We know that Perks have always been an important part of Fallout games, and are one that many players enjoy because they allow for further depth in customization. In Fallout 76, Bethesda has taken it up a notch by really focusing the core character Building around this particular aspect. And, with that increase in emphasis comes a new form of complexity and variation to Perks, that is unlike what we’ve seen in previous games.

Best Fallout 76 Perks

In this article we aim to take a look at some of the best Fallout 76 Perks, and explain what they do and why we think they are so good. Obviously what are the best for each player will depend heavily on their individual Build, but many of the Perks we’ve listed can be good for just about anyone. If you’ve been a bit overwhelmed by what you’ve seen in the Beta, or you’d just like to get another take on the subject then read on.

• If you have questions about Perk Cards, Perk Card Packs, and such, check out the Perks page on the wiki and you’ll get all your answers!.

Best Strength Perks

Pack Rat 

: The weight of all junk items is reduced by 25%
: The weight of all junk items is reduced by 50%
: The weight of all junk items is reduced by 75%

Pack Rat is particularly useful because you will be collecting Junk quite regularly in the game in order to Scrap it for Crafting Materials. Since this can only be done at Crafting Stations or Workbenches, you will have to return to a C.A.M.P. or a Public Workshop often. Taking this Perk will allow you to stay out in the field longer, without having to return frequently.

Barbarian

: Every point of Strength adds +2 Damage Resist (Max 40). (No Power Armor)
: Every point of Strength adds +3 Damage Resist (Max 60). (No Power Armor)
: Every point of Strength adds +4 Damage Resist (Max 80). (No Power Armor)

This one should be high up on the list for those planning for close-range combat. Melee, Shotguns, and Heavy Guns all have modest range, and you’ll need some Damage Resistance to be able to get close enough to strike. Since these Weapon types all use Strength Perks, this one makes perfect sense no matter which you decide to go with.

Martial Artist

: Your melee weapons weigh 20% less, and you can swing them 10% faster
: Your melee weapons weigh 40% less, and you can swing them 20% faster
: Your melee weapons weigh 60% less, and you can swing them 30% faster

This Perk is a must have for melee builds because you will need to attack as quickly as possible. The longer it takes you to down an enemy the more likely they will unload rounds of bullets into you, so speed helps tremendously. The weight reduction is just an added bonus.

Best Perception Perks

Awareness

: You can view a target’s specific damage resistances in V.A.T.S

This Perk is extremely useful to any Build because it lets you locate and attack the weakest parts of an enemy, which means increased damage. It does cost 2 Perk Points though, making it one of the more expensive Perks, but the increase in damage is totally worth it.

Sniper

: Gain improved control and hold your breath 50% longer while aiming scopes. Improved focus and better sighted accuracy
: Gain improved control and hold your breath 60% longer while aiming scopes. Improved focus and better sighted accuracy
: Gain improved control and hold your breath 75% longer while aiming scopes. Improved focus and better sighted accuracy

This Perk is useful for any player using weapons with scopes, as it will help to increase your accuracy, which in turn will increase the overall damage you deal. Being able to hit your target with bullets is paramount to any sort of damage buff. If you can’t hit your target, then you deal exactly ZERO damage.

Penetrator

: No V.A.T.S accuracy penalty vs. enemy body parts blocked by cover.

The reason this Perk is so good, is that often times in combat you can see enemies, but part of them is blocked by cover. This reduces your chances of hitting that part drastically, but with the Penetrator Perk this is no longer the case. As long as you can target an enemy in V.A.T.S. you can hit any part of them with ease.

Best Endurance Perks

Homebody

: Gain gradual health regeneration while in your camp or workshop
: Gain improved health and limb regeneration while in your camp or workshop

Because it’s not always easy to craft Stimpaks or other items that will replenish health, this Perk is extremely handy. You will need to visit your C.A.M.P. and Workshops often in order to scrap Junk and upgrade Weapons or Armor, making this a really good quality of life Perk (pardon the pun).

