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Power armor is a type of armor in Fallout 76.

Overview[]

Power armor is not equipped in the usual sense of the word. It is a deployable world object that is entered from the back: the armor unfolds, the operator steps in, and then the armor seals around them. To enter power armor, simply activate (E by default on PC, A on Xbox, and X on PlayStation). To exit power armor, hold down the activate button. The player may only access their own chassis and unowned ones which spawn around the game world. Power armor replaces the standard HUD elements with its own heads-up display, including a compass and gauges for hit points, action points, radiation, the remaining number of fusion cores available, and an ammunition counter. It also offers a lightweight "Quick Boy," as the Pip-Boy and its animations are not accessible.

Attached onto a power armor chassis, the power armor suit is comprised of six individual components: the helmet, torso, two arms, and two legs. The damage the player takes is reduced by a flat 7% per piece on the frame, while the radiation damage is reduced by 15% per piece, so a full set reduces damage by 42% and incoming radiation by 90%. Damage, energy and radiation resistance provided by each piece is then applied to the remaining amount, making power armor a potent source of protection.

Each component can be swapped out and the suit can be as unified or as jigsaw as the player wants it to be. In combat, damage is tracked individually per piece and it is possible for them to be damaged to the point of shattering, requiring them to be repaired. Pieces can be Favorited for quick swapping, however the chassis cannot.

Power armor also requires a charged fusion core for its operation and consumes the charge at a steady rate whenever the player is moving. The rate at which the fusion core runs out of charge increases drastically if one sprints in it or otherwise uses up Action Points. If the charge runs out and there are no replacements, movement speed is greatly reduced and the player cannot perform power attacks, fast travel, or sprint. However, it will protect against fall damage regardless of charge. The helmet-mounted flashlight will also continue to work.

Summary[]

Advantages
  • Provided by the chassis itself, regardless of equipped armor pieces:
    • Immunity to fall damage
    • Immunity to limb damage
    • Increased STR (up to 11 if below 11)[1]
    • Equipped power armor parts are weightless
    • Equipped weapons no longer penalize movement speed
  • +7% damage reduction per equipped piece (42% total) - reduces incoming damage by a flat percentage (no radiation damage)
  • +15% Radiation damage reduction per equipped piece (90% total).
  • Head-mounted directional flashlight (if wearing a power armor helmet).
  • Increased waterbreathing by several minutes.
  • Helmet prevents contracting airborne and waterborne hazards.
Disadvantages
  • Power armor requires at least one fusion core to function properly. Without one, the user cannot sprint, power attack, or fast travel.
    • Movement and V.A.T.S. attacks will drain the equipped fusion core.
  • Power armor disables the bonuses from all equipped armor and apparel but headgear when no power armor helmet is equipped.
  • Unarmed weapons cannot be equipped while in power armor.
  • Crafting stations and furniture cannot be used while power armor is equipped.
  • When underwater, the operator can only move at a walking pace.
  • Wearing power armor without a power armor helmet prevents the use of the flashlight unless a mining helmet is equipped.
  • Certain perks are restricted.

Perks[]

The following perks are only active while wearing power armor:

The following perks are inactive while wearing power armor:

The following perks are made superfluous by the advantages of power armor:

Variants[]

Power armor consists of multiple armor parts attached to an underlying chassis. Each part has a level requirement, meaning player characters cannot enter a power armor chassis equipped with parts higher than their own level. Empty power armor chassis, however, hold no level requirement. To exit a power armor chassis, one must press and hold the "inspect" button ("E" on PC, "X" on PS4, or "A" on Xbox One).

Power armor pieces may be mixed on any given chassis, however certain armors will grant bonuses when equipped as a set.

