Summary
Synths are one of the most important concepts inFallout 4, and even players who neglect the main plot will have trouble avoiding them. The Railroad is dedicated primarily to freeing Synths from Institute slavery, while the Brotherhood of Steel views them as an existential threat to humanity. Meanwhile, multiple side quests and a huge portion ofthe Far Harbor DLCrevolve around them.
However, even almost a decade afterFallout 4’s release, there are still a lot of misconceptions about what Synths are and how they work. While often described as robots or androids, this is only half true. Neither is it entirely accurate to call them cyborgs or clones. Therefore, it’s worth examining what exactlyFallout 4’s Synths are and how they are and aren’t like humans.
What Synths Are in Fallout 4
One common idea both in and out ofFallout 4’s world is that Synths are just machines, but this is only true for the first- and second-generation Synths. The earliest models are little more than mechanical skeletons, though some were covered in rigid, plastic skin. The later Gen-2 Synths have flexible rubber or polymer skin and resemble department store mannequins. Except for experimental prototypes likeNick Valentine and DiMA, they possess only limited machine intelligence.
Gen-3 Synths are Biological and Vulnerable to Radiation
Meanwhile, the Generation 3 Synths are almost entirely biological. The only electronic part appears to be the mysterious Synth Component that they drop when killed.Fallout 4never spells out exactly what the Component does. However, it’s believed to be a brain implant that allows the Institute to control and recall Synths and how the Railroad can wipe a Synth’s memory. Apart from this one implant,Fallout 4’s Synths are physically identical to humans.
This is also why, contrary to a common rumor,Fallout 4’s Gen-3 Synthsalso appear to be vulnerable to radiation. While there aren’t any Synth ghouls, they will still die if exposed to enough radiation. The rumor that Synths are immune may stem from people hearing Nick Valentine say he’s immune to radiation and assuming that applies to all Synths. However, since Gen-3 Synths are biological, they are just as susceptible to radiation as any other organism.
Synths are Manufactured and Don’t Age
Where things start to get interesting is how Gen-3 Synths are made. Instead of being born or grown in a lab,Fallout 4shows thatthe Institute manufactures Synthsfrom organic materials. The process begins with a machine assembling the Synth’s skeleton from lab-grown bones. It then knits together the Synth’s muscles and organs. The second to last step involves filling the body with blood and animating it with electricity before finally submerging the Synth into a vat of biological matter that becomes its skin.
Notably,Fallout 4never clarifies whether Synth’s can reproduce normally. The game implies that Synths possess sex organs but never describes Synths conceiving children with humans or other Synths. The game does, however, make it clear Synth children do not age physically or mature mentally. Many fans interpret this to mean that Synths do not age at all, thoughFallout 4never explicitly answers this question.
Synths Can’t Gain or Lose Weight but Still Need to Eat
As for other biological functions, there are a few key differences between Synths and humans. For example, a Holotape in the Institute reveals that Synths can’t gain weight, which is convenient given that it also says that all Gen-3 Synths are addicted to Fancy Lad Snack Cakes. Seemingly overweightSynths like Diamond City’s Mayor McDonoughwere designed to look that way by the Institute. The Synth Retention Bureau’s terminal entry on McDonough also implies that the same applies to losing weight or building or losing muscle mass.
That said, it appears that Synths still need to eat, sleep, and breathe.Fallout 4companion Curiewill complain about having to do so after players transfer her to a Synth body during her quest. The fact that Synth’s can only be identified via autopsy also implies that most of their other bodily functions work as normal.
Fallout 4
WHERE TO PLAY
Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of Fallout 76 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, invite you to the ambitious open world of Fallout 4. Do whatever you want in a massive Commonwealth with hundreds of locations, characters and quests.As the sole survivor of Vault 111, only you can rebuild and determine the fate of the Wasteland. Join multiple factions vying for power or go it alone - the choices are yours.From a Power Armor-toting soldier to the charismatic smooth-talker, be whoever you want with the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. character system and develop your own playstyle from hundreds of Perks.Experience exciting first- or third-person combat with the dynamic Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, or V.A.T.S., targeting enemies for maximum tactical advantage (and cinematic carnage!) Collect, upgrade and build thousands of items with Fallout 4’s crafting system. Weapons, armor, food and with the right materials, even entire settlements are possible. Welcome home.
