Discover the Best Brotherhood of Steel 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 Brotherhood of Steel Build in Fallout 4
The Brotherhood of Steel build is a roleplay build representing the best (and worst) of the Brotherhood of Steel faction in Fallout 4. With this build, you will primarily wear Power Armor, use heavy weapons, and follow the code of the Brotherhood. The Brotherhood of Steel preserves advanced technology and scores the wastelands of tech. To this end, you will have high intelligence, crafting skills, and an emphasis on explosives and big guns!
The downside of the Brotherhood of Steel build is the reliance on Power Armor. Keeping and maintaining a Power Armor set can be difficult, especially early in FO4. However, with perks like Scrapper and Scrounger, you should collect raw materials and ammunition to avoid destroying your Power Armor. Moreover, Fusion Cores and upgrading your Power Armor will be a priority. If you want to RP as your favorite character from the Fallout TV series or just love the Brotherhood Faction, this build is for you!
| Brotherhood of Steel Build Pros | Brotherhood of Steel Build Cons |
|---|---|
| High Tech Weapons | Weak at Beginning |
| Power Armor Protection | Fusion Core Requirements |
| Crafting Focus | Limited Weapon Choices |
Features and Mechanics for Best Brotherhood of Steel Build in Fallout 4
The following list presents all the essential Brotherhood of Steel Features and Mechanics in Fallout 4:
- Damage – Laser
- Range – 100 Meters
- Weapon – Heavy
- S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Stats
- Strength – 5
- Perception – 5
- Endurance – 4
- Charisma – 1
- Intelligence – 10
- Agility – 1
- Luck – 2
- Best Perks – Nuclear Physicist, Nerd Rage, Science, Heavy Gunner, Demolition Expert
- Companion – Paladin Danse
Related:
Vertibird
Once you side with the Brotherhood of Steel, you can throw Vertibird Signals, which calls in the helicopter to pick you up. Once inside and mounted on the Minigun, open your map and “fast travel” to the desired location. This is a fun and Role Play friendly way to travel the wasteland. Moreover, using Vertibird travel is a workaround for those playing on Survival difficulty with fast travel disabled. Make sure to use these Vertibirds for utility and the cool RP factor!
S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Stats
Intelligence and Strength are the best S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats for the Brotherhood of Steel build. Intelligence allows you to gain the Nuclear Physics perk and stay in Power Armor longer. With 10 Intelligence, you gain Nerd Rage, the ultimate defensive perk, dramatically increasing survivability at the start of Fallout 4. With strength choice, you unlock Armorer crafting and Heavy Gunner. This perfectly combines Science and Gun Nut from the Intelligence stat.
Below are the best recommended S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Stats for the Brotherhood of Steel build in Fallout 4 videogame RPG:
- 5 Strength (S): influences your carrying capacity, melee damage, and the effectiveness of melee weapons.
- 5 Perception (P): affects your accuracy in VATS, the chance of detecting stealthy enemies, and the ability to pick locks and spot traps.
- 4 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.
- 10 Intelligence (I): affects the number of experience points earned, the quality of crafted items, and your effectiveness with high-tech weapons and terminals.
- 1 Agility (A): It affects your overall movement speed, ability to sneak effectively, and performance in VATS.
- 2 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
Nuclear Physicist, Nerd Rage, and Heavy Gunner are the best perks for a Brotherhood of Steel Build because they help increase damage and reduce damage taken. Nuclear Physicist makes staying in Power Armor much easier. Nerd Rage gives you a “oh crap” moment when taking a big chunk of damage and slows time down. Heavy Gunner is your weapon damage perk for using heavy Miniguns or Gatling Lasers.
Here is the list of the best and recommended Perks for the Brotherhood of Steel Build in Fallout 4:
- Nuclear Physicist – best perk when using Power Armor consistently.
- Nerd Rage – the best damage reduction perk outside of Lone Wanderer (no companion).
- Science – a needed crafting perk to make the most advanced Power Armor mods.
- Heavy Gunner – increases heavy weapon damage, though you can use Rifleman or Commando if you prefer.
- Demolition Expert – makes explosives do more damage, including your weapons and stacks with other perks.
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 characters overall power.
Level Progression
When leveling with the Brotherhood of Steel build, expect a heavy investment into crafting and utility perks. Your goal is to stay in Power Armor, repair it, and not run out of ammunition. The game is brutal initially but becomes much easier as you build settlements and obtain better weapons and many materials. Around level 20 or so, expect to switch gears into more damage-producing perks. At levels 25 and 30, monsters will increase in power, so you’ll be set to craft some of the best items in the game at that point. Moving towards level 50, you select the best perks, and beyond this, you can increase stats to help with settlement building.
Level 1 – 10
From levels 1 to 10, try to get damage increase, reduction, and utility perks. Scrounger, Nuclear physicist, and Nerd Rage are priorities. Early in leveling, you will need a hacker and locksmith to open the doors and chest. Medic is also helpful for survival, and two crafting perks give you a good start at early levels.
