Starting S.P.E.C.I.A.L.
- Strength: 3
- Perception: 2
- Endurance: 3
- Charisma: 3
- Intelligence: 4
- Agility: 7
- Luck: 6
This distribution allows early access to crucial perks. Place your "You're Special!" book point into Perception (for earlier Locksmith or Demolition Expert access) or Luck (for faster access to Critical Banker).
Core Perks
- Lone Wanderer (Charisma 3): The cornerstone of this build. Provides damage resistance, increased carry weight, and at higher ranks, bonus damage and AP regeneration when traveling without a companion (Dogmeat is an exception and does not negate these bonuses).
- Weapon Damage Perk: Choose one based on your preferred weapon style:
- Rifleman (Perception 2): For non-automatic rifles.
- Gunslinger (Agility 1): For non-automatic pistols.
- Commando (Agility 2): For automatic weapons.
- Armorer (Strength 3): Essential for upgrading armor, significantly boosting survivability.
- Gun Nut (Intelligence 3): Crucial for upgrading conventional firearms. If planning to use energy weapons or advanced modifications, aim for Science! (Intelligence 6) later.
- Sneak (Agility 3): Greatly enhances survivability and damage output through stealth attacks, especially when combined with Ninja.
- Ninja (Agility 7): Provides a massive multiplicative bonus to sneak attack damage for both ranged and melee attacks.
- Action Boy/Girl (Agility 5): Significantly increases AP regeneration speed, vital for VATS users and for sprinting.
- Bloody Mess (Luck 3): A flat percentage damage increase to all sources, making every shot more potent.
- Better Criticals (Luck 6): Dramatically increases the damage dealt by critical hits in VATS.
Key Secondary Perks
- Locksmith (Perception 4): Allows access to more loot, resources, and alternative routes.
- Hacker (Intelligence 4): Provides access to restricted computer terminals for information, loot, or controlling automated defenses.
- Scrounger (Luck 2): Increases the amount of ammunition found in containers, crucial for maintaining ammo reserves.
- Lifegiver (Endurance 3): Increases maximum health, and at higher ranks, provides passive health regeneration.
- Toughness (Endurance 1): Offers a flat damage resistance bonus.
- Critical Banker (Luck 7): Allows you to save critical hits for use at opportune moments.
- Four Leaf Clover (Luck 9): Each hit in VATS has a chance to instantly fill your critical meter.
Gameplay Strategy
This build focuses on self-sufficiency, high damage output, and tactical engagement. Leverage stealth by sneaking to initiate combat, maximizing the benefits of the Sneak and Ninja perks for devastating opening attacks. VATS is a powerful tool, particularly with high Agility and Luck, enabling frequent and potent critical hits.
Consistently upgrade your chosen weapon type and armor using Armorer and Gun Nut/Science!. The Lone Wanderer perk makes you inherently more resilient and damaging when alone or with Dogmeat. Resource management is key, as you lack a human companion for extra carrying capacity; Dogmeat can carry a small amount.
Weapon Recommendations
- Rifles: Hunting Rifle (modded into a sniper), Combat Rifle, Gauss Rifle. Suppressed weapons are highly beneficial for maintaining stealth.
- Pistols: Deliverer (a unique silenced pistol, excellent for VATS and stealth), .44 Magnum for high single-shot damage.
- Automatic Weapons: Combat Rifle (modded for automatic fire), Submachine Gun, Assault Rifle. Consider suppressors where available.
Armor Recommendations
- Leather Armor: Lightweight and offers good energy resistance. Apply the Shadowed mod to all pieces for significantly improved stealth in dark areas.
- Combat Armor: Provides a good balance of ballistic and energy resistance. Can also be modded with Shadowed, though it's less effective than on leather.
- Legendary Effects: Prioritize effects such as Chameleon (invisibility while sneaking and still), Fortifying (+1 Strength and Endurance), VATS Enhanced (reduces AP cost for VATS), or Unyielding (+3 to all SPECIAL stats except Endurance when at 25% health or less, for high-risk/high-reward play).
