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Discover the Best Sharpshooter Build in Fallout 4 and how to create a powerful character with Perks, S.P.E.C.I.A.L., Stats, armor, and weapons.
This build guide has been updated for Game version 1.10.980 on PC and Free Next Gen Update on PlayStation and Xbox.
Best Sharpshooter Build in Fallout 4
The Sharpshooter build in Fallout 4 focuses on using ranged rifles damage, knockdowns, and high accuracy with perception stat. The Sharpshooter is your prototypical range combatant that uses a companion to increase head-shot damage further. Moreover, you can craft and upgrade weapons and armor with the best mods of Fallout 4. Players will want to play the Sharpshooter if they enjoy ranged combat, using rifles, and avoiding up-close confrontations.
However, players will want to know that this is a combat-focused build and emphasizes damage at the expense of other perks. In the leveling progression, we will offer alternatives if you enjoy settlement building. Moreover, your survivability is tied to being at range, getting shots off, switching to VATS, and knocking down targets with a Sniper perk. Pickup the Sharpshooter if you want a rifleman build that can handle any enemy in Fallout 4.
| Sharpshooter Build Pros | Sharpshooter Build Cons |
|---|---|
| One-shot Damage | Weak Survivability |
| High Range | Combat Focused |
| Crafting | Low Charisma |
Features and Mechanics for Best Sharpshooter Build in Fallout 4
The following list presents all the essential Sharpshooter Features and Mechanics in Fallout 4:
- Damage – Ballistic
- Range – 200 meters
- Weapon – Rifle
- S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Stats
- Strength – 3
- Perception – 9
- Endurance – 1
- Charisma – 1
- Intelligence – 6
- Agility – 5
- Luck – 3
- Best Perks – Sniper, Rifleman, Concentrated Fire, Gun Nut
- Companion – Robert MacCready
Related:
S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Stats
Perception is the best S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats for the Sharpshooter build because you gain Rifleman, Sniper, and Concentrated Fire. These perks allow you to increase your overall damage, increase your accuracy in VATS, and knock down targets at range. Secondly, you want high intelligence to reach Science and maximize your crafting potential. Lastly, Agility and Luck are helpful for increasing action points and damage perks.
Below are the best recommended S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Stats for the Sharpshooter build in Fallout 4 videogame RPG:
- 3 Strength (S): influences your carrying capacity, melee damage, and the effectiveness of melee weapons.
- 9 Perception (P): affects your accuracy in VATS, the chance of detecting stealthy enemies, and the ability to pick locks and spot traps.
- 1 Endurance (E): It affects your maximum health, radiation resistance, and ability to withstand environmental hazards.
- 1 Charisma (C): influences your success in dialogue options, ability to negotiate prices with vendors, and effectiveness in leading companions.
- 6 Intelligence (I): affects the number of experience points earned, the quality of crafted items, and your effectiveness and terminals.
- 5 Agility (A): It affects your overall movement speed, ability to sneak effectively, and performance in VATS.
- 3 Luck (L): affects critical hit chance, the likelihood of finding valuable items, and the outcome of random events.
Additionally, consider collecting Bobbleheads throughout your Fallout 4 (FO4) adventure. Bobbleheads are collectible items scattered throughout the game world. Each bobblehead represents a particular attribute or skill, and when collected, it permanently increases your character’s corresponding stat or ability.
Best Perks
Rank two of the Sniper perk is the best for a Sharpshooter because it knocks down targets with scoped rifles. The knockdown effects give you a random stun chance when shooting targets. This makes the toughest bosses much easier when knocked down and vulnerable to repeated shots in VATS.
Here is the list of the best and recommended Perks for the Sharpshooter Build in Fallout 4:
- Sniper – can knock down targets, allows you to hold your breath and steady aim while sniping.
- Rifleman – flat damage increase that stacks with Bloody Mess and Concentrated Fire perks.
- Concentrated Fire – a damage increase perk that helps when aiming in VATS.
- Gun Nut – must have perk to modify weapons alongside science to upgrade the Gauss Rifle fully.
In Fallout 4, perks are special abilities and bonuses that enhance your character’s skills, combat prowess, and survival capabilities. Perks are acquired by spending perk points each time your character levels up. Perks are divided into categories, each corresponding to one of the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. attributes. These perks offer a wide range of customization options, allowing players to tailor their characters to suit their preferred playstyles. However, there are no respecs or redoing of Perks. Thus, your selections are vital to increasing your character’s overall power.
Level Progression
The overall goal with a Sharpshooter is to maximize damage at range. You will take many damage perks, with little for survivability. If you struggle with survival, you can drop Demolition Expert for increasing Charisma and Lone Wanderer perks playing solo. The Sharpshooter must also invest in crafting for optimal damage and survival. Science rank 3 is required to fully upgrade the Gauss Rifle, the best in the game. Additionally, keep a Shotgun and a Rifle on you for protection. Shotguns, non-automatic, can still benefit from the increased damage caused by the Rifleman perk. Thus, you can use them in close range when sniping or 200+ range isn’t possible.
Level 1 – 10
From levels 1 to 10, focus on unlocking utility perks like Scrounger, Gun Nut, and Action Boy. The most important perk is Sniper, so at level 13, you can start knocking down enemies. Moreover, you will use tons of ammunition, so Scroungers 1 and 2 are selected within the first 10 levels.
