Toxic Caves

In this guide we’ll show you everything there is to know about the Toxic Caves, a small area where you’ll encounter lots of geckos but rescue Smiley, the missing trapper. There’s also a locked elevator. Where could it lead?

Introduction

The Toxic Caves are a part of the quest Rescue Smiley the Trapper, which you’ll receive from Ardin Buckner in Klamath. You’ll encounter lots of geckos here, including many golden ones, and you’ll also have to deal with pools of toxic sludge, which will damage you if you step in them.

For the geckos, you’ll just have to be tough enough to fight them, so you might want to complete the other quests in Klamath first, and pick up a better weapon and some armor. Recruiting Sulik might be a good idea, too. For the sludge, you can just avoid stepping in it in most places. But when that’s not an option, your the best solution is to have Rubber Boots, which you can find in the caves (in the utility room on the first level) and in Klamath (in the Mall area). Just having the boots in your inventory will prevent you from taking damage from the sludge — until the boots randomly melt.

Note: if you walk around in toxic sludge enough without any protection, then you might eventually grow a Mutated Toe.

There are three levels to the Toxic Caves. You’ll find Smiley in the back of the second level, near an unpowered elevator. To rescue him, you’ll just need to talk to him and lead him back to Klamath. He’ll have his own set of Rubber Boots, so you won’t need to worry about that.

You won’t be able to power up the elevator until later in the game. To get it running, you’ll need to repair the nearby generator, which will require you to have at least Repair 60%. Then to open the elevator door, you”ll need to have at least Lockpick 50% plus an Electronic Lockpick (or an Electronic Lockpick MKII), which you won’t find until you get to New Reno.

The elevator will take you down to a military storage facility, where you’ll immediately get attacked by rocket-lobbing security bot. The security bot has high resistances, and it can shoot three rockets per round, so it’s not to be taken lightly. Try to keep your party separated so only one character gets hit at a time, and just wear the robot down, using Stimpaks as necessary. You’ll earn 600xp when it dies.

Thankfully, you won’t encounter any other defenses in the storage facility, but you will find several lockers full of good loot, including healing supplies, high-level ammunition, a Bozar, Combat Armor Mk II, a Laser Pistol, and a Plasma Pistol.