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This is an overview article, listing content appearing in multiple Fallout media. For information specific to a given game or TV series, consult the table on the right. |
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Power armor, also referred to as powered armor, powered combat infantry armor,[1] and powered infantry armor,[2][3] is a type of personal infantry suit intended for combat and heavy-labor roles, similar to that of an infantry fighting vehicle. Power armor development first began before the Great War in 2065[Non-game 1] by United States defense contractors, including West Tek. Both before and after the war, power armor represents the pinnacle of personal defensive technology, providing its users with excellent energy, ballistic and even radiation protection, as well as drastically increased strength.[Non-game 2] Organizations such as the Garrahan Mining Company and the Enclave would also later develop their own models of power armor. Power armor is often described as a form of mechanized infantry.[Non-game 3]
In the games, power armor is often a valuable and relatively rare commodity, with only a limited number of available suits populating the game world. Few factions are capable of maintaining or fielding power armor in substantial numbers, fewer still being capable of manufacturing them. Some of the most prominent factions that use power armor are the Brotherhood of Steel and the Enclave.[4] Other groups, such as the NCR, Commonwealth raiders and the Gunners are shown to possess and utilize power armor to a lesser extent.
History[]
The T-45 power armor, the first operational version of power armor introduced during the Sino-American War in 2067.
Due to severe resource constraints limiting the ability to deploy combat vehicles, including tanks and other armored vehicles, the U.S. military and defense contractors began developing self-powered combat suits in August 2065.[Non-game 1] Mechanized cavalry units provided with them would retain the mobility of a soldier moving on foot while giving them the ability to use heavy weapons with ease.[5] Research proceeded rapidly. While early prototypes were unsuccessful, lessons learned in the process paved the way for future advances in military sciences, construction, and fusion power.[Non-game 1]
The most important achievement of this early stage of research was the development of a fusion cell. Crude but effective, the design was unveiled to the world in 2066.[6] It further strained Sino-American relations after the United States refused to share its crude oil reserves with the Asian superpower. The subsequent Chinese invasion of Alaska in winter of 2066 forced the military and its contractors to begin producing the first sets of powered infantry combat armor.[Non-game 4] In 2067, the first West Tek production model of powered infantry combat armor, designated T-45, was sent off to the front line to defend against the Chinese attackers.[7][Non-game 1] The T-45 and its later iterations thus became the first series of power armor to be used, successfully, in battlefield combat, greatly shaping the nature of warfare.[8][9] Although lacking in mobility, this early model allowed soldiers to carry heavy weapons into combat,[5] becoming key to countering masses of Chinese infantry and tanks. China rushed to develop its own version, but it was years behind the United States.[Non-game 1]
Anticipating this move, the military invested in the development of the pulse gun to counter the threat, should it arise.[10] In a way, China engineered its own demise, as the deployment of the T-45 also led to the development of the West Tek power armor frame, the basis on which all subsequent armor was manufactured.[5] West Tek continued developing a superior model, designated T-51. By 2069, the company was the single largest defense contractor for the United States government, with the next generation power armor its largest contract. However, the ambitious nature of the project led to many delays and it took nearly ten years to complete the development cycle.[Non-game 1][11] In the meantime, the T-45d became the symbol of American might. Various modifications were developed and tested using it as a basis, including the MP-47A unit, featuring an autonomous medical delivery system and rudimentary onboard AI.[12]
In 2074, American T-45 model D (T-45d) power armor units, mechanized cavalry, and infantry divisions invaded mainland China.[Non-game 5] However, the invasion quickly bogged down as the T-45's proved insufficient to overcome Chinese defenders equipped with new weapons like the Gauss rifle, and its aging design caused logistical issues, as the armor burned through energy cells at a rate that was alarming and unsustainable. Meanwhile the T-51 model power armor remained in development, with various production models being tested in combat conditions at Fort Strong in Massachusetts, in order to troubleshoot the design. Even this far into the development cycle, problems were still present, delaying deployment. For instance, the September 2075 iteration had the desired mobility and protection, but were far from stable, and soldiers tended to tip over on hard landings. Gyroscopic stabilizers and shock absorbers were subsequently added to address this issue.[13]