Power armor variants Fallout 76
FO4 Power Armor Frame
FO76 Excavator power armor
FO76 pa hellcat
Power armor chassis Excavator power armor Hellcat power armor
FO76 Raider power armor
FO76NW Strangler Heart PA
FO76 T-45 power armor
Raider power armor Strangler heart power armor T-45 power armor
FO76 T-51 power armor
FO76 T-60 power armor
F76WL T65 Power Armor
T-51b power armor T-60 power armor T-65 power armor
FO76 Ultracite power armor
F076TP Union Power Armor
FO76 X-01 power armor
Ultracite power armor Union power armor X-01 power armor

Modifications[]

Paint

Power armor parts can be painted with paint schemes, found either in game or bought from the Atomic Shop. Some are specific to certain armor models, while others are available for multiple. Paint schemes can be used indefinitely and are applied at a power armor station. Typical prices for Atomic Shop paints are 800 atoms for a single armor paint and 1,400 atoms for paints that can be applied to multiple armors.

The following paint schemes can be found in-game:

Locations[]

Four power armor types can be found at power armor locations:

Five power armors are quest related:

One power armor is a season reward:

Level availability[]

The table below lists the levels at which specific power armor models may be found or crafted.

Level availability
Model 10 15 25 25 30 35 40 45 50
Excavator power armor       Yes   Yes   Yes  
Hellcat power armor                 Yes
Raider power armor Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes
Strangler heart power armor                 Yes
T-45 power armor Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes
T-51b power armor         Yes   Yes   Yes
T-60 power armor             Yes   Yes
T-65 power armor                 Yes
Ultracite power armor                 Yes
Union power armor                 Yes
X-01 power armor             Yes   Yes

Notes[]

  • Power armor pieces are heavy, weighing 68 to 88 pounds for a full set. However, if on a chassis, only the weight of the chassis is counted when placed in one's inventory or stash box. When worn, power armor has no inventory weight. When a piece's condition is depleted, it is removed from the chassis and placed in the inventory; the piece has no weight until repaired.
  • If a player finds armor that is a higher level than they can equip, they can remove the armor from the chassis. The player may then enter the chassis, exit the chassis, and put the armor back on the chassis. They will be unable to place the chassis into their inventory, but it will be automatically recalled after two minutes. The chassis will still have the armor pieces stored on it and can be moved between the inventory and stash box.
  • When entering deep water, power armor sinks. The player character can walk on the bottom but cannot run or swim. There is no breath limit in Fallout 76 while in power armor, despite there being one while not in power armor without the Aquaboy/Aquagirl perk.
  • Although power armor negates fall damage, the player character will still grunt as if they sustained damage after landing from a high altitude.

Bugs[]

  • PCPC Xbox OneXbox One Playstation 4Playstation 4 Entering/exiting power armor may break reload effects from perks: Ground Pounder, Lock and Load and Scattershot, the Speed Demon mutation, and the reload speed legendary effect.[verified]
    • Unequipping and re-equipping the perk and/or weapon will correct the issue.
  • PCPC Playstation 4Playstation 4 Sometimes, attempting to enter a suit of power armor without a fusion core plugged into the chassis will stall the fusion core insertion animation, causing the player to be stuck. Fast traveling will break the player out of this but their field of view may be significantly higher, and the Pip-Boy screen appears very small. This can be corrected by entering the power armor with a fusion core inserted beforehand. For PC players, exiting the game and rejoining will fix it. The power armor will then be placed in your inventory.

Comparison[]

Each power armor plays a slightly different role and is intended less as a straightforward progression and more of a deliberate choice, balancing the cost of repairs against the protection and circumstances. The bonuses and stats provided by the power armor chassis are active regardless of what armor is equipped over it.

