Fallout New Vegas Best Perks Revealed (Ranked Weakest To Strongest)

Updated:

01 May 2023

Fallout new vegas has a lot of different perks for the player to choose from. Some affect damage, others affect dialogue choices and actually have the ability to help open locked doors or hack terminals. However, because there are so many perks In new Vegas I'm going to talk about 7 of them that I think are essential for any player.

I’m going to rank them from weakest to strongest. These perks will cover a wide variety of playstyles for most builds, so if your favorite perk isn't on here its not because it wasn't worth it.(But because there's WAY more than 7 like over 160+ including DLC)

#7. Vigilant recycler

The reason for these being #10 is because they both do similar things. You can use one or the other especially if you're using lasers or different conventional weapons.

In order to use the vigilant recycler perk you need a science skill of 70 but the perk will let you recover drained ammo more often. Also a plus this recovers your weapons drained ammo more efficiently too. For the hand loader you need a repair skill of 70, with this you recover casing in order to make your own handloaded ammo.

Vigilant recycler Review

The weakness for this perk would be The high skills you need to obtain it.(Both)
One strength for the vigilant recycler is to make or save ammo at better convenience.
The vigilant recycler performs as an extra ammo source. This is because of the 6 different ammo types you can create once obtained.

Perk Details :

The Vigilant Recycler perk makes you twice as likely to recover drained cells when you use Energy weapons and improves the conversion ratio when recycling drained cells from 4:1 to 3:1.
Can be obtained at Level 6
Your science Skill needs to be 70 or higher.

#6. Pack Rat

This is an amazing utility perk that can be used as soon as level 8. (If you have an intelligence of 5 and barter of at least 70)

This perk halves the carry weight of items that weigh 2 pounds or less. All affected items in the game world will display their new lowered weight whether or not they are in one's inventory. What I noticed about this perk is it affects more than it leads on, affecting weapons, aid andmisc. items all the same. This makes it more useful for those who prefer to use throwing weapons.

Pack Rat Review

Overall this perk is good for having more carry space, and in fallout more space means more loot to hold.
The only weakness I found while playing was, It does not change companion carrying capacity, they still carry these items at full weight.
This perk can be especially useful in Hardcore mode, as ammunition now has weight and more food and water items may need to be carried to stave off dehydration and starvation.

Perk Details :

This perk halves the carry weight of items that have a carry weight of 2 pounds or less. All affected items in the game world will display their new lowered weight whether or not they are in one's inventory.
You need to be Level 8.
Have your Intelligence to 5.
Lastly you need your Barter skill to 70.

#5. Black Widow

This perk comes right from Fallout 3. This is on the list for the amount of new dialogue it can create. Having it early on will let you change dialogue or deal more damage to the opposite gender you're playing as.

Black Widow lets you do +10% damage against opponents of the opposite sex for female characters. Confirmed bachelor does the same but for male characters. Dialogue can be affected too.

Black Widow Review:

Overall these perks are great for dealing more damage against the same sex and opposite sex.
The dialogue that the player can create with this adds more story and roleplay.(this would be a strength)
This perk performs very well +10% increase is nothing to laugh at. It could be the difference between life or death

Perk Details :

In combat, the player character does +10% damage against opponents of the opposite sex. Outside of combat, one sometimes has access to unique dialogue options when dealing with the opposite sex, similar to the Sex Appeal trait. It is complemented by the Cherchez La Femme perk. (Black widow)
You can convince Chris Haversam he is human, allowing the Courier to convince him to sabotage the rockets for the quest Come Fly With Me.(Black widow)

#4. Implant GRX

Being number 5 on our list this perk is one of the unconventional ones. This could be number 1 but because it's something that can be found it stays here.

Implant GRX allows the player to slow down time similar to how Jet works in Fallout 4. The benefit with this perk is there are no addiction or withdrawal effects after taking it. Lastly once this is obtained it's like an infinite amount of turbo.

Implant GRX Review

The weakness with this perk is that it's limited to 5 or 10 uses per in game day. Making you only use it when necessary.
The strength with this like mentioned, there are no addiction effects after use. Meaning you can use it 10 times a day on repeat after obtaining it.
The perk performs as if you have Jet or turbo without getting those at all. Perfect if you want to have those effects without the drawbacks of having to need it.

Perk Details :

Implant GRX functions as a non-addictive drug with the same effects as Turbo: slowing down the Courier's surroundings to give them more time to act. It is accessed from the inventory in the Aid section of the Pip-Boy, with the supply replenishing every 24 in-game hours.
You can obtain this perk late game at Level 30.
You will need your endurance to be 8.

#3. The Them's Good Eatin Perk.

This can be acquired at level 20 so it's fairly late game. You need a survival skill of at least 55 to obtain this perk.

What this perk does is allow 2 different healing items, The red paste and blood sausage to have a 50% chance of dropping from living enemies. As you can already tell this perk would be very useful for times when you can't find or buy a stimpack.

The Them's Good Eatin Review

What's good about this perk overall are the items that drop from enemies. This means you can worry less about searching for healing items and more time surviving the adventure.
One weakness this perk has is that it's not considered a food item.
One strength this perk has that goes overlooked is the source of caps you can obtain.The thin red paste and blood sausage both have a very high value for their weight (125 and 175, respectively).

Perk Details :

When this perk is taken, all living creatures killed have a 50% chance of having 1-3 thin red paste or blood sausages on them. In Casual Mode, with this perk, food can be forsaken entirely in favor of this.
You need to be Level 20 or higher to obtain this.
You will also need a Survival skill of 55.

#2. Mysterious Stranger

Being number 2 on our list this perk is a must have for any player who has bad luck or is new. The mysterious stranger will surprise you every time he shows.

This perk allows a stranger in a trench coat and detective hat to critically hit or one shot anything in V.A.T.S once activated. The stranger has a 44 revolver and no other weapon.

Mysterious Stranger Review :

One Strength this perk has is that the Mysterious Stranger sometimes seeks out other enemies while in V.A.T.S., after he has killed the targeted one.
As far as weaknesses go I couldn't really find one. Overall this perk is a staple for all fallout players.
This perk performs well because of how mysterious it is. Everytime you hear the music while in V.A.T.s you never know who he's going to get first.

Perk Details :

The Mysterious Stranger will appear occasionally in V.A.T.S. to help you.
This can be obtained early in the game at Level 10.
You will also need to build a character who has a luck of 6.

#1. Educated

Like the description says its best taken early on listed at number 1 for good reason this perk will give you an extra boost in points if you need it.

Educated is a very early perk that offers a small benefit; for each level, you’ll get an extra two skill points to invest.

Educated Review

If you take this perk later on it will become less useful. This is one of the weaknesses.
One Keynote to add, is if you have 4 add-ons installed, the player's max level will be raised to 50. This provides an extra 92 skill points from level 4 to 50.

Perk Details:

When obtained early on add +2 skill points each time you gain a new experience level.
You can obtain this perk early at Level 4.
You need you Intelligence to be 4.(You can start the game with over 5)