Despite these setbacks, the armor's problems were eventually ironed out and the joint efforts of West Tek and Fort Strong resulted in the first production run of T-51 power armor being sent to China in June 2076.[14][15] It outperformed the T-45d in every aspect, providing the United States with the means to overcome Chinese resistance on all fronts. Many units were sent to China, where the renewed American offensive finally sent the People's Liberation Army into retreat.[Non-game 1] In January 2077, General Constantine Chase completed the Anchorage Reclamation, using winterized T-51b power armor troops as spearhead.[Non-game 4] The completion of the Anchorage Reclamation also coincided with the introduction of the T-60 power armor, developed first as an upgrade of the T-45 series, then spun-off into a separate series.[16][Non-game 6]
The Great War and the destruction of the United States ensured that the T-51 model B (T-51b) and T-60 power armor remained the most advanced designs to see mass production. However, there had also been limited production runs for other models, such as the T-65 power armor, preserved and sold by the Secret Service in Vault 79[17] and the Enclave Hellfire armor, prototyped by the Enclave Research and Development Division and later shipped to Vault 51 in 2080.[18] In addition to these models there were also other advanced prototypes in development at the time the bombs fell: the U.S. government, sensing the impending arrival of nuclear war, had initiated the development of the next generation of power armor, designated X-01 for usage following the apocalypse.[19] The complexity of the new armor, however, meant development progress was slow. Though a handful of functional prototypes were created before the war, and tested by the Secret Service, they were buggy and deemed to not be combat-ready. Before the finishing touches needed to iron out the armor’s kinks were completed, the bombs would fall ensuring that very few intact examples of X-01 armor would survive the war. Among these was an experimental model given to the Nuka-Cola Corporation as part of a joint military project known as Project Cobalt. This program attempted to harness the power of Nuka-Cola’s newly created Strontium-90 based Quantum compound to help power the armor and fuel other military projects in exchange for giving the company’s president access to experimental life extension technology. Although both experimental projects were ultimately successful in achieving their goals, the bombs would fall before the Quantum data could be delivered to the military and the research on it was subsequently lost for over 200 years. Knowledge about the X-01 armor itself survived because the schematics were saved and backed up by the Enclave in Appalachia just prior to the bombs falling.[20]
In the years that followed the bombs falling, power armor development was effectively halted. A few post-War organizations such as the Brotherhood of Steel and Hubologists would succeed in developing new variants of T-51 series armor in the form of Ultracite and hardened power armor. However, these models were only incremental improvements over the base model and never saw widespread deployment. It is known that knights of the West Coast Brotherhood of Steel are responsible for maintaining, along with manufacturing new weapons and power armor (presumably only pre-War designs).[21] Among the benefits of power armor was its recycling system, processing urine into drinkable water, allowing a user to theoretically survive for weeks without water supplies.[22] Water could also be manually replenished by someone outside the suit.[23]
The first true advancement in post-War armor development came in 2198, when the Enclave at the oil rig restarted work on developing advanced versions of power armor using the X-01 prototype as a base.[Non-game 7] Their initial progress was slow, but a Presidential Order mandating the development of an upgrade in 2215 altered things greatly.[Non-game 8] Five years later, the first advanced power armor was developed and mass-produced for the use of Enclave field units.[Non-game 9] While production of the new armor was gearing up, existing T-51 stock was used for training troops on Control Station Enclave and logistical duties.[24]
At some point, the Enclave developed an equally durable but lighter model of armor called the Advanced power armor Mk II which used cutting edge composite material. However, it was only manufactured in small quantities due to the destruction of the Enclave's oil rig in 2242. The death of key personnel during the event, along with the loss of many Enclave resources was a heavy blow to the survivors. In the wake of the event, the survivors were forced to resort to using subpar models of Enclave power armor for a time that in many ways were inferior to pre-War models. This state of affairs would continue until segments of the Enclave eventually arrived in the Capital Wasteland and settled into Adams Air Force Base. In the Capital Wasteland, a reexamination of past combat data and older failed prototype armor was commenced by the Enclave, which also researched new materials. The result of this subsequent research was the next-generation Enclave Hellfire armor: the pinnacle of post-War power armor design.[25][26]
Power armor models[]
The power armor frame, base chassis of all power armor models.
