Introduction
Fallout: New Vegas. The mere mention of the title conjures images of the Mojave Wasteland, dusty landscapes, and a world ripe with possibilities. From the moment you wake up in Doc Mitchell’s house, suffering from a nasty case of amnesia and a couple of bullet wounds, your journey is defined by the choices you make. While skills and SPECIAL stats certainly play a crucial role in shaping your Courier, it’s the perks you choose that truly define your character and dictate your path through the game. These aren’t just passive bonuses; they are active choices that can dramatically alter your gameplay experience, influencing your combat prowess, your interactions with non-player characters, and even your survival in the harsh environments of the wasteland. This article serves as your definitive Fallout New Vegas perk list, providing an exhaustive guide to help you craft the perfect Courier for your desired playstyle. Prepare to dive deep into the world of Fallout New Vegas perks, ensuring that every level gained translates into a meaningful enhancement to your character.
Understanding Perks in Fallout New Vegas
Let’s clear the air; what exactly are Fallout New Vegas perks, and how do they differ from the skill points you meticulously allocate or the SPECIAL stats you carefully craft during character creation? Perks are special abilities or enhancements that your character gains at specific level milestones. They provide a layer of customization that goes beyond simply improving your skills or boosting your SPECIAL stats. Think of perks as specialized training or innate talents that allow you to excel in specific areas.
Perks are broadly categorized based on the type of benefits they offer. You will find combat perks that directly enhance your damage output, improve your accuracy with certain weapon types, or provide defensive bonuses against the dangers of the Mojave. Utility perks exist to improve your skills, making you a more proficient hacker, a more persuasive negotiator, or a more adept crafter. There are also roleplaying perks that have a significant impact on your interactions with the world, unlocking unique dialogue options, influencing faction relations, or adding depth to your character’s personality.
To acquire a perk, you generally need to meet two criteria: a specific level requirement and, in many cases, a minimum SPECIAL stat requirement. The level requirement ensures that you can’t access powerful perks too early in the game, while the SPECIAL requirements force you to build your character strategically to gain access to the perks you desire.
Finally, let’s not forget the “hidden” perks that can be gained through certain choices and interactions within the game. These are not listed in the level-up menu, but they can provide significant advantages if you know how to acquire them. In addition, the three “tag” skills selected during character creation level faster than the rest. Choosing your skills wisely in the beginning can lead to a huge advantage by level two.
The Complete Perk List
Here’s a comprehensive list of Fallout New Vegas perks, organized by level. Remember to check the specific requirements for each perk before selecting it.
Level Two
- **Black Widow/Lady Killer:** This perk grants bonus damage against male or female opponents, respectively, along with unique dialogue options. This perk can give a player the upper hand in a variety of situations and can be a great pick for any player.
- **Confirmed Bachelor/Cherchez La Femme:** Similar to Black Widow/Lady Killer, but with unique dialogue options available when interacting with characters of the same sex or the opposite sex. This is an easy choice for extra damage and dialogue options.
Level Four
- **Educated:** A must-have perk for almost every build, Educated grants additional skill points each time you level up. This allows you to max out your skills faster and become a true master of the Mojave. The sooner you take this perk, the better off you’ll be.
- **Toughness:** This perk grants you additional damage resistance, making you more durable in combat.
Level Six
- **Shotgun Surgeon:** This perk increases your critical hit chance with shotguns, making them even more devastating at close range.
- **Demolition Expert:** The Demolition Expert perk increases the blast radius of explosives.
Level Eight
- **Commando:** This perk increases your accuracy with automatic weapons in V.A.T.S., making you a more effective combatant in close to medium-range engagements.
- **Living Anatomy:** The Living Anatomy perk allows the user to learn information about people through V.A.T.S., and also boosts damage against humanoids.
Level Ten
- **Finesse:** This perk increases your critical hit chance with all weapons, making you a more deadly combatant in any situation.
- **Hand Loader:** This perk allows you to craft unique types of ammunition at reloading benches.
Level Twelve
- **Better Criticals:** This perk increases the damage dealt by critical hits with all weapons, making you a more formidable opponent in combat.
