Unlike in Fallout 3, where Nuka Cola Quantum was a common find, it’s actually incredibly rare to find one in Fallout: New Vegas.
In FNV, there is only a single location where the rare beverage can be found. Despite the actual item being in the base game’s data, it actually doesn’t spawn anywhere outside of the Lonesome Road DLC.
Quick tips before setting out to get the soda:
- Lonesome Road DLC required. Even though the item is in the base game, as it can be spawned via console commands, it doesn’t spawn outside of the Lonesome Road DLC.
- Little/no progress in the Lonesome Road required. The item has a low chance to spawn, and the container in which it spawns doesn’t restock, meaning that you only have 1 chance to get the item unless you perform the trick in this guide, which must be performed early in the DLC.
Getting the Nuka Cola Quantum
First, start the DLC and make your way through the entirety of the Hopeville Missile Silo but DO NOT EXIT THE SILO. First, you must save your game, which will allow you to reload your saved game if the item doesn’t spawn.
Create two save files just in case you accidentally overwrite the original one, then proceed outside the Silo.
Once outside, Ulysses will speak to you through EDE. Be aware that you will have to repeat the conversation with EDE every time you reload your saved game.
Once you finish the conversation, proceed to the “Solitare” gas station, which can be seen on your left.
Jump down from the ridge and go right behind the gas station. The shipping crate marked on the image below has a small chance to contain the soda.
If it isn’t there, you’ll have to reload your saved game and try again.
Effects of Nuka Cola Quantum
Nuka Cola Quantum is a powerful item especially in hardcore mode.
- In Normal mode, it grants +20AP for 4 minutes.
- In Hardcore mode, it grants +20 AP for 4 minutes and decreases Exhaustion by 100.
Due to there only being a single instance of the item, however, it makes it much more of a collector’s item rather than a consumable you’ll use.
Interestingly, the player has a 10% chance of getting addicted to Nuka Cola Quantum after consumption, leading to a -1 penalty to Charisma and –15 penalty to Radiation Resistance. The player will have to either wait for 48 real-life minutes, take a dose of Fixer or visit a doctor to remove the addiction.
