Summary
Veterans ofFallout 4’sNuka-WorldDLC will be more than familiar with one of the weapons it introduces, the Thirst Zapper. This weapon is a gift from Gage which allows the Sole Survivor to defeat the old Overboss despite being useless in terms of damage. However,its realpotential lies outside of combat.
When the weapon is equipped or re-equipped, its ammo refills to maximum, giving it unlimited ammunition. Unlike most weapons, the Thirst Zapper does not shoot bullets or lasers, but water, which is highly desirable for every living thing, but especially for the residents of the Commonwealth. This means thatgiving every person a Thirst Zapper would ensure they never go thirsty again.
Fallout 4’s Thirst Zapper Is A Strangely Useful Weapon
An Infinite Source Of Clean Water
Most players will likely toss aside the Thirst Zapper after the “Taken for a Ride” quest due to its uselessness outside the Nuka-Cade. The branded squirt gun does, however, get much better if the Sole Survivor finds the Project Cobalt schematics, which were meant to turn any everyday item into a lethal weapon. After finding these schematics, the Thirst Zapper can become one of themost powerful weapons inFallout 4, with adamage output which rivals the Fat Man mini-nuke launcher.
Should the player avoid using these modifications, however, their weapon will be much more useful from a practical perspective. While the gameplay does not allow it to be used this way, realistically,people could fire the Zapper into bottles, watering cans, or directly onto withering crops. The animations do show a bottle of liquid being poured into the gun, but the 999 shots the player receives from a single bottle make it seem like the weapon is at least multiplying the water poured into it.
Providing Infinite Water To Fallout 4’s Thirsty Commonwealth
Thirst Zappers Could Solve The Wasteland’s Water Crisis
There is great potential for a handheld, infinite water source to change the face ofFallout 4’sCommonwealth. While the water crisis is not as dire as it was inFallout 3’sCapital Wasteland, many people still struggle to get water on a daily basis. Dialogue from Sturges during the “Sanctuary” side quest makes it clear thatthe fresh water running through the Commonwealth is still heavily irradiated. Water needs to be pumped from aquifers underground or highly purified to remove radiation and pathogens.
The value of water is further exemplified by its high value. Each can of purified water has a base value of 20 caps, and the player can exploit workshop mechanics to produce hundreds of cans. In fact,Fallout 4’s best settlement locationscan be set up to allow for potentially dozens of industrial water purifiers to be placed. Sheng Kowalski seems to be wise to the water-selling scheme, having monopolized Diamond City’s sole reliable source of clean water, which the Sole Survivor can witness in a relativelyhiddenFallout 4quest, “Pool Cleaning.”
Thirst Zappers would all but remove the market demand for waterfrom the Commonwealth’s thirsty residents. Not only is it an infinite source of water, but it can be held in one hand, meaning it can be taken anywhere. Introducing Thirst Zappers could give settlers a greater ability to travel inFallout 4, helping trade. However, water merchants like Sheng would certainly be displeased, having lost their captive audience.
Fallout 4
Bethesda’s action RPG Fallout 4 puts players into the vault suit of the Lone Survivor, a pre-war soldier from an alternate future cryogenically frozen inside Vault 111. After their infant son is kidnapped, they venture out into the irradiated wasteland of the Commonwealth to scour the ruins of Boston for any sign of him. In doing so, they encounter various factions and companions and use an array of skills and abilities to navigate the apocalyptic remnants of society.
