How to Upgrade Sonic Emitter

Upgrading the Sonic Emitter in Fallout: New Vegas – Old World Blues DLC is essential for exploring the Big MT facility effectively and unlocking various secrets scattered throughout the map. This specialized weapon starts off with a basic setting but can be enhanced with unique upgrades to give it different effects like disabling force fields or dealing elemental damage. To take full advantage of the Sonic Emitter’s capabilities, players need to locate specific holotapes, complete key quests, and understand where each upgrade applies. This guide walks you through each step on how to upgrade the Sonic Emitter, making it an invaluable tool in your Wasteland arsenal.

What is the Sonic Emitter?

Overview of the Weapon

The Sonic Emitter is a unique energy weapon introduced in the Old World Blues DLC. It’s given to you early in the expansion and plays a critical role not just in combat, but also in exploration. The weapon’s alternate firing modes unlocked through various upgrades allow players to access sealed areas, destroy specific barriers, and exploit enemy weaknesses.

Initially, the Sonic Emitter comes with a basic attack mode that works similarly to a laser pistol. However, its true potential is only revealed once you start collecting upgrade holotapes scattered around Big MT. Each upgrade gives the weapon a new attack style, making it far more versatile than most energy weapons in the game.

How to Acquire the Sonic Emitter

Receiving It from the Think Tank

You receive the Sonic Emitter automatically after speaking with the Think Tank at the start of the Old World Blues DLC. They provide you with the weapon during your orientation phase, explaining its basic function and hinting that it has more potential to be discovered later.

Initial Model – Revelation

The Sonic Emitter: Revelation is the first version you’ll get. It features high critical damage and is effective against enemies like Robo-Scorpions and cyberdogs. However, it lacks the utility functions found in upgraded models, so acquiring further variants should be a top priority.

Finding Sonic Emitter Upgrades

Upgrade Locations and Effects

There are several upgraded variants of the Sonic Emitter, each found by locating holotapes or completing quests. Here are the main upgrade types and where to find them:

• Gabe: Found in Higgs Village. This upgrade deals bonus damage to cyberdogs and robotic enemies. Named after Dr. Borous’s loyal pet.
• Tarantula: Found in the X-8 Research Center during the Institutional Test quest. This version includes an electrical damage effect and can stun enemies briefly.
• Opera Singer: Found at the Y-17 Medical Facility. It emits a high-frequency sound that can knock enemies down and is great for crowd control.
• Roboscorpion: Located at the X-42 Robo-Scorpion Testing Facility. It adds energy damage that is particularly effective against other robot types.

Each of these upgrades turns the Sonic Emitter into a more specialized tool for different situations. Switching between them depending on the enemy you’re fighting or the environment you’re in can make your gameplay far more strategic and rewarding.

Installing the Sonic Emitter Upgrades

Use the Sink’s Weapon Mod Station

Once you’ve obtained an upgrade holotape, you need to return to the Sink your central base in Big MT. In the Sink, there is a Weapon Mod Station terminal that allows you to install and swap between different versions of the Sonic Emitter. Interact with the terminal, and it will recognize the upgrades you’ve discovered so far.

To install an upgrade:

• Go to the Sink and activate the Weapon Mod Station
• Select the Sonic Emitter upgrade you want to install
• Confirm your choice and equip the modified weapon from your inventory

You can freely switch between the different versions without needing extra materials or energy cells. The upgrades are essentially alternate firing modes, each tailored to specific encounters and challenges.

How to Use Sonic Emitter Upgrades in the Field

Destroying Force Fields

One of the major utility functions of the upgraded Sonic Emitter is the ability to destroy blue force fields. You’ll first encounter this during the early exploration of Big MT, especially in facilities like the X-8 Research Center. Some emitters, like the Revelation or Tarantula, can disable these fields by shooting directly at the control node or the field itself.

Combat Advantages

Each variant of the Sonic Emitter provides unique combat benefits:

• Gabe: Bonus critical damage and knockback to cybernetic enemies.
• Opera Singer: Can stagger multiple foes in close proximity, useful when overwhelmed.
• Tarantula: Delivers electric shock that can disable robotic systems for a short duration.
• Roboscorpion: Higher DPS against mechanical units, ideal for clearing out labs filled with bots.

Experiment with each model to determine which fits your preferred combat style. Whether you lean toward stealth, ranged attacks, or crowd control, there’s a version that complements your approach.

Tips for Efficient Upgrading

Complete Side Quests Thoroughly

Many Sonic Emitter upgrades are tied to exploration-based quests. To ensure you don’t miss any of them:

• Complete all missions in the X-8 and X-13 facilities
• Check every room in Higgs Village for hidden holotapes
• Clear out enemies thoroughly, as some drop quest items required for upgrades
• Use the Local Map feature to double-check unexplored areas

Always Return to the Sink

The Sink acts as your central hub for modifying weapons and storing gear. After completing each major quest or dungeon, return to the Sink to see if you’ve picked up a new upgrade. It’s easy to overlook a newly unlocked version of the Sonic Emitter if you don’t regularly check the Weapon Mod Station.

Combining Upgrades with Perks

Recommended Perks for Sonic Emitter Builds

To maximize the effectiveness of the Sonic Emitter, pair it with energy weapon-related perks:

• Energy Weapons: Increases base damage across all Emitter variants
• Plasma Spaz: Reduces AP cost for V.A.T.S., allowing for more frequent targeted shots
• Meltdown: Causes enemies to explode upon death, useful for clearing groups
• Finesse: Increases your critical hit chance, boosting damage with the Revelation and Gabe versions

These perks work well in synergy with the various upgrades, giving you not just a utility tool, but a reliable offensive option throughout the DLC and even beyond it.

The Sonic Emitter is more than just a weapon it’s a multipurpose device essential for surviving and thriving in the Big MT. By collecting upgrade holotapes, visiting key locations, and using the Sink’s Weapon Mod Station, players can unlock all of its potential. Whether you’re disabling force fields, shutting down rogue robots, or clearing out labs full of threats, each version of the Emitter brings its own advantages. Take the time to explore every corner of the Old World Blues DLC, and you’ll be rewarded with one of the most versatile and unique weapons in the Fallout series.