Here’s a list of the best perks to select from levels 1 to 10 with the Sharpshooter Build Guide in Fallout 4:
- Level 1 – None
- Level 2 – Scrounger
- Level 3 – Sniper
- Level 4 – Locksmith
- Level 5 – Gun Nut
- Level 6 – Medic
- Level 7 – Scrounger 2
- Level 8 – Bloody Mess
- Level 9 – Action Boy
- Level 10 – Rifleman
Level 11 – 20
Increase your damage from levels 11 to 20 with Rifleman and Gun Nut crafting perks. You will also want to increase Locksmith to rank 3. Additionally, you may start to reach barriers to further your weapon modifications, so take the Science Intelligence perk. If you feel squishy and die frequently, rely on aid and consumable items for damage reduction. In the next set of levels, you will focus on armorer to increase defensive potential.
Here’s a list of the best perks to select from levels 11 to 20 with the Sharpshooter Build Guide in Fallout 4:
- Level 11 – Locksmith 2
- Level 12 – Save
- Level 13 – Sniper 2 + Gun Nut 2
- Level 14 – Bloody Mess 2
- Level 15 – Rifleman 2
- Level 16 – Science
- Level 17 – Save
- Level 18 – Locksmith 3 + Medic 2
- Level 19 – Rifleman 3
- Level 20 – Action Boy 2
Level 21 – 30
For levels 21 and 30, you should start getting Concentrated Fire and Demolition Expert. With two points into Sniper, you can knock down enemies and then use VATS with Concentrated Fire to finish the job. Make sure to increase your companion’s Affinity at this point as well. Lastly, if you feel squishy (easy to kill), forgo Demolition Expert and increase your Charisma with Bobblehead. Then, take Lone Wanderer and drop the companion for Dogmeat.
Here’s a list of the best perks to select from levels 21 to 30 with the Sharpshooter Build Guide in Fallout 4:
- Level 21 – Concentrated Fire (+1 Perception Bobblehead in Measure of Freedom)
- Level 22 – Armorer
- Level 23 – Demolition Expert
- Level 24 – Science 2
- Level 25 – Gun Nut 3
- Level 26 – Sniper 3
- Level 27 – Concentrated Fire 2
- Level 28 – Science 3
- Level 29 – Armorer 2
- Level 30 – Medic 3
Level 31 – 40
At levels 31 to 40, you can increase Luck by +1 to take Mysterious Stranger. This will increase your damage through randomness. If you want to focus on settlement building at higher levels, forgo this perk, increase charisma, and become a Local Leader.
Here’s a list of the best perks to select from levels 31 to 40 with the Sharpshooter Build Guide in Fallout 4:
- Level 31 – Bloody Mess 3
- Level 32 – Rifleman 4
- Level 33 – Armorer 3
- Level 34 – +1 Luck (or Bobblehead on Spectacle Island)
- Level 35 – Mysterious Stranger
- Level 36 – Mysterious Stranger 2
- Level 37 – Scrapper
- Level 38 – Save
- Level 39 – Gun Nut 4 + Armorer 4
- Level 40 – Save
Level 41 – 50
From levels 41 to 50, max your Science, Medic, Concentrated Fire, and Rifleman. You should do insane damage at this point. There is no level cap in Fallout 4, so continue to progress, unlocking various perks as you see fit.
Here’s a list of the best perks to select from levels 41 to 50 with the Sharpshooter Build Guide in Fallout 4:
- Level 41 – Science 4 + Mysterious Stranger 3
- Level 42 – Demolition Expert 2
- Level 43 – Scrapper 2
- Level 44 – Demolition Expert 3
- Level 45 – Demolition Expert 4
- Level 46 – Rifleman 5
- Level 47 – Bloody Mess 4
- Level 48 – Save
- Level 49 – Medic 4 + Mysterious Stranger 4
- Level 50 – Concentrated Fire 3
Gear and Weapons
The best weapon for a Sharpshooter is the Last Minute unique Gauss Rifle. Early in the game, look to obtain the Overseer’s Guardian sniper rifle and leather armor. Then, upgrade weapons and combat armor. Below is our favorite gear for a perception-focused Sharpshooter in Fallout 4:
Overseer’s Guardian Sniper Rifle – obtained in Vault 81 by vendor Alexis Combes. Vault 81 is west of Diamond City and requires three fusion cores and quest completion to enter. Alternative weapons are Pipe Rifle (early), Hunting Rifle, Combat Rifle, and Gauss Rifle (end game).
Patrolman Sunglasses – you gain passive +1 perception, which can be found at the Cambridge Police Station. You will likely go here during the Paladin Danse quest with the Brotherhood of Steel quest.
Combat Armor – this set of armor gives excellent protection and looks cool! A complete set can be obtained on the dead NPC Sal in Jamaica Plains. The location is southeast of Diamond City and near University Point. Upgrade the legs to Custom Fitted and arms to Stabilized.
Companions
Robert MacCready is the best companion for the Sharpshooter build. Once you max out your affinity with MacCready, you gain the Killshot perk. Killshot boosts headshot accuracy in V.A.T.S. by 20%. To increase your affinity with him, opt for violent solutions to problems. He also appreciates it when you steal, pick owned locks, or ask for extra caps during quests.
You can recruit Robert MacCready by finding him at the Third Rail in Goodneighbor. Purchase his services for 250 caps and start increasing his affinity. For solo players, select Dogmeat and adjust your perk selection. Drop Demolition Expert for increasing Charisma and the Lone Wanderer perk for increased damage and damage reduction.
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