having trouble figuring out a commie passcode and has decided to try brute-forcing a solution. How does he go about this?: Computing all possible solutions sequentially
All computers operate using something called binary code. How many digits are used in binary?: 2
Brendan sent an encrypted message to a foreign national, but you were able to decrypt it because it had “known plaintext”. What is “plaintext”?: Unencrypted information
“for(int i = 1; i > 10; i++)” The condition in your code is flawed and the loop will not count from 1 to 10. How do you fix it?: i <= 10 (Note: the answer is presented as “i ” follow by blank space due to a visual bug, as of writing)
Hannah is sending you juicy gossip using symmetric-key cryptography. To decrypt her secret message, what do you BOTH need?: The same key
How did the dirty Nazis encode their messages during World War II?: Enigma machines
How might “APPALACHIA” be read when encoded with a Caesar cipher?: XII LC QEB XYLSB
Samuel is upset at Mary. Samuel orders his Mr. Handy to hit Mary! His Mr. Handy won’t obey. Why?: It violates the Mr. Handy’s programming
Susie wants to sign her name for a deaf friend using American Sign Language. What sign should she make first?: A closed fist with thumb over middle finger
Which Founding Father invented a disk cipher later used by the US Army?: Thomas Jefferson
Which cipher, named for a French diplomat, was used by the Confederacy during the Civil War?: The Vigenere cipher
Which mythical device gave its name to this infamous kind of computer virus?: The Trojan Horse
Which of these big words means “solving coded communications”?: Cryptanalysis
Which of these patriotic languages did our fine fighting men use as an unbreakable code during World War II?: Navajo
You need to send a coded warning to Washington D.C. using a “Templar cipher”. What shape will you use in your cipher?: A cross
You suspect Samuel is a commie. His favorite subject is history, and he uses four numbers for his terminal password. What historical year might his password be?: 1917
You want to record an encoded holotape with information on potential traitors to send to Mary through your terminal. What kind of software encodes the holotape?: A codec
You’re lost in the woods and need to use Morse code to signal other scouts for help. Which signal do you send?: … – – – . . .
You’re operating your shortwave radio and come across a strange broadcast. After listening for a while, you realize it’s commie propaganda! What do you do?: Report it to the authorities immediately!
Your Mr. Handy is a master codebreaker, much better than the first codebreaking computers. What were those old junk heaps called?: Colossi
Your data is only as secure as its weakest link! And what would that be?: You