Fallout 4: The Best Power Armor Build (Perks, Weapons, & Armor) (2024)

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  • Best S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Stats For A Power Armor Build

  • Best Power Armor In Fallout 4

  • Best Weapons For A Power Armor Build

  • Best Perks For A Power Armor Build

The Power Armor build in Fallout 4 embodies strength, resilience, and adaptability, ensuring immanent survival in the harsh Wastelands. Despite relying upon energy, this iconic armor set can be worn indefinitely, thanks to Perks that prolong the use of Fusion Cores, vital for powering the suit, and enhance crafting abilities for upgrades.

However, the major limitation of Power Armor is its reliance on the one-time use of Fusion Cores for energy. Therefore, choosing the right Perks and stats is all the more important to extend the lifespan of these cores, optimize performance, and complement your weaponry, maximizing your effectiveness in the armor.

Related

The Best Sniper Build in Fallout 4

Creating a Sniper build in Fallout 4 requires modifying your weapons with scopes, and selecting the best stats and Perks to enhance sniper skills.

Best S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Stats For A Power Armor Build

Fallout 4: The Best Power Armor Build (Perks, Weapons, & Armor) (2)

In Fallout 4, selecting the right S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Stats is essential for any build, particularly for those focusing on close-range combat while suited in a Power Armor in Fallout 4. Prioritizing Intelligence allows access to the Nuclear Physicist Perk, extending the life of your Fusion Cores, while leveling up Strength boosts your ability to deliver powerful attacks in your robust armor.

At the beginning of the game, during character creation, players distribute 21 points across their character's S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Stats. As you level up, you can refine these stats further, tailoring your character’s abilities to suit your chosen build better.

Below is an optimized distribution of stat points for a Power Armor build aimed at maximizing damage output:

S.P.E.C.I.A.L Stats

Points

Description

Intelligence

9

Affects the amount of XP earned, the quality of crafted items, and your effectiveness with high-tech weapons.

Strength

6

Influences your carrying capacity, melee damage, and the effectiveness of melee weapons.

Perception

5

Affects your accuracy in V.A.T.S., the chance of detecting stealthy enemies, and the ability to pick locks and spot traps.

Charisma

5

Influences your success in dialogue options, ability to negotiate prices with vendors, and effectiveness in leading companions.

Luck

3

Affects Critical Hit chance, the likelihood of finding valuable items, and the outcome of random events.

Agility

1

Affects your overall movement speed, ability to sneak effectively, and performance in V.A.T.S. in Fallout 4.

Endurance

1

Affects your maximum health, radiation resistance, and ability to withstand environmental hazards.

Best Power Armor In Fallout 4

T-45 Power Armor

Fallout's iconic T-45 Power Armor, while technically one of the weaker sets, is the most accessible and commonly found early in the game. This makes it an excellent choice for new players to familiarize themselves with Power Armor mechanics.

Its models, ranging from A to F, can be upgraded to provide up to 1100 damage resistance, 910 energy resistance, and 1050 radiation resistance, making it a solid choice from levels 1-10 until players can acquire the sturdier T-51 set.

The T-45 can be enhanced beyond standard upgrades with the Piezonucleic Power Armor torso, a particular component that may be found in the Cambridge Polymer Labs. This piece significantly boosts the player’s Action Point regeneration rate, enhancing combat efficiency.

X-01 Power Armor

The X-01 Power Armor stands overall as the best Power Armor set in Fallout 4, offering the highest damage and energy resistance of any set. This formidable armor can be enhanced to achieve a damage resistance of 1820 and an energy resistance of 1390, making it highly sought after.

Despite its strength, the X-01 is as rare as it is powerful and can typically only be discovered late game, around Level 28 and beyond, as players explore new locations. Acquiring this armor is highly rewarding for those willing to invest the time and effort.

The most accessible set can be found inside a cage on the main barge, located west of the East Boston Police Station. It is a prized asset for any adventurer in The Commonwealth.

T-51 Power Armor

The T-51 Power Armor is an excellent step up from the T-45, serving as a solid midline option. It is not overly challenging to upgrade and provides slightly better stats than the T-45. The T-51 can also accommodate the Piezonucleic Power Armor torso piece, which enhances Action Point (AP) regeneration, similar to its predecessor.

The T-51 can be customized with special-themed paint jobs for players seeking a fun and creative style. The Nuka-World DLC introduces a Nuka-themed T-51 set, and the Far Harbor DLC adds a T-51 Vim! themed paint job.

T-60 Power Armor

The T-60 Power Armor is a standout choice in Fallout 4 due to its superb overall performance and wide customization options. Players can discover various modifiable pieces scattered throughout The Commonwealth, and Proctor Teagan on The Prydwen visited as part of a Brotherhood of Steel side quest in Fallout 4, sells several pieces.

To further optimize your armor, consider adding the unique Exemplar's T-60c torso piece, which reduces Action Point (AP) costs by 20% when using V.A.T.S. For a complete set, equip the Visionary's T-60c helmet, which boosts AP regeneration and increases both damage and energy resistance, enhancing your capabilities in combat significantly.