Power armor chassis
Name Resistances Weight Weight Effects
DR Damage resistance ER Energy RR Radiation
Power armor chassis 60 60 60 10.0 If STR < 11, then increase to 11

By type[]

Power armor comparison
Name Resistances (Max Level) Effects
DR Damage resistance ER Energy RR Radiation
Excavator power armor 240 240 366

 · +100 Carry Weight (full set)
 · x2 ore yield

Hellcat power armor 436 320 320

 · -2% ballistic damage per part (-12% total)

Raider power armor 341 341 341
Strangler heart power armor 453 393 500

 · AOE Acid Poison damage (full set)
 · Attacks deal Acid Poison damage (full set)

T-45 power armor 360 360 360
T-51b power armor 454 454 305
T-60 power armor 400 370 415
T-65 power armor 565 470 470
Ultracite power armor 453 393 393
X-01 power armor 398 453 453
Union power armor 485 295 265 +150 Poison Resist (full set)

+75 Carry Weight (full set)

By part[]

Helmet
Name Level Resistances Weight Value Effects
DR Damage resistance ER Energy RR Radiation
Raider power helm 15 - 45 24 - 51 24 - 51 24 - 51 10 N/A
Excavator helm 25 - 45 24 - 36 24 - 36 35 - 55 10 60 N/A
T-45 helm 25 - 45 34 - 54 34 - 54 34 - 54 11 N/A
T-51b helm 30 - 50 45 - 68 45 - 68 27 - 48 11 N/A
T-60 helm 40 - 50 50 - 60 45 - 55 50 - 60 11 N/A
T-65 helm 50 85 70 70 11 Gold bullion 1650
X-01 helm 40 - 50 50 - 60 56 - 68 56 - 68 12 N/A
Ultracite helm 50 68 59 59 12 N/A
Hellcat helm 50 73 60 60 11 -2% ballistic damage
Union Helm 50 74 44 40 11 100 N/A
Torso
Name Level Resistances Weight Value Effects
DR Damage resistance ER Energy RR Radiation
Raider power chest piece 15 - 45 40 - 86 40 - 86 40 - 86 14 N/A
Excavator torso 25 - 45 42 - 60 42 - 60 59 - 91 15 140 N/A
T-45 chest piece 25 - 45 58 - 90 58 - 90 58 - 90 16 92 N/A
T-51b chest piece 30 - 50 75 - 114 75 - 114 46 - 65 17 91 N/A
T-60 chest piece 40 - 50 84 - 100 79 - 95 100 - 115 18 114 N/A
T-65 chest piece 50 140 120 120 15 Gold bullion 1250 N/A
X-01 torso 40 - 50 82 - 98 94 - 113 94 - 113 19 227 N/A
Ultracite torso 50 113 98 98 20 171 N/A
Hellcat torso 50 120 100 100 17 - -2% ballistic damage
Union torso 50 115 75 65 17 100 N/A
Left arm
Name Level Resistances Weight Value Effects
DR Damage resistance ER Energy RR Radiation
Raider power left arm 15 - 45 24 - 51 24 - 51 24 - 51 10 N/A
Excavator left arm 25 - 45 24 - 36 24 - 36 35 - 55 11 61 N/A
T-45 left arm 25 - 45 34 - 54 34 - 54 34 - 54 12 60 N/A
T-51b left arm 30 - 50 45 - 68 45 - 68 27 - 48 12 79 N/A
T-60 left arm 40 - 50 50 - 60 45 - 55 50 - 60 12 90 N/A
T-65 left arm 50 85 70 70 12 Gold bullion 1000 N/A
X-01 left arm 40 - 50 50 - 60 56 - 68 56 - 68 13 162 N/A
Ultracite left arm 50 68 59 59 13 32 N/A
Hellcat left arm 50 73 60 60 12 -2% ballistic damage
Union left arm 50 74 44 40 12 100 N/A
Right arm
Name Level Resistances Weight Value Effects
DR Damage resistance ER Energy RR Radiation
Raider power right arm 15 - 45 24 - 51 24 - 51 24 - 51 10 N/A
Excavator right arm 25 - 45 24 - 36 24 - 36 35 - 55 11 61 N/A
T-45 right arm 25 - 45 34 - 54 34 - 54 34 - 54 12 60 N/A
T-51b right arm 30 - 50 45 - 68 45 - 68 27 - 48 12 81 N/A
T-60 right arm 40 - 50 50 - 60 45 - 55 50 - 60 12 90 N/A
T-65 right arm 50 85 70 70 12 Gold bullion 1000 N/A
X-01 right arm 40 - 50 50 - 60 56 - 68 56 - 68 13 162 N/A
Ultracite right arm 50 68 59 59 13 32 N/A
Hellcat right arm 50 73 60 60 12 -2% ballistic damage
Union right arm 50 74 44 40 12 100 N/A
Left leg
Name Level Resistances Weight Value Effects
DR Damage resistance ER Energy RR Radiation
Raider power left leg 15 - 45 24 - 51 24 - 51 24 - 51 12 N/A
Excavator left leg 25 - 45 24 - 36 24 - 36 35 - 55 11 81 N/A
T-45 left leg 25 - 45 34 - 54 34 - 54 34 - 54 14 49 N/A
T-51b left leg 30 - 50 45 - 68 45 - 68 27 - 48 14 77 N/A
T-60 left leg 40 - 50 50 - 60 45 - 55 50 - 60 14 108 N/A
T-65 left leg 50 85 70 70 14 Gold bullion 1000 N/A
X-01 left leg 40 - 50 50 - 60 56 - 68 56 - 68 15 162 N/A
Ultracite left leg 50 68 59 59 15.0 32 N/A
Hellcat left leg 50 73 60 60 14 -2% ballistic damage
Union left leg 50 74 44 40 14 100 N/A
Right leg
Name Level Resistances Weight Value Effects
DR Damage resistance ER Energy RR Radiation
Raider power right leg 15 - 45 24 - 51 24 - 51 24 - 51 12 N/A
Excavator right leg 25 - 45 24 - 36 24 - 36 35 - 55 11 81 N/A
T-45 right leg 25-45 34-54 34-54 34-54 14 49 N/A
T-51b right leg 30-50 50-68 45-68 27-48 14 105 N/A
T-60 right leg 40-50 50-60 45-65 50-60 14 108 N/A
T-65 right leg 50 85 70 70 14 Gold bullion 1000 N/A
X-01 right leg 40-50 60 68 68 15 162 N/A
Ultracite right leg 50 68 59 59 15.0 32 N/A
Hellcat right leg 50 73 60 60 14 -2% ballistic damage
Union left leg 50 74 44 40 14 100 N/A

