Highlights
- Fallout: New Vegas offers limitless possibilities for character builds, from brawlers to smooth talkers, all viable in Hardcore Mode.
- Investing in skills like Lockpicking, Repair, and Barter can lead to valuable loot and successful playthroughs in New Vegas.
- Combat is not the only option in Fallout: New Vegas - unique builds focused on stealth, survival, and non-combat skills can provide fun and challenging gameplay.
There are many different ways to play through Fallout: New Vegas. A player can hop in and be a barrel-chested brawler wielding a fire hydrant sledgehammer, a smooth talker with mountains of charm, or a deadly marksman with pinpoint accuracy. The possibilities are almost limitless and are viable in the game's Hardcore Mode too. Players will need to be more careful and precise, however, when playing through Fallout: New Vegas' toughest difficulty. Thankfully, there are more than enough interesting Fallout: New Vegas builds that players can make in their playthroughs that may prove to be very useful as they travel through the Mojave Wasteland.
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Given how brilliantly Obsidian Entertainment crafted this game to make it accessible for players no matter what Fallout: New Vegas build they pursue, it's easy to see why so many people love this game to bits and can't get enough of the Mojave and its many secrets. The world of New Vegas can be brutal at times, but players who maximize their build and know precisely how to approach certain combat encounters will be more than pleased with the wealth of options at their behest.
Updated on April 22, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Fallout: New Vegas is considered by many to be one of the greatest Fallout games ever made, and it's easy to see why this game has garnered such an impressive reputation. Combining the best of modern Fallout's open-world goodness with the rich role-playing elements of the first two games led to the creation of a game where players can get lost for hours on end as they explore one of the deepest RPGs ever made. The Mojave Wasteland is one of the most engrossing open-world environments in the series, and the massive success of the Fallout TV adaptation means that more people will be interested in checking out this amazing video game to see why fans still can't stop praising New Vegas for being a near-perfect Fallout game, which is hefty praise indeed. Those new fans are going to need some solid builds to guide the Courier on their journey, and as such, a couple more have been added to this list.
18 Lockpicking Master
Opening Locked Doors And Containers Is Easy As Pie
Looting is one of the most consistent gameplay loops in the Fallout games, with players being incentivized to search each and every corner of the open world to find something new and unique that can help them in their travels. Some may argue that the loot creep in the modern Fallout games isn't balanced, but this is no excuse for players who find themselves lacking important supplies if they haven't been diligent while exploring the world.
As players explore the Mojave, they'll find many locked doors and containers that can be a pain to open. While quest-critical doors can still be opened in other ways, the optional avenues that the game presents are the ones that contain the most loot for players to find. Players who invest heavily in the Lockpicking skill will be able to find powerful weapons, excellent armor, and other such items that do a great job of increasing their chances of survival in the Mojave.
17 Self-Sufficient Repairman
Repair And Craft Items Without Issue
A lot of people would scoff at the idea of increasing their Repair skill in New Vegas. After all, weapons arrive at such a breakneck pace that it's better to get rid of jammed weapons and focus on something else rather than spending the resources to fix them. With this mentality, the Courier can't be helped if they're in the middle of an intense firefight, only for their best weapon to reach critical condition just before a fearsome foe threatens to end their life.
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In these instances, it's easy to see why increasing the Repair skill to make the most of the weapon repair kits is worthwhile, ensuring that players economize the use of this resource and keep their weapons in tip-top shape. Given New Vegas' amazing role-playing elements, a high Repair skill can help players out in a number of different avenues too, including through certain dialogue options and quest opportunities.
16 A Master Of Trade
Great For Selling High And Buying Low
Most people consider Barter to be one of the worst skills in the entire game. While it does have some unique skill checks of its own, there are so many caps that players will get while going through New Vegas normally that trying to get the best price for their goods won't be a pressing concern after a point.
However, any person replaying this game may get a kick out of making Barter a major skill to focus on in Fallout: New Vegas. It's a great way to pass some unique skill checks while also getting a ton of money early on in the game that they can invest in powerful weaponry, making their trek through the Mojave somewhat easier.
15 Hacking Maestro
Perfect For Players Who Want To Hack Every Door, Security Bot, And Terminal
Hacking is easily one of the most annoying aspects of modern Fallout games, with players having to pick out a phrase on a screen that is possibly the password of the terminal in question. It can be positively agonizing at times to perform this minigame over and over again... but there's no denying that hacking is one of the easiest ways to gain access to caps, high-level loot, secret areas, and everything else along the same lines.
So, most people wouldn't be surprised to know that the Science skill is one of the most important stats that players can invest some points in. New Vegas has many points where a high Science skill can let players hack more complex terminals. While this does mean that players will have to interact with a cumbersome minigame over and over again, it's still far from the worst way players can experience New Vegas.
14 Skilled Thief
Players Can Get A Ton Of Valuable Loot Through A Bit Of Theft
Thievery is frowned upon in any video game, but the penalty for the same in New Vegas is a bit too harsh for most people's liking. There is a set Karma penalty whenever the Courier steals anything, regardless of the value attached to said item. As a result, compulsive hoarders will find their reputation tanking after stealing a few odd knick-knacks here and there in a settlement, which makes no sense whatsoever.
