Overview and why Big Bang matters
The Big Bang is a unique science weapon that stands out for its crowd-control potential, explosive area-of-effect, and synergy with high Science and ranged combat builds. If you like weapons that change encounter pacing — turning clustered enemy formations into manageable targets or shredding armored foes when combined with the right perks — the Big Bang becomes a keystone in mid- to late-game loadouts.
Role: Area burst damage; anti-armor with correct ammo and mods.
Target players: Those who invest in Science, enjoy experimenting with weapon mods, or want a signature ranged tool for boss or swarm scenarios.
Impact: Changes how you approach densely packed encounters; offers utility beyond raw DPS thanks to its science-scaling attributes and unique behavior.
This guide will get you from “where” to “how best to use it” plus build examples and troubleshooting.
Where Big Bang is located (high-level)
At a high level, Big Bang is obtained during an exploration sequence on the EARL region (internal facility/puzzle area). The journey requires environmental navigation, an environmental-combat puzzle, and a specific sequence of actions to unlock the weapon cache. You will not find it as random world loot — it’s a fixed, location-based unique that rewards investigation and puzzle-solving.
Key points:
Located inside an EARL facility chamber accessible through a dedicated route.
Requires solving a puzzle tied to energy flow / console toggles and platforming.
Defenses include environmental hazards and mid-level hostile units, so expect tactical engagements.
Preparing for EARL and prerequisites
Before attempting the Big Bang hunt, prepare so you don’t waste time backtracking or respawning.
Recommended level range: mid to high game (level depends on your play difficulty). Aim for a level where you can comfortably handle advanced mechanical enemies and environmental damage without repeated deaths.
Skill emphasis: Invest in Science and Engineering where possible; Science improves weapon effectiveness and interaction options while Engineering helps with weapon repair and mod efficiency.
Companions: Bring at least one companion who complements ranged combat or crowd control. Companions can hold choke points and trigger switches while you handle the puzzle.
Gear prep: Bring a reliable long-range weapon for softening foes, a crowd control tool (stun grenades or EMP rounds) for automated defenses, and ample med supplies.
Save point strategy: Make a manual save before entering the facility. If you encounter a soft-lock or miss a sequence, you’ll appreciate the rewind.
Pro tip: If you favor stealth, bring suppressors and perks that increase mobility. The puzzle has timed elements where stealth can buy you breathing room.
Step-by-step Big Bang location walkthrough
The following is a stepwise walkthrough that guides you from the facility entrance to the weapon cache. Follow it exactly if you want the fastest route.
1. Arrive at the EARL access point
Locate the primary EARL entrance on the map. It’s usually marked as an abandoned research outpost or a restricted wing.
If you’re coming from a fast travel node, approach via the northern service corridor to avoid the initial patrols.
2. Clear the outer perimeter and secure the power node
You’ll encounter patrol drones and a stationary turret. Use EMP or elemental rounds to disable them briefly.
Move to the power node console and reroute power to the internal lift. This console is interactive — use it to activate a temporary platform.
3. Take the internal lift and reach the central atrium
Ride the lift, then proceed through the airlock. Enroute, you’ll pass a sealed door with a keypad hint — this is part of the puzzle but optional for access.
In the central atrium, you’ll find three pillars with glowing nodes. These nodes respond to energy pulses.
4. Activate the pulse emitters in order
There are three pulse emitters arranged around the atrium: A (east), B (south), and C (west). One will be inactive.
The correct activation sequence follows a visual clue etched into a terminal nearby. Interact with the terminal to view the sequence hint, then walk to the emitters and activate them in the shown order.
Activating them wrong resets a timer and spawns reinforcements. If that happens, retreat and clear the waves before retrying.
5. Solve the floor-shift puzzle
After correct activation, the floor will shift and reveal a vertical shaft. You must step onto rising platforms and time your jumps to reach a sealed maintenance tube.
Platforms are synchronized with the emitters; if you took too long, wait for a full cycle. Use sprint boosts or temporary gravity perks to make precise jumps easier.
6. Bypass the radiation lock and reach the lab hub
Inside the maintenance tube, you’ll find a control panel that requires a Science check to bypass safely. If you lack the skill, you can cast a bypass module or use an alternative manual override found in a side room.
Once bypassed, the path opens into the lab hub where the final cache lies behind a reinforced glass vault.
7. Overwrite the vault protocol and disable auto-safeguards
The vault has a multi-lock console. Perform the following:
First: Upload an energy signature using the nearby emitter (Science check accelerates).
Second: Insert a power cell to disable the vault shields (you may find a power cell in a maintenance cubby).
Third: Stand on the pressure pad opposite the vault while your companion physically turns the override dial — timed action.
8. Claim Big Bang from the inner cache
The vault opens to reveal several items; Big Bang is in a secure weapon cradle. Interact to acquire it. The acquisition triggers a scripted encounter — a heavy guardian drone will emerge. Be ready.
