Overview
Learn how to fist like a pro with this guide!
Intro
Getting screwed over by enemies? Not enough power? Well with this guide, you’ll learn to have LOTS OF POWER! This is a relatively simple guide that teaches you how to fist like a pro! You’ll learn weapon statistics, what you should invest your SPECIAL points in, and masterful fisting techniques!
SPECIAL Investment and Perks
The investments that you make to SPECIAL are what’s really going to help you get on the road to becoming a pro fister. Who needs intelligent when you have RAW POWER?!
Anyways, I find the investments for brute force fisting are these.
Strength – 10
Perception – 5
Endurance – 9
Charisma – 1
Intelligence – 1
Agility – 5
Luck – 9
Because who needs charm or intelligence when you’ve got sheer brute force and the balls to punch a deathclaw in the eye? You might find other setups are more effective, but this is generally the best for fisting.
…But on the chance that you want to be cool and calculated with your fisting, swap your luck out for intelligence, because luck is for chumps! That way if you’re wiser about your fisting you get more skill points, and more skill points mean more unarmed points, which means you can really feel the gore explosion when you punch that cazador in the gonads!
One last thing. In the case that you want to become part of the secreta and gain brozoufs while making sure your legs are okay, You can up all your skills by a point or two, and then get implants. If you’re not aware on where to get said implants, you buy them from Doctor Usanagi for anywhere from 4000 to 8000 caps. She’s located east of the Crimson Caravan Company, and a bit southwest of the mole rat ranch.
Now for perks. Of course you want heavy handed. You don’t need it, but I reccomend it because less crit damage is a small price to pay for almost always doing more damage than normal. Generally it doesn’t matter what your second perk is, but unless you know what you’re doing, I wouldn’t reccomend Lightweight. You’ve gotta close the distance with your enemies, who may or may not be armed with weapons that can cripple you. If you get crippled, you waste doctor bags, which are expensive, and stimpaks, which you’re going to need as many as you can get.
I suppose I should suggest perks to pick for each level that will help you on your way.
Level 2 – If you chose intelligence over luck, Quick learner could helpful since it means faster xp gain, which means faster level progression, but otherwise I’d actually suggest putting points in survival in order to get the Hunter perk, for more damage against everything that isn’t a robot or a humanoid.
Level 4 – If you went with intelligence over luck, go with Educated, for more skill points per level that you can use. Otherwise pick cannibalism, since you might need healing when you don’t have stimpaks.
Level 6 – Bloody Mess, for goresplosions of biblical proportions. But wait, there’s more! You get bonus damage.
Level 8 – Super Slam is useful for bowling over enemies like pins, Stone Wall is useful for not getting bowled over like a pin, so one of the two.
Level 10 – If you feel like you’re lacking points in your unarmed skill, choose Here And Now. Most of the perks on this level aren’t very good, so I’d suggest going back to get one of the level 8 abilities you didn’t choose.
Level 12 – This level’s got a lot of good ones. Fast Metabolism gives you more health from stimpaks, Ghastly Scavenger lets you eat super mutant and ghoul corpses for more hit points (as long as you have cannibal perk, that is), Life Giver gives you +30 hit points, Piercing Strike reduces enemy DT by 15, and Unstoppable Force lets you deal more damage against blocking enemies. The choice is up to you.
Level 14 – Purifier is good for dealing bonus damage against abominations of nature (centaurs, nightstalkers, super mutants, spore plants, spore carriers, deathclaws, and Mr. House.) And Adamantium Skeleton reduces damage taken by 50% I’d probably suggest Adamantium Skeleton, since you already have some damage boosting perks at this point.
Level 16 – Nothing really good here, so go back and get a perk you want but didn’t get prior.
Level 18 – Paralyzing Palm is probably the best thing here, as it paralyzes anything you punch in V.A.T.S for a half minute.
Level 20 – Explorer is really good if you can’t find locations, Solar Powered is also pretty good.
Level 22 – As before, go back and get a perk you didn’t have but want.
Level 24 – Slayer, duh.
Level 26 – Nerves of Steel, since you can use it with Paralyzing Palm.