All power armor models in the United States share a common heritage and basic design. Each power armor is built around the West Tek power armor frame,[Non-game 10] with an internalized servomotor system, providing increased strength, resistance to trauma, and radiation protection. The operator controls the armor indirectly, using manipulators that steer the hands and feet while being safely isolated from the environment. Of note is integrated hydraulic shock absorption system which allows the operator to jump from major heights without damage.[5][27] The safety of airborne deployments depends primarily on the model of the armor, with the survivable height for early T-60 models being about one hundred feet.[28] The survivable fall height increased to more than three times the height in later versions.[29]Naturally, the enhanced strength also allows the use of hard armored plating that would otherwise be impossible for the soldier to carry with ease.[Non-game 11]
The basic version of each power armor is designated with either model A or Mark I. Subsequent revisions and upgrades are distinguished using sequential letters: B, C, D, E, and F, or Mark II, III, IV, V, and VI. Each represents an incremental upgrade over the preceding model. Beyond general revisions, a large number of upgrades and custom internals has been developed for the various power armor units, to increase their flexibility and performance on the battlefield.[30]
Introduced in Fallout 4, fusion cores were implemented as a power source for power armor. Fusion cores allows power armor to operate autonomously. Fusion cores go inside a fusion power plant integrated into the chassis of the suit,[31] typically loaded on the factory floor with fuel to last a hundred years of moderate use.[32][33][5] Salvaging power armor is also difficult, as the amount of firepower necessary to accomplish this feat renders the armor useless.[1]
Although the United States military remained the principal operator of power armor, select private corporations also had access to the technology. One of these, the Garrahan Mining Company, used West-Tek’s power armor technology to create a competitive powered mining suit, the Excavator power armor, in a bid to defeat its competitors and secure lucrative contracts for exploiting Appalachian natural resources.[34][35] Another Appalachian company, Grafton Steel, would attempt to develop a heat resistant armor based off of the T-51 for work in their steel mills but would fail to complete it before the bombs fell. Other private companies with access to power armor included both Nuka-Cola and its Maine based rival Vim! Pop. With military permission both would use customized suits of armor for promotional purposes, but the former would take their military relationship one step further and actively contribute to military weapons and armor development via research into their Quantum compound.
T-45 power armor[]
The T-45 powered combat infantry armor was one of the earliest designs pressed into service in the Sino-American War. Created in January 2067 by West Tek,[36] the T-45 was sent to the Alaskan Front to counter the Chinese offensive. The speed at which it had to be deployed, less than two years after the development of power armor began, resulted in the creation of a stop-gap model utilizing existing technologies and manufacturing techniques. However, its deployment changed the nature of modern warfare forever.[36] Although intended to be temporary, the T-45 became the mainstay of American power armor units, especially as subsequent upgrades reduced the impact of the mobility problems that plagued the early production runs.[Non-game 1]
MP-47 prototype medic power armor - A power armor prototype that has the ability to administer Med-X, it also features an onboard voice module that is able to sound alerts if it detects an enemy presence. This armor was planned as an automatic medical supply dispenser, meaning troops would not have to be evacuated for medical treatment. It has the same appearance as the standard T-45d. It is also mentioned in its manual that it would administer a lethal dose of chemical substances to deserters, however, this function had not been implemented in the early prototype stages.- Tribal power armor (Ashur's power armor) - A suit of power armor that was repaired and maintained over the years with parts from various sources, causing it to take a rusty yellow color. This results in a unique looking, patchwork suit of power armor.
- Outcast power armor (Linden's Outcast power armor) - a suit of power armor with a black matte and rust-red paint job, instead of the gray metallic color of ordinary T-45 units.
- NCR salvaged power armor - A damaged suit of power armor with its joint servomotors removed by NCR engineers. It is basically just an armored suit crafted out of power armor.
- Scorched Sierra power armor - The Scorched Sierra power armor is a T-45d power armor that has been heavily modified by the NCR for its officers. Unlike NCR salvaged power armor, scorched Sierra power armor is still fully functional, retaining its servo-motors.
