impact driver

[tools guy-kun]

any idea of where exactly is the best bet to find one/buy one? I can't find a single answer online, other than they're crafted through a schematic.

[comet_65cali]

Depending on your looting level and gamestag:
-I find them most consistently in Secret Stashes at any trader with a Better-Barter at Level 3 or above.
-Working Stiffs or Pass-n-Gas boxes seem to have them on occasion.
-Outside of that, look in vehicles, that's where I normally find them in the wild.

Be aware, a tier 5-6 wrench can be better that a tier 1-2 impact driver and don't normally bother unless its a tier 3 or above.

[mathaniel]

On topic I guess, the ratchet I guess it is? Never messed with them but just stumbled on a lvl 5 one. had a lvl 6 wrench. It seems better for like two snaps on a radiator and 3 for a wrench maybe. both full modded.

[tools guy-kun]

Originally posted by comet_65cali:

Depending on your looting level and gamestag:
-I find them most consistently in Secret Stashes at any trader with a Better-Barter at Level 3 or above.
-Working Stiffs or Pass-n-Gas boxes seem to have them on occasion.
-Outside of that, look in vehicles, that's where I normally find them in the wild.

Be aware, a tier 5-6 wrench can be better that a tier 1-2 impact driver and don't normally bother unless its a tier 3 or above.

Originally posted by mathaniel:

On topic I guess, the ratchet I guess it is? Never messed with them but just stumbled on a lvl 5 one. had a lvl 6 wrench. It seems better for like two snaps on a radiator and 3 for a wrench maybe. both full modded.

thanks y'all! the reason why I really want one at the moment is because I like opening safes, but the amount of time and swings needed with my level 5 wrench can be pretty tedious and tiresome, especially if I don't have beer on me.

I notice that an impact driver does significantly more damage to the safes than the wrench, at least the one I have.

I also notice one of the traders selling an auger that I can afford. I'd probably use it for buried supplies missions, but I hope to open safes with that as well, until I can find an impact driver. would this be a smart idea, or should I avoid buying an auger if my main intention is to open safes with it?

[Skaarphy]

Why not lockpick the safes? Lockpicks are cheap to produce for the cost of one skill point.

[Aithaed]

I've found that the most efficient way to open locked boxes (assuming you're absolutely dedicated to not using lockpicks, which is my personal recommendation for best way to get in), you can use an Auger and chunk through the HP pretty quickly as long as you don't mind any zombies you might attract by doing so. This strategy is most effective in places like T5 skyscraper POIs where you're so far above the ground that the zombies down below won't hear you. It does also rely on you having enough fuel to do so, but i've not found a time where that restricts me in A20.

Otherwise, the Impact Driver is found anywhere you would normally acquire a statted tool; Working Smith Crates, Gunsafes, toolboxes, T4/T5 POI Reinforced Crates, trader quest rewards/shop/secret stash, ect.

It's mostly a matter of luck, though I would also recommend upgrading to a Ratchet if you can't find the parts for any of the above. If you have some to spare, you can also use demolition charges, though their damage is somewhat lacking compared to the stupid amounts of HP some locked objects have, and they're vaguely considered rare.

[comet_65cali]

Originally posted by tools guy-kun:

thanks y'all! the reason why I really want one at the moment is because I like opening safes, but the amount of time and swings needed with my level 5 wrench can be pretty tedious and tiresome, especially if I don't have beer on me.

I notice that an impact driver does significantly more damage to the safes than the wrench, at least the one I have.

I also notice one of the traders selling an auger that I can afford. I'd probably use it for buried supplies missions, but I hope to open safes with that as well, until I can find an impact driver. would this be a smart idea, or should I avoid buying an auger if my main intention is to open safes with it?

Easiest way of breaking into safes/chests/ATMs are going to be timed charges or Jailbreakers+lockpicks. Traders will have stacks of timed charges for cheap, and by the time you are looting Level 3/4 POIs you may find the Great Heist book that gives you the recipe for them.

Besides that, mining tools should be more efficient in breaking into safes, granted I normally just pick-axe my way into wall safes. So yes an auger with an Iron Breaker Mod should be better than harvesting tools.

[tools guy-kun]

Originally posted by Skaarphy:

Why not lockpick the safes? Lockpicks are cheap to produce for the cost of one skill point.

The thing is, I’ve tried lockpicking stuff before. I had a point invested in the skill tree for it, then I had some on me and brought them to a locked safe and door, but there was no prompt to open either.

I crouched, I held E on both a locked door and safe, I held it in my hand even though the game says you don’t need to equip it in your hot bar, but nothing worked.

[tools guy-kun]

Originally posted by comet_65cali:

Originally posted by tools guy-kun:

thanks y'all! the reason why I really want one at the moment is because I like opening safes, but the amount of time and swings needed with my level 5 wrench can be pretty tedious and tiresome, especially if I don't have beer on me.

I notice that an impact driver does significantly more damage to the safes than the wrench, at least the one I have.

