We’ve reached our first Junction.

This is where Quantum Break introduces one of its biggest mechanics: instead of playing as Jack Joyce, we’re temporarily taking control of Paul Serene and deciding which version of events becomes reality.

For 100%, this Junction contains 3 narrative items total: 1 Quantum Ripple and 2 Documents. There are no Chronon Sources, Computers, Media items, or Intel here. GameFAQs

And somewhere in the background…

Meanwhile…

COD Guide cautiously returns to the couch.

COD Guide: “Okay.”

Us: “You’re back.”

COD Guide: “I thought about it.”

Us: “And?”

COD Guide: “I’m overreacting.”

Us: “Really?”

COD Guide: “Sure. Time broke. You developed time powers. Whatever. Maybe the worst is behind us.”

Us: “That’s the spirit.”

COD Guide: “So what’s a Junction?”

Us: “Paul looks at possible futures and we choose which one happens.”

…

The bowl of snacks hits the floor.

COD Guide: “YOU DO WHAT?!”

😡 COD GUIDE ANGER LEVEL: 🟥 7/10

Here we go.

👤 WE’RE PLAYING AS PAUL SERENE

After the opening scene, you’re now controlling Paul, not Jack.

Paul is accompanied by Martin Hatch.

Follow Hatch along the road.

Don’t worry—there’s no combat in this Junction.

But DO NOT rush toward the decision point.

All three collectibles are close together, and we want them before making our choice.

⚛️ COLLECTIBLE 1/3 — RAM STATUE

Type: Quantum Ripple

Follow Martin past the first couple of Monarch vehicles.

Eventually you’ll see two personnel in yellow protective suits.

Stop here.

Look behind/near them for a white crate/box.

Sitting on top is a small ram statue.

Walk over and interact with it.

✅ QUANTUM RIPPLE 1/1

This is the Junction’s only Quantum Ripple. GameFAQs

And because it’s a Quantum Ripple…

Something we’ve just done can cause a little change later.

Cut to COD Guide.

COD Guide: “What did you touch?”

Us: “A ram.”

COD Guide: “Why?”

Us: “Collectible.”

COD Guide: “And what did it do?”

Us: “Changed something later.”

…

COD Guide: “PUT THE RAM BACK.”

Us: “Can’t.”

COD Guide: “PUT. THE RAM. BACK.”

😂

📄 COLLECTIBLE 2/3 — WILLIAM JOYCE DOSSIER

Don’t leave this area!

Just beyond the ram statue are black crates surrounding a map/display.

Check the crates.

One contains:

William Joyce Dossier

Interact with it.

✅ DOCUMENT 1/2

This gives us more information about William from Monarch’s perspective. GameFAQs

📄 COLLECTIBLE 3/3 — JACK JOYCE DOSSIER

The final collectible is almost directly beside the previous one.

Check the black crates on the other side of the map/display.

You’ll find:

Jack Joyce Dossier

Interact with it.

✅ DOCUMENT 2/2

🎉 JUNCTION COLLECTIBLES: 3/3

That’s everything collectible in Junction 1. GameFAQs

From here, we can safely continue.

FOLLOW MARTIN HATCH

Continue following Hatch until you reach the area where Monarch personnel have gathered around Amy, the university protester we met earlier.

This is our decision point.

And now Paul demonstrates something extremely important.

He can perceive possible consequences.

Meaning…

We get to look at two potential futures.

COD Guide: “No.”

Us: “We haven’t done anything.”

COD Guide: “YOU’RE LOOKING AT THE FUTURE.”

Us: “We’re just looking.”

COD Guide: “THAT’S HOW IT STARTS.”

Us: “We’re not changing anything.”

COD Guide: “Yet.”

…

Fair.

⚠️ JUNCTION DECISION

We have two choices:

🔵 PR

or

🔴 HARDLINE

Before selecting either one:

WATCH BOTH OUTCOMES.

The game allows you to preview the consequences before committing to your choice. You can even view the previews multiple times if you want. GameFAQs

So let’s understand what we’re choosing.

🔵 OPTION ONE — PR

The PR approach is about controlling the narrative surrounding the university incident.

Instead of Monarch relying purely on force, they attempt to manipulate how the public understands what happened.

This choice affects characters and scenes you’ll encounter later, including the live-action episode following the Junction.

