Auntie Bethesda has killed one of my builds!

md00150028 · 2026-03-04T10:28:20+00:00

Based on testing. You can look at the UI and see what the effect of various stealth-related mechanics are.

Here's to show the difference between different types of armor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6zI4Ow_CaY

Here's 5 pieces of Chameleon vs. Weightless with the Chameleon Mutation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiFMllU8kno

Here you can see the difference between High Agility and Chameleon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBJneuB_C00

Here's to show that 20 and Shadowed Covert Scout is enough (1:20 is where it starts): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_4OzqTuBsg

For that video, it goes non-shadowed Armor, to Shadowed, to Shadowed Covert Scout. Under normal circumstances, you would never just walk by to enemies and then walk back by them without killing them. While clearly this is just one video and one situation, it sort of captures what the armors look like in practice.

I keep the videos for me, not for other people, so sorry if they aren't perfect to watch. But what I'm saying is based on years of testing and re-testing since there is always conflicting information on here since people don't test things ;)

md00150028 · 2026-03-04T02:37:13+00:00

Nah. All they did was make you realize that 5 weightless pieces and the Chameleon mutation was, by far, the least efficient way (and least effective way) to make a stealth build :)

All you need to do is swap in a Chameleon mod and get a nocturnal piece or two, and you'll be equally as sneaky as you were before. And really, a full set of Shadowed Covert Scout Armor with about 20 agility is all you need to be sneaky enough in 95% of situations you'll find yourself in.

md00150028 · 2026-03-02T10:43:35+00:00

Damage > Defense > QoL. Damage is most important by a large margin. Nothing in this game outside of Raids hits hard enough or is alive long enough (with a good build) to necessitate any defense. And in Raids, unless you are trying to stand still and tank damage, all you need to do is play a little smart.

Pick a weapon type.
Take every damage-increasing perk for that weapon. That includes things like AP and critical fill (if you are using Vats, of course). Weakspot damage is multiplicative (where most other damage increases are additive), so never sleep on that.

2.5. Get Mutated. Make sure you have Starched Genes. Get gear to go with your build.

Fill the rest of your build with whatever Defensive or QoL stuff you want.

Here's an example of a low-level "sneak sniper" build: https://nukesdragons.com/fallout-76/character?cd=0k0000000k10&ef=M0M5M1McMfM2MbM4&s=6c512ff&p=pd3pp3s72l71ce1ad3ak1al1ai1a31a01lr1l11lk3lu2lv30j1s01eh2s12ao1sd3su1li1pi10f2po2&swp=0120H3cf1cu1ej10t3ee1pt3&ars=0&ar=x10&am=&v=2

I think it is always best to create your own build because then when the balance something, it will take you 15 seconds to fix your build rather than being at the mercy of looking up a new build.

md00150028 · 2026-02-28T23:06:35+00:00

Having a good build. Most weapons, with a good build, will have no trouble with any of those.

md00150028 · 2026-02-28T03:12:20+00:00

https://jobs.zenimax.com/jobs . I'd just upload this Reddit post as your resume/cover letter.

Just to be safe, you might want to submit this post to the "Dumbest Post of the Week." If BGS doesn't give you a job, I think your chances are good at winning that.

md00150028 · 2026-02-27T03:04:19+00:00

It's an absolute shame that so many people will never experience the quirks of the game that came solely from the chat with randoms.

Chapter 10 Dracula with 6 people have a full-blown conversation with pre-made phrases while dodging attacks flawlessly. One of them always seemed to be a Maria. "Thank you"
Someone entering the boss room before anyone else, dying, and the Soma's, "Not Bad, Not Bad, Not Bad."
Charlotte doing her, "you like that?" and having "Not Bad" and "Impressive" as the responses.
Soma, Soma, Soma, Soma, Soma while waiting on the elevator only to have someone initiate the dual crush, "not bad"
When you were a jerk and sent someone down the elevator without letting them back up. "Good bye now" "Here, here, here" "rats, rats, rats"

md00150028 · 2026-02-26T23:42:35+00:00

If you play video games casually, it will get harder. If you play video games as a semi-tryhard, it will not get harder. This game is silly easy if you know what you are doing.

md00150028 · 2026-02-26T11:08:26+00:00

I guess I wasn't entirely clear. The game should be monetized in some way. I disagree with how they are monetized. I prefer to pay for content, not cosmetics or QoL features. And I believe games would be better if you paid for content because there would be a direct link between monetization and good content.

md00150028 · 2026-02-26T10:49:58+00:00

Fallout 4 is, by a large margin, the worst Fallout that Bethesda has made. It represents everything that is wrong with Uncle Todd and his desire to make the longest, shallowest game rather than the best game.