T-51 power armor[]
A pre-War product of West Tek in conjunction with the United States government, T-51 power armor is made of a poly-laminate composite, shielding the user from radiation and damage while providing increased strength.[2][37] It represented the pinnacle of mechanized protection before the Great War,[15] although the T-60 was the more technologically advanced suit.[38]
Apart from military use, the corporation Grafton Steel attempted to create their own variant, codenamed Project Phoenix, resulting in a helmet reaching the prototype stage before the war.[39]
T-60 power armor[]
The T-60 series of powered combat infantry armor is an evolution of the T-45 power armor design.[Non-game 6] Following quiet testing between the government and West Tek, as part of its long-standing defense contract,[Non-game 12] the T-60 entered service after the conclusion of the Battle of Anchorage, mere months before the nuclear apocalypse, the T-60 was rapidly deployed and extensively used by the U.S. Army in all theaters. Deployments of military units in T-60 power armor included the domestic front, enforcing order in the nation.[40]
By the time of the Great War it was considered to be the most advanced model of power armor to see extensive use.[38]
T-65 power armor[]
The T-65 series is a unique set of power armor that saw development right before the Great War, but no production models are known to exist. Schematics were entrusted to the Secret Service agents stationed at Vault 79. T-65 series utilizes radically different protection principles from the previous power armor series with a departure from whole cast armor pieces to segmented armor layers notable in the torso piece and the pauldrons. This allowed the T-65 series to protect exposed frame sections and other areas that would be thinly armored on other power armor series and greatly increasing protection and survivability.
X-01 power armor[]
Commissioned by the Joint Chiefs, the development of the X-01 began shortly before the Great War.[20] It represented a radically new approach to designing powered armor, eschewing traditional design philosophies that defined the T series.[Non-game 7][Non-game 8][Non-game 9] X-O1 was a high-profile research project meant to supersede previous power armor models. A single suit of X-01 was provided to the Nuka-Cola Corporation, as part of Project Cobalt. While the suit served as a successful proof of concept of using a strontium-90 based plating over the armor,[41] this improvement was not adopted into the armor's schematics before the onset of the Great War. Further development was made impossible due to the outbreak of the Great War.[20]
After the Great War, a select few suits were engineered further and employed by remnants of the U.S. military, like the Enclave and Brotherhood of Steel, as well as the Institute.[19] The schematics for the armor were saved by the Enclave just before the bombs fell, with the organization keeping copies in the archives of their Poseidon and Whitespring facilities, including Control Station ENCLAVE. This allowed the Enclave to create a limited production run of the suits, and for work to eventually continue on the model's development.[20]
Full development was restarted by the Enclave in 2198, although it wasn't until 2215 that the research efforts began in earnest under the presidential mandate, resulting in the creation of the first model of Advanced power armor in 2220. Another group to develop upon the X-01 design, after the war, is the Institute. Despite lacking access to the prototype's schematics, by 2287, the Institute had developed a modified polymerized casting mix to coat the armor, as well as other modifications that enhance the user's intelligence.[42] Variants include prototype X-01 power armor, Quantum X-01 power armor and X-01-I power armor.
Advanced power armor Mark I[]
Developed post-war by Enclave scientists aboard the Oil Rig[Non-game 9] and standard issue to its soldiers,[43] the advanced power armor mark I is composed of lightweight metal alloys, reinforced with ceramic castings at key points, with the item description noting it also having high quality motion-assist servo-motors.[44] The armor is also capable of recycling human urine, allowing the user to remain within the armor for longer periods of time.[45]
It has a similar design to the aforementioned X-01 power armor, which could have been influenced from the schematics of the armor sent to the Oil Rig by the division of the Enclave in the Appalachia years prior to the development of the advanced power armor mark I.[46]
- Remnants Tesla armor
- Gannon family Tesla armor - A family heirloom that was passed down to Arcade Gannon after the death of his father.
