Stats | Fallout 4 Wiki

How does SPECIAL work in Fallout 4?

In Fallout 4, stat types are different from other RPG games, and players who've played the older Fallout games would recognize the stat system in Fallout 4 as it adheres to the same SPECIAL system introduced in the earlier games. SPECIAL is an acronym comprising seven distinct stats which are Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck. You can choose to allocate points in different stats in the game and it also serves as a fundamental aspect of character progression.

Each stat offers unique advantages and benefits, and the choices you make in leveling them up will shape the progression of your character throughout your playthrough. It's recommended for players to focus on developing one stat initially and subsequently enhance the other stats as they progress through the game.

When can I start adjusting my SPECIAL Stats in Fallout 4?

In Fallout 4, you'll have your first opportunity to adjust your SPECIAL stats via the Vault-Tec Rep door-to-door salesman. You will be given your registration form where you input your name, and have 21 points to spend in any of the seven stats that make up SPECIAL.

From here, you can allocate your points however you want. You can max out 2 stats and leave 1's for the rest, or you can go for a balanced approach and allocate your points depending on what build or playstyle you plan on doing with your character.

What are Bobbleheads in Fallout 4?

In Fallout 4, Bobbleheads are valuable collectibles scattered throughout the game. There are 20 unique Bobbleheads in the game and these items provide permanent stat boosts enhancing either one of the seven SPECIAL stats or other skills. Whenever you collect a Bobblehead, it grants a +1 point increase to the corresponding stat or skill. All Bobbleheads are strategically placed in different locations relevant to their associated attributes or skills, encouraging exploration and discovery.

The Bobbleheads also serve as decorative items in your home or settlement, as you can showcase the progress you've made in enhancing your character's abilities. However, there are certain Bobbleheads that may become unobtainable based on your character's faction choices. If you want to view a full list of Bobbleheads and their locations, please click Here.

What are Perks in Fallout 4?

In addition to the SPECIAL stats, Fallout 4 also features an extensive Perk system. Each SPECIAL attribute has 10 associated perks and forms over 70 total perks available in the game that players can choose from each time they level up.

Different perks provide various bonuses, enhancements, and abilities tailored to specific playstyles. The Perk system allows players to fine-tune their character's abilities and gain unique advantages as they level up.

Perk Chart in Fallout 4

Click on the image to enlarge

Credits to brandrixco on Reddit.

Strength Perks

Strength is a measure of your raw physical power. It affects how much you can carry, and the damage of all melee attacks.

The available perks for the Strength stat in order of required strength levels are listed below:

1. Iron Fist - Punching attacks do 20% more damage to your opponent.
2. Big Leagues - Do 20% more melee weapon damage.
3. Armorer - Protect yourself from the dangers of the Wastleland with access to base level and Rank 1 Armor Mods.
4. Blacksmith - Fire up the forge and gain access to base level and Rank 1 Melee Weapon Mods.
5. Heavy Gunner - Thanks to practice and conditioning, Heavy Guns do 20% more damage.
6. Strong Back - Gain +25 to carry weight.
7. Steady Aim - Hip-fire accuracy is improved when firing any gun.
8. Basher - Gun bashing does 25% more damage.
9. Rooted - While standing still, you gain +25 Damage Resistance and your melee and unarmed attacks deal 25% more damage.
10. Pain Train - While wearing Power Armor, sprinting into enemies hurts and staggers them.
    (Robots and oversized enemies are immune to stagger)

Perception Perks

Perception is your environmental awareness and "sixth sense", and affects weapon accuracy in V.A.T.S.

The available perks for the Perception stat in order of required perception levels are listed below:

1. Pickpocket - Your quick hands and sticky fingers make picking pockets 25% easier.
2. Rifleman - Attacks with Non-Automatic Rifles do 20% more damage.
3. Awareness - You can view a target's specific damage resistances in V.A.T.S.
4. Locksmith - Your nimble fingers allow you to pick advanced locks.
5. Demolition Expert - Your explosives do 25% more damage, and you can craft explosives at any Chemistry Station.
6. Night Person - Gain +2 to Intelligence and Perception between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
7. Refractor - Instantly gain +10 Energy Resistance.
8. Sniper - You have improved control and can hold your breath longer when aiming with scopes.
9. Penetrator - In V.A.T.S. you can target an enemy's body parts that are blocked by cover, with a decrease in accuracy.
10. Concentrated Fire - In V.A.T.S. every attack on the same body part gains +10% accuracy.

Endurance Perks

Endurance is a measure of your overall physical fitness. It affects your total Health and the Action Point drain from sprinting.