Here’s a list of the best perks to select from levels 1 to 10 with the Brotherhood of Steel Build Guide in Fallout 4:
- Level 1 – None
- Level 2 – Nuclear Physicist
- Level 3 – Nerd Rage
- Level 4 – Scrounger
- Level 5 – Locksmith
- Level 6 – Hacker
- Level 7 – Armorer
- Level 8 – Medic
- Level 9 – Heavy Gunner
- Level 10 – Gun Nut
Level 11 – 20
Increase your utility perks from levels 11 to 20, like Scrounger, Locksmith, and Hacker. Moreover, take Science at 19 because, with Gun Nut and Armorer, you should gain access to better weapon and armor mods. Don’t spend more points on Hacker or Locksmith beyond level 3 because it doesn’t influence the doors you can open.
Here’s a list of the best perks to select from levels 11 to 20 with the Brotherhood of Steel Build Guide in Fallout 4:
- Level 11 – Scrounger 2
- Level 12 – Locksmith 2
- Level 13 – Hacker 2
- Level 14 – Nuclear Physicist 2
- Level 15 – Heavy Gunner 2
- Level 16 – Armorer 2
- Level 17 – Gun Nut 2
- Level 18 – Locksmith 3
- Level 19 – Science
- Level 20 – Save
Level 21 – 30
From levels 21 to 30, increase your crafting further alongside Heavy Gunner. At this point, you should have highly advanced mods on weapons, armor, and Power Armor. This will likely carry your damage until the later levels. Chemist is also taken to boost duration for Psycho and other helpful damage amp aid items.
Here’s a list of the best perks to select from levels 21 to 30 with the Brotherhood of Steel Build Guide in Fallout 4:
- Level 21 – Hacker 3 + Heavy Gunner 3
- Level 22 – Science 2
- Level 23 – Medic 2
- Level 24 – Scrounger 3
- Level 25 – Gun Nut 3
- Level 26 – Nuclear Physicist 3
- Level 27 – Armorer 3
- Level 28 – Science 3
- Level 29 – Chemist
- Level 30 – Medic 3
Level 31 – 40
For levels 31 to 40, feel free to take perks geared toward your play style. We suggest Demolition Expert because it stacks with other weapon damage amps like Heavy Gunner and Bloody Mess. Using a simple Missile Launcher will give you each of these perks, doing mind-boggling damage. However, if you love settlement building, forgo Demo and increase Charisma for Local Leader.
Here’s a list of the best perks to select from levels 31 to 40 with the Brotherhood of Steel Build Guide in Fallout 4:
- Level 31 – Nerd Rage 2
- Level 32 – Scrapper
- Level 33 – Scrapper 2
- Level 34 – Demolition Expert
- Level 35 – Demolition Expert 2
- Level 36 – Demolition Expert 3
- Level 37 – Demolition Expert 4
- Level 38 – Save
- Level 39 – Gun Nut 4 + Armorer 4
- Level 40 – Heavy Gunner 4
Level 41 – 50
The final levels up to 50, increase luck or take the bobblehead to obtain Bloody Mess. Bloody Mess not only increases damage but can cause enemies to explode. This allows for chain kills and is visually similar to the Fallout TV show. You should also max out Medic, Nerd Rage, and Heavy Gunner for a well-rounded build.
Here’s a list of the best perks to select from levels 41 to 50 with the Brotherhood of Steel Build Guide in Fallout 4:
- Level 41 – Luck +1 (or Luck Bobblehead)
- Level 42 – Bloody Mess
- Level 43 – Bloody Mess 2
- Level 44 – Bloody Mess 3
- Level 45 – Science 4
- Level 46 – Save
- Level 47 – Heavy Gunner 5 + Bloody Mess 4
- Level 48 – Scrounger 4
- Level 49 – Medic 4
- Level 50 – Nerd Rage 3
Gear and Weapons
Below are the best weapons, armor, and power armor for the Brotherhood of Steel build:
- Righteous Authority – a Laser Rifle that is obtained early during your playthrough. You can forgo Heavy Gunner and use the Rifleman perk if you prefer ranged weapons. This can be upgraded throughout the level process and fits the Brotherhood Role Play style.
- Final Judgement – a unique Gatling Laser that is considered a heavy weapon. This enhanced version of the minigun can be optimized through Science and Gun Nut to do incredible damage. Moreover, it fits the Brotherhood look. Also, keep a Fat Man or Missile Launcher on you for AOE damage.
- X-02 Power Armor – a new Power Armor and considerably better than the T-60. However, you won’t start with X-02, which comes at levels 30 and beyond. Look to upgrade your Power armor and obtain the T-60 model. It is safe to invest heavy materials and upgrade until the X-02 appears at level 30 beyond during a quest popup.
Companions
Paladin Danse is the best companion for a Brotherhood of Steel build. He’s one of our favorite companions due to his unique story that synergizes well with the main story narrative and tough decisions. Dogmeat is a good companion if you also want to use the Lone Wanderer perk. Be aware, Paladin Danse and your decision will influence if he becomes hostile or friendly, so choose wisely! You can also increase his affinity to gain a permanent perk.
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