Advanced power armor Mark II[]
Also known as Enclave power armor,[47] X-02,[Non-game 13] and Black Devil power armor,[48] the advanced power armor Mark II[49] was designed as an upgrade to the older Mark I suit.[Non-game 1] The Mk II is composed entirely of lightweight ceramic composites, providing protection superior to earlier models.[50] The Enclave was able to mass-produce the power armor at Raven Rock following the events of Fallout 2.[Non-game 14][51][26]
The advanced power armor Mk II may be modified with a Tesla device capable of dispersing a large percentage of the damage done by directed-energy attacks.[52]
Hellfire power armor[]
This armor is the result of a post-War research and development project undertaken by the Enclave. An early iteration was completed by October 2080, and was shipped to Vault 51 at the behest of the vault's ZAX computer[53] while the final mass-produced version would see large scale deployment in 2278. Initially, the mass-produced armor was one of several concurrently active research projects taking place at the Adams Air Force Base, including one on eyebots and a material called Duraframe, but ultimately came to be the most in-demand project fully completed; other projects, much to the chagrin of researchers such as Whitley, were canceled in favor of the new model of power armor by Colonel Autumn.[54]
EXC-17 Excavator power armor[]
Developed by Garrahan Mining Co., the "Excavator" class of power armor was intended to help human miners compete with the growing number of robotic replacements. The prototype Excavator armor never saw full production, despite being heavily advertised in Appalachia as the future of mining.[55] This was due to Garrahan Mining losing a competition against Hornwright Industrial Mining company, where miners wearing the EX-17 competed against Hornwright's mining robots, thanks to Hornwright cheating during the competition.[56] Afterward, Hornwright Mining Co. bought out Garrahan Mining Co., including rights to the suit. Existing sets found new life in use by Responders[57] and the Vault Dwellers of Vault 76.
Communist power armor[]
A suit of power armor designed by the People's Republic of China, it is based on captured American suits of power armor. The communist power armor would be assigned to some Chinese Commissars.
Union power armor[]
A post-War variant of power armor created by the Union in the Pitt, it uses leftover factory material in its construction.
Raider power armor[]
This armor has been salvaged and restored to fighting shape by raiders after the Great War. It appears to incorporate elements of both the T-45 and T-51 models, although it has been rebuilt using primarily scrap metal. Its jury-rigged nature means that it can't protect as effectively against damage as other varieties of power armor. Variants include the Overboss power armor.
Invasion mech[]
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Zetans utilize humanoid mechs during coordinated invasions. Rather than operating the frame as a suit from the standing position, they curl up in the torso of the craft and pilot it with hand-operated controls. Mech operators also appear to be augmented with some kind of metal mask and neural interface.{{
Non-canon models[]
Models in this section do not appear in canonical Fallout media.
Atomic Shop content[]
Blood Eagle power armor[]
A suit of raider power armor built by the Blood Eagles.
Freedom Forge power armor[]
A unique suit of power armor used by the Free States.
Junkyard power armor[]
A post-War suit of armor built with scrapyard sheets of metal.
Equalizer power armor[]
A model of power armor closely resembling Frank Horrigan's suit.
H.A.R.E. power armor[]
The High Altitude Recon Exfiltration suit was designed for covert espionage missions deep in China. They would be used in conjunction with Jetpacks to exfiltrate from missions and be picked up by American aircraft.[Non-game 15]
Alien invader armor[]
A power armor skin that mimics the appearance of Zetan alien invader mechsuits.
Other games[]
CC-00 power armor[]
A suit of power armor developed by the USSA for space exploration. A suit of armor was loaned to the production of the Captain Cosmos TV show in an attempt to rekindle public support for the fledgling Mars Shot Project.
AT-0M power armor[]
This suit was created by the Last Son of Atom with an unfinished X-01 prototype[Non-game 16] which he modified with runes and crystals, transforming it into a weapon of mass mind-control.[Non-game 17] When the suit is powered its experimental modifications provide details about nearby creatures, shown to its user through the partially transparent helmet piece. It allows him to automatically detect nearby creatures as well as a vague sense of their current actions, health, and emotional state.[Non-game 16] The mind-altering powers extend to the minds of robots.[Non-game 18] The arms of the suit are each affixed with a pair of bio-mechanical tendrils, which serve the Last Son, but act on their own will.[Non-game 16]
Eastern Brotherhood power armor[]
A peculiar power armor with a distinctive, horned look employed by the Eastern Brotherhood of Steel operating in Chicago. Advanced models are composed of lightweight metal alloys and reinforced with ceramic castings at key points.[58]
Vault-Tec power armor[]
This suit of armor was used by Vault-Tec in order to give some valuable combat equipment to their Corporate Vault thus ensuring a successful entry into the post-apocalyptic world. It closely resembles the military's T-51b power armor.
