Who is the mysterious stranger? The Fallout community has been puzzling over where the helper in the trench coat came from for 25 years. Four theories are particularly popular.
In the Fallout universe, there are probably as many mysteries as there are crown caps. From the Cthulhu cult to the countless Vault experiments: Fallout will make you scream, laugh and doubt your sanity hundreds of times.
Yet the mysterious stranger is probably one of the greatest mysteries in the post-apocalyptic role-playing game. If the player opts for the eponymous perk, he can hope for the trench coat wearer’s help in battle – in the form of absolutely lethal shots. But who is this enigmatic ally and where did he come from?
We went in search of clues with Lore-Tuber Landsquid Birdrider. You can imagine Landsquid a bit like Indiana Jones, only in the video game cosmos and without a whip. He digs through all the audio logs, documents and lore snippets of a game to uncover all the secrets and backgrounds.
There are three major theories surrounding the mysterious stranger, which we want to present together with Landsquid. And finally, we will completely amaze you with a fourth one that connects all the theories.
Table of Contents
Theory 1: The mysterious stranger is a god
The mysterious stranger is lightning fast and deadly, appearing in all ages and always possessing a different appearance. How is this possible? “According to one theory, the only way to explain it is that he is a divine being,” Landsquid explains. Interestingly, developer Bethesda itself has floated this theory.
“In Fallout 3’s game guide, the mysterious stranger is described [as a guardian angel and, editor’s note] as an ‘Eldritch Entity’ . Like ‘Eldritch Abonimations’, this is a term from the Lovecraft universe and refers to the great old gods who rule humanity from the background,” Landsquid says. While this isn’t the only Lovecraft allusion in the Fallout universe, it seems this deity is on our side for a change.
(According to reports), the mysterious stranger has been sighted in the Wasteland again and again over the centuries, either by the Fallout protagonists or others. It is therefore not surprising that this urban legend is also taken up in art. The comic book cover of Astoundingly (Awesome Tales), Volume 8 from Fallout 4, features a man who looks a lot like the mysterious stranger. God or not, his goals remain unknown.
Theory 2: The mysterious stranger is a synth
But if he is not a god, perhaps his abilities can be explained by science. After all, the researchers in Fallout are known for being able to make amazing achievements for a high price.
One detail is crucial to the following theory: we can only see the mysterious stranger (from Fallout 3) in V.A.T.S. mode. Does he also use this technology or is this a much more advanced research project? The trail leads to the mysterious Institute from Fallout 4.
“The Institute has advanced the (V.A.T.S. technology). In (an entry) about a unique project, we learn that the (Synths) of the third generation have received a new V.A.T.S. integration. Additionally, in Fallout 3 we meet (Dr. Zimmer), a scientist from the Institute who can give us a (V.A.T.S enhancement). There’s the link between the institute and this technology,” says the Lore tuber.
In addition, the Institute also has a direct connection to the mysterious Stranger, which one of their creations makes clear. Nick Valentine is a synth of the Institute and works as a private detective in Diamond City. His cases include the mysterious killer about whom he has opened (a file).
Who is the stranger, is it perhaps several people or a ghoul? Nick is also fishing in the mud. When he accompanies the player on his journey and the stranger appears, (he comments on this). No one else in the entire series does this.
“Now there’s some very interesting overlap. The mysterious stranger and Nick Valentine wear the same outfit. In addition, they both have the same brand of cigarettes in their inventory, the Grey Tortoise, which you can learn about via console commands in Fallout 76. This brand is rare, but it suddenly appears frequently in the Institute, of all places,” Landsquid explains.
“This all supports the theory that the mysterious stranger could be a synth from the Institute. The Institute has weapons and teleporters. So it would be quite possible that he works for the Institute or has broken out of it.”
With these clues, many more questions arise that only lead us deeper down the rabbit hole of theories. Was Nick programmed as a runner-synth to bring back the stranger? And why do only the player and Nick see the Stranger in Fallout 4?
One popular theory reasons that the player himself could be a Synth. But before we open this huge barrel, let’s hold on: there are too many coincidences for it to be just a coincidence. For the abilities and the origin, the Institute could provide many answers.
Theory 3: The mysterious stranger is an assassin
The mysterious stranger has a different appearance in all parts: In Parts 1 and 2 he is a Mad Max knock-off, in Parts 3 and New Vegas he is an Asian, in Fallout 4 he is an old man, and in Fallout 76 he is a Person of Color.
