Fallout 4 Magazines: Complete Collector’s Guide to All 122 Locations & Perks

The Commonwealth is littered with pre-war treasures, but few are as valuable as the 122 magazines scattered across Fallout 4’s wasteland. Unlike junk you’ll scrap for materials, these collectibles grant permanent perks that stack with each issue found, turning a casual survivor into a powerhouse. Whether you’re hunting for damage boosts, better prices, or unique combat advantages, knowing where to find all magazines in Fallout 4 is essential for maximizing your character’s potential.

This guide breaks down every magazine type, their locations across the Commonwealth (including Far Harbor and Nuka-World), and how to efficiently track down all 122 issues without losing your mind. Let’s immerse.

What Are Magazines in Fallout 4 and Why Do They Matter?

Magazines are permanent perk-granting collectibles that boost specific stats, weapon damage, or gameplay mechanics. Unlike skill books from earlier Fallout titles, each magazine you pick up adds a stackable bonus to your character, no reading required, just grab it and the perk activates immediately.

There are 122 total magazines spread across 17 different series, each focusing on distinct gameplay benefits. Some boost weapon damage by 5% per issue, others improve settlement happiness or vendor prices. The best part? These perks stack indefinitely, meaning collecting all issues of a series can result in significant power spikes.

For completionists, magazines also contribute to the “They’re Not Dolls” achievement/trophy, which requires finding 10 Vault-Tec bobbleheads and 20 magazines. But the real payoff is the cumulative advantage, especially for specialized builds that rely on specific weapon types or playstyles.

How Magazine Perks Work

Each magazine series grants a unique perk tied to its theme. For example, Guns and Bullets increases ballistic weapon damage by 5% per issue (10 total issues = +50% damage), while Picket Fences unlocks new settlement building options with each issue.

Perks are permanent and apply immediately upon pickup. They’re listed in your Pip-Boy under the “Stats” tab, so you can track which bonuses you’ve earned. Unlike temporary consumables, you can’t lose magazine perks, even if you store the physical magazine in a container or display rack.

Some magazines offer one-time unlocks rather than stackable bonuses. Picket Fences, for instance, doesn’t increase a stat but instead adds five new crafting options to your workshop menu. Others, like Astoundingly Awesome Tales, provide percentage-based increases that compound with additional issues.

The key is prioritizing magazines that align with your build. Stealth snipers benefit heavily from Grognak the Barbarian (melee damage) less than melee bruisers, while energy weapon users should chase Tesla Science before anything else.

The 17 Magazine Types: Every Series Explained

Understanding what each magazine series does is critical for efficient hunting. Here’s the full breakdown of all 17 types and their perks.

Astoundingly Awesome Tales

Total Issues: 14
Perk: Each issue grants +5% damage against a specific enemy type (Ghouls, Robots, Super Mutants, etc.).

This series is wildly underrated. By collecting all 14 issues, you’ll have significant damage boosts against nearly every enemy faction in the game. Issue #1 (Hubris Comics) boosts Ghoul damage, perfect for clearing the Glowing Sea or Kiddie Kingdom in Nuka-World.

Grognak the Barbarian

Total Issues: 10
Perk: +5% melee and unarmed damage per issue.

Melee builds live and die by this series. All 10 issues grant a cumulative +50% melee damage, stacking beautifully with perks like Big Leagues and Rooted. Issue #1 is in the laundromat near Sanctuary, making it one of the easiest early grabs.

Guns and Bullets

Total Issues: 10
Perk: +5% critical damage with ballistic weapons per issue.

Crit-focused rifleman and gunslinger builds should prioritize this. The cumulative +50% crit damage pairs perfectly with the Critical Banker perk and VATS-heavy playstyles. Issue #5 is in the Corvega Assembly Plant, often collected during the early quest “The First Step.”

Live & Love

Total Issues: 9
Perk: Various companion-related bonuses, including +5% XP when adventuring with a companion.

This series is a mixed bag. Some issues boost companion affinity gain or damage output, while others increase XP. Issue #3 grants +50% XP from persuasion attempts, insanely useful for Charisma builds farming levels.

Picket Fences

Total Issues: 5
Perk: Unlocks unique settlement building options (hot rod flames, high-tech lights, picket fences, etc.).

