Introduction
Tired of the same old shootouts? Yearning for a more visceral, bone-crunching experience in the Mojave Wasteland? Perhaps you’re just looking for a unique character build that defies the typical gun-toting Courier. If any of that rings true, then consider trading in your rifles for your fists. Unarmed combat in Fallout: New Vegas offers a surprisingly deep and rewarding playstyle, transforming you from a simple postman into a walking, talking, fist-flailing engine of destruction.
But what exactly *is* “Unarmed” in the context of Fallout: New Vegas? It encompasses more than just your bare hands. It includes a range of devastating weapons, from humble brass knuckles to the infamous power fist, and everything in between. Anything that allows you to deliver swift, close range pain and utilizes the Unarmed skill falls under this category.
The appeal of an Unarmed build is multifaceted. There’s the raw, visceral satisfaction of physically dominating your enemies. No hiding behind cover, no relying on fancy scopes – just you, your fists, and a whole lot of angry mutants. Beyond the gameplay, it also opens up incredible roleplaying opportunities. Imagine a hardened ex-boxer seeking redemption, a savage tribal warrior adapting to the modern world, or a disciplined martial artist bringing order to the chaotic wasteland. An Unarmed build lets you tell a compelling story with every knockout punch.
This article is your definitive guide to mastering Unarmed combat in Fallout: New Vegas. We’ll delve into the essential skills, perks, weapons, and strategies you’ll need to build a Courier capable of turning even the toughest Deathclaw into a bloody smear on the pavement. Get ready to unleash your inner pugilist, because the Mojave Wasteland is about to get a whole lot more personal.
Building Your Unarmed Courier: Special and Skills
Success in Unarmed combat hinges on a well-planned character build. Your Special attributes (Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck) will lay the foundation for your pugilistic prowess, and your skills will determine how effectively you can dish out and absorb punishment.
Let’s start with Special:
Strength
This is your bread and butter. Strength directly influences your Unarmed damage, as well as your carrying capacity and the ability to wield certain Unarmed weapons. Don’t skimp on Strength. A good starting value is around eight. You can always increase it later with implants and gear.
Perception
While not as crucial as Strength, Perception plays a vital role in Vats accuracy. Landing those critical hits is essential for taking down tougher enemies quickly. A starting value of five or six is a solid base.
Endurance
Your health pool is your lifeline. Endurance also governs the number of implants you can receive, several of which are invaluable for an Unarmed build. Aim for a starting value of seven or eight. You’ll thank yourself later when facing a swarm of Cazadores.
Charisma
Honestly, Charisma is the least important Special attribute for a pure Unarmed character. While it can be useful for speech checks and influencing companions, you’re primarily going to be solving problems with your fists. Feel free to dump points here, leaving it around three or four.
Intelligence
Skill points are gold in Fallout: New Vegas. Intelligence directly affects how many skill points you receive each level. A higher Intelligence ensures you can max out your essential skills and still have points to spare for secondary abilities. Start with six or seven.
Agility
Action points are crucial for using Vats effectively. Agility also improves reload speed, which can be helpful if you decide to carry a backup weapon. A starting value of six or seven is recommended.
Luck
Everyone loves getting lucky. Luck increases your critical hit chance and gambling ability. A starting value of five or six provides a nice boost without sacrificing other important attributes.
In summary, a great Special build would be: Strength eight, Perception five, Endurance eight, Charisma three, Intelligence six, Agility six, and Luck four. This allows for damage, some accuracy, a good health pool, and skill points. It may vary based on how you like to play.
Now, let’s discuss skills:
Unarmed
This is your primary damage dealer. Increase this skill as often as you can. Not only does it improve your base damage, but it also unlocks special Unarmed moves and increases your critical hit chance. Make it a priority.
Melee Weapons
While you’re focusing on Unarmed, putting some points into Melee Weapons can provide valuable weapon variety. Some enemies are resistant to Unarmed attacks, so having a trusty blade or hammer on hand can be a lifesaver.
Medicine
You’re going to be taking a lot of hits. Medicine allows you to heal more effectively with stimpaks and other healing items. It’s a crucial skill for any melee-focused character.
Survival
Crafting healing items and food buffs is essential for maintaining your health and stamina. Survival also allows you to identify edible plants and creatures in the wasteland.
Speech
While not directly related to combat, Speech can allow you to resolve conflicts peacefully, avoid unnecessary fights, and gain access to valuable information and rewards.
Lockpick/Science
These are utility skills that can grant you access to more loot, areas, and quest options. While not essential for Unarmed combat, they can significantly enhance your overall experience.
At the beginning of the game, you’ll be prompted to choose three tag skills. Unarmed should absolutely be one of them. Medicine and survival would both be solid choices for the other two, giving you a well-rounded skillset to tackle the challenges of the Mojave Wasteland.
Essential Perks for the Unarmed Master
Perks are special abilities that you acquire as you level up, significantly enhancing your character’s capabilities. Certain perks are particularly beneficial for Unarmed combat, transforming you from a wasteland wanderer into an unstoppable force.
Here are some essential perks to consider:
Early Game Perks (Levels Two to Ten)
- Toughness: Flat damage resistance is invaluable, especially early on when your armor is lacking. Every point of damage reduction helps you stay alive longer.
- Travel Light: Increased movement speed while wearing light armor is essential for closing the distance with enemies. It also makes you more agile in combat, allowing you to dodge attacks more easily.
- Bloody Mess: This perk increases your damage output and causes enemies to explode into a shower of gore upon death. It’s not just visually satisfying, but it also provides a small area-of-effect damage boost.
