10 Evil Things You Can Do In Fallout New Vegas

May 18, 2024, 3 p.m.

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10 Evil Things You Can Do In Fallout New Vegas

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Summary Player choice reigns in Fallout: New Vegas, where every decision has consequences, from alliances to despicable acts.

Embrace evil with options like becoming a cannibal, betraying companions, and causing devastating accidents in the Wasteland.

Each faction has its flaws, with Mr. House's greed and Caesar's Legion's cruelty standing out among the most morally reprehensible choices.

There are many ways to be evil in Fallout: New Vegas. Like most games in the Fallout series, player choice is at the forefront. Players can choose everything, from the outcome of the most minor side quest, to which of New Vegas' factions ultimately takes over their corner of the country.

But good and evil are rarely so clear-cut in the Wasteland, and never is that more true than in New Vegas. Every faction has its flaws, and even the kindest-looking NPC would just as soon stab someone in the back if they thought they stood to profit from it. And the player can participate in that backstabbing too, if they so desire - as long as they're prepared to deal with the consequences. Here are ten of the most despicable decisions players can make in Fallout: New Vegas.

Related One Fallout New Vegas Game Ending Makes The Most Sense After The TV Show Fallout’s TV show adaptation stays mostly canon-neutral, but it does seem to designate one New Vegas ending as canon. Here’s why it makes sense.

10 The Courier Can Become A Cannibal In Fallout: New Vegas

The Cannibal Perk, Explained

One of the easiest, earliest, and evilest things a player can do is become a cannibal in Fallout: New Vegas. The perk becomes available as early as level four, and essentially allows the player to gain all the effects of a good, wholesome meal by feasting on human bodies: HP recovery and a small Rads increase. Each bite they take also slightly decreases their Karma, but with New Vegas' lesser emphasis on this controversial Fallout mechanic, even that's not a big deal in the long run.

Being a cannibal in New Vegas isn't all that bad, either. It's a viable (if not ethical) source of nourishment in a world of scarcity. And there's even a small but tight-knit community of cannibals throughout the Wasteland. Admitting their proclivity for eating human flesh can actually ingratiate the Courier with certain NPCs, even helping them get a reservation at the exclusive White Glove Society.

9 Fallout: New Vegas Players Can Convince Boone To Kill The Wrong Culprit

The Bad Ending Of "One For My Baby"

When the Courier inevitably passes through Novac on their way to the New Vegas Strip, they're likely to stop and listen to Boone's tale of woe. In the quest "One for My Baby," the former NCR Ranger explains that his wife Carla has gone missing, and he suspects foul play. Boone asks the Courier to find the culprit and bring them out in front of his sniper's nest in the Dino Dee-lite's giant T. rex statue at night, so he can exact his revenge. A little bit of snooping reveals that Jeannie, the owner of the motel, sold Carla and her unborn baby to Caesar's Legion for 1,500 caps.

But there are many suspects in town, and the Courier doesn't necessarily have to tell Boone the truth. For the most evil result, they can accuse former Great Khan Manny Vargas of killing Carla. Manny's not only a young, troubled man trying to atone for his past sins - he's also Boone's old army buddy, and the only person in town who seems to care for his well-being.

8 Fallout: New Vegas Players Can Steal Toys From Children

Savaging Sergeant Teddy

At The Fort, the headquarters of Caesar's Legion, there's a young, enslaved girl named Melody who might flag the Courier down. Her one wish is the safe return of her teddy bear, Sergeant Teddy, who was stolen by a Legionnaire named Antony. The Courier can track Antony down near the kennels, where he proudly explains how he gave Sergeant Teddy to his dogs to use as a chew toy. There are several ways the Courier can convince him to give it back: agree to fight some of his dogs, use the Animal Handling perk, or simply pickpocket it when he's not looking.

From there, the Courier can return to Melody and announce the safe, if somewhat chewed-up, return of Sergeant Teddy. They can give her back the bear without any further comment, but if they're feeling extra mean, they can rip the toy in half as Melody watches. She immediately cries out for the late Sergeant, and the Courier gains a little bit of favor with Caesar's Legion for their cruelty.

7 Players Can Cause A Devastating Rocket Accident In Fallout: New Vegas

The Bad Ending Of "Come Fly With Me"

"Come Fly with Me" is a potentially lengthy side quest that players can begin after visiting Novac. Most of the town's residents are worried about the ghouls who have taken up residence in the nearby REPCONN facility, a pre-war aerospace testing site. Talk to Manny Vargas, and he even agrees to help the Courier find Benny if they're able to get rid of the ghouls. Of course, the fastest way to resolve this quest is to waltz in, guns blazing, and drive out the ghouls once and for all. But an even more evil option presents itself if the player sticks around to help.

The REPCONN ghouls are led by a Glowing One named Jason Bright, who believes he can get a pair of old rockets working and fly off to some interstellar promised land. If the Courier agrees to help, after taking out invisible Super Mutants and sourcing replacement parts, they'll be allowed to operate the rocket's controls. At that point, they can adjust the trajectory so the two rockets crash into each other, killing everyone aboard.

6 Fallout: New Vegas Players Can Turn Helios One Into A Deadly Space Laser

The Bad Ending Of "That Lucky Old Sun"

Another Fallout: New Vegas quest in which the player can turn pre-war infrastructure into unspeakable horrors is "That Lucky Old Sun." In this one, they're tasked with repairing an old, broken-down solar power plant. As they're finishing up the job, they have the opportunity to decide where the power is diverted. They can send it to NCR-controlled areas, as the quest givers insist; to independent areas like Freeside and Westside; a little of both, resulting in the best possible outcome; or overload the generator so no one gets power at all.