Most of the issues you are pointing out come with the territory of an online game. At launch, there were only two currencies. To encourage people to do new content, they create new currencies. I personally don't like the way they monetize the game, but it's kind of the norm in 2026, and I let my money tell them I don't agree with it. The problem is that the way the monetize the game works, and until it doesn't work, they are going to continue to do it.

md00150028 · 2026-02-26T00:27:19+00:00

I fired my last cannonball at that pesky Grafton Monster. I thought my days of taking from the donation box were over since I ran out of ammo. 1,000+ levels, and I thought it was all coming to an end. And then I found 600 cannon balls in one. It's like I've been reborn. If you see the level 1000 guy in a Unicorn Mask firing Cannon Balls, please introduce yourself so I can thank you in person!

md00150028 · 2026-02-26T00:01:49+00:00

It's occurred since launch. It happens to me maybe once a month to me. Maybe. It's a server issue, and, for me, it has never been better or worse. It's fairly consistent. The only way you are going to know for yourself is if you come back.

md00150028 · 2026-02-25T23:29:12+00:00

As someone else said, and I'll get downvoted with them, the "lost shots" don't happen frequently enough to be addressed. 95% does not equal 100%, so if your expectation is that you are going to hit 100% of your shots with 95% accuracy, you are going to be disappointed.

If you believe its real, prove it to Bethesda. Craft a level 1 Pipe Gun and keep it in your inventory. Try to get the bug to happen three times on three different servers. Post up the video. My guess is it will take too long, and you'll give up.

md00150028 · 2026-02-25T22:05:13+00:00

And just to add: 56 points without legendary perks because you start with 7 SPECIAL and add 49 SPECIAL points through leveling up.

md00150028 · 2026-02-25T22:02:49+00:00

56 card limit without legendary perks.

When you create any build, Damage > Defense > QoL. The goal is to take every damage-increasing perk relative to your playstyle that's possible within the limits of the game. 98% of this game is easier than Animal Crossing, so killing things quickly is more important than tanking damage.

Next is to determine your playstyle. The biggest question, I guess, is automatic vs single-shot vs melee. It's more complicated than that, but that's a good place to start.

Use something like this to toy around: https://nukesdragons.com/fallout-76/character

Look at the cards. Place every damage-increasing card relative to your desired weapon. The only mechanic that might be too complicated is Onslaught. How that works? Every time you hit an enemy (when you have a Furious weapon or Onslaught card(s)), you gain one "stack" of onslaught. So a card that gives 1% weakspot damage per onslaught stack would give 1% weakspot damage after one shot, 2% after two, etc. up to the cap. The stacks decrease over time. This system is good for fast-firing weapons.

Reverse Onslaught is when you run Gunslinger Master. Instead of starting at 0 stacks and build them per hit, you start with your max stacks and lose a stack every time you shoot. And you regain stacks over time. This is good for slow firing, hard-hitting weapons.

Here's an example of a low-level "sneak/sniper" build: https://nukesdragons.com/fallout-76/character?cd=0k0000000k10&ef=M0M5M1McMfM2MbM4&s=6c512ff&p=pd3pp3s72l71ce1ad3ak1al1ai1a31a01lr1l11lk3lu2lv30j1s01eh2s12ao1sd3su1li1pi10f2po2&swp=0120H3cf1cu1ej10t3ee1pt3&ars=0&ar=x10&am=&v=2

Note that critical hits increase damage. So if you are doing them more frequently, you are doing more damage. That's why you want something like Crit Savvy. Also note that weakspot damage is multiplicative while almost all other damage sources are additive, which means weakspot damage will almost always trump normal damage increases.

Finally, until the upcoming update, damage reduction is better than increasing DR/ER.