Settlement builders can’t skip this. Each issue adds cosmetic and functional crafting options to your workshop menu. Issue #1 (in the Jamaica Plain house) unlocks hot rod paint jobs for Power Armor, which alone makes it worth the trip.

Tales of a Junktown Jerky Vendor

Total Issues: 9
Perk: +10% better prices when buying/selling per issue.

This series is pure quality of life. All nine issues grant +90% better vendor prices, making it easier to afford rare shipments and ammo. Issue #1 is in the Super Duper Mart, often visited during early-game scavenging runs.

Tesla Science

Total Issues: 9
Perk: +5% critical damage with energy weapons per issue.

The energy weapon equivalent of Guns and Bullets. Laser rifle and plasma builds need all nine issues for the full +45% crit damage boost. Issue #4 is in the Corvega Assembly Plant’s upper offices.

Tumblers Today

Total Issues: 5
Perk: Each issue grants one bonus guess attempt when hacking terminals or adds one “dud removed” option.

Low Intelligence characters or anyone tired of failed hacking attempts should grab these. Issue #1 is in the Red Rocket Truck Stop near Sanctuary, almost impossible to miss.

Wasteland Survival Guide

Total Issues: 9
Perk: Various survival bonuses, including reduced damage from specific sources (Mirelurks, insects, etc.) and improved resistance.

This series is defensive-focused. Issue #1 reduces Mirelurk damage by 5%, while Issue #3 grants +5 Damage Resistance. Great for Survival difficulty runs where every point of DR matters.

Other Magazine Series

The remaining eight series are single-issue or offer niche bonuses:

• Covert Operations Manual (2 issues): Boosts stealth damage.
• Hot Rodder (3 issues): Unlocks additional Paint Jobs and upgrades for Power Armor.
• La Coiffe (3 issues): Boosts Charisma in specific situations.
• Massachusetts Surgical Journal (4 issues): Increases limb damage dealt.
• RobCo Fun (5 issues): Adds holotape games to your Pip-Boy.
• Total Hack (3 issues): Unlocks additional terminal functions.
• U.S. Covert Operations Manual (10 issues): Increases stealth damage by 5% per issue.
• Unstoppables (5 issues): Adds a chance to avoid all damage from an attack.

The U.S. Covert Operations Manual is a must for stealth builds, granting up to +50% stealth attack damage. Many players confuse it with Covert Operations Manual, they’re separate series.

Finding All 122 Magazines: Regional Location Breakdown

Tracking down every magazine requires methodical exploration. This regional breakdown organizes Fallout 4 magazine locations by area, making it easier to clear zones systematically.

Commonwealth Central Locations

The central Commonwealth holds roughly 40% of all magazines. Key locations include:

• Sanctuary Hills Area: Tumblers Today #1 is at the nearby Red Rocket Truck Stop, sitting on a desk in the back office.
• Concord: U.S. Covert Operations Manual #6 is in the Concord Speakeasy, hidden in a safe behind the counter.
• Lexington: Corvega Assembly Plant contains three magazines, Guns and Bullets #5, Tesla Science #4, and Astoundingly Awesome Tales #4. Clear this early for quick boosts.
• Cambridge: The Cambridge Polymer Labs has Tales of a Junktown Jerky Vendor #5 in the research lab.

The central region is beginner-friendly, with most locations accessible at lower levels. Many players naturally stumble upon magazines while completing early Brotherhood of Steel or Minutemen quests, but veteran players often use detailed Fallout 4 guides to optimize their collection routes.

Boston and Downtown Area

Downtown Boston is a magazine goldmine but also a combat gauntlet. Expect Super Mutants, Gunners, and tight corridors.

• Hubris Comics: Astoundingly Awesome Tales #1 and Grognak the Barbarian #5 are both here. The store is crawling with Feral Ghouls, so bring ammo.
• Boston Public Library: Contains Massachusetts Surgical Journal #2 and Picket Fences #3. Watch for turrets and synths.
• Trinity Tower: Live & Love #6 is at the top. You’ll need to rescue Rex Goodman and Strong during the quest “Curtain Call.”
• Faneuil Hall: Hot Rodder #2 is in the maintenance area. Clear the Mirelurks first.