If you want screenshots or video timestamps, you can capture them during each step. The saved game before the vault is your safety net.
Puzzle and environmental mechanics explained
Understanding the mechanics makes repeating the hunt faster and helps if you want to trigger alternate outcomes (e.g., claim the weapon stealthily or avoid the guardian spawn).
Pulse emitter sequence: The emitters are tied to the atrium’s power grid. Think of them as a simple memory puzzle where the indicator terminal displays symbols that correspond to physical emitters. The puzzle punishes randomness by spawning extra enemies and speeding up platform cycles.
Platform timing: Platform cycles are designed to align with the emitter sequence. Activating an emitter causes a phase shift. Mistimed activations shorten the safe window, requiring quick reflexes or use of slow-time perks.
Vault override: The vault uses a three-step authentication — signature, power cell insertion, and simultaneous physical action. Each step simulates a different skill domain: Science (signature), Engineering (power cell), and Strength/Stamina or companion interaction (physical dial).
Tactical takeaway: If you’re low on Science, use consumables or companion skills to mimic the checks. If you’re playing solo with low Strength, carry the power cell and be prepared for increased combat since failing timed steps spawns reinforcements.
Weapon stats, behavior, and comparison
Below is a general breakdown of Big Bang’s in-game behavior and how it fits into the weapon meta.
Weapon type: Science launcher / experimental ballistic-science hybrid.
Primary fire: Short-to-medium range projectile that detonates after a short fuse or on contact with certain surfaces and enemies. Detonation causes area-of-effect damage and a lingering science effect (radiation, arc, or destabilize debuff depending on variant).
Secondary fire: Charged shot with greater radius and higher armor-piercing potential, but slower projectile velocity.
Scaling: Scales primarily with Science stat and secondarily with weapon proficiency perks that boost launcher damage.
Ammo: Uses science cells or a specific launcher ammo type; specialized ammo variants add extra effects (EMP, corrosive, incendiary).
Durability and repair: Unique weapons often have higher durability or slower decay. Plan repairs into your maintenance routine or carry repair kits.
Comparison notes:
Compared to conventional rocket launchers, Big Bang trades raw explosion radius for utility (debuffs and science scaling).
Compared to energy beam weapons, Big Bang offers burst AoE with less continuous damage but higher burst synergy when paired with debuffs or environmental hazards.
Best mods, ammo and upgrade path
To maximize Big Bang’s effectiveness, focus on mods and ammo that enhance AoE, debuff duration, and science-based damage multipliers.
Recommended core mods
Expanded Warhead: Increases explosion radius and shrapnel count. Use for crowd-control builds.
Armor-Piercing Matrix: Boosts damage to armored targets and increases critical multiplier against heavy enemies. Use for boss fights.
Delayed Resonator: Extends status effect duration on detonation (e.g., radiation or destabilize). Great when combined with area-denial tactics.
Shock Induction Coil: Adds an EMP burst on detonation, useful against mechanical foes or turrets.
Ammo choices
Standard Science Cells: Balanced; fine for most encounters.
EMP Cells: Neutralize turrets and robots; prioritized when facing tech-heavy areas.
Corrosive Cells: Ideal for armored elites and boss fights; pairs well with Armor-Piercing Matrix.
Incendiary Mix: Best for organic swarms; causes damage-over-time that stacks with Big Bang debuffs.
Upgrade path
Upgrade basic damage and handling early to make the weapon reliable in mid-game.
Unlock mods that increase AoE and status duration next.
Add utility mods (EMP or shock) as situational tools.
Invest in Engineering/Science perks that specifically boost launcher performance and mod capacity.
Builds and synergy recommendations
Below are three complete build archetypes that pair well with Big Bang. Each build includes primary stats, core perks, companion synergy, and playstyle notes.
Build A — Science Demolisher (High Science, AoE Focus)
Primary stats: High Science, moderate Perception, medium Endurance.
Perks: Science masteries that increase weapon scaling; AoE boosting perks; cooldown reduction perks for charged secondary fire.
Companion: Bring a tanky companion who can hold aggro while you detonate crowds.
Playstyle: Open encounters by softening clusters with suppression; fire Big Bang into the center to apply debuffs and finish with burst weapons.
Build B — Tech Saboteur (EMP/Control Specialist)
Primary stats: Balanced Engineering, high Perception, moderate Science.
Perks: Engineering perks that improve EMP effects and weapon mod efficiency; perk nodes that reduce reload and increase stability.
Companion: A ranged DPS who can pick off disabled units.
Playstyle: Disable turrets and robots with EMP ammo, then place Big Bang shots for maximum shutdown and controlled detonations.
Build C — Corrosive Boss-Killer (Single-target Burst)
Primary stats: High Strength, high Science, high Perception.
Perks: Armor-penetration perks, critical hit multipliers, and perks that increase explosive damage.
Companion: Damage dealer with armor-reduction abilities.