Graph comparison[]

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Note: Hover over each bar for detailed information on the armor's level. Numbers inside the bars denote the level of damage resistance. For information on how the game calculates damage resistance, see this article.
Legend
Raider power armor
Excavator power armor
T-45 power armor
T-51b power armor
T-60 power armor
X-01 power armor
Ultracite power armor
Strangler heart power armor
T-65 power armor
Limbs
Ballistic Energy Radiation
24
24
30
33
34
36
42
44
45
50
50
51
54
56
60
60
68
68
68
85
24
24
30
33
34
36
42
44
45
45
51
54
55
56
56
59
59
68
68
70
24
24
27
30
33
33
34
36
42
44
49
50
51
54
56
59
60
68
70
75
Torsos
Ballistic Energy Radiation
40
42
51
55
58
60
71
74
75
82
84
86
90
94
98
100
113
113
114
140
40
42
51
55
58
60
71
74
75
79
86
90
94
94
95
98
98
113
114
120
40
42
46
51
55
55
58
60
65
71
74
86
90
94
98
100
113
115
120
125
Full suit
Ballistic Energy Radiation
160
162
201
220
228
240
281
294
300
332
334
341
360
374
398
400
453
453
454
565
160
162
201
220
228
240
281
294
300
304
341
360
370
374
374
393
393
453
454
470
160
181
220
220
228
234
281
294
300
310
341
350
360
366
374
393
415
453
470
500

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. Ignores Strength gained from Legendary Strength .
  2. 2.0 2.1 Prior to patch 1.7.6.7, Raider and T-45 power armor were available in level 15, 25, 35, and 45 versions.
Fallout 76 power armor
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