How to get the Cryolator early in Fallout 4

The Cryolator is one of the coolest weapons in Fallout 4, but it's locked behind a Master-level case in Vault 111 — a lock most players can't pick at the start of the game. Fortunately, there's a trick to grab it almost immediately using Dogmeat.

Here's how to get the Cryolator early:

1. Complete the opening of Vault 111 during the "Out of Time" quest until you reach the Overseer's office. The Cryolator is inside a Master locked case in the open security gate area of that room — you'll see it but almost certainly won't be able to pick the lock at low level.

2. Get Dogmeat as your companion. After leaving Vault 111, head to Concord or follow the quest to meet Dogmeat at the Red Rocket truck stop just south of Sanctuary Hills. He'll join you for free.

3. Return to the Overseer's office in Vault 111 with Dogmeat at your side.

4. Command Dogmeat to fetch items. Talk to Dogmeat, select the "fetch" option, and specifically tell him to find items. He can clip through the locked case and retrieve the Cryolator directly, bypassing the Master lock entirely.

5. Repeat if needed. This may take a few attempts — it's a known quirk of how Dogmeat interacts with containers, so keep trying if he doesn't grab it on the first command.

Once Dogmeat retrieves it, the Cryolator is yours to keep. Note that he may also grab the ammo (Cryo Cells) stored with it, so check his inventory as well. This method works completely legitimately without any console commands or cheats, making it the go-to early grab for players who want this powerful freezing weapon right at the start of their run.