Discover the Best Power Armor 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 guide has been created during Game version 1.10.163 on PC and Patch 1.34 on PlayStation and Xbox.
Power Armor Build Introduction in Fallout 4
The Power Armor build in Fallout 4 epitomizes strength, resilience, and environmental adaptability, offering unparalleled survivability in the harsh wastelands. What makes the Power Armor build unique is that the perks are designed to keep you inside a suit of indefinite Power Armor indefinitely. You will rely on perks to extend the use of Fusion Cores, which power your armor, and crafting perks to upgrade the suit. With a nearly indestructible suit of armor, the major drawback is using a one-time use fusion core to maintain power.
The build will start slow because you need many crafting perks and others to stay within the suit of power armor. You can get some early fusion cores by going to the Robotics Disposal Ground and Red Rocket Truck Stop for a power armor crafting station. Additionally, this build will shine around level 20 with more advanced technology, materials, and upgrades to power armor suit become available. With a slow start and limited stealth, the pros outweigh the cons if you surpass the initial few levels.
| Power Armor Build Pros | Power Armor Build Cons |
|---|---|
| Unmatched Survivability | Fusion Core Requirement |
| Carrying Capacity | Limited Stealth |
| Environmental Protection | Slow Start |
Features and Mechanics for Best Power Armor Build in Fallout 4
The following list presents all the essential Power Armor Features and Mechanics in Fallout 4:
- Damage – Ballistic
- Range – 100 meters
- Weapon – Heavy
- S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Stats
- Strength – 5
- Perception – 5
- Endurance – 1
- Charisma – 6
- Intelligence – 9
- Agility – 1
- Luck – 3
- Best Perks – Nuclear Physicist, Armorer, Science, Heavy Gunner
- Companion – Paladin Danse
Related:
S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Stats
The best S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats for the Power Armor build are 9 intelligence and 5 strength. Intelligence is needed to access nuclear physicists, which extend the duration of your power cores. Moreover, a Science perk will also be needed to fully upgrade a set of power armor and reach your full potential. Strength is also vital because you must obtain the armorer perk and science to upgrade your power armor fully. Lastly, having increased strength also means access to Heavy gunner uses the biggest and best weapons in Fallout 4 (FO4).
Below are the best recommended S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Stats for the Power Armor 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.
- 1 Endurance (E): It affects your maximum health, radiation resistance, and ability to withstand environmental hazards.
- 6 Charisma (C): influences your success in dialogue options, ability to negotiate prices with vendors, and effectiveness in leading companions.
- 9 Intelligence (I): affects the number of experience points earned, the quality of crafted items, and your effectiveness with high-tech weapons.
- 1 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
Nuclear Physicist, Science, Armorer, and Heavy Gunner are the best Perks for a Power Armor build in Fallout 4. Unlike other builds, Power Armor requires Fusion Cores to stay powered. These are difficult to find at the beginning of the game and reduce the likelihood of living in power armor, making Nuclear Physics the most important perk for the build.
Science and Armorer are required to upgrade and craft essential parts for your Power Armor. Thus, you must invest heavily in intelligence and these perks to increase your effectiveness with Power Armor. Lastly, we have Heavy Gunner, which increases the damage of Heavy guns. When fully upgraded, you will do double damage with a chance to stagger opponents. However, these weapons are heavy and thus require constant power armor and fusion cores to make the most out of the perks.
Here is the list of the best and recommended Perks for the Power Armor Build in Fallout 4:
- Nuclear Physicist – Increases the duration of fusion cores, allowing greater use of power armor.
- Science + Armorer – essential crafting perks required to upgrade power armor fully.
- Heavy Gunner – the best weapon perk for a power armor build, taking advantage of heavy weapons.
- Demolition Expert – can add even more damage when using explosives and heavy weapons.
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
In Fallout 4, level progression is tied to gaining experience points (XP) through various activities such as completing quests, defeating enemies, discovering new locations, crafting items, and engaging in dialogue. As you accumulate XP, you gradually level up, which allows you to improve your character’s abilities and unlock new perks. You eventually reach a certain threshold to level up as you accumulate XP. When you level up, you can allocate a point to one of your SPECIAL attributes and choose a new perk.
Your character’s SPECIAL attributes determine their capabilities and aptitudes in various areas. When you level up, allocating points to these attributes can enhance your character’s strength, combat prowess, social skills, crafting abilities, and more. The perk system in Fallout 4 is represented by a perk chart, which visually organizes the available perks according to their associated SPECIAL attributes. As you level up and allocate points to your SPECIAL attributes, you unlock access to more perks within the corresponding branches of the chart.
Below, we have outlined our selections of Perks at various levels to ensure you select the proper loadout. Moreover, be aware there are no respec unless you use mods or other means to change perks.
