Introduction
The Mojave Wasteland is a dangerous place. Between Deathclaws, raiders, and the political machinations of the NCR, Caesar’s Legion, and the enigmatic Mr. House, survival in Fallout: New Vegas demands more than just a steady aim and a quick trigger finger. Protecting yourself from the harsh environment and the dangers it holds hinges significantly on your apparel choices. More than just a cosmetic element, apparel in Fallout: New Vegas dictates your defense, influences your skills, and even shapes your interactions with the world.
This comprehensive Fallout New Vegas apparel guide dives deep into the world of armor, outfits, and everything in between. We’ll explore the various types of apparel available, break down their stats, reveal their locations, and highlight unique features that can give you the edge you need to thrive in the Mojave. This Fallout New Vegas apparel guide covers not only the base game, but also the diverse offerings introduced in the DLC expansions: Dead Money, Honest Hearts, Old World Blues, and Lonesome Road.
Understanding Apparel Stats and Mechanics
Before diving into the specifics of different Fallout New Vegas apparel items, it’s crucial to understand the core mechanics that govern their effectiveness.
Defense Stats
Defense is paramount in the Mojave Wasteland. The most important stat to consider is the Damage Threshold (DT). This value represents the amount of damage your armor directly negates from each incoming attack. For instance, if an enemy hits you for damage twenty and you’re wearing armor with a DT of ten, you will only sustain damage ten. The higher the DT, the less damage you take.
Damage Resistance (DR) is another factor, but it calculates reduction as a percentage. Stacking too much DR will eventually be less effective due to diminishing returns. DT provides a more constant, flat reduction in damage taken.
Special Effects/Perks
Beyond pure defense, many pieces of Fallout New Vegas apparel offer special effects and perks that can significantly impact your character’s capabilities. These bonuses can take various forms. Skill bonuses are a frequent occurrence, offering direct improvements to skills like Guns, Lockpicking, or Speech. A + five Guns bonus will provide a direct boost to your Guns skill, improving your accuracy and critical hit chance with firearms.
Some Fallout New Vegas apparel provides boosts to your SPECIAL stats (Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck). These stat increases can be extremely valuable, allowing you to meet perk requirements, carry more weight, or improve your dialogue options. For example, apparel that boosts Strength can be essential for melee-focused characters or those looking to carry more loot.
Other Fallout New Vegas apparel pieces have unique effects, such as increased radiation resistance, stealth bonuses that make you harder to detect, or even improved critical hit chance. Understanding these special effects and tailoring your apparel choices to your character’s build is crucial for maximizing your effectiveness in combat and exploration.
Weight and Value
The weight and value of Fallout New Vegas apparel should not be ignored. Heavier armor provides greater protection, but it also reduces your carry capacity and movement speed. Finding the right balance between protection and mobility is key. Trading value determines how much you can buy or sell the item for.
Condition and Repair
All Fallout New Vegas apparel degrades with use, becoming less effective over time. Fortunately, you can repair your apparel using similar items or by utilizing your Repair skill. The higher your Repair skill, the better you can maintain your gear. The Jury Rigging perk is extremely useful, allowing you to repair items with similar, but not identical, items.
Armor Categories
Armor in Fallout New Vegas falls into several categories, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
Light Armor
Light armor offers the advantage of being lightweight and allowing for greater agility. While it provides less Damage Threshold than heavier options, it enables faster movement, improved stealth, and enhanced VATS accuracy. Examples include Leather Armor, Reinforced Leather Armor, Metal Armor, and Reinforced Metal Armor.
Medium Armor
Medium armor provides a balance between protection and mobility. It offers a decent amount of Damage Threshold without significantly hindering movement. This category is a versatile choice for players who want to be able to withstand some damage while remaining relatively agile. Examples include Combat Armor and Reinforced Combat Armor.
Heavy Armor
Heavy armor is the pinnacle of protection, offering the highest Damage Threshold values. However, this comes at the cost of weight and mobility. Heavy armor can significantly reduce your Agility, impacting your movement speed and VATS accuracy. Examples include T-fourty-five d Power Armor, T-fifty-one b Power Armor, and Remnants Power Armor.
Faction Armor
Faction armor is unique in that it increases your reputation with a particular faction. Wearing NCR armor will make you more welcome among NCR forces, while wearing Legion armor will improve your standing with Caesar’s Legion. However, wearing faction armor in enemy territory can have dire consequences. Examples include NCR Armor, Legion Armor, Brotherhood of Steel Armor, and Great Khans Armor.
Outfit Categories
Outfits offer less direct protection than armor, but they often provide valuable stat or skill bonuses.
Casual Wear
Casual wear typically offers no Damage Threshold but can provide bonuses to Charisma, Luck, or other stats. These outfits are often worn for roleplaying purposes or to improve your chances in dialogue skill checks. Examples include Formal Wear, Pre-War Outfit, and Summer Outfit.
