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Fallout 4 SPECIAL and perks: how to spend your first level-ups

Understand the perk chart and avoid buying upgrades for the wrong weapon category.

Edition covered

Unmodded Fallout 4 base campaign, using standard non-Survival rules. PC publisher screenshots show the original game. Far Harbor, Nuka-World, Automatron, workshop DLC, Creation content and Fallout 4 VR are not required; DLC-specific differences are labeled. Survival has separate saving, travel, hunger and ammunition-weight rules.

Pictures for this guide

A Vault 111 survivor greets Dogmeat on a ruined road in Fallout 4 publisher media.A Vault 111 survivor greets Dogmeat on a ruined road in Fallout 4 publisher media.A figure stands in a lit urban alley at night in a Fallout 4 publisher screenshot.A figure stands in a lit urban alley at night in a Fallout 4 publisher screenshot.The player approaches the Red Rocket station in third-person gameplay with the HUD visible.The player approaches the Red Rocket station in third-person gameplay with the HUD visible.

How do you unlock a perk?

The power armor crafting interface displays a suit at a maintenance station in publisher gameplay media.
The power armor crafting interface displays a suit at a maintenance station in publisher gameplay media.

A perk requires enough points in its SPECIAL column, and later ranks can also require a minimum character level and the previous rank. You do not have to purchase every perk above it. Each level-up supplies a point that can buy an eligible perk rank or raise a SPECIAL attribute, so inspect the requirements before committing.

Match damage perks to the weapon configuration

Rifleman supports non-automatic rifles, Gunslinger supports non-automatic pistols and Commando supports automatic non-heavy guns. The minigun and Gatling laser use Heavy Gunner instead. Modifications can change a weapon’s category: installing an automatic receiver may stop a rifle benefiting from Rifleman. Choose a main firing style before spreading early points across several damage branches.

Buy crafting access when an upgrade needs it

Gun Nut and Science! unlock particular weapon modifications, while Armorer supports armor improvements. Materials are still required after buying the perk. Inspect the desired modification at its workbench first, then choose the next rank if it enables an upgrade you intend to build. A crafting perk does not automatically improve every equipped item.

Leave room for a useful utility choice

Local Leader requires Charisma six and opens settlement supply lines at its first rank. Other builds may value lock access, stealth or carrying capacity sooner. SPECIAL can be raised with later level-up points, so an initial allocation need not trap the character permanently. Balance future unlocks against perks that immediately help your current route.

More Fallout 4 quick answers

Fallout 4 power armor guide: fusion cores, repairs and safe storageHow to set up supply lines in Fallout 4 and share settlement resources
FIELD NOTE

Scroll the whole perk chart before spending: available lower-row perks do not require filling the upper rows first.

Picture details

Game artwork belongs to its respective rights holders.

References