How to get the Ashmaker (Unique Weapon which sets enemies on fire)

The Ashmaker is another of the overpowered unique weapons in Fallout 4. It's an MS16 with a unique ability that sometimes causes targets to catch fire. Read the guide here to understand exactly how to get the Ashmaker, including the required dialogue choices.

Note: this guide contains no spoilers so you're free to read on without fear.

The Big Dig

The key to obtaining this weapon is to engage in a particular Side Quest, triggered from the financial district of the Boston Neighborhood. This area is just East of the center of the world map and not really somewhere you'll explore early in the game. It's south of the river on the eastern side of the city. See the map image below:

Financial District - Map Location

There are many high level enemies here including mutants and Mirelurks. If you've just started playing the game then leave this quest for later.

Once you've located the financial district, head to the Goodneighbor area which is just South of the Mass Fusion Building and North of the Fallen Skybridge. Locate the two locked warehouses and a dodgy looking alley. To the back of this alley is a metal door where Bobbi No-Nose lives.

Interact with her to start the Side Quest "The Big Dig".

The steps for this quest are:

Talk to Bobbi
Meet Bobbi Inside
Join the dig
Exterminate the Mirelurks
Meet Bobbi in Diamond City
Get Mel out of jail
Recruit Mel
Meet the gang in the dig
Dig into the strong room
Dig through the subway area
Dig through the basement area
Meet with the gang on the strong room basement
Get out of the basement
Enter the strong room
Kill Fahrenheit and her men
Or, kill Bobbi
Open the train car and get paid
Or, talk to Fahrenheit

Rescuing Mel takes place in Diamond City Security and you can either hack the terminal (Expert level), bribe the security guard for 300 caps, pickpocket a key from the guard or steal a key from the desk inside the security office. You may find that your SPECIAL skills will help you at this point of the quest so any unspent points should be diverted to terminal hacking or pickpocket skills.

The Big Dig - Mel

The tricky part of this quest is the series of underground digs into the sewer, especially the dig to the Strong Room. Once you recruit Mel she introduces you to Sonya (a robot) and the complex dig starts. To complete the dig look for fragile sections of the wall and instruct Sonya to dig through whilst you keep Mirelurks at bay.

Once you reach the Strong Room, climb up the ladder to the upper level. The quest comes to an end and an important decision must be made now.

Important decision choice!

At this point you can choose to either:

Side with Bobbi and remove the threat
Side with Fahrenheit and remove the threat

Although you can easily side with Bobbi and collect 200 Bottlecaps, the Ashmaker is hidden behind the choice to side with Fahrenheit. This decision does impact your standing with Mayor Hancock (who also becomes a potential companion) so bear that in mind.

Note: A dialogue choice exists to convince Bobbi to leave without bloodshed, this requires the Medium skill.

Side with Fahrenheit and the fire inducing Ashmaker will be yours to keep. Enjoy!!