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Arguably one of the best action RPG games ever made, Fallout 3 has a heavy supply of things to loot across the Capital Wasteland. None are so prized, however, as the Vault Boy Bobbleheads. Only one of each of these unique items exists per playthrough, stashed away in some hidden corner or dangerous lair. Each one you collect will increase a skill by ten points, or a S.P.E.C.I.A.L stat by one.
The game puts a few in plain sight to help you out, but if you want a full collection you're going to have to do some hunting and, most likely, a lot of shooting too. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled throughout your playthrough. Some bobbleheads are found in locations that cannot be returned to once you leave. To help you find them all we've compiled a complete walkthrough of their locations.
Updated June 21, 2023, by Sean Murray: Finding the bobble heads of Fallout 3 is often the first task of any Lone Wanderer, which is why we've refreshed this guide with improved formatting and breakout tips to make it easier to grab those elusive bobble heads.
Strength Bobblehead Location
- Location: Megaton
- Effect: +1 to Strength
This bobblehead is located in Lucas Simm's house, located at the southeast corner of Megaton. Enter his house, then head upstairs to the second floor. The bobblehead is on a desk in one of the bedrooms.
Perception Bobblehead Location
- Location: Republic of Dave
- Effect: +1 to Perception
Head to the Republic of Dave, located at the northeast corner of the map. You'll want to enter the Museum of Dave. The Perception bobblehead is on a set of shelves up against the right-hand wall.
Endurance Bobblehead Location
- Location: Deathclaw Sanctuary
- Effect: +1 to Endurance
Once inside the cave, head south from the entrance. The bobblehead is in the first large cavern, to the left of the entry slope. You’ll find it next to a rotting brahmin corpse, along with a mini nuke and a skill magazine.
Charisma Bobblehead Location
- Location: Vault 108
- Effect: +1 Charisma
You’ll find this collectible in the Cloning Lab area of Vault 108. In the middle of the map is the observation room – you’ll know you’re in the right place if there are four beds and a window into the operating chamber. The bobblehead is on a table in this room.
Intelligence Bobblehead Location
- Location: Rivet City
- Effect: +1 Intelligence
Go down to the Science Lab area in Rivet City, and head to the ground floor. The bobblehead is on a large line of well-lit tables next to the lockers.
Agility Bobblehead Location
- Location: Greener Pastures Disposal Site
- Effect: +1 Agility
At the western edge of the Disposal Site, you’ll find an office building. Enter the building, and you’ll find the agility bobblehead on a desk next to a terminal near the center of the room.
Luck Bobblehead Location
- Location: Arlington Cemetary North
- Effect: +1 Luck
In the center of Arlington Cemetery, you’ll be able to find Arlington House. Go inside and head down into the basement, where the luck bobblehead is waiting on some wall shelves near a safe.
Barter Bobblehead Location
- Location: Evergreen Mills
- Effect: +10 Barter
In the Bazaar area of Evergreen Mills, find the bar where Smiling Jack is serving drinks. Go the right, and you’ll see a little nook in the cavern with a workbench and some shelving. Jump over the bench, and the bobblehead is on the shelves right at the back.
Big Guns Bobblehead Location
- Location: Fort Constantine
- Effect: +10 Big Guns
Make your way to the CO Quarters area and, like many others on this list, go to the basement. The bobblehead is in a large open safe with some other loot.
Energy Weapons Bobblehead Location
- Location: Raven Rock
- Effect: +10 Energy Weapons
This bobblehead becomes unobtainable once you escape Raven Rock during the main story.
Whilst in Raven Rock, use the wall map to navigate from section 2B to 2C. Once you’re through the mechanical door between the areas, two Enclave soldiers should emerge from a doorway to your right. Kill them, and go through the doorway opposite to the one they emerged from (on your left initially).
This is Col. Autumn’s bedroom, where the bobblehead is clearly visible on his desk.
Explosives Bobblehead Location
- Location: WKML Broadcast Station
- Effect: +10 Explosives
Near the WKML Broadcast Station is the Sealed Cistern, a location that is entered via a manhole cover. The entrance is hard to find, but it's directly below an area of the cliffs that has an overhang.
If you can’t find it, try heading south-southwest of the WKML building, go up and over the rocks, and the entrance should be to your left. Simply enter and pick up the bobblehead, which is immediately visible at the end of the room.
Lockpick Bobblehead Location
- Location: Bethesda Ruins
- Effect: +10 Lockpick
The bobblehead is located in Bethesda Ruins East, on the second floor. It’s in the southwest corner of the room with a turret, on a desk underneath a locked wall safe.
Medicine Bobblehead Location
- Location: Vault 101
- Effect: +10 Medicine
You only have two chances to obtain this bobblehead during your playthrough.
Another bobblehead you can miss, and one that appears very early into the game. Either before taking the G.O.A.T exam or during the final mission of the introduction (“Escape!”), you can find the medicine bobblehead on top of your dad’s desk in Vault 101.
Melee Weapons Bobblehead Location
- Location: Dunwich Building
- Effect: +10 Melee Weapons
Head into the Virulent Underchambers area of Dunwich. At the end of the area, near the room with the whispering obelisk, there is a set of stairs leading upwards as a shortcut back into the building. Go up the stairs, and you’ll find the bobblehead milling about near some tin cans on the floor.
Repair Bobblehead Location
- Location: Arefu
- Effect: +10 Repair
Make your way to Evan King's house in Arefu. You'll need a lockpick skill of 50 to enter the building. As soon as you enter, look to the left: the bobblehead is on a white table.
Science Bobblehead Location
- Location: Vault 106
- Effect: +10 Science
This bobblehead can be found in Vault 106’s Living Quarters area. Beware, though: the whole place is a labyrinth, and it’s easy to get lost searching.
It's easiest to hunt for the bobblehead from the start of the section.
- Begin at the door you enter the Living Quarters area through.
- Cross the grate bridge
- Go through the doorway on the far right
- Follow that path to its end
Once here you’ll find the bobblehead at the back of the last room.
Small Guns Bobblehead Location
- Location: National Guard Depot
- Effect: +10 Small Guns
Another basement-dwelling bobblehead, you’ll need to open the utility door in the armory section of National Guard Depot to get to it. The switch is on the third floor, through the training wing and depot offices.
Once you’ve hit it, return to the armory and go through the (now unlocked) utility door in the basement. The bobblehead is on a shelf attached to the wall.
Sneak Bobblehead Location
- Location: Yao Guai Tunnels
- Effect: +10 Sneak
Head through the Yao Guai Den area, until the narrow tunnel becomes a large cavern full of bodies. From there, go directly south east, past the ruined metal shelves. The sneak bobblehead is sitting on top of a metal box on the floor.
If you’re having trouble finding it, try going northeast of the big pool of water.
Speech Bobblehead Location
- Location: Paradise Falls
- Effect: +10 Speech
Enter Eulogy’s Pad at Paradise Falls and go into the back room, where there’s a large heart-shaped bed. The bobblehead is on a table in the eastern corner.
Unarmed Bobblehead Location
- Location: Rockopolis
- Effect: +10 Unarmed
Rockopolis is an unmarked location directly west of Smith Casey’s garage and directly north of Girdershade. Its entrance is marked by colorful hanging flags on the rocks. You’ll need to interact with the boulder they’ve hung above to get in.
Once inside, head to the end of the tunnel. You’ll find Argyle’s body among the rocks, with the bobblehead lying next to him.