- Hunter: Critical damage against animals and mutated animals is key early on.
Mid Game Perks (Levels Ten to Twenty)
- Unstoppable Force: Melee and Unarmed attacks knock down enemies more often. This perk is incredibly useful for interrupting enemy attacks and creating openings for follow-up strikes.
- Piercing Strike: Ignoring enemy Damage Threshold is crucial for dealing with heavily armored opponents. This perk effectively bypasses a portion of their armor, allowing you to inflict significantly more damage.
- Paralyzing Palm: This perk grants you a chance to paralyze enemies with Vats Unarmed attacks. Paralyzed enemies are completely vulnerable to follow-up attacks, making this perk a game-changer in tough encounters.
- Better Criticals: Increases Critical Damage by fifty percent.
- Ninja: Increases critical hit chance and sneak attack critical hit damage.
Late Game Perks (Levels Twenty and Higher)
- Slayer: This perk significantly increases your Unarmed attack speed, allowing you to unleash a flurry of blows in rapid succession. It’s a must-have for maximizing your damage output.
- Purifier: Additional damage against mutated creatures.
- Grim Reaper’s Sprint: Action Points restored when killing enemies in Vats.
- Implant Grx: This implant replicates the Turbo effect once per day, slowing down time and allowing you to land a series of devastating attacks.
In addition to these general perks, keep an eye out for unique perks that can be obtained through quests or challenges. These perks often provide powerful bonuses that are tailored to specific playstyles.
Unarmed Techniques and Vats
Mastering Unarmed combat requires more than just raw power. It’s about understanding the nuances of attack, defense, and tactical positioning.
Basic Attacks
Quick attacks are faster and consume less stamina, but deal less damage. Power attacks are slower and consume more stamina, but deal significantly more damage. Learn to balance the two for optimal efficiency.
Blocking
Blocking reduces the amount of damage you take from incoming attacks. Time your blocks correctly to minimize damage and create openings for counterattacks.
Vats
- Target Prioritization: Aim for the head to maximize your critical hit chance. Target limbs to disable enemies, slowing them down or preventing them from attacking.
- Optimal Vats Combos: Experiment with different combinations of attacks to maximize your damage output. Certain perks and weapons synergize well together, creating devastating combos.
- Action Point Management: Use chems and consumables to replenish your Action Points. Equip gear that reduces Action Point costs or increases Action Point regeneration.
Movement and Positioning
Staying mobile is crucial for avoiding damage and flanking enemies. Use cover to your advantage and avoid getting surrounded.
Unarmed Weapons and Equipment
While your fists are your primary weapons, equipping the right gear can significantly enhance your combat effectiveness.
Early Game Weapons
Your bare fists are your starting point. Upgrade to brass knuckles or spiked knuckles as soon as possible.
Mid Game Weapons
The power fist is a significant upgrade, dealing substantial damage. The displacer glove can be fun but is more situational.
Late Game Weapons
The ballistic fist is a powerhouse weapon. Pushy can be useful for knocking enemies back, and the industrial hand is a formidable choice. Consider the two-step goodbye for some fun explosions.
Armor
- Prioritize light or medium armor for mobility. Heavy armor restricts your movement and reduces your Vats accuracy.
- Look for armor with Unarmed skill bonuses. These bonuses directly increase your Unarmed damage.
- Consider faction armor for roleplaying purposes. Legion armor, for example, provides a bonus to melee damage.
Chems and Consumables
- Psycho: Damage Boost.
- Med-X: Damage resistance.
- Slasher: Melee and Unarmed damage boost.
- Buffout: Strength and Endurance boost.
- Alcohol: Can be useful, but be aware of the drawbacks.
- Food Buffs: Highlight any food items that provide useful buffs (e.g., healing, increased Ap).
Unarmed Challenges and Strategies
Not all enemies are created equal. Some are weak and easily dispatched, while others are heavily armored or possess powerful ranged attacks.
Dealing with Different Enemy Types
- Weak Enemies: Geckos, rats, and other low-level creatures are easy targets. Use quick attacks to dispatch them quickly.
- Armored Enemies: Deathclaws, robots, and enemies in power armor require a different approach. Use perks like Piercing Strike to bypass their Damage Threshold.
- Ranged Enemies: Close the distance quickly and avoid getting shot. Use cover to your advantage and flank them whenever possible.
- Crowd Control: Use power attacks to knock down multiple enemies at once. Use Paralyzing Palm to disable the most dangerous threats.
Specific Encounter Strategies
Research how to approach a few difficult encounters with an Unarmed character. Deathclaw Promontory, for example, requires careful planning and execution.
Tips and Tricks
Use companions as distractions. Exploit enemy weaknesses. Use the environment to your advantage.
Roleplaying an Unarmed Character
- Character Backstories: Consider a former boxer, a tribal warrior, or a runaway slave.
- Factions: The Legion, the Great Khans, and an Independent Vegas often align well.
- Dialogue Choices: Make choices that reflect your character’s personality.
- Quests: Choose quests that fit your character’s backstory and motivations.
Conclusion
Mastering Unarmed combat in Fallout: New Vegas is a rewarding and challenging experience. By carefully planning your character build, selecting the right perks, and mastering the techniques of attack and defense, you can transform yourself into a wasteland legend.
So, are you ready to trade your guns for knuckles and conquer the Mojave with your bare hands? Give Unarmed a try – you might just surprise yourself. Embrace the visceral thrill of hand-to-hand combat, and discover a whole new way to experience the world of Fallout: New Vegas. The wasteland awaits, and it’s time to deliver some knuckle sandwiches.
