If you’re trying to put together the best Gunslinger build you possibly can in Fallout 4, we’ll point you in the right direction.
Fallout 4 might be set on the other side of the country, but you can still channel the Old West with a Gunslinger build. This entire build is structured around one perk: Gunslinger. If you're a fan of non-automatic pistols, such as the Deliverer, Pipe Revolver, and the classic 10mm pistol, this could be the build for you.
In its most basic form, the Gunslinger perk boosts the damage of non-automatic pistols, and by the end, the perk enables double damage and the chance to cripple your enemies. Here's how to get the most out of your pistol-slinging build in Fallout 4.
Updated April 18, 2024, by Sean Murray: Well howdy partner! You might think the Northeast isn't the place for big irons on hip holsters, but in the case of Fallout 4, you'd be wrong! A pure pistol build is just the thing to bring the Wild West to Boston, and it's pretty darned effective, too.
We've given this guide a fresh coat of paint in honor of the Fallout TV show, and we've tweaked the guide to offer a few more helpful pointers if you're looking to take on the Wasteland with nothing but a trusty six-shooter.
What Are The Benefits Of A Pistol Or Gunslinger Build?
A Pistol or Gunslinger build is a great idea if you're just starting out in Fallout 4. Pistols are available throughout the world and are often some of the very first weapons you find on your adventure.
There are a few different play styles that you can opt for:
- Critical Damage Gunslinger Build — Stack your points into the Luck Special stat and focus on dealing critical damage.
- Stealth — Creep up on your enemies and land powerful shots before they can turn their more powerful firepower on you.
- VATS-focused — Pistols have a low AP (action point) cost, which means you can make more use of VATS than with other weapons.
What's interesting about pistols in Fallout 4 is that their single-shot damage compares quite favorably to most rifles or machine guns. Only things like the Gauss Rifle and Railway Rifle deal appreciably more damage than pistols (and nuke-firing heavy weapons like Fat Man and Big Boy, of course).
Best Stats For A Gunslinger Build
Using pistols in a Fallout 4 Gunslinger build is easy, rewarding, and can be extremely powerful with the right set-up. Because pistols are so easy to come by in the base game, it's a perfect build for new players who just want to deal as much damage as possible.
Once you've done a run with a pistol, you can start trying out some more wacky builds. Here are the stats you should go for first to get the most out of your pistol.
Agility
A strong Gunslinger build is all about VATS, which makes Agility the single most important stat for a Gunslinger build. Stringing together attacks with the relatively low AP cost of pistol shots is the best way to deal maximum damage.
Agility boosts your AP, and it boosts it quickly. And the first level of Agility gives you access to the Gunslinger perk, which you need for this build.
Perception
Perception boosts your accuracy in VATS, ideal if you want to hit those perfect shots with your pistol. Each point boosts accuracy by 10 percent and unlocks some useful perks later along the line, like Concentrated Fire.
Luck
The pistol, VATS, and high critical damage chance that comes with Luck is really the foundation of your damage output as a Gunslinger. With boosted AP, and the low AP cost of using pistols in VATS, you'll be able to ping off crit hits like there's no tomorrow. High luck is definitely recommended for a Gunslinger build.
Intelligence, Charisma, Strength, and Endurance aren't overly important to the success of a Gunslinger build, but there are elements from each stat tree that might be useful .
For example, hitting six points in Intelligence is good for the Science perk later in the game, and you will probably want at least some Endurance just to boost your HP and keep yourself alive for longer.
A preferred way to play with the pistols is the Lucky build. For big crit damage, you should max out Agility and Luck by the end game, and you can boost that ten Luck all the way to 20 with a set of Lucky gear.
Intelligence
Although certainly not one of your core attributes, Intelligence is still important for a Gunslinger looking to maximize their damage output. Mostly for the Gun Nut perks that unlock more devastating mods for your customized and custom-built pistols.
Scrapper can also be a very helpful perk for gaining more components when scrapping items.
Here are the rough first stats you should use for this build:
|
Stat |
Points |
|---|---|
|
Strength |
1 |
|
Perception |
5 |
|
Endurance |
1 |
|
Charisma |
1 |
|
Intelligence |
5 |
|
Agility |
8 |
|
Lucky |
7 |
Luck, Perception, and Agility are your most important SPECIAL stats . Try to increase these to the maximum of 10 as soon as you can while grabbing necessary perks further down the SPECIAL chart.
Best Perks For A Gunslinger Build
Aside from maxing out the Gunslinger perk whenever you can, which is important to keep up your damage output, there are a variety of other perks that are useful for this build.
