I hope you haven't gotten attached to that leather armor you start with. Because when scavenged loot presents itself with better defensive armor you will have to learn to toss out the old and bring in the new if you want to survive the Wasteland. So follow me as I discuss the best armor for melee defense (somebody say Power Armor?) to keep an eye out for and the where and how to acquire each.

1. T-51 Power Armor

In 2074 when the aging T-45 model became inadequate in overcoming the Chinese defenders, production models of the T-51 began testing in combat conditions at Fort Strong in Massachusetts. Resulting in its first production, Fort Strong sent many units to China in 2076 and the T-51 outperformed the T-45 in every aspect. This gave United States victory on all Chinese fronts.

Developed by West-Tek over a decade of war and incorporating lessons learned from the T-45 power armor service history, the T-51 is the apex of pre-war powered combat technology. This new development in technology was gearing away from stop-gap models by instituting custom-made components. The innovative process resulted in a weapon that through incorporating current passive defense features, provided the best possible protection.

Designed for a single human operator much like the T-45 and patterned after the human silhouette, the T-51 model is the perfect balance of performance, mobility and protection which became a powerful asset for United States soldiers on the frontlines.

Armor Stats (lv. 50):

• Physical and Energy resistance balance out but at the cost of lower Radiation resistance
• Physical and Energy resistance is 454
• Radiation Resistance is 305 
• Weight is 80 

T-51 Power Armor Melee Advantages:

• Physical and Energy resistance balanced at 454. • One point higher than Ultracites Physical and X-01s Energy.
• This makes it the best melee power armor in most scenarios. • Welded Rebar torso mod makes enemies take more damage from successful melee attacks.
• Core Assembly torso mod increases Action Point refresh speed so you can swing your weapon more.
• Optimized Bracers arm mod reduces action point cost for power attacks.
• Kinetic Servos increases AP regeneration.
• These AP enhancement mods are great for making sure you will be swinging your weapon more which is often better than going for just pure strength hits at the cost of swing speed.

How to get T-51 Armor:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lf1NBhQNAo

• Plans for crafting most mods are available from Vender bot Phoenix at Watoga Shopping Plaza.
• Level requirements will need to be met before based on what level armor is being crafted.
• There are locations where pieces of armor can be found on frames but the pieces vary by instance.

2. Ultracite Power Armor (Best for Melee/Ballistic Defense)

Second only to the X-01 power armor in energy and radiation defenses, the Ultracite has a powerful physical resistance. It’s better known for its ballistic defense but it stands just as well against melee attacks.

Developed by the brotherhood of steel after the great war, the plans began by the Lost Hills Chapter. With a flawed cooling system in the schematics, the plans made their way into the hands of the Appalachian Chapter scribe Grant McNamara, who was able to rectify the cooling system problem. However, Ultracite resources that are rich only in the Appalachia were still needed to produce the suits.

With its hands already full attempting to wipe out the scorchbeasts the Appalachia Chapter were themselves eradicated and were never able to mine these Ultacite resources that the surrounding areas of Lost Hill Chapter did not have. Both factions never produced the power armor.

Armor Stats (Lv 50):

• Total Physical resistance is 453.
• Energy and Radiation resistance are both 393.
• Weight is 88.
• Value is 632.

Ultracite Armor Melee Avantages:

• Physical resistance is 453 which is more than adequate for melee defense.
• High physical resistance but at the cost of lower Energy and Radiation resistance.
• Again the AP enhancement mods mentioned before are great for making sure you will be swinging your weapon more which is often better than going for pure strength at the cost of swing speed.

How to get Ultracite Armor:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv3lsxxZ9jY

• A full set is awarded after completing the Brotherhood of Steel quest Belly of the Beast.
• In the quest Fort Defiance a full set of plans is available on Taggerdys terminal on the top floor of Fort Defiance which is accessible after completing Belly of the Beast.
• Random loot drops plans for individual pieces for slaying the scorchbeast queen.

3. X-01 Power Armor

A radical new approach to designing powered armor, the development of the X-01 began shortly before the Great War. Stemming from design philosophies that defined the T series, the high-profile research project was meant to surpass previous power armor production.

The advanced model T-51 power armor uses its counterpart’s protection metals as a basis reinforced by ceramic castings at key points. And the intro of the most noticeable change was the unusual, insect-like design of the new helmet assembly.

The X-01 was functional in 2077 but with numerous issues yet still first models were used by Presidential bodyguards and never issued anywhere else except a single suit of X-01 MK-V given to a military program funded by Nuka Cola.

