The Best Fallout New Vegas Luck Build

In the world of Fallout New Vegas, we’re gonna talk about something interesting: Luck. It’s all about getting those critical hits, and using VATS for some fancy combat. But wait, there’s another path too – sneaky, sneaky stealth action.

Well, this Luck build is quite versatile. You’ve got choices in your hands, and they include Pistols, one Handed Melee, Energy Weapons, and even Some Rifles. Therefore, in this post, we are going to guide you on how you can make a great build that has very high luck.

Character Build Basics

It’s important to understand the build basics before you get started. Here are some crucial things to remember:

Focus on Critical Hits and VATS Mastery

The cornerstone of this Luck Build is all about landing those critical hits and becoming a VATS expert. Critical hit chance takes center stage, allowing you to decimate your foes strategically. VATS, or Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, is your go-to combat mode that ensures you hit your mark with precision.

Embrace Stealth Combat

But that’s not all. This build offers an alternative path, leading you down the stealthy road of combat. You can sneak up on your enemies and strike from the shadows to turn the odds in your favor. The element of surprise is your best ally in this approach.

Weapon Proficiency

Selecting the right weapons can make or break your Luck Build. Opt for Pistols, One-Handed Melee weapons, Energy Weapons, or specific Rifles to maximize your combat effectiveness. These weapon categories are tailored to complement your Luck-centric character and will ensure that you emerge victorious in the wasteland.

Your Input Matters

Remember, there’s always room for improvement and personalization. If you have any insights or additions to enhance this build, don’t hesitate to share your wisdom. The wasteland is vast, and every piece of advice can make a significant difference.

Armor and Clothing

Outfitting your Luck Build character with suitable armor and clothing is essential for survival in the Mojave. You have the flexibility to choose what suits your playstyle and preferences, but here are some key options to consider:

Unique Attire

1. Lucky Shades: These shades grant you +1 Luck and +3 Perception. If you have the Four Eyes trait, you can take advantage of these attributes. The best part? They offer a Damage Threshold (DT) of 0.
2. 1st Recon Beret: This beret enhances your critical chance by +5% and provides +1 Perception, making it an excellent choice for a Luck-focused character. Its DT is also 0.
3. Naughty Nightwear: Slip into this classy nightwear for a boost of +1 Luck and a substantial +10 Speech increase. You’ll look good and persuade better, with a DT of 0.
4. Courier Duster (Blackjack Variant): Achieve an extra +1 Luck and a remarkable +30% Poison Resistance with this variant, but it’s only obtainable if you side with Yes Man and complete the Lonesome Road DLC. The DT for this duster is 13.
5. Armor of the 87th Tribe: For Luck Builders, this armor is a great fit, offering +10 Action Points (AP), +3% Critical Chance, and +1 Charisma. It’s robust with a DT of 22.
6. Elite Riot Gear: Enhance your critical hit chances even further with this gear, which provides +5% Critical Chance, +10 Guns, and +1 Charisma. The DT is 22, ensuring excellent protection.
7. Elite Riot Gear Helmet: Boost your Perception by +2, gain +5 Speech, and enjoy the benefits of Sneak Sight with this headgear. It offers a DT of 6.
8. Ulysses’ Duster: This duster bestows +5% Critical Chance and +1 Charisma upon you, making it a strong contender. Its DT is 13.
9. Joshua Graham’s Armor: Increase your critical hit chances by +3% while wearing this iconic armor. It provides a DT of 15.
10. Salt-Upon-Wounds’ Helmet: Equip this helmet for an extra +2% Critical Chance and +5 to your Sneak skill. It offers a DT of 4.
11. Marked Beast Face Helmet: This helmet adds +2% Critical Chance and +3 to your Melee Weapons skill. Its DT is 3.

Weapons

Now, let’s delve into the arsenal of weapons that complement your Luck Build. These hand-picked selections will ensure you strike with precision and deal maximum damage.

