How to Make an Atomic Bomb in Your Garden: Troubleshooting Guide

Common Startup and Funding Issues

Many players hit a wall early when trying to raise funds for their first components. If you're struggling to get your project off the ground, you're not alone. The game's initial phase is deliberately slow to teach you resource management.

Insufficient Funds: If you can't afford the basic Geiger counter or lead-lined gloves, revisit your day job minigame. You can also check for side hustles by interacting with specific objects in your garden shed. For a full breakdown of income sources, see our currency guide.

Failed Fundraising Events: Hosting a bake sale or garage sale can fail if you don't promote them. Make sure you've placed a sign on your front lawn at least 24 hours in-game before the event. If neighbors ignore you, your Charisma stat might be too low.

Part Acquisition Problems

Finding the right parts is the core challenge. If you're missing a critical component, check these common pitfalls.

Missing Plutonium Core: This is the most common blocker. The core is not found in the open world; you must complete the "Abandoned Mine" exploration event. If the event isn't triggering, ensure you've read the "Professor's Journal" found in the attic. Refer to our walkthrough for step-by-step event triggers.

Scavenging Yields Nothing: When scavenging at the junkyard or military surplus store, your success rate depends on your Perception skill. If you keep finding empty boxes, invest skill points into Perception. You can also equip a magnifying glass from the upgrades guide to boost your search radius.

Neighbor and Agent Suspicion

Getting caught by neighbors or federal agents ends your run. If your suspicion meter is rising too fast, use these fixes.

Neighbor Suspicion Too High: If your neighbor, Mrs. Gribble, is constantly peeking over the fence, you need to lower your profile. Stop working on the bomb during daylight hours. Only operate tools and machinery at night. Plant tall hedges or build a privacy fence to block line of sight. For more strategies, check our beginner tips.

Agent Investigations: When a federal agent starts asking questions, you must pass a Deception check. If you fail, they will search your property. To prepare, stash all incriminating items in a hidden underground bunker (unlocked via the crafting guide). If you don't have a bunker, bury items in the compost heap.

Assembly and Wiring Errors

The assembly phase is where most players fail. If your bomb won't arm or detonates prematurely, check your connections.

Circuit Board Mismatch: Your detonator circuit board must match the voltage of your core. Using a 12V board on a 24V core will cause a short circuit. Use a multimeter (found in the garage) to check compatibility before soldering. See our mechanics guide for a full table of component compatibility.

Timing Mechanism Failure: If the timer won't set, the gear mechanism is likely jammed. You need to apply lubricant (WD-40 or similar) to the gears. If you don't have lubricant, you can craft it from vegetable oil and graphite powder.

Detonation Sequence Errors: If the bomb fails to detonate after arming, check the following:

• Is the battery charged? A dead battery will prevent the spark.
• Is the firing pin properly aligned? Misalignment causes a dud.
• Are all wires securely connected? Loose wires cause intermittent failures.

Performance and Technical Glitches

While the game is generally stable, some players report issues.

Game Crashes During Explosion: If the game crashes right when you detonate, lower your graphics settings to Medium. The particle effects for the explosion are demanding. Also, ensure your drivers are updated. For more technical help, visit our performance guide.

Save File Corruption: If your save won't load, you may have saved during a critical event. Always save in your home or a safe zone. Corrupted saves can sometimes be recovered by loading an autosave from the previous in-game day.

Missing Sound Effects: If you can't hear the Geiger counter clicking, check your audio settings. The "Ambient" volume slider controls environmental sounds. Set it to at least 50%.

Late-Game Catastrophes

Even near the finish line, things can go wrong.

Radiation Leak: If you start taking radiation damage while handling the core, you forgot to equip your lead-lined suit. If you don't have one, craft it from lead sheets and a hazmat suit. Without it, you will die within 60 seconds.

Final Detonation Failure: If the bomb is fully assembled but won't detonate, you may have missed a critical step: arming the neutron reflector. This is a small switch on the side of the casing. It's easy to overlook.

Getting Arrested: If the police arrive before detonation, you have one chance to escape through the secret tunnel in your basement. This tunnel is only available if you built it earlier in the game. If you didn't, your run is over.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I find the uranium ore? Uranium ore is only available after you unlock the "Mining" skill. You can find it in the cave behind the waterfall, but only during a new moon.

My bomb keeps overheating. What do I do? Overheating happens when you use too many cooling fins. Remove two fins and replace them with heat sinks. Check our resource management guide for cooling system ratios.

How do I fix a broken Geiger counter? You need a replacement tube. These are sold at the electronics store, but only on Tuesdays and Thursdays in-game.

Can I restart without losing everything? Yes, you can use the prestige system to reset with bonuses. See our restart guide for details.