Downtown locations often require lockpicking or terminal hacking. Investing in at least rank 2 of both perks saves frustration. Players who struggle with terminal mini-games often reference resources like Game Rant for hacking tips and walkthroughs.

Glowing Sea and Southern Territories

The Glowing Sea is hostile and irradiated, but it contains several critical magazines.

• Sentinel Site Prescott: U.S. Covert Operations Manual #9 is inside the bunker. Bring Rad-X and RadAway.
• Cave near Skylanes Flight 1981: Wasteland Survival Guide #7 is tucked in the back. Watch for Deathclaws.
• Vault 95: Tales of a Junktown Jerky Vendor #7 is in the overseer’s office. Related to the Cait companion quest.

The southern Commonwealth also includes Jamaica Plain (Picket Fences #1 in the treasure room) and Quincy Ruins (Guns and Bullets #8 on the overpass). Both areas are high-level Gunner strongholds.

Northern Commonwealth and Far Harbor

The northern Commonwealth blends into the Far Harbor DLC area, which adds 6 additional magazines.

• Salem: Tesla Science #6 is in the Rook Family House.
• Dunwich Borers: Astoundingly Awesome Tales #10 is deep inside the quarry. Bring a hazmat suit for the flooded lower levels.
• Far Harbor (DLC): Six magazines are exclusive to this expansion. Highlights include Astoundingly Awesome Tales #12 in the Vim. Pop Factory and Live & Love #9 in Northwood Ridge Quarry.

Far Harbor magazines are scattered across the island, often in unmarked locations. The DLC’s fog and hostile wildlife make exploration slow, so patience pays off. For builds focusing on stealth or specific combat advantages, understanding how perks synergize with magazine bonuses is crucial.

Nuka-World Magazine Locations

Nuka-World adds 8 magazines, many hidden in the amusement park’s themed zones.

• Fizztop Grille: Grognak the Barbarian #9 is in the bedroom.
• Nuka-Cola Bottling Plant: Tales of a Junktown Jerky Vendor #9 is in the shipping bay.
• Kiddie Kingdom: Astoundingly Awesome Tales #13 is in King Cola’s Castle.
• Safari Adventure: Live & Love #8 is near the Primate House.

Nuka-World magazines are often guarded by raiders or deadly creatures. The Galactic Zone’s robots and Kiddie Kingdom’s Feral Ghouls are particularly dangerous. Many dedicated collectors cross-reference locations with guides from Twinfinite to avoid missing hidden spots.

Tips and Strategies for Magazine Hunting

Efficient magazine collection requires planning. Here’s how to optimize your search without wasting time or resources.

Using Perks to Aid Your Search

Certain perks make magazine hunting significantly easier:

• Scrounger (Luck 2): While this perk focuses on ammo, it encourages thorough looting, exactly what you need for magazines.
• Awareness (Perception 3): Lets you see enemy levels, reducing ambush risk in dangerous magazine locations.
• Locksmith and Hacker (Perception 4 and Intelligence 4): Essential for accessing locked rooms and terminals hiding magazines.

The #1 most important tool is the Pip-Boy’s local map. Magazines show up as map markers once you’re near them, but you need to explore thoroughly. Use the “search” function liberally in cluttered areas.

Some players invest in the Scrapper perk to mark containers, which indirectly helps by encouraging systematic room-clearing. Others swear by the Night Person perk for the Intelligence boost, claiming it improves luck with finding hidden items (this is anecdotal, not confirmed).

Best Character Builds for Magazine Collectors

While any build can collect magazines, certain setups make hunting safer and faster:

1. Stealth Sniper: High Perception and Agility let you scout locations without triggering combat. Pair with silenced weapons to clear enemies quietly.
2. Power Armor Tank: High Strength and Endurance builds can brute-force dangerous locations. Radiation resistance from Power Armor makes the Glowing Sea trivial.
3. Charisma Diplomat: Speech checks can avoid combat in certain locations, saving ammo and health. Useful in raider or faction-controlled zones.

Regardless of build, invest in at least rank 2 of Locksmith and Hacker by level 20. Many magazines are behind locked doors or terminals, and missing them means backtracking later.

