Choosing whether to give Alex the book or to kill him during the Oldest Trick in the Book quest in Fallout 76
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Should You Give Alex the Book or Kill Him in Fallout 76?

Here's whether you should give Alex the book or kill him in Fallout 76 and what happens with either option.

During the Oldest Trick in the Book quest in Fallout 76, you’ll confront Alex in the Old Crimora Mines, and the game will give you a choice of how to deal with him. Here’s whether you should give Alex the book or kill him in Fallout 76 and what happens with either option.

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Does Your Choice Matter During the Oldest Trick in the Book Quest in Fallout 76?

Speaking to Hugo after confronting Alex in Fallout 76.
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No, your choice doesn’t matter, and your quest will end similarly regardless of whether you give Alex the book or kill him. Alex ends up dead, and you must clear the mine of cultists so Hugo’s people can rescue Cassidy without the cultists getting in the way. This means that you will obtain the same rewards and your choice won’t impact your interactions with anyone like Audrey, Hugo, or Oberlin, so pick the option that most fits your character’s personality and your play style.

What Happens if You Give Alex the Book in Fallout 76?

What happens if you give Alex the book in Fallout 76?
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If you choose to give Alex the book using the Hugo option, he’ll tell you that he doesn’t believe Hugo’s peace offering, and you are a fool for believing Hugo. After that, you can convince him that it is Andrea’s book. He will then open the book and get a face full of poison, which will kill him. After that, the quest will task you with clearing the mine of cultists so Hugo’s people can rescue Cassidy.

If you give Alex the book using the option that tells him Audrey is looking for him, he’ll be shocked that you have the book and be eager to open it. After opening it, the same poison cloud will poison him, just like the first option. In addition, you’ll need to clear out the mine so Hugo’s people can rescue Cassidy.

What Happens if You Kill Alex in Fallout 76?

What happens if you kill Alex in Fallout 76?
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If you decide to kill Alex instead of giving him the book, then the conversation will end, and Alex and his cultist followers will immediately attack you. However, make sure you are careful when picking this option. I had to unequip my power armor to wear the cultist disguise. Alex and his followers killed me before I could equip my power armor again. However, it didn’t matter as this option still tells you that you need to clear the mine of cultists so Hugo can rescue Cassidy.

Now that you know what happens if you give Alex the book or kill him during the Oldest Trick in the Book quest in Fallout 76, you’ll rest easy knowing your choice won’t impact this quest or your relationship with anyone in Vault 63. Check out our Fallout 76 hub for more guides like our V63 Zweihander Fallout 76 Guide, the two-handed weapon you are rewarded with for finishing the Skyline Valley expansion quest chain.


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Author
Image of Matthew Kevin Mitchell
Matthew Kevin Mitchell
Matthew Kevin Mitchell is a freelance writer for GameSkinny and has written in the game journalism industry for over two years. In his previous roles, Matthew primarily covered Manga, like One Piece, horror movies like Scream, and asymmetrical horror games like Dead by Daylight. His favorite moment came during his first press event covering Scream 6. He hails from Denver, Colorado, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Regis University. When he isn’t scaring himself silly or writing, he loves to play goalie in rec ice hockey, spoil his dog Nux, and drink an unhealthy amount of coffee.