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As a result, players who want to enjoy a positive Karma playthrough are dissuaded from thievery. However, if a person wants to become a master thief, then they can achieve the same by investing a lot of points in the Sneak stat. Not only will this help them be as stealthy as possible without drawing any unwanted attention, but pickpocketing also becomes a breeze.
13 Heavy Endurance
Tanking Attacks And High Stamina Are Great For Obvious Reasons
The "E" in the SPECIAL statistics system of the Fallout games stands for Endurance. The Endurance stat encompasses a lot of skills and perks in Fallout: New Vegas. The Endurance stat affects the number of hit points a player has as well as the strength of their radiation resistance.
It will be extremely helpful to increase this stat for a build in the game's Hardcore Mode. Perks based on this stat that players should pick include Strong Back and Long Haul which increase a player's carrying capacity and Toughness which adds an additional 10% to a player's damage resistance.
12 Hand-To-Hand Combat
Up Close And Personal
There are many different ways to handle a violent confrontation. Using one's bare hands is a viable option in Fallout: New Vegas's Hardcore Mode. However, it is important to note that an unarmed combat build is a bit riskier than other builds given that players must approach closely to their enemies. The aforementioned Endurance stat has an effect on a player's Unarmed skill. High Endurance and high Unarmed skills are good places to start. Acquiring a ballistic fist is also important for this build.
Talking to the various NPCs that can teach the player a few unarmed takedowns will greatly improve one's chances of successfully playing this build. The Ballistic Fist is a weapon that players may want to have in their arsenal when running this build which is available at different merchants around the Mojave. Some of Caesar's Legion Praetorian Guards wield Ballistic Fists.
11 Melee Combat
Slice, Smash, And Pierce Enemies With Unique Close-Range Weapons
Similar to an unarmed combat build, a melee combat build forces the player to get up close and personal with their enemies. Unlike an unarmed combat build, there are more tools at a player's disposal with a melee combat build. As expected, to increase one's skill with melee weapons, improving the Strength stat of the SPECIAL system and the aptly named Melee Weapons skill is the way to go. Melee weapons that allow players to keep their distance are the safest option with this Hardcore Mode build.
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These weapons include but are not limited to sledgehammers, shishkebabs, and fire axes. Some of the best choices for weapons for this build include but are not limited to the "Oh, Baby!," which is a unique variant of the Super Sledge and can be found in Charleston Cave. The Chainsaw is another valid option that is available from a few merchants but is most commonly found on the leader of the Fiends, Motor-Runner, in Vault 3. "Knock Knock" is a unique variant of the fire axe which works very well with a melee combat build and can be found in the bathrooms of the Camp Searchlight fire station.
10 Explosives Expert
Blast Enemies To Smithereens
Explosives are a great way to keep your distance in the Hardcore Mode of Fallout: New Vegas. The Explosives skill is affected by the Perception stat of the SPECIAL system. Just like the other skills and stats, players should increase these at the beginning to increase the success of this build. Grenade rifles, missile launchers, and mini-nuke launchers are the best weapons for this build.
The Mercenary's grenade rifle that's available in the Courier's Stash DLC is great for this build because it is offered right at the beginning of the game. Another option is Annabelle which is a unique variant of the rocket launcher. A nightkin at the top of Black Mountain possesses Annabelle. While Fat Mans which are mini-nuke launchers are only available through the Gun Runner's Arsenal DLC, they are one of the best choices when running an explosives expert build.
9 Big Iron On His Hip
The Best Way To Take Out From A Relatively Safe Distance
If getting up close and personal when engaging in fights in Fallout: New Vegas isn't a player's cup of tea, then there is another option: guns. Arguably the most common way to play New Vegas and its Hardcore Mode, using firearms opens many doors for Hardcore Mode builds. The Agility stat of the SPECIAL system affects the usefulness of guns, specifically the draw and holster speed, the reload speed, and the overall Guns skill.
High Agility, high Guns skill, and small firearms will make a player the quickest gunslinger in the Mojave Wasteland, not giving their enemies a chance to react. Weapons like the 12.7mm submachine gun, Sleepytyme, and the 5.56mm pistol are all great weapons to purchase and use for this build and are available through the Gun Runner's Arsenal DLC. Some unique guns are also viable like the All-American which is located in the armory of Vault 34.
8 Medicine Man
Makes Stimpaks, Rad-X, And Rad-Away Way More Effective
Some players may not be the strongest fighters or quickest shooters, but being able to take a lot of damage and heal themselves fast is very important in Fallout New Vegas's Hardcore Mode... especially since recovery items have a weight value attached to them!
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The Medicine skill affects the effectiveness of stimpaks, Rad-X, and Rad-Away. These tools are the most useful in healing oneself in the game. A medicine build in the game's Hardcore Mode will also need the perks associated with the Medicine skill like Chemist which increases the duration of chem effects. Players should also seek out Arcade Gannon as a companion because he provides the perk Better Healing which adds 20% of healing to all consumables.