Athena power armor[]
Athena is an incomplete power armor project pioneered by the Enclave in conjunction with Poseidon Energy. According to initial tests, it had defensive capabilities above and beyond any other infantry armor in use before the apocalypse.
Gameplay[]
Power armor appears in every Fallout game. T-51b power armor and its hardened version appear in both Fallout and Fallout 2 while the latter also introduces the Enclave's advanced variants.
In Fallout 3, the T-45d power armor is the general power armor that can be found, as most members of the Brotherhood of Steel wear it. The Enclave's redesigned Advanced Power Armor MK II, Tesla armor, and Hellfire power armor
are also encountered. A pristine set of T-51b power armor is located in the Fort Constantine military base (but can only be obtained by doing a specific quest), and a winterized version of the same model can be found in the Fallout 3 Operation: Anchorage add-on. Fallout: New Vegas features the T-51b and the T-45d, while also bringing back the advanced power armor Mk I from Fallout 2; it also adds a new version, the Tesla power armor Mk I.
Fallout 4 features the T-51 and T-45, as well as introducing the T-60 power armor as the new standard issued power armor for the East Coast Brotherhood of Steel. Also introduced was the X-01 power armor, which was an experimental prototype power armor created right before the bombs dropped. The raiders of the Commonwealth had also created salvaged power armor, introducing raider power armor. Fallout 76 features the same power armor as Fallout 4, but also introduces the Excavator power armor, which was developed by Garrahan Mining, and the Ultracite power armor, which was an armor created with ultracite rather than poly-laminate composite. Updates for Fallout 76 have introduced a variety of power armor variants used exclusively by certain factions, such as the Secret Service's T-65 power armor, the Hellcat Company's Hellcat power armor, and the Pittsburgh Union's Union power armor.
Using a much different art style in general, Fallout Tactics shows the T-51b model only once in the introduction of the game, and the Midwestern Brotherhood power armor is used instead in the game, including an advanced version standing in for the Enclave's power armor. In Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, two versions (regular and advanced) based on the T-51b with a similar appearance and a blue color appear in the Corporate Vault and are created by Vault-Tec. The Fallout demo's item description references power armor.[Non-game 19]
Fallout[]
- Power armor is endgame armor, with just four suits available (with only two being capable of being obtained peacefully, and only one with a low Speech skill), exclusively from the Brotherhood of Steel at Lost Hills: One from Talus for rescuing the initiate, the other from the maintenance bay, where the player can put together their own suit.
- The armor can also be hardened at Adytum, creating the best suit in the game.
Fallout 2[]
- Power armor remains the pinnacle of personal protection, now available in virtually unlimited quantities thanks to the San Francisco vendors. Several other suits are also found in the wild. The player can harden one of the T-51 suits in San Francisco as well.
- Edging the T-51 out is the advanced power armor, available as one unit: The standard advanced power armor at Navarro and an experimental Mk II suit at the Enclave oil rig.
Fallout Tactics[]
The game includes two models of power armor, one standard, and one advanced, both available to the player at Brotherhood bunkers in the late game. Although featuring steep penalties to Perception and various utility skills (among these a 75% penalty to Sneak), it remains the best suit of armor for assault characters in the endgame.
Fallout 3[]
- The Lone Wanderer must receive training to be able to equip power armor. Non-player characters do not have this restriction.
- Training may be received at the Citadel from Paladin Gunny or by completing the Operation: Anchorage add-on mission before they can equip power armor. While being given the training, the paladin tells the Wanderer to "relax their muscles" and "let the suit do the work."[59]
- Any weapon that is holstered on a character's back is normally hanging off the right shoulder diagonally with the barrel downwards. However, when wearing any form of power armor the gun is hanging diagonally off the left shoulder with the barrel pointing up. This is because power armor prevents the arm movements necessary to unholster the gun when it is in its normal position. Characters retrieve them under the arm, rather than over it. This was done to prevent clipping.
