Despite being released in 2015,Fallout 4continues to attract new players, helped in no small part by Amazon Prime’s hitFalloutseries. As with many RPGs,Fallout 4allows you to create different character builds based on seven core stats that can be increased as you level up. But with so many build options, and the optionalSurvival Modeto consider, it can be difficult for those starting out to know which stats to focus on first.
When starting inFallout 4, you will be asked to choose your starting stats at the door by the Vault-Tec Rep during the pre-war introduction. It is here that any build being used should be considered. For example, agunslinger buildwould want high Agility, whereas a melee character would want to focus on Strength.Each stat influences different aspects of the character and unlocks key Perks, but some are good for any build.
What Are Fallout 4’s Stats?
Knowing What Stat Influences What Aspect Is Important
Fallout 4, just like previous games in the franchise, uses the SPECIAL stats to determine how well the Sole Survivor performs in certain areas. Although these stats use slightly different names, they should be familiar to anyone who has played an RPG or TTRPG. At the start, you will have one point in each stat, with21 points available to distribute to create a desired build.
Number of Action Points, sneaking.
Luck
How quickly critical hits recharge, increased chance of finding certain items.
It is possible to get all stats past 10through leveling,locating all the relevant bobbleheads, chems, and clothing. Although only the bobbleheads will provide a permanent boost. There is also a SPECIAL book, under Shaun’s crib in Sanctuary after leaving the Vault, which can apply one point to a chosen stat.
The question then becomes which order to focus on when leveling up to get the best experience when playing. Honestly, the orderdepends a lot on which build is being used and what your personal play style is. But assuming that stats for a chosen build are in place, there are still three stats that will serve any playthrough well.
Charisma, Endurance & Luck Are Good Early Stats
These Three Stats Work Well With Multiple Builds
Luck, Endurance, and Charisma are great choices and are important for any build, but what order they are increased in depends very much on play style. I usually like to persuade NPCs in dialogue, often taking more diplomatic routes wherever available and getting them to give me additional information that can help further quests or lead to new ones. But some may prefer to focus on Luck, especially when focusing on the combat aspect of gameplay.
One Random Fallout 4 Encounter Is Hilarious If You Have The Right Stats
Fallout 4 has a lot of great random encounters to find but one in particular can have a very funny ending so long as the player has the right stats.
Out of combat, Charisma is the only stat that will matter when it comes to dialogue and merchants. Unlike previousFallouttitles, where you could use other stats or Perks to influence dialogue,the types of checks that will pop up inFallout 4are primarily Charisma checks. These will show up as different colored text when speaking to NPCs and can be used to persuade, threaten, and evenromance companions. Charisma will also help when dealing with merchants, helping with buying and selling prices to make the most out of every cap.
Even if you gain maximum affinity with a companion, the flirt and romance checks are based on your Charisma stat.
However, if you prefer to focus on combat rather than diplomacy, then Luck is a great choice.Luck directly influences how quickly critical hits recharge, so the higher the Luck stat, the quicker the Sole Survivor can crit. This is fantastic whether using ranged or melee weapons, as there will be more chances to deal out large amounts of damage.
Luck also influences how much ammo and caps are found when exploring, as well as improving the odds of not getting infected insideFallout’s Vault 81or gaining a perfectly preserved pie from the Port-A-Diner.
Then there is Endurance, whichdirectly impacts how much health the Sole Survivor has each time they level up. Thankfully, Endurance is applied retroactively, meaning it can be left until later if desired. However, for those not opting to use power armor or preferring a melee build, having more health will be beneficial. Endurance also dictates the speed at which sprinting drains Action Points, with higher Endurance meaning a slower drain.
Other Stats Can Be Left Until Later
Once A Play Style Is Established, Other Stats Can be Prioritized
After these stats have been prioritized, the choice is a little more subjective as it depends entirely on play style and build. As Agility impacts how many Action Points can be used in V.A.T.S., then it would be a good choice for those who find themselves frequently using the targeting system. Agility also influences how well the Sole Survivor can sneak, therefore stealth builds will also wish toput at least three points into Agility to unlock the Sneak Perk.
It may be tempting to prioritize increasing Intelligence inFallout 4, as the stat influences how much experience is earned from all sources, such as combat and quests. However, it is much more beneficial to have lower Intelligence and pick up the Idiot Savant Perk with five points in Luck.Statistically, this Perk rewards much more XP overall than having high Intelligence, which can be increased later during a playthrough.
Intelligence is also the stat needed to acquire the Hacker Perk. However, to begin with, it is easier to travel with Nick Valentine who can also hack terminals up to Master level.
The final two stats are Strength and Perception, with eachcoming down to a personal preference. Strength affects how much the Sole Survivor can carry as well as melee damage, but really comes into its own when playing Survival Mode where previously weightless items now affect carrying capacity. Whereas Perception affects accuracy when using V.A.T.S. and with four points in the stat the Locksmith Perk can be gained.
Both Strength and Perception are stats best chosen at character creation as they are tied in more closely with specificFallout 4builds such as a sniper build. Both stats have some great Perks, but again, it depends entirely on play style and build. Ultimately, for a first-time or relatively new player,it is hard to go wrong with Charisma, Luck, and Enduranceuntil they find what play style they enjoy the most.
