Fallout 4: Here’s Why “The Enclave” Aren’t in the Game & Why You Can’t Join Them

Fallout lore was always the best part of the franchise, especially when it came to surviving factions of the nuclear warfare that annihilated the whole world. The Great War was pure destruction and death. However, some surviving people decided they had no choice, created their own organizations, and tried to establish suitable government bodies to have some leadership in place. Enclave is a self-proclaimed continuation of the United States that acted as the main governing body in the Wasteland. But something happened that even the government couldn’t get out of. This article will discuss whether you can join ‘the Enclave’ in Fallout 4.

In what Fallout game is the Enclave?

As we already mentioned, the Enclave originates from the deep state entity that was formed of high-ranking military officers, corporate leaders, and politicians. They act for their own goals independently of the state’s political leadership.

In other words, the Enclave originates from the so-called shadow government and made efforts to make themselves rich and secure by the expanse of other politicians and people. After the Great War, the Enclave operated in almost isolation, where they gained vast power and personnel, secluded on the Control Station of the coast of California.

However, the isolation and superiority they enjoyed made the members of the Enclave greedy, xenophobic, and nationalist, making them dispising other people who were settled across the Wasteland.

The Wastelanders were considered pathetic, degenerate mutants who needed to be put down. However, the end of the Enclave starts in the Fallout 2 game, where the group is the main antagonist.

The whole storyline in Fallout 2 follows the Chosen One, the descendant of the Vault Dweller from the first Fallout game, who needs to find a special device called G.E.C.K. that can create thriving communities in post-apocalyptic Wasteland. In their journey, the Chosen One must fight off the Enclave, who decide to use their advanced technology and enslave communities across the United States.

The Chosen One saves the day after destroying the Enclave HQ and saves his village, Arroyo, and imprisoned Vault 13 dwellers, marking the beginning of the end for the Enclave.

Fallout 3 is another game where the Enclave is the main antagonist, this time with the Lone Wanderer trying to find their father, James, and consequently, trying to create a safe environment for the mass production of clean water.

In Fallout 3, the Brotherhood of Steel and the Enclave are in the war. Moreover, the Lone Wanderer encounters the Enclave, who kidnaps them and uses them for their own agenda – Project Purity. The Enclave is trying to accomplish its mission from Fallout 2 and exterminate “abominations,” this time from Capital Wasteland.

Fallout: New Vegas briefly mentions the once-powerful group Fallout Shelter Online and Fallout 76 features the Enclave in a significant role.

Does the Enclave still exist after Fallout 3?

As we already mentioned, Fallout 3 is the game where Lone Wanderer encounters the Enclave and needs to stop them from killing the citizens of Capital Wasteland. In the canon ending (at least it seems like it is), the Lone Wanderer starts Project Purity and sacrifices themselves for the cause.

With that ending, The Enclave’s last two major installations on the East Coast ultimately scaled the war on the Brotherhood of Steel’s side. There are some mentions of the Enclave in Fallout: New Vegas, which is set in Mojave Wasteland, the West Coast of the United States of America.

After the Fallout 3 game, the remaining members of the Enclave mostly integrated into NCR (New California Republic), and those who didn’t were on trial for war crimes.

There is a companion quest in Fallout: New Vegas from Arcade Gannon, a member of the Followers of the Apocalypse and the former member of the Enclave. After triggering the quest, Arcade and the Courier need to reunite the old members of the group and persuade them to join either NCR or Ceasar’s Legion in the final battle of Hoover Dam.

A prototype eyebot ED-E was sent out from the Adams Air Force Base (seen in Fallout 3) before its fall, which can also become Courier’s companion in Fallout: New Vegas. The former Enclave base sent out the bot to Navarro, where the Enclave had fallen decades ago.

There are hints that the remaining members of the Enclave are still scattered all over the Wasteland, but there are so few of them that towards the Fallout 4 and Sole Survivor’s journey, the Enclave is no more. Fallout Shelter Online and Fallout 76 offer players to join the Enclave faction.

Is the Enclave stronger than the Brotherhood of Steel?

At one point in time, the Enclave was really powerful, especially during the Fallout 2 game. They mostly focused on the West Coast of the Wasteland, trying to “clean” everything from foul people who don’t deserve to live there.

Advanced technology and superior gear made the Enclave really powerful. However, when the Chosen One destroyed the Oil Rig in Fallout 2, and the Lone Wanderer helped Brotherhood of Steel and other factions to destroy the last two important bases on the East Coast, BoS became vastly superior to the Enclave.

BoS started expanding and getting control of the Capital Wasteland with its enormous collection of energy weapons and armory, making them extremely powerful and influential.

Can you join the Enclave in Fallout 4?

The Enclave is annihilated in Fallout 3, and despite having some surviving members in Fallout: New Vegas, who are mentioned in Fallout 4 as well, the Enclave is no longer in the Commonwealth Wasteland.

With that being said, Sole Survivor cannot join the Enclave because they are simply non-existent at that point in time. Fallout Shelter Online and Fallout 76, set before Fallout 3, New Vegas, and 4, offer players the opportunity to join the Enclave. Apart from that situation, the Enclave doesn’t exist after Fallout 3, hence why you cannot join the faction in Fallout 4.

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