Playstyle: Use armor-piercing mods and corrosive ammo for single-target fights; charge secondary fire and land a direct hit for maximum armor shred.
Synergy tips:
Stack debuff duration with Delayed Resonator and perks that increase status effect chance.
Use environmental hazards (gas lines, flammable pools) to amplify Big Bang’s area damage.
Combine with crowd-control grenades to hold foes inside the blast radius.
Combat tactics and practical uses
How to use Big Bang in actual fights — practical, repeatable tactics to get the most from the weapon.
Opening salvo: For groups, aim for the center and use Expanded Warhead to maximize radius. Detonate as enemies cluster to guarantee multi-target hits.
Boss fights: Save Charged Secondary Fire for moments when boss movement is predictable (after a stun or scripted pause). Use Armor-Piercing Matrix + Corrosive Cells.
Anti-mech: Switch to EMP cells and Shock Induction Coil to disrupt mechanical foes, then follow up with sustained DPS while they’re disabled.
Ammo economy: Big Bang uses specialized ammo that can be scarce. Use it for high-value targets and switch to cheaper weapons for trash mobs.
Stealth approach: If you want to claim Big Bang stealthily and avoid a guardian fight, clear exterior patrols quietly, disable cameras, and time the vault override to avoid detection. Not all players can avoid the guardian spawn — be prepared.
Tactical nuance: Because Big Bang creates lingering debuffs, position yourself to force enemies to remain in the explosion area (bottlenecks, narrow corridors). That maximizes damage-over-time and status application.
Companion and quest interactions
Some companions may react to you acquiring unique weapons, offering banter or quest-affecting commentary. Expect flavor lines and possibly a moment where a companion asks to inspect the weapon. Use this as a roleplay opportunity rather than a mechanical gain.
If the Big Bang is tied to a broader quest chain in your playthrough, claiming it may progress or conclude certain objectives. Always check your journal after acquisition to see if new objectives unlock.
Troubleshooting common problems
If the weapon doesn’t appear, you can’t get into the vault, or the puzzle seems glitched, try these steps.
Missing weapon in vault: Reload from a save before the vault and try the sequence again. If the weapon still doesn’t spawn, clear surrounding enemies and interact with every console in the hub — some variants require side objectives to be completed.
Puzzle resets constantly: You may be triggering a timed reset by stepping on the wrong panel. Wait 30 seconds, clear waves, then retry.
Guardian spawns immediately: Preempt the guardian by hacking or disabling turrets in the hub before opening the vault. Use EMP or heavy suppression.
Low Science checks: Use consumables or a temporary companion buff to pass critical checks, or find the alternative manual override panel in the maintenance crawlspace.
If none of this works, try visiting a nearby bench to bench-save, exit the area, then re-enter the facility. That sometimes clears scripting anomalies.
Save and progression tips
Save before pulling any major lever or opening the final vault. A single save rollback prevents long re-runs.
If you plan to experiment with mods, take a copy save so you can test different mod combinations without losing a pre-upgrade baseline.
Consider holding off on claiming Big Bang until after you finish a related quest chain that might alter loot tables or unlock additional vault upgrades.
Frequently asked questions
What level should I be to find Big Bang
Aim for a mid- to high-game level where you can comfortably face mechanical guardians and solve Science checks. If you’re playing on a higher difficulty, adjust upward to avoid repeated deaths.
Is Big Bang unique or random loot
Big Bang is a unique, location-locked weapon; it does not drop randomly from enemies. You get it by completing the EARL facility sequence and vault override described above.
Can I keep Big Bang if I fail the vault sequence
If the vault sequence fails or resets, reload your last manual save and try again. If you open the vault and the weapon despawns due to a bug, reload prior to the vault and attempt alternative sequence steps or clear all nearby enemies first.
Which ammo type is best
For general use, Standard Science Cells are fine. For specialized roles, use EMP Cells against mechs and turrets, Corrosive Cells for armored enemies, and Incendiary for organic swarms.
Does Big Bang scale with Science
Yes. The weapon’s core damage and status effects scale primarily with the Science stat. Investing in Science perks and mods will greatly increase its effectiveness.
Can I solo the guardian that spawns after picking up Big Bang
Yes, with preparation. Use cover, EMPs, and armor-piercing mods to shorten the fight. If you struggle, pull back, clear adds, and resupply before engaging.
Will any companion react negatively to me using the weapon
Companions may react with banter, but there’s no major relationship penalty for claiming unique weapons. Enjoy the dialogue — it adds to immersion.
Final notes and optimization checklist
Before you set out:
Save your game at a nearby bench.
Bring EMP and Corrosive ammo.
Ensure Science is boosted or bring a consumable buff.
Equip a companion that can tank or disable automated defenses.
After acquiring Big Bang:
Test different mods on a training dummy or low-risk mob.
Revisit boss fights where AoE and debuffs will shine.
Consider building a dedicated loadout around crowd control and status stacking to fully exploit the weapon.
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