I’ve been trying to figure out how to run a VATS rifleman build now that the perk system has changed. A lot of the perks seem to only apply when aiming the gun, which makes me unsure because that’s not how VATS works. Should I stick with my current setup, or make adjustments? I’m not frustrated with the changes, but I could really use some guidance on the best path forward.
5 Answers
Your guns still have the same damage perks baked into them, and AP costs decreased. Plus, crit and sneak damage got a nice boost! So honestly, your build should perform better by default now. Just keep an eye on the new perks they’ve added; a lot of them are solid choices you’ll want to consider.
You need to decide which direction to take your build. If you’re leaning into VATS, consider grabbing the VATS perks and maybe adding Reverse Onslaught. Avoid the scoped aiming perks if that’s your route.
Just pick any small gun perks that can work with VATS. The old commando perks are now usable with all small guns, and some abilities like Number Cruncher are still useful. For limb damage, the Tormentor perk could be fun, and you’ll definitely make enemies kneel with Scattershot!
Check out this link to my current build: [link]. I’ve been messing around with the Scattershot perk and it’s hilarious! One headshot with a Gauss Rifle on tough targets like Mirelurk Queens is super satisfying. I’m still tweaking things, but that Gauss is my go-to!
I totally get the confusion! I’ve found that long-range sniping is really rewarding now. My old sniper rifle is back in action, hitting around 2,300 damage for headshots—it feels amazing! You might want to explore some of the newer perks for that extra edge.