Adamantium Skeleton

: Your limb damage is now reduced by 30%
: Your limb damage is now reduced by 60%
: Your limb damage is now reduced by 90%

This is an extremely important Perk to just about any Build, as the crippling of one of your limbs can leave you in a bad spot. Whether your ranged, or melee, consider taking this one to prevent yourself from being ineffective when it matters most.

Ironclad

: Gain 10 Damage and Energy Resistance while not wearing Power Armor
: Gain 20 Damage and Energy Resistance while not wearing Power Armor
: Gain 30 Damage and Energy Resistance while not wearing Power Armor
: Gain 40 Damage and Energy Resistance while not wearing Power Armor
: Gain 50 Damage and Energy Resistance while not wearing Power Armor

Much like Barbarian, Ironclad is an excellent way to gain a large amount of Damage Resistance, making it useful for any Build. Consider taking this one if you have no need for Strength Perks, but would like the Resistance. In addition, if you’re playing melee, doubling up on Barbarian and Ironclad can make you extremely hard to take down!

Best Charisma Perks

Bodyguards

: Gain 6 Damage and Energy Resist (max 18) for each teammate excluding you
: Gain 8 Damage and Energy Resist (max 24) for each teammate excluding you
: Gain 10 Damage and Energy Resist (max 30) for each teammate excluding you
: Gain 12 Damage and Energy Resist (max 36) for each teammate excluding you

Again, Damage Resistance is a great thing to have, and this Perk allows you to get a good chunk of if for just playing in a group. Since Charisma Perks are mostly about group play, this is a great choice if you know you’ll be playing with friends (or others) often.

Magnetic Personality

: Gain 1 Charisma for each teammate, excluding yourself
: Gain 2 Charisma for each teammate, excluding yourself

This might be the single best Charisma Perk because you essentially gain a net of 4 Charisma Perk Points just for slotting the Rank 2 version. This means you’ll be able to take at least 2 other Perks in some form, which is fantastic. If you’re going to be playing with others often, take this one as soon as you can!

Team Medic

: Your stimpaks now also heal your teammates for half the normal strength.
: Your stimpaks now also heal nearby teammates for 75% of normal strength
: Your stimpaks now also heal nearby teammates for their full strength

Team Medic allows you to heal nearby teammates for up to 100% of the value of your Stimpak when you use one. If you have a dedicated team, or plan to play with others often, this is one Perk you should all have. Or, you could give all your Stimpaks to a friend and make him the designated “Medic” of the group, and free up Perk Points for the rest of you.

Best Intelligence Perks

First Aid

: Stimpaks restore 15% more lost Health.
: Stimpaks restore 30% more lost Health.
: Stimpaks restore 45% more lost Health.

This is a great Perk for just about anyone. You always want to get the most you can out of healing items so that you don’t consume anymore than you have to. Consider pairing it with the Team Medic Perk for best results when playing in a group!

Scrapper

: Obtain more components when you scrap weapons and armor.

One of the biggest grinds in Fallout 76 is gathering Junk and then scrapping it for components to Mod your equipment. With this Perk you will gain increased Junk when looting, so that you don’t have to do as much. If you’re not a fan of grinding, or you’d just like to get Materials faster, then this is a great quality of life Perk.

Fix it Good

: You can repair armor and Power Armor to 130% of normal maximum condition
: You can repair armor and Power Armor to 160% of normal maximum condition
: You can repair armor and Power Armor to 200% of normal maximum condition

Maintaining your Armor and Power Armor has always been an important, albeit annoying, part of the recent Fallout games. With this Perk not only will you not have to do it as often, but you will also gain more protection from your equipment. It’s really win win.