Level 1 – 10
Here’s a list of the best perks to select from levels 1 to 10 with the Best Power Armor Build Guide in Fallout 4:
- Level 1 – None
- Level 2 – Nuclear Physicist
- Level 3 – Scrounger
- Level 4 – Locksmith
- Level 5 – Scrapper
- Level 6 – Hacker
- Level 7 – Heavy Gunner
- Level 8 – Locksmith 2
- Level 9 – Hacker 2
- Level 10 – Science!
Level 11 – 20
Here’s a list of the best perks to select from levels 11 to 20 with the Best Power Armor Build Guide in Fallout 4:
- Level 11 – Gun Nut
- Level 12 – Armorer
- Level 13 – Demolition Expert
- Level 14 – Nuclear Physicist 2
- Level 15 – Heavy Gunner 2
- Level 16 – Medic
- Level 17 – Scrounger 2
- Level 18 – Chemist
- Level 19 – Locksmith 3
- Level 20 – Hacker 3
Level 21 – 30
Here’s a list of the best perks to select from levels 21 to 30 with the Best Power Armor Build Guide in Fallout 4:
- Level 21 – Armorer 2
- Level 22 – Science! 2
- Level 23 – Heavy Gunner 3
- Level 24 – Scrapper 2
- Level 25 – Gun Nut 2
- Level 26 – Nuclear Physicist 3
- Level 27 – Armorer 3
- Level 28 – Science! 3
- Level 29 – Scrounger 3
- Level 30 – Demolition Expert 2
Level 31 – 40
Here’s a list of the best perks to select from levels 31 to 40 with the Best Power Armor Build Guide in Fallout 4:
- Level 31 – Gun Nut 3
- Level 32 – Demolition Expert 3
- Level 33 – Bloody Mess
- Level 34 – Demolition Expert 4
- Level 35 – Heavy Gunner 4
- Level 36 – Medic 2
- Level 37 – Bloody Mess 2
- Level 38 – Save
- Level 39 – Gun Nut 4 + Armorer 4
- Level 40 – Chemist 2
Level 41 – 50
Here’s a list of the best perks to select from levels 41 to 50 with the Best Power Armor Build Guide in Fallout 4:
- Level 41 – Science! 4
- Level 42 – Local Leader
- Level 43 – Bloody Mess 3
- Level 44 – Scrounger 4
- Level 45 – Robotics Expert
- Level 46 – Save
- Level 47 – Heavy Gunner 5 + Bloody Mess 4
- Level 48 – Medic 3
- Level 49 – Medic 4
- Level 50 – Chemist 3
Gear and Weapons
The best equipment for the Power Armor build is the X-01 Power Armor and Minigun weapon. The X-01 starts appearing beyond level 28 and is the most powerful set of power armor in Fallout 4. The Minigun is the best overall weapon because it is a heavy gun and increases damage via the heavy gunner perk.
T-45 power armor – your first introduction set of power armor obtained for helping Preston Garvey in the quest When Freedom Calls. Thankfully, you obtain this power armor early in the game, and it is suitable until you level and obtain more fusion cores and perks.
T-51 power armor – an upgraded version that can be obtained by stealing from or killing Lieutenant Clint. He is located at the Quincy ruins, due south on the map and near vault 88. Upgrade from the T-45 and skip to the X-01 for the best armor in FO4.
X-01 power armor – only at level 28 or higher do the X-01 pieces start showing up. You can betray the Brotherhood of Steel on the Prydwen (Proctor Teagan). Fort Hagen Hanger, 35 Court building in the financial district, and the National Guard training yard are the best places to find it.
Minigun – the best weapon can be obtained at the Museum of Freedom. This is southwest of Red Rocket Truck Stop and is on top of the roof in a crashed landed vertibird.
Fat Man – a burst weapon not meant to be fired up close. You can find a Fat Man at Fort Hagen or ArcJet Systems, both due south of Walden Pond.
Flamer – a powerful close-range weapon that is useful without 5mm bullets. You can find them in Fens Street sewers or the Castle on the eastern side of the table.
Companions
The best companion is Paladin Danse because he is also in Power Armor and has the Know Your Enemy companion perk. With maximum affinity, Paladin Danse grants the effect of +20% damage against synths, feral ghouls, and super mutants. This helps your power armor build and remove the deadliest enemies in Fallout 4.
Paladin Danse can be found initially at Cambridge Police Station. Afterward, you must complete the Shadow of Steel and Semper Invicta quest. Once recruited, you can increase Paladin’s Danse affinity by siding with the Minutemen or Railroad. The quest the Blind Betrayal will lock this perk away permanently, so be aware. An alternative to Paladin Danse is Preston Garvey, who has the United We Stand companion perk, which increases damage resistance surrounded by three or more enemies.
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