There are also some perks that you should just pick up during any Fallout 4 playthrough, like the Locksmith perks, and some of the Stealth perks if you're opting for a more sneaky playthrough. By the end, you'll be so strong that anything left in the end-game is easy to do. Here's a r look.
|
Perk |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Awareness |
Know your enemy. If Sun Tzu recommends it, then you should do it. Awareness not only provides your enemy's damage resistances while in VATS (a very useful thing to know), but with the Nuka World DLC, you gain an additional 5% hit chance and damage while in VATS. |
|
Gun Nut |
There is a reason to go for some early Intelligence in your stat tree, and that's to get access to the Gun Nut perk, which becomes available at three intelligence. Although pistols are plentiful, you probably want to start modifying your arsenal to make it easier into the late game. Each level of Gun Nut lets you access better gun mods, so you can start building more powerful weapons. |
|
Penetrator |
Penetrator is a great perk to pick up if you're opting for a full VATS build. This will make it harder for enemies to hide from VATS shots around corners and other obstacles. Penetrator does have quite a high requirement of nine Perception, but is more than worth the effort. |
|
Bloody Mess |
It may be gross, but you can't argue with an additional 15% damage. Plus, sometimes enemies will explode, and that'll save you a grenade or two. |
|
Critical Banker |
Available at seven Luck, this perk works brilliantly with Four Leaf Clover, the next perk available in the Luck tree at level nine. Critical Banker lets you save a critical shot in VATS, which means you can push out priority damage on stronger enemies, rather than wasting an important shot on some sniveling grunt. At its max level, you can save an ultra-powerful 4 critical hits. |
|
Better Criticals |
In a build that relies heavily on VATS, Better Criticals makes a lot of sense once you hit six Luck. Pair it with Grim Reaper's Sprint and Critical Banker and you have a source of most of your pistol damage. At its base level, Better Criticals increases crit damage by 50 percent, and by its final level, it will increase crit damage to two-and-a-half times more. |
|
Four Leaf Clover |
Yep, we're sticking with the VATS perks. The aforementioned Four Leaf Clover becomes available at nine Luck, and increases the chance of each hit in VATS refilling your critical meter back up to max. At its final level, the chances of filling the bar back up are very high. Four Leaf Clover is something you should pick up after you've already got your hands on the above perks. |
|
Grim Reaper's Sprint |
Grim Reaper's Sprint becomes available when your Luck is at eight, and makes a lot of sense in a VATS-heavy Cowboy build. At its base level, it introduces a 15 percent chance for any kill in VATS to max out your AP. You can see where we're going with this: plenty of AP, perks that boost your AP, and Grim Reaper's Sprint to make it so you have a virtually full AP bar by the late game. |
|
Mister Sandman |
Ignore the instant kills on sleeping targets—that will rarely come up. Instead, focus on the additional 50% damage using silenced weapons (such as silenced pistols). Combined with a powerful silenced pistol (like the Deliverer) and several other perks, you'll be able to one-shot most enemies while sneaking. |
|
Ninja |
Once fully upgraded, Ninja more than triples you sneak attack damage—3.5 times, to be exact. All these multipliers really add up. You'll find your sneak attacks will deal so much more damage that you'll be crawling your way through the wasteland. |
|
Gun Fu |
Gun Fu is definitely one of the most fun in the game. It works particularly well with a Gunslinger build. As a pistol-wielder, you typically deal high damage to single targets. Gun Fu allows you to translate that damage into a knock-on effect, dealing extra damage to each subsequent VATS target. Clearing a room with Gun Fu really makes you feel like an apocalyptic Clint Eastwood, and more than justifies the ten Agility requirement. |
Best Weapons For A Gunslinger Build
Pistols come thick and fast in Fallout 4. They're easy to find and pretty reliable right from the beginning. Here are some of the best pistols to pick up while on a Gunslinger run:
|
Weapon |
Description |
|---|---|
|
.44 Magnum |
The old reliable, this gun is available right from the start of the game and can be found in plenty of loot crates. It's a good way to start out your journey. You'll eventually want to add the Advanced Receiver, Bull Barrel, Comfort Grip, and Reflex Sight to get the most out of this hand cannon. |
|
Old Faithful |
An energy pistol that works best for sneak characters, but is still a decent upgrade on the Magnum in the early game, sold in Diamond City |
|
The Gainer |
This is like the .44 Magnum, but cooler, as it sets people on fire. It is located at the Vitale Pumphouse behind a locked door |
|
Kellogg's Pistol |
The perfect weapon for a VATS-heavy Gunslinger build, as it resets your AP with every critical hit. As the name suggests, you can get this off Kellogg, usually by killing him. |
|
Deliverer |
Arguably one of the best weapons in the game, and the ideal complement to a Gunslinger build, the Deliverer increases VATS chances and reduces overall AP costs. You'll get this gun during the Tradecraft quest during the Railroad storyline. |
|
Instigating .50 Pipe Bolt-Action Pistol |
Most pistols are difficult to aim over long distances due to the lack of a long-range sight. Pipe Pistols can be fitted with a long-range sight, giving you a decent sniper alternative. Replace the receiver so it takes .50 cal rounds, and look for one with the "Instigating" legendary modifier (this provides double damage against targets at full health). Fit a silencer on it and then combine it with all your sneak attack perks for a weapon that will kill most enemies (sometimes even Deathclaws) in a single shot. |
|
Mighty Overcharged Laser Pistol |
You're going to come across plenty of energy cells on your journey, and it'd be a shame to let them all go to waste. The Overcharged Capacitor maximizes your damage, while the night vision scope lets you see in the dark (a handy perk you won't get on most pistols). A Sniper Barrel, Sharpshooter's Grip, and Fine-Tuned Beam Focuser make this laser pistol accurate over great distances. The only downside is it's not silenced, so you won't get the benefit of a sneak attack. Look for the "Mighty" or "Powerful" legendary modifiers to get a flat 25% damage bonus. |
Legendary modifiers are specially named modifiers that give spawned weapons special bonuses. They're most commonly found on the bodies of legendary enemies , denoted by a special star icon . Hunt these enemies down to find great loot!
