Introduction
Fallout: New Vegas, the sprawling open-world RPG set in the Mojave Wasteland, offers players a vast array of combat styles. While guns may be the weapon of choice for many, there’s a certain primal satisfaction to be gained from taking down your enemies with nothing but your bare hands. The unarmed combat build in New Vegas presents a unique and challenging, yet incredibly rewarding, playstyle. There’s a certain thrill to going toe-to-toe with Deathclaws, Super Mutants, and Legionaries, relying solely on your skill, strength, and maybe a little bit of luck.
This guide aims to provide a comprehensive roadmap for crafting the ultimate New Vegas unarmed build. We’ll delve into the intricacies of character creation, skill allocation, perk selection, equipment choices, and combat strategies. Whether you’re a seasoned Wastelander seeking a new challenge or a fresh-faced Courier eager to test your mettle, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to dominate the Mojave with your fists. Be warned, the path of the unarmed combatant isn’t always easy. The early game can be particularly brutal, and the limited range of unarmed attacks can pose a significant obstacle. However, with careful planning and a strategic approach, you can overcome these challenges and become an unstoppable force. Let’s step into the arena and forge a champion of the Mojave.
Understanding the Unarmed Combat System
Before diving into the specifics of building your character, it’s crucial to understand the mechanics of unarmed combat in New Vegas. This isn’t just about punching; it’s about utilizing a variety of attack types, managing your resources, and exploiting enemy weaknesses.
Damage Types and How They Apply
Fallout: New Vegas utilizes a system of Damage Threshold (DT) and Damage Resistance (DR). DT reduces incoming damage by a flat amount, while DR reduces damage by a percentage. Unarmed attacks often have properties that bypass or reduce the effects of DT. This makes them particularly effective against heavily armored enemies. Certain unarmed weapons and perks further enhance this ability, allowing you to tear through even the toughest defenses. Understanding how these damage mechanics work is crucial for maximizing your damage output and choosing the right approach for each encounter.
Varied Attack Types
Unarmed combat offers a variety of attack types, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Light attacks are fast and consume less Action Points, making them ideal for wearing down enemies and landing critical hits. Power attacks, on the other hand, are slower but deal significantly more damage and often stagger opponents. Mastering the timing and execution of these attacks is essential for controlling the flow of combat. Specific unarmed moves like the Haymaker (a powerful overhand punch) and the Ranger Takedown (a disabling maneuver) add further depth to your arsenal. Learning these moves through trainers opens new tactical possibilities and allows you to customize your combat style.
Critical Hits Are Key
Critical hits are a vital component of any successful unarmed build. They not only deal extra damage but also often inflict additional effects, such as stunning or knocking down enemies. Maximizing your critical hit chance is crucial for maximizing your overall damage output. This can be achieved through a high Luck stat, specific perks, and certain clothing items. Building around critical hits allows you to turn the tide of battle quickly and efficiently.
Action Point Management
V.A.T.S. (Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System) is your best friend. Action Points allow you to execute targeted attacks in V.A.T.S., delivering devastating blows and inflicting debilitating effects. Managing your Action Points effectively is crucial for maintaining sustained damage output. A high Agility stat is key for increasing your AP pool and regeneration rate. Perks and consumables can also help boost your AP, ensuring you always have enough to deliver the final knockout punch.
SPECIAL Allocation and Build Creation
Your SPECIAL stats form the foundation of your character. Careful allocation is essential for maximizing your combat potential. Here’s a breakdown of the key stats for an unarmed build.
Primary Stat Considerations
Strength is paramount. It directly increases your unarmed damage and carrying capacity. A high Strength stat ensures you can pack a punch and carry all the necessary equipment. Agility is the second crucial stat. It governs your Action Points, attack speed, and movement speed. A nimble fighter is a deadly fighter. Endurance determines your health and the number of implants you can receive. More health translates to more survivability, and implants provide valuable stat boosts. Luck directly influences your critical hit chance and provides additional skill points. A lucky fighter is a deadly one.
Secondary, But Still Useful, Stats
Perception influences your V.A.T.S. accuracy. While less critical than in ranged builds, it can still be useful for landing those crucial critical hits. Intelligence provides additional skill points. While not essential for combat, it can be helpful for passing skill checks and crafting valuable items. Charisma primarily influences your companion effectiveness. If you prefer a solo experience, this stat can be safely ignored.