If there is no shape-shifting involved, there is much to suggest that there is not one killer at work here, but a whole group. The third theory tries to find the origin of this group and at the same time gives the killers a sad background story.
In Fallout 76, the player can discover the (Riverside Estate), which originally belonged to the actress (Shannon Rivers) and the scientist (Frederick Rivers). Before the war, Shannon would take on the role of the superhero Mistress of Mystery in the film adaptation of the (Silver Shroud) comic book. To support his wife in her role, her husband built a superhero base for her in the basement of the mansion.
Then, when the world ended in nuclear fire, the two lost themselves completely in their fantasy and, with adopted girls, founded an assassin cult: the Order of Mysteries, to protect Appalachia from raiders. The name alone seems very suspicious.
While the history of the Order already provides enough material for a gripping thriller, their end could answer the origin of the mysterious stranger. After the cult has been wiped out by raiders, the player can recover all the bodies in the ruins of the mansion, except that of Frederick Rivers. Landsquid comments:
“The theory now opens up several possibilities: Perhaps Frederick Rivers is now travelling the world as a mad killer to avenge his dead wife. Silver Shroud from the comic, who also looks very much like the mysterious stranger, could serve as his model. Frederick’s genius could explain his many appearances over the centuries: He possesses weapons and inventions, perhaps he has also managed to travel through time or become immortal through an elixir.
Apart from that, the old cult is dead, but the computer in the basement of the mansion still works. Players can still register for the cult there and then receive basic equipment. Via this automation, a loose community of killers could thus have been created, which we can encounter in all parts. This could also explain the different strangers, perhaps also the origin of the female stranger from New Vegas called Miss Fortune. An interesting side note: When the mysterious stranger dies in Part 1, he doesn’t come back either. Maybe he’s human after all. “
Whether deity, synth, all-powerful avenger or just one of many killers – the best and most valuable clue to his identity can be found in Fallout: New Vegas. Here, the player can meet the lonely stranger who is a musician making his way through the wasteland in search of his father.
In conversation, he explains that he has always perceived his father as a “stranger”. He has not only received a guitar from him, but also a unique weapon: the mysterious revolver. When this weapon is fired, the sound of the mysterious stranger is heard.
“(In a post), lead designer Joshua Sawyer also revealed that the original plan was for the mysterious stranger to kill the player if he attacked the musician,” according to YouTuber Landsquid.
Is this the son of the mysterious killer? At least developer Obsidian Entertainment apparently wanted to leave no doubt about it.
Theory 4: He is a divine synth assassin
After sifting through all the clues and theories about the mysterious stranger, we want to wrap up the Lore Fireworks with a finale and contribute a new theory to the research at the same time. In conversation, Landsquid and we discovered that all three theories don’t have to contradict each other at all.
Together, they could even explain the entire career and difficult history of the mysterious stranger. Don’t worry, the explanation won’t be as complicated as in “Inception”.
- In Fallout 76 (circa the year 2102), the Order of the Mysteries is founded. Frederic Rivers is the only one to survive extermination by the Raiders and now haunts the wasteland over the centuries (Fallout 4 takes place in 2287) with all the mysterious strangers who have registered through his terminal. One of them has a son who appears in Fallout: New Vegas (2281). The background of the cult is unknown, but they remain true to their dress code.
- Could there also be a connection between Frederick Rivers, the Institute and V.A.T.S.? That would be possible, Landsquid thinks: “Frederick Rivers bought the mainframe for his superhero basement from RobCo. And RobCo Industries also manufactured the Pip-Boys, which in turn have the V.A.T.S. mode, which apparently the Institute has also been researching. RobCo Industries is also the company of Robert House of New Vegas, who has worked closely with Vault Tec. “
- “There’s another interesting detail in Fallout 4: Nick Valentine has been implanted with the memories of a pre-war police officer,” Landsquid explains, providing a puzzle piece to connect all the theories: If Frederic Rivers did ever die, the Institute may have simply implanted his memories into a synth.
- The appearance of the mysterious stranger becomes an urban legend that is also picked up in comics. To explain the abilities of this figure, people attribute to it a divine character.
The mysterious stranger: a mega-myth that has enthralled Fallout players for 25 years and originally started with a simple gameplay mechanic. Ultimately, Landsquid stresses, they remain just theories. Even today, we haven’t found an absolute truth. But this searching, guessing and head-scratching is the great fun of it.