Weapon Showcase

1. Lucky: Requiring a Strength of 3, Lucky wields .357 Magnum rounds with remarkable speed and critical chance. This holdout weapon shines with its ability to unleash devastation in VATS, consuming only 17 action points. You can find it in the locked floor safe of Bison Steve Hotel (Lockpick 75).
2. Paciencia (GRA): This .308-caliber rifle boasts a high critical damage of 110, akin to the anti-material rifle. It’s a Guns 50 and Strength 6 requirement, and it comes equipped with a max scope weapon mod. Look for it at Novac or Gun Runners.
3. Love and Hate: Unarmed combat specialists will appreciate this weapon, which is a default holdout weapon regardless of your Sneak skill. You can acquire it from a Viper Gang Leader at Bonnie Springs.
4. Chance’s Knife: If Melee Weapons are your forte, this weapon is for you. With a Melee Weapons 50 requirement and a Strength of 3, it becomes a holdout weapon at a Sneak skill of 50. Visit Chance’s Grave near Tribal Village and use a shovel to unearth it.
5. Q-35 Matter Modulator: This energy weapon boasts a minimum Energy Weapons skill of 25 and a Strength of 2. It uses various ammunition types and offers a significant upgrade from the standard plasma rifle. Obtain it at REPCONN headquarters, either behind a 100 Lockpick door or through other means.
6. AER14 prototype: With an Energy Weapons skill of 25 and a Strength of 3, this laser rifle variant shines. It offers the highest critical hit chance and damage of any laser rifle, with a unique green laser. Explore Vault 22, in the common area, to find it.
7. Ratslayer: A specialized Varmint Rifle variant, this weapon is a must-have for 5.56mm enthusiasts. It’s lighter, has a higher DPS, and an increased critical multiplier. Find it in the Broc Flower Cave, located below a desk in the lab on the upper level.
8. Alien Blaster: For those with an Energy Weapons skill of 75, this weapon guarantees a critical hit with every shot. It uses Alien power cells and can be discovered north of Horowitz Farmstead with the Wild Wasteland trait.
9. Abilene Kid LE BB Gun: This unique BB gun delivers a high critical hit chance and impressive critical damage bonuses. It uses BBs, which become incredibly lethal when combined with perks like Better Criticals and Just Lucky I’m Alive. Discover it in Fields Shack or through Rex’s Wild Wasteland event.

Versatility is Key

While these weapons are tailored for a Luck Build, it’s essential to remember that the wasteland offers a variety of arms to experiment with. Feel free to explore other weapon options, as adaptability can be a valuable asset and you will get to know what works best for you.

SPECIAL and Traits

When constructing your Luck Build, ensure your SPECIAL attributes are well-balanced and tailored to your intended playstyle. The following SPECIAL attributes will be ideal for you:

• Strength
• Perception
• Endurance
• Charisma
• Intelligence
• Agility
• Luck

Tailored Traits

Selecting the right Traits can significantly impact your character’s performance. Consider these Traits to complement your Luck Build:

• Built to Destroy: +3 Critical Chance, but +15% Faster Weapon Wear.
• Wild Wasteland: Provides access to unique items that can enhance your journey.
• Optional Traits: Claustrophobia and Early Bird may be considered, depending on your preferences and playstyle.

Perks and Skills

In the world of New Vegas, perks can make or break a character build. We’ll explore a selection of perks to consider, but remember, these choices are not set in stone. Flexibility is key when adapting to the unpredictable wasteland.

Key Perks for a Luck Build

• Enhanced Sensors: With ED-E as a companion, you’ll detect and target enemies more efficiently, even while cloaked.
• Spotter: Craig Boone as your companion can help highlight enemies when you aim down your sights.
• Light Touch: Achieved with Agility 6, Repair 45, and Level 2, this perk provides +5% Critical Chance and diminishes enemy critical chance. It’s most effective while wearing light armor.
• Gunslinger: This perk elevates your one-handed weapons’ chance to hit in VATS by 25%, provided you’re at least Level 6.
• Commando: If you favor two-handed weapons, Commando will boost your chance to hit in VATS by 25%. Reach Level 8 to unlock it.

Further Perk Selection

• Sneering Imperialist: With a requirement of Level 8, this perk offers +15% Damage and a x1.25 multiplier for VATS hit chance against enemies of raider, junkie, and tribal “races.”
• Math Wrath: Reducing all Action Point costs by 10%, this perk becomes accessible at Science 70 and Level 10.
• Fight the Power!: For Level 10 characters, this perk provides +2 Damage Threshold and +5% critical chance against foes donning NCR, Legion, or Brotherhood of Steel faction armor.