I also notice one of the traders selling an auger that I can afford. I'd probably use it for buried supplies missions, but I hope to open safes with that as well, until I can find an impact driver. would this be a smart idea, or should I avoid buying an auger if my main intention is to open safes with it?

Easiest way of breaking into safes/chests/ATMs are going to be timed charges or Jailbreakers+lockpicks. Traders will have stacks of timed charges for cheap, and by the time you are looting Level 3/4 POIs you may find the Great Heist book that gives you the recipe for them.

Besides that, mining tools should be more efficient in breaking into safes, granted I normally just pick-axe my way into wall safes. So yes an auger with an Iron Breaker Mod should be better than harvesting tools.

Awesome, thanks! But wouldn’t timed charges also attract zombies? Don’t get me wrong, I love explosives. (: I’m just curious if it would have the same drawback as the auger

[tools guy-kun]

Originally posted by Aithaed:

I've found that the most efficient way to open locked boxes (assuming you're absolutely dedicated to not using lockpicks, which is my personal recommendation for best way to get in), you can use an Auger and chunk through the HP pretty quickly as long as you don't mind any zombies you might attract by doing so. This strategy is most effective in places like T5 skyscraper POIs where you're so far above the ground that the zombies down below won't hear you. It does also rely on you having enough fuel to do so, but i've not found a time where that restricts me in A20.

Otherwise, the Impact Driver is found anywhere you would normally acquire a statted tool; Working Smith Crates, Gunsafes, toolboxes, T4/T5 POI Reinforced Crates, trader quest rewards/shop/secret stash, ect.

It's mostly a matter of luck, though I would also recommend upgrading to a Ratchet if you can't find the parts for any of the above. If you have some to spare, you can also use demolition charges, though their damage is somewhat lacking compared to the stupid amounts of HP some locked objects have, and they're vaguely considered rare.

My response to Skarphy is also meant for you.

+

Ah okay so I might find an impact driver on my hunt for locked chests/safes. Sweet! How late in the game stage would I have to be in, though? I think I’m in 40+, but I have to double check later.

[Skaarphy]

Originally posted by tools guy-kun:

Originally posted by Skaarphy:

Why not lockpick the safes? Lockpicks are cheap to produce for the cost of one skill point.

The thing is, I’ve tried lockpicking stuff before. I had a point invested in the skill tree for it, then I had some on me and brought them to a locked safe and door, but there was no prompt to open either.

I crouched, I held E on both a locked door and safe, I held it in my hand even though the game says you don’t need to equip it in your hot bar, but nothing worked.

When you press 'E' for a second or two while hovering over something you'll get a context menu with all options available to you for that particular thing, in the case of safes I think it's 'pick lock' and 'open'. Also very useful for vehicles.

[tools guy-kun]

Originally posted by Skaarphy:

Originally posted by tools guy-kun:

The thing is, I’ve tried lockpicking stuff before. I had a point invested in the skill tree for it, then I had some on me and brought them to a locked safe and door, but there was no prompt to open either.

I crouched, I held E on both a locked door and safe, I held it in my hand even though the game says you don’t need to equip it in your hot bar, but nothing worked.

When you press 'E' for a second or two while hovering over something you'll get a context menu with all options available to you for that particular thing, in the case of safes I think it's 'pick lock' and 'open'. Also very useful for vehicles.

Oh........

Then I’ll try again when I hop on later. Seems way less risky than using an auger. Thanks mate.

[Dr.Chazzzzz]

In cars when you have a high enough loot stage

[tools guy-kun]

Originally posted by Dr.Chazzzzz:

In cars when you have a high enough loot stage

that would be awesome! I'm currently at stage 43, so I think I'm fairly halfway through the stages until I get the best loot, which is around 90 I think. looking forward to getting one of those bad boys.

[Aithaed]

Originally posted by tools guy-kun:

Originally posted by Skaarphy:

When you press 'E' for a second or two while hovering over something you'll get a context menu with all options available to you for that particular thing, in the case of safes I think it's 'pick lock' and 'open'. Also very useful for vehicles.

Oh........

Then I’ll try again when I hop on later. Seems way less risky than using an auger. Thanks mate.

Do note that you can't lockpick doors or other players' locked boxes. You just gotta break em. Just about anything lootable that says locked on it you can lockpick into though.

Other people said it but i'll reiterate, when you see an interactable object you are sometimes able to hold E and utilize it in special ways. Examples of this would be lockpicking, or when inside a Claimed region you own, allowing you to pick up workstations or turrets. It is also used to access any of the special functions for vehicles, or to quickly turn on/off your generators.

[deathmage390]

Purses are also really good to find lockpicks btw.

honestly the Better barter 3 trader/ t3+ trader quests are your best bet for early gamestage (if you can survive those)

if you have them Looting goggles and eyecandy can increase your lootstage artificially.
Tech 1 loot starts: stage 40 (Wrench)
Tech 2 loot starts: stage 80 (Ratchet)
Tech 3 loot starts: stage 118 (Impact)

the other thing is the biome and POI you are in affect lootstage, the more dangerous/large the bigger the bonus.