S.P.E.C.I.A.L. — Fallout 4’s perks list and character stats to build the best character

If you’re jumping into the Wasteland, you’ll need to know how to spec out your character, so let this handy guide help you on you way.

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Update April 15, 2024:With the surging popularity of Fallout 4 after the launch of the Amazon Prime show, we’ve updated this guide to help new players jumping into the game for the first time. NukaHub’s character builder has also been replaced by an equivalent by Nukes & Dragons.

So, you’re firing upFallout 4, preparing your first journey into the irradiated Boston wasteland. Maybe it’s a game that’s been in your backlog for a while, or maybe you’re brand-new, having seen the most excellentFallout show on Amazon Prime. Either way, you’re in for a great time.

Fallout 4 is set in Boston, a couple of hundred years after the bombs dropped. The opening portion of the game takes you down into Vault 111 as catastrophe strikes, and when you awaken and leave the vault, the world outside is very different. No story spoilers as towhyyou’re leaving underground safety, but you’re going on a very important mission.

Suddenly, you’re asked to allocate your stats loadout, known in the Fallout universe as S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Just what does it all mean?

In this guide, I’ll be explaining what each of the stats do for your character, as well as listing the perks you can obtain as a result of your S.P.E.C.I.A.L. loadout.

What is Fallout 4?

For the uninitiated, Fallout 4, at its core, is an RPG. Fallout 4’s shooting mechanics have been standardized to a degree, but your stats still determine your proficiency in combat. Whether you decide to be a melee fighter, a grenadier, sniper, or pistol wielding gunslinger is entirely up to you, but a smart S.P.E.C.I.A.L. loadout will only enhance your chosen role (or roles!).

S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stands for Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility and Luck, and each stat empowers different attributes. You’re given 21 stat points to play with at the start of the game, and every time you level up, you’re given a choice between adding an extra point of S.P.E.C.I.A.L., or spending a point on a perk.

Each point in a particular stat gives you access to a new perk, each of which comes with powerful bonuses. There are items that can increase your S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats, glasses you can find in the first area increase your Perception by 1 for example, and there are various chems (drugs) that can increase your stats temporarily.

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Fallout 4 has no hard level cap, but as we saw with Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, progression after a certain point will begin to slow down considerably, particularly as you begin running out of enemies and quests. So, be sure to plan ahead!

The best way I’ve found so far when it comes to character building is to use Nukes & Dragons' excellentcharacter sheet calculator, you can save builds for later and even share them with your friends.

To access the perks list in-game, you hit B to display your Pip-Boy, then press Y. The perks sheet looks like the below image, detailing each perk, its requirements, and rank.

Below is an explanation of each of Fallout’s S.P.E.C.I.A.L. attributes and an overview of the perks attached to each level of those stats. The higher ranks of each perk contain ever-increasing bonuses and modifiers.

Strength

As you might expect, strength determines your physical power. A high strength stat will increase the amount of items you can carry (and thus, the variety of weapons you can wield). It also increases the damage you deal with melee weapons, like baseball bats and sledgehammers.

Strength is also tied to perks that increase your prowess in fist fighting, armor crafting, heavy weapons wielding, and hip-fire shooting. The highest strength stats will give you access to the Pain Train perk, which provides combat bonuses when wearing the iconic Power Armor.

Perception

Perception primarily affects your weapon accuracy in V.A.T.S., Fallout’s slow-motion auto-targeting system. It also comes tied to perks rogue-type characters might enjoy, like lock picking, pickpocketing, and explosives. Perception also carries perks that will boost rifle and sniper skills.

Endurance

Endurance directly impacts your hit points and the amount you can sprint. The perks tied to endurance includes all sorts of damage resistances, the ability to eat a wider variety of foods and drinks (including human flesh) and the ability to take in healing from sunlight.

Charisma

Charisma expands your tool set in the game’s conversations. With a higher Charisma, you can persuade other characters to do your bidding, and get reduced prices from merchants and vendors. Charisma perks enhance your ability to command your followers, such as the much-advertised canine companion. You can also use Charisma perks to improve your homestead, building supply lines and on-site stores.

Intelligence

Intelligence primarily increases the amount of EXP you gain from performing actions in the wasteland, allowing you to level up faster. Intelligence perks pertain to crafting, hacking computers and even robots, turning them into your allies. The highest perk allows you to become enraged at low health, slowing down time and increasing your damage dealt.

Agility

Agility enhances the frequency you can use V.A.T.S. targeting system, and also grants bonuses to sneaking. Perks tied to Agility increase your abilities with one-handed, silenced weapons, and also increase your damage while attacking from stealth.

Luck

Luck governs the frequency of critical hits, which deal increased damage. It also gives you a higher chance to find quality items when looting containers throughout the wasteland. Some of the Luck perks include further bonuses to crit chance, but also additional bonuses that occur at random.

Jez Corden is the Executive Editor at Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by tea. Follow onTwitter (X)andThreads, and listen to hisXB2 Podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!