- Shooting at someone wearing power armor produces metallic sounds, decals, and particles (a metallic *clang* and sparks instead of flesh hit sound and blood spurts), despite still causing damage to the wearer. This is also true of the player character.
Fallout: New Vegas[]
- Similar to the Lone Wanderer, The Courier must receive Power Armor Training before they can utilize any form of the armor, except the NCR salvaged power armor, which has unique characteristics setting it apart from other variants. The training is available after either Still in the Dark or For Auld Lang Syne has been completed.
- The sound of power armor has been changed. As opposed to Fallout 3, the servo-motors are no longer audible and there is no hydraulic fluid sound as the player character walks. In addition, NPC voices no longer have a 'speaker' effect and just sound muffled.
- Any weapon that is holstered on a character's back is normally hanging off the right shoulder diagonally with the barrel downwards. However, when wearing any form of power armor the gun is hanging diagonally off the left shoulder with the barrel pointing up. This is because power armor prevents the arm movements necessary to unholster the gun when it is in its normal position.
- Shooting at someone wearing power armor produces metallic sounds, decals, and particles (a metallic *clang* and sparks instead of flesh hit sound and blood spurts), despite still causing damage to the wearer. This is also true of the player character.
Fallout 4[]
- Power armor has undergone substantial changes in both size and gameplay mechanics as opposed to Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas. Instead of being treated as a suit of armor that is equipped from the Pip-Boy, it is instead treated as a separate object, a vehicle more than a garment. In order to equip the armor, it must be entered from the outside by pressing the action button, which then causes the suit to unfold to accept an occupant, then reseals itself. In order to operate properly, power armor requires the use of a fusion core.
- For playability and practicality, power armor in Fallout 4 requires no Power Armor Training perk to use as it did in previous titles (the Sole Survivor, specifically Nate, served in the pre-War U.S. military and thus he may have had access to this technology and training). But in universe, it would seem that some form of training in power armor is still required for the safe or efficient use of the equipment.[60]
- Power armor allows its wearer to not only have superior strength bonuses but its armor components have their own hit points and actively absorb a substantial percentage of incoming damage until they are destroyed. The armor allows the wearer to fall from great heights without suffering any damage and simultaneously causes damaging shock waves to anything close by.
- Companions who enter power armor don't require fusion cores. Power armor increases the carrying capacity of companions much like it would the Sole Survivor, even more so if it is left bare.
Fallout 76[]
- Fallout 4's vehicular power armor returns. However, it can now be deployed in front of the character from the Pip-Boy. In order to equip the armor, it must be entered from the outside by pressing the action button, which then causes the suit to unfold to accept an occupant, then reseals itself. In order to operate properly, power armor requires the use of a fusion core.
- For playability and practicality, power armor in Fallout 76 requires no Power Armor Training perk to use as it did in prior titles. In universe, power armor training still exists. Dialogue from terminals at Camp Venture indicate that the Appalachian Brotherhood of Steel trained new recruits in the use of power armor.[61]
- Power armor allows its wearer to not only have superior strength bonuses but its armor components have their own hit points and actively absorb a substantial percentage of incoming damage until they are destroyed. The armor allows the wearer to fall from great heights without suffering any damage and simultaneously causes damaging shock waves to anything close by.
- Power armor is exclusively owned by the player character after entering it, thus not allowing any other player characters to utilize it. Ownership of the chassis and any associated armor pieces can be released by dropping the chassis, thus abandoning it in place.
- The power armor chassis can be stored in the inventory with all pieces of armor remaining on it, as well as the fusion core.
- Power armor will be recalled to one's inventory after a period of time unless dropped.
Appearances[]
Power armor appears in every Fallout game to date.
Behind the scenes[]
T-45 power armor was originally meant to appear in Van Buren as a back-in-the-day detail, burning small energy cells at an alarming rate, rather than using a fusion reactor. The designation was later applied to the Fallout 3 power armor in Fallout: New Vegas, although the small energy cell power source did not appear, except as a power source for the Gatling laser in Fallout 3.
Gallery[]
Fallout[]
Fallout 2[]
Fallout 3[]
Fallout: New Vegas[]
Fallout 4[]
Fallout 76[]
Fallout Shelter[]
Fallout Tactics[]
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External links[]
References[]
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