Tips to Easily Free Dr. Garrow in Atomfall

Atomfall stands out, particularly with its intriguing multiple endings and gameplay that heavily relies on player decisions. As I’ve journeyed through the game, I’ve found myself not only making decisions that might make one raise an eyebrow but also intensely strategizing about the right course of action at the right moment.

A significant storyline involves Dr. Garrow, a pivotal scientist linked to the zone’s technology. Typically, players first hear about Dr. Garrow from the Captain at Wyndham Village, who happens to have her confined in Skethermoor Prison. For one of the possible game endings, liberating her is essential.

However, like most choices in Atomfall, this action comes with repercussions. These affect not just the ending you might get but also the immediate challenges you face. Here’s what you should consider before making any moves.

### What happens if you free Dr. Garrow immediately?

The moment you release Dr. Garrow—and every other prisoner—by pulling that lever, you’re in for some consequences. Without diving into spoilers or recounting every plot detail, if you’ve discovered that Dr. Garrow is detained in Skethermoor, you’re on the path where freeing her becomes an option.

This path is alluring because it leads to obtaining a Signal Redirector, an essential tool throughout the game. My advice? Befriend the Captain. If you can handle tasks for him, like solving the church murder mystery, he’ll provide you with a pass for safe passage through the prison, on the condition you interrogate Dr. Garrow. Without this pass, you’ll face a swarm of Protocol Soldiers.

Deciding to release Dr. Garrow right after acquiring the Signal Redirector and without the pass results in immediate hostile engagement from the Protocol Soldiers—as you’ll be deemed a trespasser. Since Dr. Garrow is held at the far end of the prison, and a nearby interchange door could still be locked, prepare for a challenging exit.

Should you confess freeing her to the Captain, brace for hostility from him and his team. Yet, there’s a sly way around this: deny your role in her escape, assuming you made it out alive initially.

### The easy way to free Dr. Garrow

To release Dr. Garrow effortlessly, keep advancing through the Captain’s mission chain. When I faced a quick demise after freeing her at first, I reloaded the game, returned to talk to the Captain in Wyndham, and found Dr. Garrow still imprisoned, causing no unrest.

Follow the mission chain until you learn about the Interchange and Oberon. This earns you the necessary trust with the Protocol, simplifying access to the Skethermoor Interchange and allowing a trouble-free release of Dr. Garrow.

When you pull that lever with trust established, Protocol Soldiers will react, but you won’t receive any trespassing alerts. You can walk out, unbothered, as if nothing occurred. Upon returning to the Captain, he’ll inform you about her escape but won’t suspect your involvement.

### After Dr. Garrow’s release

Once freed, Dr. Garrow will make her way to the nearby Interchange door. If previously unlocked by you, she’ll wait; otherwise, she will proceed through, leaving it locked.

Ultimately, she heads towards the Central Processor. To reunite with her, head there, and to unlock the door between Skethermoor Prison and the Interchange, activate and navigate the lower area’s crane controls.

If you’d rather not cozy up with the Captain, accessing Dr. Garrow by unlocking doors yourself is viable. However, note that the number of Protocol Soldiers makes cozying up with the Captain the smoother route.