For players exploring different armor options to survive magazine hunts in hostile zones, experimenting with Metal Armor builds can provide solid mid-game protection without the resource drain of Power Armor.

Displaying Your Magazine Collection

Once you’ve collected all magazines in Fallout 4, showing them off in your settlement is the ultimate flex. Here’s how to build the perfect display.

Building the Perfect Magazine Rack

The Magazine Rack is unlocked by default in the Furniture > Misc category of the workshop menu. Each rack holds 5 magazines and automatically populates with issues from your inventory when placed.

Placement Tips:

• Place racks in well-lit areas for maximum visibility. Wall-mounted lights or spotlights work best.
• Arrange racks in rows or circular formations for a “library” aesthetic.
• Combine magazine racks with bobblehead stands for a complete collectibles display room.

You’ll need 25 magazine racks to display all 122 issues (24 racks hold 120 magazines, plus one rack for the final 2). Most players dedicate an entire settlement building to their collection.

Pro tip: Use the “Place in Workshop” option instead of “Drop” to avoid magazines clipping through floors. Dropped magazines can fall through geometry and become unrecoverable.

Some players build themed rooms, ballistic weapons magazines in an armory, energy weapon magazines in a science lab, etc. Others prefer chronological order by issue number. There’s no wrong approach, but make sure to save before placing magazines in case you want to rearrange.

For those who enjoy settlement building, incorporating magazine displays into larger projects, like creating a functional Red Rocket settlement, adds personality and purpose to your wasteland homes.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Collecting Magazines

Even veteran players fall into these traps when hunting magazines. Avoid these pitfalls to save time and frustration.

Mistake #1: Not quicksaving before entering dangerous locations.

Magazines are often in high-level zones with unpredictable enemy spawns. Quicksave before entering buildings like Gunners Plaza or the Glowing Sea caves. Nothing’s worse than dying right after grabbing a magazine and respawning 20 minutes earlier.

Mistake #2: Dropping magazines instead of storing them.

The “Drop” option can cause magazines to fall through floors or disappear entirely. Always use containers or magazine racks to store them. If you’re hoarding them for later display, use a secure container in a settlement.

Mistake #3: Ignoring DLC locations.

Far Harbor and Nuka-World add 14 magazines total. If you’re going for 100% completion, you must explore these areas. Base game alone only has 108 magazines.

Mistake #4: Not tracking which magazines you’ve found.

The Pip-Boy doesn’t clearly mark which specific issues you’ve collected, only the total count per series. Use a checklist (physical or digital) to avoid revisiting locations unnecessarily. Several community-made spreadsheets exist for this exact purpose.

Mistake #5: Selling magazines to vendors.

Magazines have a base value of 50 caps and zero weight, making them tempting vendor fodder. Don’t do this. The permanent perks are worth infinitely more than pocket change. You can’t rebuy magazines once sold.

Mistake #6: Skipping “boring” magazines.

Some series like RobCo Fun (which adds holotape games) seem useless for combat builds, but collecting them still counts toward achievements and completionist goals. Plus, holotape games are surprisingly fun distractions.

Mistake #7: Not checking unmarked locations.

About 15% of magazines are in unmarked buildings or caves. Don’t rely solely on quest markers, explore every structure you encounter. Guides from Game Informer often highlight these hidden spots in their walkthroughs.

For players who stockpile resources in secure locations, understanding how to use federal ration stockpiles and other hidden caches can free up inventory space for magazine hunting without worrying about carry weight.

Conclusion

Collecting all 122 magazines in Fallout 4 isn’t just a completionist checkbox, it’s a power spike that transforms your character. Whether you’re stacking crit damage with Guns and Bullets, unlocking settlement decorations with Picket Fences, or dominating melee combat with Grognak the Barbarian, these perks offer tangible, permanent advantages that compound throughout your playthrough.

The key to efficient magazine hunting is methodical exploration, smart perk investment, and patience. Don’t rush, many magazines are tucked in dangerous or obscure locations that reward careful attention. Use this guide’s regional breakdown to tackle zones systematically, and always quicksave before risky dives.

Now get out there and start hunting. The Commonwealth’s pre-war literature is waiting, and those perks aren’t going to collect themselves.