Guide to Securing a Free Metal Detector in Atomfall Early Game

To thrive in Atomfall, acquiring top tools early is crucial. The Metal Detector is a key asset for uncovering valuable items for use or trade. Here’s how to snag one for free early in your journey.

How the Metal Detector Functions in Atomfall

The Metal Detector is an indispensable tool in Atomfall, one you’ll want to keep. When equipped, it reveals hidden metal caches filled with items scattered across the game’s expansive open world.

While exploring, your Metal Detector will signal a nearby cache with a ping, indicated by the tool icon in the bottom left of your screen. When it’s safe, equip the detector using the designated hotkey.

The detector’s light bar guides you toward the cache. If the lights lean left, turn left; if they shift right, turn right, adjusting your direction accordingly.

Follow the center light until the dial below hits the maximum frequency (10), signaling you’re close to the cache.

When all lights flash together, you’ve pinpointed the cache. Select the ‘Dig’ option to unearth it, then ‘Search’ to collect its contents.

Locating a Free Metal Detector Early in Atomfall

In your initial hours in Atomfall, you’ll encounter trader NPCs open to bartering. Reg Stansfield in Slate Mine Caves, Slatten Dale, stocks a Metal Detector early on, but its trade cost is likely too high for early-game resources.

Instead, head east through Slatten Dale, staying along the mountainside and avoiding the Outlaw-heavy ‘Water Wheels’ compound to minimize early combat.

Travel east, then south, to a shallow pond at coordinates (29.1E, 73.9N). There, an Outlaw corpse lies on a rocky outcrop in the pond’s center. Beware of carnivorous leeches in the water that can harm you if you linger.

Reach the corpse and ‘Search’ it to claim a functional Metal Detector for free, earning the ‘Detectorist’ trophy/achievement. This early acquisition boosts your ability to gather healing items, ammo, and tradeable loot.

It also aids in unlocking other achievements like ‘Where there’s much there’s brass’ (find 10 metal detector caches) and ‘Packed lunch’ (find 5 buried lunchboxes).

That’s how to secure a free Metal Detector early in Atomfall.