Starter Stat Recommendation
A solid starting SPECIAL spread might look something like this: Strength eight, Perception five, Endurance seven, Charisma three, Intelligence six, Agility eight, and Luck three. This provides a balanced foundation for both combat and exploration. Of course, you can adjust this based on your preferred playstyle. If you want a critical hit focus, you might want to reduce Endurance and boost Luck. If you’re going for a tank build you’ll do the inverse.
Essential Skills for Unarmed Domination
Skills determine your effectiveness in various areas of the game. For an unarmed build, certain skills are absolutely essential.
The Core Skill – Unarmed
This is your bread and butter. Prioritize leveling this skill as much as possible. Every point in Unarmed directly increases your damage output.
Melee Synergy is Key
The Melee Weapons skill synergizes well with Unarmed, particularly in the early game. It provides you with a backup option when unarmed combat is not ideal and certain perks apply to both.
Survival and Healing
Survival or Medicine are essential for healing injuries, crafting useful consumables, and surviving the harsh environment of the Mojave.
Utility Skill Suggestions
Lockpick and Science, while not directly combat-related, can provide access to valuable loot and alternative solutions to quests. Also, Speech can be incredibly useful to de-escalate fights that you don’t want to start, but could win regardless. Sneak is also useful to begin fights with powerful hits that often knock enemies to the ground.
Perks – Your Ticket to Wasteland Supremacy
Perks are special abilities that enhance your character’s capabilities. Choosing the right perks is crucial for maximizing your unarmed potential.
Early Perks to Look For
Toughness grants valuable Damage Resistance, making you more durable. Travel Light increases your movement speed in light armor, allowing you to outmaneuver your opponents. Bloody Mess provides a damage boost and adds a touch of macabre fun to your kills. Educated grants additional skill points per level.
Mid-Game Perks for Greater Power
Unstoppable Force ensures your power attacks stagger enemies. Super Slam! increases the chance to knock enemies down. Purifier gives a damage bonus to mutated creatures and ghouls. Better Criticals increases your critical hit damage.
Late-Game Powerhouses
Paralyzing Palm gives you a chance to paralyze enemies with V.A.T.S. critical hits. Slayer increases your unarmed attack speed. Ninja boosts your critical hit chance with melee and unarmed weapons. Implant GRX gives the Turbo effect.
Perk synergies are important to note. For instance, Super Slam! and Unstoppable Force work together to keep enemies on the ground.
Unarmed Arsenal
While your fists are your primary weapons, there are several unarmed weapons in New Vegas that can enhance your combat effectiveness.
Early Arsenal Items
Start with your bare fists. Then move to knuckles. Then to spiked knuckles.
Middle Arsenal Items
Power Fist is a solid choice, as is the Ballistic Fist. Love and Hate is a solid choice too, as is Greased Lightning.
Late Game Armaments
Pushy is a good choice, and Two-Step Goodbye is another. Khan Boxing Gloves are an interesting alternative as well.
Research these unique weapons. Understand their stats and the requirements to acquire them. Look into potential weapon mods, as well.
Armor and Apparel
The right armor can significantly enhance your survivability.
Light Versus Heavy Armor Discussion
Light armor is generally preferred for its increased mobility and AP regeneration. Heavy armor provides more protection but can hinder your agility.
Specific Armor Recommendations
Look into Leather Armor early. Then Reinforced Leather Armor, then Vault Security Armor. For late game you can look into Elite Riot Gear or Light Stealth Armor.
Additional Armor Options
Faction Armor considerations include things like potential faction related perks and bonuses. Headwear suggestions include hats that provide stat boosts.
Combat Strategies and Tactics
Knowing how to fight is just as important as having the right gear.
Early game suggestions
Focus on stealth, avoid difficult fights, and melee weapons as backup.
Mid-Game Playstyle Changes
Utilize power attacks, V.A.T.S., and crowd control perks.
Late Game Combat Dominance
Exploit paralysis, high critical chance, and powerful weapons.
Dealing with Different Enemy Types
Deathclaws require a different strategy than robots. Utilize the strengths of your combat style for each encounter. Also consider the strengths of your companions in each situation.
Consumable and Chem Use
Buffout, Med-X, Psycho, and Turbo can significantly enhance your combat abilities.
Conclusion
The New Vegas unarmed build is a challenging, yet incredibly rewarding, playstyle. By carefully planning your character’s stats, skills, and perks, you can create an unstoppable force capable of taking down even the toughest enemies with your bare hands. Remember to experiment with different weapons and strategies to find what works best for you. Embrace the challenge, master the art of unarmed combat, and become a legend of the Mojave Wasteland.
