Fallout New Vegas: All DLC Start Locations & Level Requirements (2024)

Though there is plenty to love about the base version of Fallout New Vegas, DLC for the game turns it from a great post-apocalyptic RPG into a legendary one. New perks, new skills, new items, and tons of other new content is added to the ultimate edition of the game automatically upon starting a new save. But to actually experience these DLCs, you'll have to find their start locations.

There are a total of four story DLCs for New Vegas: Honest Hearts, Old World Blues, Dead Money, and Lonesome Road. Each has a different recommended starting level and a different location where the Courier can begin each new story, typically set in completely unique locations from the Mojave.

Updated August 10, 2024 by Erik Petrovich: The four Fallout: New Vegas DLCs are about as different as they can be, introducing a wide range of new characters, locations, and stories to the multifaceted Mojave desert (and beyond). But before you get too excited about heading beyond the borders of the base game, it's important to consider how well-equipped you are to take on the more challenging content of each DLC. Honest Hearts is easy enough, for example, and its recommended level of 10 is more of a suggestion, especially for players who want a bit of a challenge. But most of the Fallout: New Vegas DLC start locations should only be approached if you have the stats, passives, and gear necessary to survive their harsher combats. This guide has been updated to include more details on the requirements for each DLC, including how strongly we recommend reaching a certain minimum level vs how difficult each campaign can be.

4 Honest Hearts

Recommended Level: 10

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The Honest Hearts DLC takes the Courier from the Mojave Wasteland to Zion National Park in neighboring Utah. This DLC takes off quickly as the player is ambushed and is forced to make their way back to the Wasteland.

Honest Hearts offers some of the most interesting expansions to the base game's lore, and it's got all the wackiness of the original setting. From drug-induced rituals to a burned man who used to be Caesar's second-in command, Honest Hearts is a great DLC that players can start relatively early.

How To Start Honest Hearts

To start the Honest Hearts DLC for Fallout New Vegas, head northeast from the Westside West Entrance and onto the road that spans from each side of New Vegas' north side. The Honest Hearts start location is in the Northern Passage, a cave that can be found in the hills about halfway down this road.

Alternatively, select the quest "Happy Trails Expedition" on your Pip-Boy to track the Honest Hearts start location. This quest should automatically be added to your quest log upon creating a new character. Though we recommend getting to Level 10 as the minimum level for Honest Hearts, you can start the DLC earlier than that if you want a change of pace from the normal starter experience.

3 Old World Blues

Recommended Level: 15

Old World Blues whisks the Courier away to a unique location called the Big Empty, to a place called Big Mountain, that is disconnected from the rest of the wasteland. After being essentially abducted by a being called the Think Tank – the combination of the worlds' greatest scientific minds in one messed-up robot – the Courier's brain is removed.

The rest of the DLC sees the player try to get back their own brain and all the wacky science-adjacent activities that adventure could conjure up. Robot scorpions, a Mutant grandma, and the ability to convince your own brain to return back to your skull make this one of the best New Vegas DLC to experience.

How To Start Old World Blues

To start the Old World Blues DLC for Fallout New Vegas, you must find the abandoned Mojave Drive-In theater, just southeast of Nelson. The Old World Blues start location is the projector, which can only be interacted with at night, when a reel of an eye plays on the screen. Open it up and watch as the Courier is taken away to this bizarre sciency setting.

Alternatively, select the quest "Midnight Science Fiction Feature" on your Pip-Boy to track the Old World Blues start location. This quest should automatically be added to your quest log upon creating a new character. Though we recommend getting to Level 15 as the minimum level for Old World Blues, you can start the DLC at earlier levels.

2 Dead Money

Recommended Level: 20

The Dead Money DLC brings players to an extravagant resort that was once meant to be the ultimate in opulence – the Sierra Madre Casino. Before its grand opening, the bombs went off, and it stayed closed for good. Now, there's a rumor going around that there's a great treasure beneath the Sierra Madre, which draws the Courier to seek it.

Though this DLC is considered by some to be the weakest of the four DLCs in New Vegas, Dead Money still offers unique characters, interesting stories, and great new items and perks to the game. Though you'll have to get relatively far in the game to meet its level prerequisites, it's worth the detour.

How To Start Dead Money

To start the Dead Money DLC for Fallout New Vegas, start from Nelson in the far east of the main Mojave Wasteland map and head northeast on the road. The Dead Money start location is the Abandoned Brotherhood of Steel Bunker, just a few minutes' walk northeast from Nelson.

Alternatively, select the quest "Sierra Madre Grand Opening" on your Pip-Boy to track the Dead Money start location. This quest should automatically be added to your quest log upon creating a new character.

Though we recommend getting to Level 20 as the minimum level for Dead Money, you can start this DLC earlier than that if you want a challenge. The difficulty of enemies in this and Lonesome Road spikes a bit compared to the base game and other DLCs, so it's good to level up as much as you can and get good gear before heading to this area.

1 Lonesome Road

Recommended Level: 25

While Dead Money is a bit more of a divisive addon for New Vegas, the general consensus is that Lonesome Road is the best. The Lonesome Road DLC story sees the conclusion of the Courier's own story, one that began before they were shot in the head by Benny in the opening cutscene.

Long story short, the Courier delivered something that changed the course of history for one man in particular: Ulysses.

In this DLC, players are sent to The Divide, an area characterized by its harsh environment (tornadoes, earthquakes, destructive storms, etc). The Lonesome Road to meeting Ulysses is filled with strife and hardship – and lots and lots of nuclear warheads – but it's one well worth walking before you finish the game and head to the Hoover Dam for the final ending.

How To Start Lonesome Road

To start the Lonesome Road DLC for Fallout New Vegas, start from Primm and head west, over the road and into the hills. The Lonesome Road start location is the Canyon Wreckage location, and just like all other locations, it will pop up with a warning when you try to enter the DLC zone for the first time.

Alternatively, select the quest "The Reunion" on your Pip-Boy to track the Lonesome Road start location. This quest should automatically be added to your quest log upon creating a new character. We strongly recommend getting to at least level 20, but preferably higher (around level 25) before trying to take on Lonesome Road. This is the most difficult DLC, and the final DLC, so be sure you are good and prepared (and consider trying out other DLCs first) before jumping in.

Fallout: New Vegas

RPG

Franchise

Fallout

Platform(s)

PS3 , Xbox 360 , PC

Released

October 19, 2010

Developer(s)

Obsidian Entertainment

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs

Metascore

84