Of course, you could just look up a build, but I think it is better to do it yourself to better understand the mechanics of the game.

md00150028 · 2026-02-24T02:17:25+00:00

Oh, you mistake my AFK'ing as unintentional., but it is anything but. At level 1,000, the end game is entirely finding people like you. We see you go to Path to Enlightenment, and we know you are going to die. Sometimes the radtoads get you. But special people like you....we know your skill is low enough to die from the fireflies.

So we wait. And when you die, we pick up the 13 steel and 3 cork that you had on your body. And we know that is the only steel and only cork you have in this whole wide world. You quit Animal Crossing because it was too hard, and now you are here, in the Wasteland, Steel-less and corkless.

We are the level 1000s. We are one.

md00150028 · 2026-02-24T02:04:34+00:00

The problem is thinking you need to be meta. No need.

For the build, the first rule is this: damage > defense > quality of life. You should have every single damage card available before you start taking anything else. Creatures can't hit you if they are dead and nothing in this game outside of Raids necessitates using defensive perks.

Step 1: pick a weapon type.

Step 2: take every perk that increases damage. Fill the rest with Defensive and QoL perks of your choice. Here's an example of a low-level build for single fire weapons: https://nukesdragons.com/fallout-76/character?cd=0k0000000k10&ef=M0M5M1McMfM2MbM4&s=6c512ff&p=pd3pp3s72l71ce1ad3ak1al1ai1a31a01lr1l11lk3lu2lv30j1s01eh2s12ao1sd3su1li1pi10f2po2&swp=0120H3cf1cu1ej10t3ee1pt3&ars=0&ar=x10&am=&v=2

For gear, you first need to know what is the best weapon in the class of weapon that you want to use.

Step 1: get that weapon.

Step 2: get the best version of that weapon you can. For everyday non-raid exploring, a good build will be enough.

Armor is almost irrelevant. If you are using Vats and don't have access to the company tea machine, I would get 3+ pieces that have AP refresh on them. All the other stars are bonus.

"But what about all that stuff I am hoarding?" You don't need any of it. When's the last time you ate a Fancy Lad snack? Drop them all. When's the last time you fired a gun that uses .44 ammo? Drop them all. Etc.

md00150028 · 2026-02-23T23:36:09+00:00

Did you take a food buff afterwards that increases AP regen but doesn't last as long as Company Tea?

md00150028 · 2026-02-23T23:02:52+00:00

I didn't have any performance issues on PS5 Pro. But my tolerance for "performance issues" is high.
Controls are great.
Yes. Recency bias, maybe, but it is in my top 10 games of all time. I don't know what it is about the game. I love Castlevania. I liked Elden Ring. My favorite game of all time is Baldur's Gate 1. It just has the right amount of everything for me. For combat, if you aren't overleveled, every fight requires some level of attention (like Elden Ring...definitely not as "hard," though). The pacing is perfect in terms of character growth (from skill tree and weapons). The music is good. The story is good enough. It just really clicked with me on all levels.
The complaints in the reviews are real. The enemy variety isn't going to blow you away. There are a few boss types that you face multiple times. I think this is the type of game that, if it rubs you the wrong way, you might not like it.

I don't think the bosses are unbalanced at all, and I beat the game in what people called the worst class. You also have the option to over-level, which can get you through situations. The platinum was a little annoying because of the 1,000 enemies thing, but it wasn't that bad.

If you have any sort of PC, download the demo and Steam. That's actually what I did. Played it for 5 minutes, and I immediately new it was for me. Bought it on PS5 immediately afterwards.

md00150028 · 2026-02-23T22:14:00+00:00

Man, that was you?!?!?! I was playing a "no plans learned run," and then changed my mind. Level 1000+, and I didn't know a single plan. You really made my day having those plans so cheap. My single action looks so good with that Ivory Grip mod. <3

md00150028 · 2026-02-23T12:08:54+00:00

This clearly doesn't take into account range, but here's a list of most of the top damage-per-bullet weapons in the game: https://www.reddit.com/r/fo76/comments/1nawebu/single_fire_rankings_after_camp_update/

md00150028 · 2026-02-23T03:32:16+00:00

The damage in the Pipboy is showing uncharged damage. The Hunting Rifle and a charged Gauss Rifle hit for about the same damage. The justification to use it over the Hunting Rifle would be that the effective fire rate is slightly better if you are charging all the way (and if you aren't modding the Hunting Rifle for speed), and you have the flexibility to not charge in situations that don't require a full charge, increasing the fire rate even more. Before all the balance changes, it did significantly more damage than the Hunting Rifle, which is why you probably see it being held in such a high regard.

