Atomfall: How to find and use the Metal Detector

If you just started playing Atomfall, you should know how important it is to find hidden loot. Sure, you can grab stuff from crates and the bodies of outlaws, but there’s also buried treasure scattered around the world, and you will need a Metal Detector to find it.

In this guide, I will walk you through how to get your hands on one and how to use it.

How to find the Metal Detector in Atomfall

Image via Rebellion

Here are the two main methods:

Meet Molly Jowett

Early on, you will meet an NPC named Nat Buckshaw that will tell you about Molly Jowett and the Metal Detector. Once you find Molly, you can trade some of your loot to get the Metal Detector.

Find a Dead Outlaw

Head over to the Slatten Dale area, and specifically look for the coordinates 29.1 E, 73.9 N. There, you will find a stream with a dead body near it.

Also Read: Atomfall: Optimized Setings

How to use the Metal Detector in Atomfall

Image via Rebellion

Here’s how it works:

No need to equip it

• The cool thing about the Metal Detector is that you don’t even need to equip it to start using it. Whenever you’re near a buried treasure (like a lunchbox or cache), the Metal Detector will automatically activate. You will see a prompt on your screen, letting you know there’s something hidden nearby.

Follow the lights

The Metal Detector has five lights on it. These lights are super helpful because they show you which direction you need to go to find the buried loot:

• If the middle light is on, it means you're walking in the right direction. Just keep going straight.
• If one of the left or right lights is on, adjust your path until the middle light comes on. That's your signal that you're heading the right way.

Get close to the loot

As you get closer to the buried treasure, all five lights will glow at once, and the Metal Detector will start to buzz. That’s your cue that you're super close. At this point, you can dig up the cache or lunchbox and grab whatever loot is inside. It could be ammo, resources, or something else to help you survive.

Why you should use the Metal Detector in Atomfall?

Image via Rebellion

The Metal Detector is pretty essential if you want to find everything Atomfall has hidden. There are all sorts of resources buried in the ground, and some of them could be key to surviving or getting better gear.

Also Read: Atomfall: Barter system, explained

FAQs

1. Do I need to equip the Metal Detector to use it?

• No, you don’t need to equip the Metal Detector. It automatically activates when you're near a buried cache or lunchbox. You will see a prompt on your screen letting you know it’s time to start searching.

2. How do I know when I'm close to hidden loot?

• The Metal Detector has five lights that help guide you. As you get closer to the buried item, all the lights will light up, and the device will buzz. That means you're right on top of it, and you can dig up your loot.

3. Can I find the Metal Detector anywhere else besides Molly Jowett or the dead outlaw?

• Currently there are only two main ways to find the Metal Detector. Those two ways are through Molly Jowett (the trader) or by looting a dead outlaw's body in the Slatten Dale area.