Summary
InFallout 4,there are lots of items that players can collect and sell to merchants. While most of the time, players find things that are fine to sell, there are certain things that players should avoid selling to merchants,no matter how desperate the player is for Caps.
Whether it’s one-of-a-kind weapons or armor pieces, Holotapes, notes, or ammunition,there are things that players should hang on to.Merchants inFallout 4reset their stock every 48 hours. So, if a player sells something important to a merchant, it could be gone forever. This guide aims to show players what type of items they should keep for themselves.
Updated July 16, 2025 by Benjamin Joe:Fallout 4 is a game with endless possibilities. Even after completing all of the main missions and side quests, there will always be another settlement that requires the player’s help! Since the release of the Fallout TV series, Fallout 4 has seen a huge spike in player count. Because of this, it feels like the right time to update this article with a little more information about selling items to vendors.
Buying and selling items to vendors is a big part of Fallout 4. Without vendors, it would be almost impossible to gain enough resources to survive and thrive in the Commonwealth.
1Crafting Components
Crafting Is A Key Part Of The Game
Fallout 4introducedsettlement-building mechanicsinto the game. Not only that, but it also increased the amount of items that players can craft when compared to previousFalloutgames. Because of all the things players can craft, they will need all the materials they can get their hands on.
It’s important to note that players don’t need to have the components on their character to build things.When crafting or building in a settlement, the materials come from the stockpile stored within the settlement, so the player doesn’t need to worry about being over-encumbered. Selling crafting components to merchants may bring in some extra caps, but the player will quickly run out of building and crafting resources.
Some crafting components that players will want to hang onto are adhesive, nuclear material, oil, screws, and gears. While every component does have its uses, the ones listed above are some of the ones that players may struggle to come by. So, it’s always good to hang on to as much as possible.
2Fusion Cores
Save Every Fusion Core
Fusion Cores can be hard to come by inFallout 4.While there are a few good locations where the player can find extra Fusion Cores, it is always worth hanging on to everyone that the player finds. Because of their use in powering Power Armor, they are a vital part of the game for many players.
While Fusion Cores tend to fetch a nice price, there’s a reason for that! When selling items to merchants, if the merchant offers a lot of Caps for something, it is usually a sign that the item is worth hanging on to.
For players who are looking for Fusion Cores, one great place to go to is Milton Parking Garage. On the fourth floor, there’s a shelving unit that has a total of 4 Fusion Cores that players can take.
3Rare Junk Items
Some Junk is Just Too Valuable To Sell
Selling any type of junk to a merchant is usually a bad idea. Junk is needed to build things in player settlements, and it is used to craft various in-game items like ammo and weapon modifications.But there are some junk items that players should NEVER sell to merchantsdue to the rarity and usefulness of the component.
A few of the rarer junk items include:
Hang on to all junk items, as they will almost always come in handy at some point. For players who want to get their hands on a lot of rare junk items, there’s asupply shed in Far Harborthat is stocked up with all sorts of rare junk items.
4Magazines And Bobbleheads
Highly Collectible Items
Every Magazine and Bobblehead found inFallout 4will award the player with some type of permanent buff. While that buff won’t go if the player decides to sell their magazines and bobbleheads to a merchant, these items are one-of-a-kind pieces.
For example, there is only one agility bobblehead in the game. Should the player sell it, then they will never find another one. MostFallout 4players like to collect anddisplay rare items at their favorite settlement. Collecting all of the magazines and bobbleheads is a time-consuming task, so hang on to all the magazines and every Bobblehead and display them for all to see.
5Meds And Chems
Hang On To Medical Items For Tough Encounters
As players explore the Commonwealth, they may be tempted to sell their extra Meds and Chems to a merchant. This should be avoided whenever possible. Caps aren’t that difficult to acquire in the game. Meds and Chems tend to be harder to stockpile.
Because of this, it is worth hanging on to as many aid items as possible. Players don’t need to keep them on their character. They can instead have a storage box at theirpreferred settlementdedicated to all things related to aid.
Also, Chems, in general, can be very beneficial. While they do have their downsides, it’s always worth carrying a few Chems when venturing into dangerous places. Things like Jet and Psycho can help players get out of sticky situations.
6Ammunition
It May Come In Handy Some Day
Players tend to have a favorite weapon. Because of this, lots of players sell all the ammo they don’t really use. While this isn’t the worst thing to sell, it isn’t ideal either. As the player explores the ruins of post-war Boston, they will come across all sorts of rare and unique weapons. It is fun to test these weapons out. For this, the player will need lots of ammunition.
Hanging on to excess ammo and storing it in a box at a settlement is the best way to keep the player’s inventory nice and tidy. While it won’t make the player any Caps, should the player find a cool new weapon, they will be grateful thatthey kept all the ammothey came across while playing.
If the player is seeking to get their hands on as much ammo as possible, then it’s worth investing in the Scrounger perk to increase the player’s chance of finding extra ammunition.
7Unique Weapons And Armor Pieces
Never Sell One-Of-A-Kind Items
Fallout 4has a plethora of special weapons andawesome armor piecesfor players to find. Some will be awarded to players for completing certain quests, and others can be found hidden away in unmarked locations.
Weapons and armor pieces that have a special name, like the Cryolator and Aeternus, are one-of-a-kind items. They should be kept by the player. Should the player sell a one-of-a-kind item to a merchant and then wait for the merchant to refresh their stock, the rare item will be gone forever.
It’s worth dedicating a storage box to all the rare armor and weapons. Once the player has completed all of the main missions, side quests, and unmarked quests, they may want to spice things up by playing around with cool and powerful new weapons. Likewise, players may want to adjust their build with a new set of unique armor.