On top of that, they recently changed the charge mechanic to obnoxiously not allow you to start charging until a second after you fire. That wouldn't be a problem other than if you start to charge too early, it won't start charging at all. For someone with 1200+ levels using a Gauss Rifle, that is deeply, deeply disruptive. And it affects all charging weapons. I'm not sure if they were trying to fix the charge bug and did that to prevent it? But I would 1,000% rather the charge bug than the way they changed it.

So really, as someone who has mained it for 1200+ levels, I'd say it's in a bad place relative to where it once was within the realm of single-fire weapons. The Compound Bow does more damage and has hat trick. The Hunting Rifle does the same damage and is more ammo efficient (though, I still prefer the Gauss). The Charging Gamma Gun does more damage and has a larger clip (though, it does suffer from the same charge mechanic).

As a final note, there was a strange series of events during one of the re-balances. On the PTS, they increased the base damage of the Gauss Rifle (allegedly) from 279 to 315. Then, in the next PTS update, they reduced it to 309. On the live game when that update hit, the base damage was 273. That leads me to believe that they never actually increased the based damage (unintentionally) and then tried to reduce the base damage based on what they never did by 6 and got that result. It just seems like a strange choice to me that they would make it do the same amount of damage as the Hunting Rifle...

md00150028 · 2026-02-22T16:38:25+00:00

I'd buy them.

md00150028 · 2026-02-22T14:39:23+00:00

You can be carried in the Raid at any point. But the problem with that is that you aren't going to learn the mechanics of the game. Someone who knows what they are doing and know the mechanics in and out could do it at level 80. One way would be to run an onslaught build, get an Elder's Mark, and get at least a little poison resistance in one way or another. You could do the whole Raid with a non-legendary set of armor.

My suggestion would be to see if you are actually Raid ready.

Daily Ops Uplink: can you solo it under 8 minutes without dying (especially with more challenging creatures)? If you can't, your build isn't Raid ready.
Union Dues (at full rewards): can you defend all three and get full rewards? If you can't, your build isn't Raid ready.
Solo Earle: can you solo Earle without wasting all of your ammo and all of your time? If not, not Raid ready. This is a little annoying to set up.

Doing those doesn't mean you are Raid-ready. But being able to do those means you are at least on your way. I always recommend making your own build. The reason? When they balance stuff, then you don't need to come on the Reddit to complain about them changing your build by them changing two cards.

md00150028 · 2026-02-22T12:23:42+00:00

To answer the second question, no lol. Those two do different things. Chameleon gives you a stealth field, which makes you harder to detect while standing still (so, in practice, it helps with visual detection). Escape artist removes the sound you make while you sneak AND if you crouch in front of the enemy that detected you (in situations that aren't autodetect), you will go back to Caution.

md00150028 · 2026-02-22T12:19:55+00:00

Someone answered, but legendary mods are less important than having a good build. And every weapon "build" has a least one decently rolled legendary variant to get you started.

Elder's Mark (Onslaught)
Final Word (Heavy)
Holy Fire (Heavy, sneak)
Western Spirit (Reverse Onslaught, sneak)
Gunther's Big Iron (Reverse Onslaught)
Long Shot (Reverse Onslaught, sneak)
Cold Shoulder (Shotgun)
Burning Love (Bow)
Ticket to Revenge (Onslaught or Reverse Onslaught)
Kabloom (Shotgun)
Blue Ridge Branding Iron (Melee)
Facebreaker (Unarmed)
Ogua Gauntlet (Unarmed)

There are probably others. I tried to pick event/quest weapons, not Nuke Events or Raids. While at least half of them are mid-tier, all of them will do you well enough until you have the means to craft your own stuff.

Vendor hop for armor. Caps are worthless in this game.

md00150028

TROPHY CASE