4 -Use Shelters and Obstacles
This is a trick that players of Fallout 3 will remember well. When taking on big enemies, like Deathclaws or Super Mutants, early in the game, you are way too weak to beat them in a toe-to-toe contest. But that doesn’t mean you can’t beat them at all. To take down such heavyweights, try using the environment to your advantage. For example, see all those abandoned cars on the roads of every town? And all those train box-cars? They are put there for a reason. When you encounter a strong enemy, run away and hide behind an obstacle. As long as you keep ahead of your foe, you can avoid getting pounded by their powerful attacks. Look for your moments to strike back, preferably with V.A.T.S., and take your best shot. Then, keep running around the obstacle until your Attack Points refill. Keep doing this until your pursuer is dead. It isn’t a pretty way to play, but it gets results. I have taken down a Deathclaw at level 2 by grinding him down slowly from the safety of a store window – and no matter how much I level up, I will never be too proud to use a cheap advantage when I can.
5 – Upgrade your Weapons and Armor
Fallout 4 has given you a gift that you must use to its fullest extent: modding. All that “junk” you come across in the Wasteland is not useless at all – it can all be used to modify your weapons and armor at workbenches. Plus, when you access the Workbench, you can use the “Tag for Search” feature to show you what items are useful for crafting. If you turn this feature on, it will put a magnifying glass symbol beside items that you can use. That way, you will be able to see what items you should pick up on your travels, and what ones you can leave on the ground. Take these items back to your home base (the Red Rocket gas station is a recommended choice) and use them to improve your equipment. Almost everything on your weapons and armor can be upgraded – sights can be added, ammo magazine capacity can be expanded, and grips can be improved. Armor pieces can similarly be upgraded as well. Make sure to periodically fast-travel to your home base and use the items you have collected. And make sure to get the “Gun Nut” and “Armorer” Perks as soon as possible. These are required perks to craft better weapons and armor. In Fallout 3, you could get by just using the random equipment you found; in Fallout 4, crafting, modding and upgrading is crucial to success.
Use these simple techniques, and you will hopefully find success in Fallout 4’s early combat situations. Later in the game, things get way more complicated – you’ll encounter Super Mutant Behemoths, Mirelurk Kings, and other creatures that will give you beautiful nightmares. It will take way more than these tips to save you then, young wanderer. But hopefully by then, you will be a hardened veteran with much stronger abilities. Good luck, and don’t forget to find your son… at some point. And if you haven’t grabbed yourself a copy of Fallout 4 yet… what are you waiting for!?