Highlights
- Chainsaws in Fallout 76 were originally ineffective but have recently emerged as one of the highest DPS weapons in the game, even outside of melee weapons.
- Chainsaws can be obtained from fixed locations around the map and don't require a dedicated build or ammo, making them a reliable backup weapon.
- The Vampire's Legendary effect, which heals players upon each attack, is a game-changer for chainsaws and can make players practically immortal, especially with Bloodied builds.
In the current state of Fallout 76’s weapon balancing, there aren't too many melee weapons in the game's meta. This isn’t to say that melee weapons aren’t still viable in Fallout 76 anymore, but they aren’t quite as strong as they once were. However, one melee weapon in particular has recently gone from one of the worst to one of the best weapons in the game.
Chainsaws have been in Fallout 76 for a while, but only recently have players begun to put them to use. This is because chainsaws were originally ineffective at dealing damage, so they were essentially collector's items that players would obtain just to put on display. Ever since Fallout 76's Pitt update though, chainsaws have emerged as one of the highest DPS weapons in the game, even outside of melee weapons.
Fallout 76’s Pitt Update Forever Changed the Meta
The chainsaw is one of two automatic melee weapons that has become part of Fallout 76's meta ever since the Pitt update, where this weapon type received a damage boost and the capability of having Legendary weapon effects. The other meta weapon is the Auto-Axe, and while this weapon has a slightly higher DPS than the chainsaw, it's much harder to obtain the Auto-Axe and any of its weapon mods since it requires Fallout 76's Stamps currency.
Chainsaws, on the other hand, can be collected from fixed locations around Fallout 76's Appalachian wasteland as well as inside the Pitt Expeditions. Most of the locations where chainsaws spawn are considered middle to late-game areas, but there’s nothing preventing players from picking up these chainsaws that spawn around the map in the early game.
The best part about the chainsaw is that this weapon doesn't need a dedicated build to be viable in Fallout 76’s endgame content. Not to mention, chainsaws don’t require any ammo either, so players can essentially add this weapon onto their existing builds as a reliable backup weapon.
Generally, the only thing that players need to set up a melee build in Fallout 76 with the chainsaw are the right weapon mods, because the weapon itself is naturally powerful without needing much other investment. There are only two mod slots on the chainsaw, and just like the weapon itself, the best-in-slot mods that players would want to equip are fairly easy to get as well.
With chainsaws being incredibly easy to obtain and the fact that the weapon doesn’t need much investment to be powerful, this weapon has consequently shaken up Fallout 76 ’s meta by giving players another viable option for endgame builds.
The Best Legendary Effects For Chainsaws in Fallout 76
While the ability to craft and find chainsaws with Legendary weapon effects in Fallout 76 has been revolutionary, the way that chainsaws and other automatic melee weapons work is a little unusual. While the chainsaw has a surprisingly high DPS, the damage generally comes from its incredibly fast attack speed more than the damage it deals per attack. Ultimately, the second and third-star Legendary effects are generally what boost the chainsaw's performance the most, such as increased durability, or decreased Action Point cost to use the weapon.
Overall, the primary Legendary weapon effects that boost damage generally don’t amount to much higher DPS for the chainsaw unless players stack multiple sources of a particular damage type. Given how popular Bloodied builds are, though, one particular legendary effect is a game-changer for chainsaws.
Specifically, the Vampire’s Legendary effect that heals players upon each attack they land. Fallout 76’s Bloodied builds require players to stay below 20% of their maximum health to achieve optimal damage, so since the chainsaw has such a high attack speed, even players with Bloodied builds can practically become immortal as long as they are attacking with a Vampire’s chainsaw.
Fallout 76
Fallout 76 is a new horizon for the long-standing series, giving players an MMO world to explore, where they can meet other players and embark on quests with them.