Unique Outfits
Unique outfits are special, named outfits with unique stats, perks, or effects. These outfits are often acquired through quests or found in specific locations. Examples include Benny’s Suit, Vera’s Dress, and Elijah’s Robes. These rare items can provide significant advantages.
Jumpsuits
Jumpsuits are often found in vaults and other locations and may offer protection against radiation or other hazards. Some may have skill or stat bonuses. Examples include Vault thirteen Jumpsuit, Vault twenty-one Jumpsuit, and Vault thirty-four Jumpsuit.
Headgear Choices
Headgear is an important part of any outfit, offering additional protection and bonuses.
Helmets
Helmets often provide significant Damage Threshold. Power Armor Helmets are integral to the Power Armor sets, while Metal Helmets and Combat Helmets offer protection to the head without the full Power Armor suit.
Hats
Hats can range from purely decorative to providing slight bonuses to stats like Luck or Perception. Cowboy Hats and Party Hats are purely cosmetic, while others grant benefits.
Bandanas and Headwraps
Bandanas and Headwraps are lightweight options that may provide bonuses to skills like Sneak or Medicine.
Glasses and Goggles
Glasses and Goggles can improve your Perception, critical hit chance, or other stats. Lucky Shades, Authority Glasses, and similar eyewear can be invaluable.
Masks
Masks can offer protection from environmental hazards or provide stealth bonuses. Gas Masks protect against toxins, and Hockey Masks are iconic and provide minor protection.
Notable Apparel Pieces
The wasteland is littered with useful armor and apparel, but some stand above the rest.
Armor
The Elite Riot Gear is a highly sought-after piece of armor, offering excellent Damage Threshold, a unique appearance, and bonuses to several skills.
Gannon Family Tesla Armor is a unique suit of Power Armor that inflicts shock damage on melee attackers.
Joshua Graham’s Armor, from the Honest Hearts DLC, provides numerous combat benefits.
Outfits
Dean Domino’s Suit, from the Dead Money DLC, can be obtained after completing Dead Money.
Naughty Nightwear is an outfit that has a unique Charisma bonus, useful for certain dialogue situations.
Headgear
Ranger Sequoia provides bonuses to Perception and critical hit chance.
Ulysses’ Mask from the Lonesome Road DLC, has unique stat effects.
Acquiring Apparel
Fallout New Vegas apparel can be acquired through a variety of means.
Vendors
Vendors are a reliable source of apparel. General goods vendors like Chet in Goodsprings and Mick & Ralph’s in Freeside carry a range of basic armor and outfits. Faction vendors like Quartermaster Bardon at Hoover Dam sell faction-specific armor.
Looting
Looting is another common method of acquiring apparel. Corpses, containers in towns, and military bases are all potential sources of armor and outfits. Specific locations hold unique items, often guarded by challenging enemies.
Quest Rewards
Quest rewards often include apparel. Completing certain quests can earn you valuable pieces of armor or unique outfits.
Crafting/Repair
Crafting or repairing worn apparel can be an efficient way to create or restore certain types of armor and outfits.
Apparel and Roleplaying
Apparel plays a significant role in the roleplaying aspects of Fallout New Vegas.
Faction Disguises
Faction disguises allow you to blend in with certain factions, granting you access to their settlements and avoiding unwanted attention. However, being caught wearing enemy faction armor can have serious consequences.
Appearance and Style
The appearance of your character is just as important as stats. The visual appeal of different Fallout New Vegas apparel can affect your character’s impression on the world.
Skill Checks
Some Fallout New Vegas apparel can help you in dialogue skill checks. A sharp suit might intimidate someone, or a doctor’s uniform might instill confidence.
Tips and Tricks
Tips and tricks to optimize your apparel loadout.
Optimizing Your Loadout
Optimizing your apparel loadout requires careful consideration of Damage Threshold, weight, and desired effects.
Utilizing Companions
Utilizing companions effectively involves equipping them with apparel that enhances their abilities. A melee companion might benefit from heavy armor, while a ranged companion might prefer lighter armor.
Repairing Items
Repairing high-value items is crucial for maintaining your best gear. Investing in the Repair skill and utilizing the Jury Rigging perk will ensure your favorite armor stays in top condition.
Conclusion
Fallout: New Vegas offers a wide array of apparel options, each with its own unique benefits and drawbacks. Experimenting with different combinations is essential for finding what best suits your playstyle and character build. Don’t be afraid to mix and match armor pieces and outfits to create the ultimate wasteland ensemble. What are you waiting for? The Mojave needs a new fashion icon.
Share your favorite Fallout New Vegas apparel combinations in the comments below! We’d love to hear what works best for you!