Choosing PR also unlocks:

🏆 THE SOFT TOUCH GameFAQs

And there’s a particularly important 100% consideration:

PR keeps Amy in the story path where she can appear later, and this affects some later collectibles. For example, the PR route adds route-specific collectible content in later sections. GameFAQs

Keep that in mind.

🔴 OPTION TWO — HARDLINE

The Hardline approach takes Monarch in a more forceful direction.

The resulting storyline has some different character outcomes and changes scenes in the live-action episodes.

Choosing Hardline unlocks:

🏆 IRON FIST GameFAQs

It also affects who Jack encounters later. On the Hardline branch, Nick fills a role that Amy occupies on the PR branch. GameFAQs

🏆 IMPORTANT FOR ACHIEVEMENT HUNTERS

Both choices have their own achievement.

But don’t panic.

You do not need two entire full-game playthroughs just to see both Junction achievements. The Timeline system lets you replay Junctions later and make the alternate decision. GameFAQs

For our actual continuous 100% walkthrough, however, we’re picking one route and sticking with it.

And I’ve chosen which one we’re taking.

➡️ CHOOSE PR

This is going to be our main guide timeline.

PR keeps Amy available in later content and gives us access to some PR-specific collectible material. That’s particularly useful for the route we’re building. GameFAQs

Select PR and confirm your choice.

🏆 THE SOFT TOUCH — UNLOCKED

Meanwhile…

COD Guide stares at the television.

Us: “Done.”

COD Guide: “What did you just do?”

Us: “Picked PR.”

COD Guide: “No.”

Us: “I definitely did.”

COD Guide: “You selected one of two possible futures.”

Us: “Correct.”

COD Guide: “Meaning you saw two timelines.”

Us: “Correct.”

COD Guide: “AND THEN DECIDED WHICH ONE BECAME REAL.”

Us: “Basically.”

COD Guide stands.

COD Guide: “WHAT PART OF ‘NOTHING GOOD HAPPENS WHEN YOU MESS WITH TIME’ WAS UNCLEAR?!”

📕 TIME RULE

NOTHING GOOD HAPPENS WHEN YOU MESS WITH TIME.

Us: “Technically, Paul did it.”

COD Guide: “YOU WERE HOLDING THE CONTROLLER!”

…

That’s difficult to argue with.

😡 COD GUIDE ANGER LEVEL: 🟥 8/10

🎬 WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Once you’ve confirmed the Junction, Quantum Break transitions into:

EPISODE 1 — MONARCH SOLUTIONS

This is the game’s first live-action episode.

Don’t skip it if you’re following the story with us.

The episodes reflect your Junction choices, and Quantum Ripples you’ve discovered can cause additional small changes to appear during them. The live-action episodes occur after Junctions in Acts 1–4 and can later be replayed through the Timeline. GameFAQs

But we’re NOT starting Episode 1 in this guide.

That’s getting its own section.

📊 FINAL 100% CHECK

Before moving forward, make sure you’ve collected:

Quantum Ripples: 1/1 ✅

Documents: 2/2 ✅

Computers: 0/0 ✅

Media: 0/0 ✅

Chronon Sources: 0/0 ✅

Intel: 0/0 ✅

TOTAL COLLECTIBLES: 3/3 ✅

And on our main route:

🔵 JUNCTION CHOICE: PR ✅

🏆 THE SOFT TOUCH ✅ GameFAQs

📕 COD GUIDE’S TIME-VIOLATION REPORT

Built a time machine: ❌

Activated a time machine: ❌

Fractured time: ❌

Experienced Stutters: ❌

Developed time powers: ❌

Looked into possible futures: ❌

CHOSE WHICH FUTURE ACTUALLY HAPPENS: ❌❌❌❌❌

Touched a weird ram that somehow affects something later: ❌

COD Guide enjoying his day off: LONG DEAD

COD Guide grabs his coat.

Us: “Where are you going?”

COD Guide: “Call of Duty.”

Us: “You’re voluntarily going back?”

COD Guide: “YES.”

Us: “To Zombies?”

COD Guide: “YES.”

Us: “Where Richtofen exists?”

He stops.

…

COD Guide: “Damn it.”

Us: “And teleporters.”

…

COD Guide: “Damn it.”

Us: “And interdimensional beings.”

…

He slowly takes the coat back off.

COD Guide: “I hate both of these franchises.”

😂

😡 COD GUIDE ANGER LEVEL: 🟥 8/10

And the really funny part?

We’re still basically at the beginning.