Best Agility Perks

Action Boy-Action Girl

: Action points generate 15% faster
: Action points generate 30% faster
: Action points generate 45% faster

This is a great Perk because this will allow you to use V.A.T.S. even more often. Although AP generation in the game is not slow, if you’re a sort of Build (or Player) that relies heavily on V.A.T.S. you’ll want to be sure to get this one.

Evasive

: Each AGI point adds +1 damage and energy resist (max 15)(no power armor)
: Each AGI point adds +2 damage and energy resist (max 30)(no power armor)
: Each AGI point adds +3 damage and energy resist (max 45)(no power armor)

You can probably see a trend by now, but this is the Agility version of Damage Resistance. All players should have some Damage Resistance, and this is how you get it if your going for Agility-based Perks. Pair it with other Damage Resistance Perks for an all around good time.

Ammosmith

: Produce 40% more rounds when crafting ammunition.
: Produce 80% more rounds when crafting ammunition.

Ammo is often hard to come by in Fallout games, and if you’re like me then use it liberally and don’t want to worry about how much of it you have left. By taking this Perk you won’t have to Craft Ammo as often, and when you do you’ll make a lot more of it. If you’re a “spray n’ pray” type player, or are using any sort of weapon which fires a lot of rounds in a hurry (like Heavy Weapons), be sure to get this one.

Adrenaline

: Gain +6% (max +36%) damage for 30s per kill. Duration refreshes with kills.
: Gain +7% (max +42%) damage for 30s per kill. Duration refreshes with kills.
: Gain +8% (max +48%) damage for 30s per kill. Duration refreshes with kills.
: Gain +9% (max +54%) damage for 30s per kill. Duration refreshes with kills.
: Gain +10% (max +60%) damage for 30s per kill. Duration refreshes with kills.

This Perk rewards a very aggressive style of play, because you must kill enemies quickly in succession to get the benefits of it. Make sure you take Perks to compliment, like ones that increase Damage to speed up killing. But also be sure to take ones that reduce the Damage you take, because you won’t always have time to play it safe and keep this bonus up.

Best Luck Perks

Serendipity

: While below 35% health, gain a 15% chance to avoid damage
: While below 35% health, gain a 30% chance to avoid damage
: While below 35% health, gain a 45% chance to avoid damage

This Perk is great because it can often save you from dying in a pinch. Whether you’re in the fire fight of your life, or you’re running from a player who tried to ambush you, this Perk can make the difference between living or dying. This is also a particularly great Perk for melee Builds, which are more inclined to take Damage.

Starched Genes

: Less chance for you to mutate from rads or for Radaway to cure mutations.
: You will never mutate from rads or for Radaway to cure mutations.

This Perk doesn’t seem that great at first glance, but what it does is quite “special”. This Perk will allow you to keep any Mutation you have, and still allow you to remove access Radiation with Radaway. Why would you want to do that you ask? Because there are some great Mutations that you absolutely might want to have! Check out the Fallout 76 Wiki for a list of these and see what they do.

Grim Reaper’s Sprint

: Any kill in VATS has a 15% chance to restore all Action Points.
: Any kill in VATS has a 25% chance to restore all Action Points.
: Any kill in VATS has a 30% chance to restore all Action Points.

You use V.A.T.S. a lot in Fallout, and Fallout 76 is no exception. With this Perk you have a chance to regain all Action Points when you kill a target in V.A.T.S. This is huge because it can allow you to chain kills rapidly with little effort.

There are a lot more fantastic Perks in Fallout 76, so stay tuned to see what sort of Builds we can come up with!

 

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Fallout 76 launches on Playstation 4, Xbox One and PC on November 14th.

If you want more Fallout 76 content be sure to check out our Fallout 76 Guides, including the Fallout 76 Beginner Guide. Or you can check out news articles such as  Bethesda Admits Some Fallout 76 PC Hacks Are True And Vow To Fix and Fallout 76 Has Preventative PVP Griefing Measures.

If you’re traveling into the wasteland of Appalachia be sure to check out our Fallout 76 Wiki.