- **Pack Rat:** This perk makes items such as ammunition and healing items lighter, allowing players to carry more without being weighed down.
Level Fourteen
- **Action Boy/Action Girl:** This perk grants additional action points, allowing you to perform more actions in V.A.T.S. This perk is extremely useful for builds that rely on V.A.T.S.
- **Jury Rigging:** This perk allows you to repair items using other, similar items. This is a very useful perk for the frugal, saving thousands of caps in the long run.
Level Sixteen
- **Adamantium Skeleton:** This perk makes your limbs less susceptible to damage, preventing crippling injuries in combat.
- **Nerd Rage!:** This perk kicks in when your health is low, providing a temporary boost to your damage resistance and damage output. Requires high Intelligence.
Level Eighteen
- **Grim Reaper’s Sprint:** This perk refills your action points after you kill an enemy in V.A.T.S.
- **Math Wrath:** Math Wrath reduces the amount of action points needed to use V.A.T.S.. Requires high science skill.
Level Twenty
- **Nuka Chemist:** Nuka Chemist allows the Courier to combine Nuka-Cola flavors, creating even stronger drinks!
- **The Professional:** The Professional gives the Courier a damage bonus when using a Sneak Attack with certain weapons.
Top Perks for Different Playstyles
The beauty of Fallout New Vegas lies in its flexibility. You can choose to be a stealthy sniper, a charismatic diplomat, a hulking melee warrior, or anything in between. Your perk choices should reflect your desired playstyle.
- **Melee Build:** For melee enthusiasts, perks like Super Slam! and Unstoppable Force are essential. These perks provide significant damage bonuses and allow you to power through enemy defenses with ease. Melee builds also want melee weapons that ignore armor.
- **Gunslinger Build:** If you prefer to take down enemies from a distance with pistols and revolvers, consider perks like Quick Draw and Cowboy. These perks enhance your accuracy, reload speed, and critical hit chance with these weapons.
- **Energy Weapons Build:** For those who embrace the futuristic technology of energy weapons, perks like Laser Commander and Vigilant Recycler are a must-have. These perks increase damage, critical chance, and efficiency with energy weapons.
- **Stealth Build:** Stealthy players will benefit greatly from perks like Silent Running and Ninja. These perks improve your sneaking ability and critical hit chance when attacking from the shadows.
- **Diplomacy Build:** If you prefer to talk your way out of trouble, invest in perks like Terrifying Presence and Animal Friend. These perks unlock unique dialogue options and allow you to influence the behavior of others.
Must-Have Perks (Regardless of Playstyle)
While specific perk choices will vary depending on your playstyle, some perks are universally useful and beneficial for almost any character. Educated is arguably the most important perk in the game, granting additional skill points with each level. Comprehension enhances the benefits you receive from skill magazines, allowing you to temporarily boost your skills beyond their maximum value. Strong Back increases your carrying capacity, allowing you to lug around more loot and equipment.
Unique Perks from Companions
Fallout New Vegas also offers a unique perk system tied to your companions. By traveling with certain companions and reaching a high enough affinity level, you can unlock unique perks that provide significant benefits. For example, having Veronica as a companion will grant you the “CQC” perk. However, it is worth noting that gaining or losing a companion can make or break a quest line. Make sure to note who dislikes who!
Level Cap and Perk Choices
In the original release of Fallout New Vegas, the level cap was set at level thirty. Later DLC raised that to fifty. This limited the number of perks players can acquire throughout the game, emphasizing the importance of careful planning and perk selection. Using a perk calculator or planner can help you optimize your character build and ensure that you don’t waste any valuable perk slots.
Conclusion
The Fallout New Vegas perk list is extensive, offering a wide range of options for customizing your character and shaping your journey through the Mojave Wasteland. By carefully selecting perks that complement your playstyle and build, you can create a Courier who is capable of overcoming any challenge and carving their own path through this unforgettable world. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different perk combinations and discover what works best for you. The depth and replayability of Fallout New Vegas lie in its ability to offer a unique and personalized experience with each playthrough. So, grab your trusty weapon, venture forth into the wasteland, and start building the perfect Courier today!
