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For a cross-game overview of this skill, see Unarmed. |
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Unarmed is a skill in Fallout: New Vegas. It determines the effectiveness by Unarmed attacks.
Initial level[]
Example: A starting Endurance of 5 and Luck of 5.
Description[]
As in Fallout 3, the Unarmed skill is tied to the Endurance SPECIAL stat. The player character will receive a boost of +2 points in Unarmed per level of Endurance, for a maximum boost of +20 points at 10 Endurance. Luck further raises Unarmed effectiveness by +1 points per every 2 levels (+5 Unarmed at 9 Luck). Just as in Fallout 3,
As in Fallout 3, Unarmed Damage is derived from the Unarmed skill. For Melee weapons there is a separate statistic called Melee Damage. Strength does not influence Unarmed Damage; it only influences Melee Damage. Unarmed Damage is added to the damage value of unarmed weapons, in the case of using bare fists this is the only damage inflicted on an opponent. The only change is that unarmed weapons now have a Strength requirement in order to use them at maximum efficiency[clarification needed]. However, aside from the ballistic fist, the Strength requirements are generally very low.
In addition, blocking with an unarmed or melee weapon will use the unarmed skill against an animal and blocking with an unarmed weapon will use the unarmed skill against a human wielding an unarmed or melee weapon; interactions with robots and ghouls remain untested. Blocking appears to work by adding DT during the block equal to (so a 5 in Unarmed grants +6.5 DT and 100 in Unarmed grants +35 DT).
The AP cost (Action Points, used in V.A.T.S.) is 22 when completely unarmed i.e. bare fists. Similar to Melee Damage, unarmed attacks in V.A.T.S double weapons' base damage. Bonus damage from the player's Unarmed skill is not doubled, though.
Fallout: New Vegas possesses a multitude of new, more powerful unarmed and melee-specific perks, game mechanic bonuses (i.e. special attacks in V.A.T.S. at higher levels of skills; specifically, an Uppercut at 50 and a cross attack at 75).
There are four different special moves that can be learned from different non-player characters in the game. One can learn the Ranger Takedown attack from Ranger Andy in Novac, the Legion Assault from Lucius at Fortification Hill, the Scribe Counter from Veronica and the Khan Trick from Diane. Each requires completing a task to be taught the move, and may require the player character having certain ratings (such as high or moderate fame) in factions to be learned.
V.A.T.S. Special Attacks[]
Unarmed weapons in Fallout: New Vegas can utilize up to three special attacks in V.A.T.S., each at the cost of 20 Action Points, depending on the character's Unarmed skill. At an unarmed skill of at least 50 Stomp and Uppercut special attacks become available. Stomp is an attack that deals double damage, where the target receives a swift downward kick, but can only be used on enemies after they have been knocked down. Uppercut is an upward punch that deals an additional 15% damage. At an unarmed skill of at least 75, Cross is a punch thrown across the body that deals 10% greater damage, with an additional 250% damage to limbs.
Unlike other special unarmed moves that must be learned before use, these special attacks require only an investment in skill points to unlock. Since the special attacks require the same AP regardless of the weapon used, higher damage but slower weapons benefit more from V.A.T.S. than faster weapons. Note that using an unarmed attack while crouching changes the attack to uppercut while still retaining the AP cost of a normal attack.
| Name | Requirement | AP | Damage Bonus | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uppercut | Unarmed 50 | 20 | 15% | |
| Cross | Unarmed 75 | 20 | 10% | 2.5x Increased Limb Damage |
| Stomp | None | 20 | 100% | Only on knocked down opponents |
In addition, all unarmed attacks in V.A.T.S. do twice as much base damage (just like power attacks in real-time).
Ways to increase Unarmed[]
- Permanent
- Leveling up (up to +17 with Educated)
- Pugilism Illustrated (+3 or +4 with Comprehension)
- Tag! (+15)
- Temporary
- Note: Only items adding +3 or more are included.
- Hockey mask (+5)
- Boxing Times (+10 or +20 with Comprehension)
Affected weapons[]
Perks that require Unarmed skill[]
| Perk | Requirement | Level | Additional Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piercing Strike | 70 | 12 | — |
| Paralyzing Palm | 70 | 18 | — |
| Slayer | 90 | 24 | Agility 7 |
Interactions that require Unarmed skill[]
- 45 Unarmed to execute a nerve strike on Carlyle St. Clair III (non-lethally rendering him unconscious) during Beyond the Beef.
- 50 Unarmed to learn the Legion Assault technique from Lucius.
50 Unarmed or 50 Melee Weapons to successfully smash the generator to the electric fence in Two Skies cave.
75 Unarmed to convince Courier's brain to return to its body and fight the Think Tank during Old World Blues.
Notable Unarmed skilled non-player characters[]
- Stella, an NCR ranger captured by the Legion, who is known to have killed many high ranking legionaries with only her hands.
- Caesar, co-founder and leader of the Caesar's Legion.
- Diane, teaches Khan Trick.
- Dog and God, psychologically disturbed nightkin and a companion of the Courier.
- Keene, leader of the Jacobstown's nightkin.
- Lucius, praetorian's leader of the Caesar's Legion. Teaches Legion Assault.
- Marcus, co-founder and sheriff of Broken Hills and later mayor of Jacobstown.
- Ranger Andy, teaches Ranger Takedown.
- Salt-Upon-Wounds, war chief of the White Legs.
- Veronica Santangelo, journeyman scribe of the Brotherhood of Steel and a possible companion of the Courier. Teaches Scribe Counter.
- Waking Cloud, tribal warrior of the Sorrows and a companion of the Courier.
- Cato Hostilius, a frumentarius in Caesar's Legion stationed around Hoover Dam.