The available perks for the Endurance stat in order of required endurance levels are listed below:

1. Toughness - Instantly gain +10 Damage Resistance.
2. Lead Belly - Take less Radiation from eating or drinking.
3. Life Giver - Instantly gain +20 maximum Health.
4. Chem Resistant - You're 50% less likely to get addicted when consuming Chems.
5. Aquaboy - You no longer take Radiation damage from swimming, and can breathe underwater.
6. Rad Resistant - Exposure to the Wasteland has made you more resilient, instantly granting you +10 Radiation Resistance.
7. Adamantium Skeleton - Your skeleton has been infused with indestructible metal, reducing limb damage by 30%.
8. Cannibal - Eating human corpses restores Health.
9. Ghoulish - Radiation now regenerates your lost Health.
10. Solar Powered - Gain +2 to Strength and Endurance between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Charisma Perks

Charisma is your ability to charm and convince others. It affects your success to persuade in dialogue and prices when you barter.

The available perks for the Charisma stat in order of required charisma levels are listed below:

1. Cap Collector - Buying and selling prices at vendors are better.
2. Lady Killer - Women/Men suffer +5% damage in combat, and are easier to persuade in dialogue.
3. Lone Wanderer - When adventuring without a companion, you take 15% less damage and carry weight increases by 50.
4. Attack Dog - Your faithful canine companion can hold an enemy, giving you a greater chance to hit them in V.A.T.S.
5. Animal Friend - With your gun, aim at any animal below your level and gain a chance to pacify it.
6. Local Leader - As the ruler everyone turns to, you are able to establish supply lines between your workshop Settlements.
7. Party Boy - There's no chance you'll get addicted to alcohol.
8. Inspirational - Because you lead by example, your companion does more damage in combat, and cannot hurt you.
9. Wasteland Whisperer - With your gun, aim at any Wasteland creature below your level and gain a chance to pacify it.
10. Intimidation - With your gun, aim at any human opponent below your level and gain a chance to pacify them.

Intelligence Perks

Intelligence is a measure of your overall mental acuity, and affects the number of experience points earned.

The available perks for the Intelligence stat in order of required intelligence levels are listed below:

1. V.A.N.S. - The path to your closest quest target is displayed in V.A.T.S.
2. Medic - Stimpaks restores 40% of lost Health, and RadAway removes 40% of radiation.
3. Gun Nut - Shoot first, kill first, with access to base level and Rank 1 Gun Mods.
4. Hacker - Knowledge of cutting-edge computer encryption allows you to hack advanced terminals.
5. Scrapper - You can salvage uncommon components like screws, aluminum, and copper when scrapping weapons and armor.
6. Science! - You gain access to base level and Rank 1 High-Tech Mods.
7. Chemist - Any Chems you take last 50% longer. Far out.
8. Robotics Expert - Hack a robot, and gain a chance to power it on or off, or initiate a self-destruct.
9. Nuclear Physicist - Radiation Weapons do 50% more damage and Fusion Cores last an extra 25% longer.
10. Nerd Rage - When your Health drops below 20% time slows and you gain +20 Damage Resistance and do 20% more damage while the effect lasts.

Agility Perks

Agility is a measure of your overall finesse and reflexes. It affects the number of Action Points in V.A.T.S. and your ability to sneak.

The available perks for the Agility stat in order of required agility levels are listed below:

1. Gunslinger - Non-Automatic Pistols do 20% more damage.
2. Commando - Rigorous combat training means Automatic Weapons do 20% more damage.
3. Sneak - You are 20% harder to detect while sneaking.
4. Mister Sandman - An agent of death itself, you can instantly a kill sleeping person. Your silenced weapons do an additional 15% sneak attack damage.
5. Action Boy - Your Action Points regenerate 25% faster.
6. Moving Target - Get +25 Damage Resistance and +25 Energy Resistance when you're sprinting.
7. Ninja - Trained as a shadow warrior, your ranged sneak attacks do 2.5x normal damage and your melee sneak attacks do 4x normal damage.
8. Quick Hands - You can reload all guns faster.
9. Blitz - Find the gap and make the tackle! V.A.T.S. melee distance is increased significantly
10. Gun-Fu - Do 25% more damage to your second V.A.T.S. target and beyond.

Luck Perks

Luck is a measure of your general good fortune. It affects the recharge rate of Critical Hits, and your chances of finding better items.

The available perks for the Luck stat in order of required luck levels are listed below:

1. Fortune Finder - You've learned to discover the Wasteland's hidden valuables, and find more bottle caps in containers.
2. Scrounger - You know just how to scavenge to keep the fight going, and find more ammunition in containers.
3. Bloody Mess - +5% bonus damage means enemies will sometimes explode into a gory red paste.
4. Mysterious Stranger - The Mysterious Stranger will appear occasionally in V.A.T.S. to lend a hand, with deadly efficiency.
5. Idiot Savant - Randomly receive 3x the EXP for any action, and the lower your intelligence, the greater the chance.
6. Better Criticals - Criticals do 50% more extra damage.
7. Critical Banker - You're a patient battlefield tactician, and can save a Critical Hit, to be used in V.A.T.S. when you need it most.
8. Grim Reaper's Sprint - Death becomes you! Any kill in V.A.T.S. has a 15% chance to restore all Action Points.
9. Four Leaf Clover - Each hit in V.A.T.S. has a chance of filling your Critical meter.
10. Ricochet - An enemy's ranged attacks will sometimes ricochet back and instantly kill them. The closer you are to death, the higher the chance.