Raider Power Armor

Raider Power Armor is the least durable type in Fallout 4 but also the most abundant. As a viable starter option, you can acquire pieces of this armor as loot from defeated Raider commanders throughout The Commonwealth. While its initial stats are modest, it's easy to overlook the potential of Raider Power Armor.

The armor's performance can be significantly enhanced with the right upgrades, such as Tessa's Fist. Tessa's Fist is a unique arm piece that offers additional damage resistance, energy resistance, and boosts to unarmed damage. Given its potential for customization, Raider Power Armor is a viable starting option for players looking to experiment with enhancements before moving on to more robust suits.

Best Weapons For A Power Armor Build

Fallout 4: The Best Power Armor Build (Perks, Weapons, & Armor) (3)

When outfitting Power Armor in Fallout 4, it's best to pair it with heavy weapons in Fallout 4, whether firearms or melee types, to complement the armor's robust, tank-like capabilities. This setup allows you to deliver high damage with powerful blows. Invest in specific Perks that synergize well with heavy weapons and Power Armor to maximize efficiency and enhance your combat effectiveness.

Final Judgement

Final Judgement is a Gatling laser in Fallout 4 that deals 26 damage per shot at a rapid-fire rate, making it particularly effective against formidable foes like Deathclaws. This weapon is an excellent match for Power Armor builds as it shares the same energy source: Fusion Cores. This synergy allows players to streamline their resource usage, though it poses a challenge in resource management.

One of the most reliable methods to obtain Fusion Cores is by defeating Sentry bots. These robots often carry two or more fully charged Fusion Cores, which can be looted once the bot is destroyed, ensuring a steady supply of this crucial resource.

Ashmaker Minigun

The Ashmaker minigun enhances the traditional rapid-fire capabilities of the iconic minigun in Fallout 4 by incorporating fire damage into each shot, significantly boosting its DPS. This modification addresses a common drawback of standard miniguns, which typically have low damage output despite their high rate of fire.

The added fire damage increases the Ashmaker's effectiveness and makes it one of the most sought-after miniguns in the game. When used with Power Armor, the Ashmaker becomes even more powerful, enabling players to leverage their tank-like durability while dealing enhanced damage, making it an ideal weapon for heavy combat scenarios.

Grognak's Axe

For players who prefer a melee approach for their Power Armor build, Grognak's Axe is a great choice. This weapon delivers high damage and has a unique effect that reduces AP cost when used in V.A.T.S, allowing for more frequent and powerful strikes. Few melee weapons in the game match its strength and efficiency.

Grognak's Axe is housed within an Advanced-locked display case in Hubris Comics, requiring advanced skills in terminal hacking or lockpicking in Fallout 4.

Related

Fallout 4 offers plenty of firearms and melee weapons, that come with legendary effects and can be further enhanced with mods for better utility.

Best Perks For A Power Armor Build

Perks in Fallout 4 play a crucial role in enhancing your Power Armor build, boosting combat effectiveness, and elevating overall performance. These special abilities and bonuses significantly upgrade your character's combat prowess and survival capabilities. As you level up, you allocate Perk points tied to specific S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Stats, allowing for deeper customization tailored to your playstyle.

For a robust Power Armor build, several key Perks are indispensable. TheKGC recommends Nuclear Physicist as a must-have, which increases the longevity of Fusion Cores by 25%. Given that Power Armor becomes non-operational without Fusion Cores, extending their duration is vital.

These Perks collectively create a powerful build that enhances your armor's durability and efficacy with heavy weapons, equipping you to handle even the most daunting adversaries in Fallout 4. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of the best Perks to optimize this build:

Perk

Stat Requirement

Description

Armorer

Strength Level 3

Provides access to more advanced armor mods, making it an essential crafting Perk to upgrade Power Armor fully.

Heavy Gunner

Strength Level 5

A weapon Perk that grants bonus damage when using heavy weapons, which synergizes well with a Power Armor build.

Demolition Expert

Perception Level 5

Increases damage caused by explosives and heavy weapons.

Science

Intelligence Level 6

Grants access to advanced weapons mods for energy weapons, required to upgrade Power Armor fully.

Nuclear Physicist

Intelligence Level 9

Increases the duration of Fusion Cores when used in Power Armor or Gatling Lasers, providing greater use of the set.

Source: TheKGC/YouTube

Fallout 4: The Best Power Armor Build (Perks, Weapons, & Armor) (5)
Fallout 4
Franchise
Fallout
Platform(s)
PC , PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S

Released
November 10, 2015
Developer(s)
Bethesda
Publisher(s)
Bethesda
Genre(s)
RPG , Action

Engine
Creation

ESRB
M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS

How Long To Beat
27 Hours

X|S Enhanced
No

File Size Xbox Series
51 GB (December 2023)

Metascore
87

PS Plus Availability
Extra & Premium
Fallout 4: The Best Power Armor Build (Perks, Weapons, & Armor) (2024)

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