Perfect Fallout New Vegas Build
Following on from my Fallout 3 Min-Max Build, I’ve also created the perfect Fallout New Vegas (affiliate link) build to survive the Mojave Wasteland. Unlike previous instalments, Fallout New Vegas (affiliate link) introduces starting perks that provide a positive effect with an unfortunate side effect. Another addition are magazines, which, unlike skill books, temporarily boost one skill for a specific amount of time.
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Table of Contents
S.P.E.C.I.A.L
Unlike Fallout 3 (affiliate link), neither New Vegas or its DLCs have a perk that automatically raises all S.P.E.C.I.A.L attributes to 9. New Vegas also doesn’t contain any Bobbleheads, though there are some quest perks that bump up Strength 2 points. So the main focus will be on maximizing the number of skill points you earn per level and any resistances.
So here is the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. allocation:
| Start | Implants | Reinforced Spine | SPECIAL Bonus | |
| Strength | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Perception | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Endurance | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Charisma | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Intelligence | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Agility | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Luck | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
The start points are the attributes you need to assign during character creation. Next, you want to make a speedy charge to New Vegas Medical Center to install implants, which provide a +1 bonus to each character SPECIAL.
To be able to equip all seven, you need at least 7 points in Endurance. You need at least the intelligence implant by the time you get to level 3 for an easy journey to max skills.
In the Old World Blues, you receive a number of bonuses, including +2 to the Strength attribute and one extra SPECIAL attribute depending on what you do with the Nuclear arsenal. For the purpose of maximizing your character, choose whichever SPECIAL compliments your play style.
Skills
If you have all the DLC, it is possible to earn 100 skill points in every skill. To do this, you need to pick up every skill book while also having at least 9 points in intelligence. With 9 points in intelligence, you will earn 15 points on every even level and 14 on every odd level up. While having 10 intelligence points results in 15 points on every level up,
To get the skill point needed, you will also need to pick up all skill books in both DLC and vanilla.
For selecting your TAG! Skills, choose one combat skill such as Guns, Energy weapons, etc., one infiltration skill such as Sneak, lockpick, or Science, and finally a utility skill such as medicine, repair, or Survival.
Here is what you should end up:
| Skill | Skill Points |
| Barter | 15 |
| Energy Weapons | 15 |
| Explosives | 15 |
| Guns | 30 TAG |
| Lockpicks | 15 |
| Medicine | 23 |
| Melee Weapons | 13 |
| Repair | 23 |
| Science | 38 TAG |
| Speech | 30 TAG |
| Sneak | 15 |
| Survival | 19 |
| Unarmed | 19 |
Level Up Guide
After you have finished the introduction, you will need to follow the below leveling guide to maximize your skills as well as get some useful perks.
| Level | Skills | Perks | Comments |
| 2 | Science + 12 (50)E. Weapons +3 (18) | Black Widow/ Confirmed Bachelor | |
| 3 | E. Weapons +15 (33) | ||
| 4 | E. Weapons +15 (48) | Educated | |
| 5 | E. Weapons +12 (60)Guns +5 (35) | ||
| 6 | Guns +17 (52) | Comprehension | |
| 7 | Guns +8 (60)Science +9 (59) | ||
| 8 | Science +9 (68)Explosives +8 (21) | Grunt | Use books to max out Science |
| 9 | Medicine +17 (40) | ||
| 10 | Medicine +17 (57) | Bloody Mess | |
| 11 | Medicine +17 (74) | ||
| 12 | Medicine +2 (76)Survival +15 (50) | Toughness | Use books to max out Medicine |
| 13 | Survival +17 (67) | ||
| 14 | Survival +13 (80) | Nerd Rage | Use books to max out Survival |
| 15 | Barter + 17 (32) | ||
| 16 | Barter + 17 (49) | Rad Child | |
| 17 | Barter + 17 (66) | ||
| 18 | Barter + 10 (76) | Vigilant Recycler | Use books to max out Barter |
| 19 | E. Weapons +16 (76)Explosives +1 (22) | Use books to max out E. Weapons | |
| 20 | Explosives +17 (39) | Living Anatomy | |
| 21 | Explosives +17 (56) | ||
| 22 | Explosives +17 (73) | Rad Resistance | |
| 23 | Explosives +3 (76)Guns +14 (74) | Use books to max out Explosives | |
| 24 | Guns +2 (76)Lockpick +15 (30) | Intense Training | Use books to max out Guns |
| 25 | Lockpick +17 (47) | ||
| 26 | Lockpick +17 (64) | Stonewall | |
| 27 | Lockpick +12 (76)M. Weapons +5 (18) | Use books to max out Lockpick | |
| 28 | M. Weapons +17 (35) | Robotics Expert | |
| 29 | M. Weapons +17 (52) | ||
| 30 | M. Weapons +17 (69) | Light Step | |
| 31 | M. Weapons +7 (76)Repair +10 (33) | Use books to max out M. Weapons | |
| 32 | Repair +17 (50) | Better Criticals | |
| 33 | Repair +17 (67) | ||
| 34 | Repair +9 (76)Sneak +8 (23) | Grim Reaper's Sprint | Use books to max out Repair |
| 35 | Sneak +17 (40) | ||
| 36 | Sneak +17 (57) | Intense Training | |
| 37 | Sneak +9 (68)Speech +8 (38) | Use books to max out Sneak | |
| 38 | Speech +17 (55) | Nerves of Steel | |
| 39 | Speech +17 (72) | ||
| 40 | Speech +4 (76)Unarmed +13 (48) | Them's Good Eatin' | Use books to max out Speech |
| 41 | Unarmed +17 (65) | ||
| 42 | Unarmed +17 (82) | Certified Tech | |
| 43 | Unarmed +2 (84) | ||
| 44 | Intensive Training | ||
| 45 | |||
| 46 | Intensive Training | ||
| 47 | |||
| 48 | Intensive Training | ||
| 49 | |||
| 50 | Ain't Like that Now/ Just Lucky I'm Alive/Thought you died |
From Level 43 you have 134 skill points left, which can be used to supplement any skill books that you have missed.
Unfortunately, you will need to get the intelligence implant very early to make this work, which is located at the New Vegas Medical Center outside of the Strip. You will need to sprint there, avoiding any quests or enemies. The best route to take would be via Primm, then loop around to Novac and onwards. The implant costs 4,000 caps, so loot as much as you can.
The Perfect Fallout New Vegas Build
Though not as easy as Fallout 3 (affiliate link), creating a fallout New Vegas perfect build is doable. The only way to boost all S.P.E.C.I.A.L attributes to maximum is by cheating. Or by using the Intense Training perk.