Destroying HELIOS is bad enough, but there's a secret fifth option that's even worse. The Courier can instead divert power to ARCHIMEDES II, a giant orbital laser, which will kill everyone in the area. If they've also found Euclid's C-Finder, they can call down ARCHIMEDES' power once every 24 hours, in an orbital strike reminiscent of a Helldivers 2 Stratagem.

5 Fallout: New Vegas Lets Players Sell Arcade Gannon Into Slavery

Using Arcade As Caesar's Doctor

Arcade Gannon isn't everyone's favorite companion in Fallout: New Vegas, but he's undeniably a force for good. A former member of the Enclave, Arcade escaped and lent his powers of scientific reasoning and practical medicine to the Followers of the Apocalypse, a humanitarian aid organization based out of the Old Mormon Fort. His healing abilities and internal conflicts make him an excellent companion. His sass and occasional pretentiousness drive some Couriers away.

But if they want to get rid of him for good, players can sell Arcade Gannon as a slave to an ailing Caesar, who's in dire need of a doctor. Of course, Arcade hates this outcome; he's devoted, above all else, to personal freedom, and correctly sees Caesar as a murderous megalomaniac. But besides going against Arcade's wishes and keeping the Wasteland's worst dictator in good health, this decision also takes a valuable asset away from the Followers of the Apocalypse. His absence greatly decreases the amount of good they're able to do.

4 Siding With Joshua Graham Leads To An Evil Outcome In New Vegas' DLC

The Bad Ending Of Honest Hearts

Joshua Graham is one of the most iconic - and most monstrous - figures in the Fallout canon. Co-founder of Caesar's Legion, he was partly responsible for its defeat in the First Battle of Hoover Dam. Caesar punished Joshua by ordering him burned to death, but Joshua miraculously survived, returning to his hometown of New Caanan. But when the town was attacked by White Legs under Caesar's employ, Joshua fled into Zion Canyon. Filled with rage against the White Legs, he took up residence with (and eventual leadership of) a rival tribe, the Dead Horses.

Meanwhile, Joshua's fellow Mormon missionary, Daniel, took over another tribe, the Sorrows. Ultimately, the ending of Fallout: New Vegas' Honest Hearts DLC comes down to a pretty straightforward choice between good and evil. Side with Joshua, and wipe out all the White Legs so the Dead Horses and Sorrows can live in peace; or side with Daniel, and help evacuate the Dead Horses and Sorrows.

Related Fallout: New Vegas History, Lore, Endings & Timeline Explained With the Fallout TV series set in a similar setting as the iconic New Vegas, it's worth taking a look at the history and story of Fallout: New Vegas.

3 Mr. House Is One Of New Vegas' Most Evil Faction Leaders

The House Always Wins

Minor decisions are all well and good, but what about a more sustained evil playthrough? It all depends on which faction the player picks. Every major faction in Fallout: New Vegas is morally gray, and honestly, so are most of the minor ones. However, for old world-style evil, players need look no further than Mr. House. A Wizard of Oz-esque figure, Mr. House is an enigmatic figure of infinite riches, forever secreted away inside The Tops casino. He promises the Courier a share of those riches in exchange for their help.

Mr. House is a good old-fashioned robber baron, whose misanthropy is only outweighed by his greed. His main concern is his bottom line, and he eliminates anything that stands in his way with his ultra-powerful army of Securitrons. By taking his side, the Courier becomes part and parcel of his selfish deeds, and may even betray a bit of empathy for them. However, even a Mr. House playthrough is somewhat redeemable if the player decides to go the independent New Vegas route later.

2 Caesar's Legion Is The Worst Faction In Fallout: New Vegas

Render Unto Caesar

On the other hand, Caesar's Legion represents a much older archetype of evil. Its entire worldview is based on a half-remembered version of Ancient Roman history. The Legion consolidates power through violent conquest, making an example of anyone who dares to resist. Its mundane operations are carried out by an enormous contingent of slaves, taken by force from conquered territories. Punishment for transgressions is often cruel and unusual - crucifixion is a staple in the Legion's wake.

Unlike Mr. House, Caesar and his Legion don't rule out of a desire for power; they rule because they believe themselves naturally superior. Violence is both their means and their end, not just unpleasant dirty work. As a result, Caesar's Legion is the most evil faction in Fallout: New Vegas. It's best reserved for Couriers with no scruples at all, as even going down the independent New Vegas route can't erase the sins of a Caesar's Legion playthrough.

1 Fallout: New Vegas' DLC Lets Players Nuke Both The NCR & Caesar's Legion

The Worst Ending Of Lonesome Road

Lonesome Road is the last DLC for Fallout: New Vegas, and allows players to bring a terrible new ending to the Wasteland. It focuses on the conflict between the player character and Ulysses, the original courier hired to deliver the Platinum Chip to Mr. House. Eventually, by the end of the DLC, the Courier will have access to a missile silo, where they can decide to launch or not to launch a nuclear barrage. They can choose either to target the NCR, the Legion, or both at once.

Targeting both the Legion and the NCR with Ulysses' missiles is probably the most destructive single act a Courier can commit in Fallout: New Vegas. Besides the faction leaders, the rank-and-file, and the decades of history they destroy, they're also killing thousands of innocent people under the oppression and/or protection of either faction. They're also creating a second nuclear winter, and making much of the Wasteland uninhabitable for years to come.

But those are only a few of the evil options available in New Vegas - engaged roleplayers will surely find countless others. Being evil isn't always about the broadest strokes. Sometimes, it's the little things, like stealing a starving family's last can of Cram or engaging in a little friendly fire. Just be careful - actions in Fallout: New Vegas usually have consequences.