With its success proving the concept of using strontium-90 based armor plating the X-01 subsequentially was not implemented into the Great War. The onset halted all development but before the nuke the Enclave secured earlier version schematics of the armor to their archives in Poseidon and Whitesprings facilities where X-01 was also later produced.

Armor Stats (Lv 50):

• Stats are nearly the same as Ultracite’s but Radiation and Energy resistance are more at the cost of lower Physical resistance.
• Physical Resistance is 453 and Radiation and Energy Resistance is 393.
• Weight is 88.
• Value is 632.

X-01 Melee Advantages:

 Same mod specs to benefit AP and damage can be used as the Ultracite to increase Melee advantage.

• Again these AP enhancement mods mentioned in T-51 melee advantages are great for making sure you will be swinging your weapon more which is often better than going for pure strength at the cost of swing speed.

How to get Armor:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQV_7sL9Lak

• Blueprints are free in the Military Wing Command Center Archive Terminal at the Whitespring bunker.
• Only free after completing Officer on Deck quest.
• Must craft armor yourself at workbench and be level 40 to craft level 40 armor and same with level 50 armor.

4. T-60 Power Armor

Developed in early 2077 after the Anchorage Reclamation and just before the nuclear apocalypse, the T-60 power armor was deployed domestically to police American law and also during the Great War for light infantry units equipped with energy weapons. The T-60 is a great all-around power armor with sufficient Physical damage protection and Radiation resistance.

Second only to the X-01 in radiation resistance, the Physical protection is above par and endures melee and ballistic attacks well but at the cost of lower Energy resistance.

The T-60 model is an extremely protective armor system even though it lacks the sophisticated armor pattern of the T-51. However, this protection reduces agility and battlefield awareness by obstructing visibility with its additional bulky armor plating and oversized pauldrons. (The thingies that look like big shoulder pads.)

The T-60 is the pinnacle of powered armor technology in the U.S. military arsenal and is currently the standard issue power armor for the Brotherhood of Steel with the east coast chapter recently acquiring a vast arsenal.

Armor Stats (Lv. 50):

• Physical Resistance is 400.
• Radiation Resistance is 415.
• Energy Resistance is 370.
• Weight is 81

T-60 Melee Advantages:

• Ummm yea it’s a power armor.
• Physical defense is at an acceptable 400 which should carry you through the majority day-to-day average wasteland shenanigans.
• Perfect suit to pacify your annoying little cousin Tommy who always jumps in your party asking about power armor. (You better be nice to him dammit)
• Again, these AP enhancement mods mentioned in T-51 melee advantages are great for making sure you will be swinging your weapon more which is often better than going for pure strength at the cost of swing speed.

How to get T-60 Power Armor:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNzRNV4gop8​​ 

• The pieces of this suit are easy to find all around the wasteland. You will always have a high chance of finding pieces of different types on frames placed in various locations.
• The types of power armor pieces will generally range from T-45, T-61 to T-50.

5. Marine Armor (Buttressed)

Most likely created by the U.S. Army Ranger unit Taggerd’s Thunder and the USMC during involvement of war games in Chinese territory prior to the start of the Great War. The highly advanced combat armor consists of large and bulky pieces and pouches on the arms, legs, and abdomen of the suit. The suit looks like a miniature power armor and essentially is a mix of power and combat armor combining the two in design and defense. 

Armor Stats (Lv. 45 Buttressed): 

• Arms have 36 Damage, 26 Energy and 12 Radiation Resistances.
• Chest have 80 Damage, 42 Energy and 42 Radiation Resistances. 
• Legs have 38 Damage, 26 Energy and 12 Radiation Resistances.

Marine Armor Melee Advantage: 

• While I think any power armor would be better than the best regular armor I thought I would at least mention this great external armor.
• Offers way more agility and guile than power armor yet still gives a decent physical attack defense. 
• Good to wear when not in power armor in case an emergency ambush arises and you find yourself cursing and panic fumbling through your never-ending inventory list for you God bless-ed power armor frame. (That never happens to me.)
• I will say it again this is a great non powered armor to add to your collection and can be worn even while inside a power armor suit but unless you are on some serious performance boosting chems it is by no means going to get you through most higher level melee fights.
• Don’t do too much junkie chems you’re better off selling them for caps at the vendor. 

How to get Marine Armor:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PzGT5BEBGg

• Nothing like chilling out at the base banging out your own handmade crafted armor.
• Plans can be found at Harper’s Ferry, Watoga Station and Forward Station Delta.
• Individual pieces of the armor can be found on various vendors and high-level enemies all around Appalachia.

You may also be interested in:

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• [Top 10] Fallout 76 Best Armors
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• Fallout 76 Best Power Armors (And How To Get Them)