7 Secret Agent
Getting The Drop On Enemies With Stealth Is A Great Time
One way to avoid confrontation altogether is by being stealthy and sneaking when traveling through the Mojave Wasteland. A sneak build is a viable Hardcore Mode build. The Sneak skill is affected by the Agility stat like the Guns skill.
One of the most useful perks made available by the Sneak skill is Silent Running which allows the player to sneak by while sprinting. Stealth Boys which are consumables that make the player completely invisible are very important for this build and should be sought after. The Chinese stealth armor found in Hoover Dam is a great way to improve one's Sneak skill as well.
6 Survivalist
Great Perks That Help Players Survive The Mojave
One of the skills that may often be overlooked on a normal playthrough of Fallout: New Vegas is the Survival skill. However, in the game's Hardcore Mode, the Survival skill procures more importance amongst the rest of New Vegas's skills.
The Survival skill grants perks that players will need to hold out in the Mojave Wasteland. These perks include Animal Friend which will make hostile animals friendly to the player and Rad Resistance which as the name suggests grants the player an additional 15% radiation resistance. Those perks will be useful along with Rad Child which heals the player when they are being irradiated.
5 Energy Weapon Expert
Perfect For Using Unique Energy Weapons To Melt Enemies Into A Puddle Of Goo
There are many newcomers to the Fallout series who will stick to regular firearms, not understanding how viable energy weapons are. However, it won't take long for these players to get their hands on a Laser Pistol, a Plasma Rifle, or anything else along the same lines to realize what they've been missing out on! Not only are these weapons pretty easy to use, but fatal hits can sometimes cause enemies to either burn to a crisp or melt in a puddle of goo.
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Players need to invest some points in Energy Weapons if they wish to be as proficient with these kinds of weapons. However, the result is worth it, with players slowly but surely getting access to high-level weapons that can incapacitate enemies in no time flat!
4 Long-Distance Marksman
Long-Range Guns Are A Godsend For Taking Out Enemies That Attack By Closing The Distance
Distance can be a player's best friend when playing through New Vegas's Hardcore Mode. A way to keep this distance between themselves and the enemies and monsters of the game is by using long-range firearms.
These include sniper rifles, assault rifles, and even shotguns. The previously mentioned Guns skill affects all guns in the game including long-range weapons. The anti-material rifle is one of the most powerful guns in the game, so it would be useful to grab that weapon from a merchant. Having Craig Boone as a companion is helpful as well because he gives the player the perk Spotter which allows them to spot enemies far away.
Along with the anti-material rifle, other weapons would serve this build efficiently. These include brush guns, hunting shotguns, and trail carbines which are all available at different merchants. Players should also seek out unique weapons as well such as the Gobi Campaign scout rifle which is located at Sniper's Nest and the Medicine Stick which is a unique variant of the brush gun and is available through the Gun Runner's Arsenal DLC.
3 An Expert In Everything... Aside From Combat
An Interesting And Challenging Way To Play
There's no denying that combat is one of the biggest parts of New Vegas, with the majority of skills tailored to let players make the most of the many weapons they can obtain in the game. However, while being a combat expert in the game is pretty exciting as is, many players are replaying this game who may want to enjoy a different experience altogether.
For these people, the best course of action to take is to not prioritize any combat skills and focus on the other skill branches and perks instead. Doing so would spice up the gameplay, forcing players to figure out a different solution to tackle the many tough enemies in the Mojave. Gameplay becomes more nerve-wracking as players try to actively avoid any conflicts instead of goading foes into attacking them.
2 Silver-Tongued Devil
Charisma Makes Dialogue Dynamic And Engaging
Most players will think that killing is an inevitable action that they must take when playing any of the Fallout games. However, that is not the case when it comes to New Vegas. Talking one's way out of physical or deadly combat is most likely a safe bet when playing the game's Hardcore Mode.
Having a high Speech skill as well as a Charisma score of at least six will start a player off on the right track to becoming a smooth-talker in the Mojave Wasteland. To assist with avoiding violent confrontations, clothing that resembles the faction with whom you're interacting can be worn. The RPG mechanics in New Vegas are so amazing that players can avoid the final confrontation in the game if their Speech skill is high enough, which is a triumph for Obsidian Entertainment and its open-ended gameplay!
1 No Brains Whatsoever
Low Intelligence Leads To A Hilarious Playthrough
Fallout: New Vegas is a role-playing masterclass that many players will have a great time with indeed. In fact, pretty much every choice that players make in the game is reflected in the game somehow, and no decision personifies this best than playing as a character with low Intelligence. The entire game turns into a hilarious riot, with the Courier being so dumb that many characters react to just how stupid they are.
It makes for a hilarious time...and a pretty challenging one, with players receiving fewer skill points and not being able to pass many Intelligence checks. However, most people will deal with these negatives if it means that they can enjoy more of New Vegas' brilliant dialogue that will constantly entertain them every step of the way.