Fine-Tuning Your Build

• Finesse: Reaching Level 10 unlocks this perk, which raises your critical hit chance, equivalent to +5 Luck.
• Mysterious Stranger: At Level 10 and with a Luck of 6, this perk gives you a 10% chance of a mysterious stranger coming to finish off enemies in VATS.
• Miss Fortune: Much like the Mysterious Stranger, this perk requires a Luck of 6 and Level 10. It grants a 10% chance of Miss Fortune appearing to cripple and knock down enemies in VATS.
• Plasma Spaz: If you possess an Energy Weapons skill of 70 and are at least Level 10, this perk reduces Action Point costs for all plasma weapons by 20%.

Mastering the Art of VATS

• Hobbler: With Perception 7 and Level 12, you’ll increase your chance to hit enemies’ legs in VATS by 25%.
• Sniper: Achievable at Level 12, this perk enhances your chance to hit enemies’ heads in VATS by 25%. It requires Perception 6, Agility 6, and a bit of finesse.
• Center of Mass: Concentrating on targeting the torso in VATS, you’ll inflict an additional 15% damage. This perk calls for a Guns skill of 70 and Level 14.
• Action Boy/Action Girl: With two ranks and a requirement of Agility 6, these perks bestow an additional 15 Action Points for VATS. Accessible at Level 16.

Critical Edge

• Better Criticals: Available at Level 16 and demanding Perception 6 and Luck 6, this perk amplifies your critical hits’ damage by 50%.
• Concentrated Fire: As you progress, this perk slightly increases your chance to hit any body part in VATS with each subsequent hit. It’s available at Guns 60, Energy Weapons 60, and Level 18.
• Paralyzing Palm: At Unarmed 70 and Level 18, you gain a 30% chance to perform a special VATS palm strike that paralyzes your opponent for 30 seconds when using unarmed weapons.

Unleashing Fury

• Grim Reaper’s Sprint: After a VATS kill, 20 Action Points are restored upon exiting VATS. This perk opens its doors at Level 20.
• Ninja: At Sneak 80, Melee Weapons 80, and Level 20, this perk boosts your critical chance by 15% with Melee or Unarmed attacks. Sneak Attack Criticals also deal 25% more damage.
• Laser Commander: With an Energy Weapons skill of 90 and Level 22, this perk enhances your damage by 15% and raises your chance to critically hit with any laser weapon.

Honing Your Abilities

• Nerves of Steel: If you’re agile enough with an Agility of 7 and reach Level 26, this perk increases Action Point regeneration speed by 20%.
• Meat of Champions: After consuming the bodies of Caesar, Mr. House, The King, and President Kimball (Cannibal perk required), you’ll enjoy a temporary +1 boost to Luck, Intelligence, Charisma, and Strength for 60 seconds.
• Just Lucky I’m Alive: Exclusively for those with Neutral Karma and at Level 50, this perk bestows a temporary +4 Luck for 3 minutes after finishing a fight with less than 25% health. It also permanently raises your critical hit damage by 50% and grants immunity to enemy critical hits.
• Set Lasers for Fun: Completing the challenge of the same name by dealing 16,000 damage with pistol grip energy weapons for one rank and 25,000 damage with rifle grip energy weapons for the other unlocks this perk. It increases critical hit chance with energy weapons by 2 percent per rank (max 4, only 2 ranks).

Remember, your choice of perks should align with your preferred playstyle and the challenges you face in the wasteland. Don’t hesitate to modify your selection as it takes time to understand what works great for you and what does not.

Related: Best Fallout New Vegas Gunslinger Build

Conclusion

A Luck Build in Fallout: New Vegas offers an exciting and unpredictable way to navigate the post-apocalyptic Mojave Wasteland. If you can get the right mix of attributes, traits, perks, and equipment, you can become a formidable force, and easily strike down enemies with calculated precision.

However, keep in mind that while these guidelines provide a strong foundation for your character, flexibility is crucial. Adapt your build as you encounter new challenges and opportunities in the Mojave.