In Atomfall, upgrading your character’s abilities is key to surviving the unfriendly world around you and Skill Manuals are among the best means of doing so. These books are collectible and unlock useful Skills related to combat, crafting, stealth, and survival, which provide you with a serious advantage as you explore. Whether you want to become a sniper, a stealthy assassin, or a master craftsman, there’s a Manual waiting for you. There are some which you can purchase from NPCs and others which lie concealed in places of importance on the map. This guide will analyze where each Skill Manual in Atomfall can be found and what skills they open up for you, allowing you to decide your route and create your character to your choice.
All Skill Manual Locations
There are quite a few Skill Manuals to find in Atomfall, and luckily, most of them are located in places that are pretty easy to spot. Some Manuals can even show up in more than one location. There are different types of Manuals as well, and each one unlocks new Skills based on its topic. Once you have a Manual, you can spend Training Stimulants to learn the associated Skills.
Resistances Manual
You can find the Resistances Manual in the Auditorium, located on the lower level of the Medical Wing inside the Interchange. Just a heads-up you won’t be able to get in until you’ve got the Church Cellar Key and have met Dr. Holder beneath St. Katherine’s Church in Wyndham Village.
This Manual unlocks three resistance-based Skills: Poison Resistance, Bleed Resistance, and Burn Resistance each one helping you fend off those specific status effects. That said, since you can craft things like Antidotes and Burn Salves, these Skills aren’t exactly top priority—but they’re still nice to have if you want some extra protection.
Consumables Manual
You’ll find the Consumables Manual in the master bedroom of the Bakery in Wyndham Village. The door is locked at first, but you can grab the Bakery Bedroom Key from Wyndham Garage to get inside.
Before you rush in, though, here’s a heads-up: the baker’s husband, who’s holed up in that room, is infected and will attack you unless you’ve given some Strange Tonic to Iris, the baker. It’s definitely safer (and more peaceful) to hand over the tonic first. That said, if you’d rather not bother, you can just barge in, take him out, and grab the Manual but be warned, Iris won’t take kindly to that and will turn hostile.
As for the Manual itself, it unlocks some really useful Skills: Gut Health gives you a defense boost when eating food, Buff Duration increases how long your buffs last, and Blue Fingers lets you safely harvest spores from heavily infected areas.
Firearms Mastery Manual
You can pick up the Firearms Mastery Manual from Bootsy in Skethermoor, and it’ll unlock three handy Skills: Firearms Focus, Firearms Handling, and Firearms Stability. These boost your gun damage, reduce weapon sway, and cut down on recoil, making firefights a lot smoother. If you’d rather find one out in the world, there’s another copy of the Firearms Mastery Manual tucked away in Data Store Charlie.
Crafting Manual
You can find the Crafting Manual in Data Store Delta (located in the Interchange), specifically inside Data Storeroom D. To get in, grab the key from a nearby corpse. Inside, you’ll find the Crafting Manual along with some Training Stimulants and useful crafting materials. If you’d rather not go exploring, you can also buy the Crafting Manual from Morris Wick in Wyndham Village.
This particular Manual is one of the most valuable ones to get. It unlocks the Gunsmith Skill, which costs a hefty seven Training Stimulants but it’s absolutely worth it. With this Skill, you’ll be able to upgrade your firearms, something that becomes increasingly important as you push further into Atomfall.
Bow Mastery Manual
You can get your hands on the Bow Mastery Manual by trading with Molly at the Trader’s Camp in Slatten Dale. Alternatively, you can find one just outside the main entrance to the Castle Ruins in Casterfell Woods.
This Manual unlocks three bow-related Skills: Bow Focus, Draw Control, and Draw Speed all of which make using a bow feel smoother and more effective.
Melee Combat Manual
You’ll find the Melee Combat Manual inside the Outlaw’s Cave in Slatten Dale, and it’s definitely one worth picking up especially since melee combat plays a big role throughout your Atomfall journey.
This Manual unlocks three solid Skills: Heavy Melee Attack Power, Seasoned Brawler, and Melee Weapon Attack Power. They all help boost your melee effectiveness whether it’s hitting harder with heavy attacks or regular melee swings. Plus, Seasoned Brawler lowers the heart rate cost of melee moves, so you can keep swinging that bat or sickle without wearing yourself out too fast.
Experimental Inoculation
The Experimental Inoculation isn’t technically a Skill Manual, but it works the same way unlocking three powerful Skills that are especially useful in the late game.
You won’t be able to get your hands on it until you’ve found the Church Cellar Key and met Dr. Holder in the Forgotten Cellar (same as with the Resistances Manual). Once you’re in, you’ll find the Experimental Inoculation sitting on a desk in the cellar.
Using it unlocks Radiation Resistance, Infection Resistance, and Healing Boost. Of the three, Infection Resistance really stands out it’s the only real way to protect yourself from infection until you get the Strange Tonic Recipe, so it’s definitely one to prioritize.
Stealth Manual
You can find the Stealth Manual inside Datlow Hall Conservatory, and it unlocks some of my personal favorite Skills in the game: Quiet Takedown, Quiet Movement, and Surprise Attack. With all three, you’ll be able to sneak up on enemies and take them out silently, one by one, without alerting anyone nearby. Perfect for a stealthy approach.