Level 28 – Go back and choose a perk you wanted. If you really want Rad Absorption, go ahead.
Choosing Your Protection, Part 1
Now, when you fist as many people as I do, you’ve gotta have some protection. If you charge in bare-handed wearing nothing but spandex briefs and a t-shirt, you’re gonna have a bad time. Since really it’s fisting that we’re focusing on, we’ll talk about the various fist-based suits of armor you can use against your enemies.
Power Fist
– Might as well start off with the standard. The power fist is a completely normal and deadly high-auxilary fist that can crush somebody’s head into pieces. It’s rather durable, being able to strike about 295 times from perfect condition before it breaks. It deals about 43.6 DPS (Damage Per Second), Deals about 40 damage on a crit and on a normal hit.
Gun Runner
– The only difference between this and the normal Power Fist is that the Gun Runner Variant can use weapon mods.
Greased Lightning
– Personally my favorite, it lacks a bit of damage (32 VS the default 40) However it does around 96 DPS and strikes 3 times a second, with a durability of 995 strikes from full condition before breaking.
Industrial Hand
– This thing is a beast. sadly, it does 40 damage on crits, a full 10 less than power fist, however it can do 150 DPS and hits 3 times a second, with a whopping 7,995 strikes from full condition before breaking.
Salt-Upon-Wounds’ Variant
– This variant of the Power Fist deals 45 damage instead of 40, and does about 61 DPS. It can strike 495 times from full condition before breaking. It also deals an extra 3 HP over 10 seconds to enemies, hence the name “Salt-Upon-Wounds”.
Saturnite Fist – It weighs slightly less than a normal Power Fist (4 pounds instead of 6) therefore the player gets boosted attack speed. Deals 35 damage, and 63 DPS. It can strike about 795 times from full condition before breaking.
Super Heated Saturnite Fist
– This variant of the Saturnite Fist has a slightly slower attack speed (faster than default Power Fist, though) and deals fire damage. Deals 55 damage, and 90 DPS.
Ballistic Fist
– Moving on from the Power Fist, this is an excellent choice of fist-based armor you can use (My opinion, you might find variants of this or others are better for you), sporting a wrist mounted shotgun that allows you to connect a punch with an enemy and then gib them into pieces. From full condition, it can strike about 395 times before it breaks. Damage is 80, DPS is 87.3. Quite powerful if you know how to use it, however you might forget about the fisting part and start trying to trickshot enemies with the wrist-mounted shotgun.
Two-Step Goodbye
– With only a single barrel, it deals about 70 damage and has 76.4 DPS, but has bonus critical chance (reduced crit damage, though) and crit kills causes the enemy to explode, said explosion doing 175 splash damage. Strikes 395 times from full condition before breaking.
Displacer Glove
– Deals 50 damage and 68 DPS, it creates a shockwave that deals high damage and knocks enemies back, similar to the Gauss Rifle. It does this using a sonic boom, made using the speaker that is attached to the knuckles. Strikes 495 times from full condition before breaking.
Pushy
– A unique variant of the displacer glove that deals 60 damage instead of 50, and does 88 DPS. It knocks back the enemy on a successful hit, with a visual effect similar to the Gauss Rifle. Strikes 595 times from full condition before breaking.
Zap Glove
– Deals 50 additional damage to robots and 20 additional damage to all power armors except NCR, Deals 35 base damage and 57 DPS. It creates a burst of electricity when striking an object, and critical hits create a bigger blast. Takes 495 strikes from full condition before breaking.
Paladin Toaster
– A variant of the Zap Glove, it deals 41 damage instead of 35 and does 67 DPS, with the same additional damage stats to power armors and robots. Can strike 395 times from full condition before breaking.
Choosing Your Protection, Part 2
A continued list of weapons of mass fisting.
Bear Trap Fist
– This fisting tool deals 27 damage, 29 DPS, and deals additional damage on an opponent’s limbs. Takes about 395 strikes from full condition before breaking.
Bladed Gauntlet
– Deals 25 damage and 40 crit damage, with 39 DPS. It has a bonus critical chance and takes 295 strikes from full condition before breaking
Cram Opener
– A variant of the Bladed Gauntlet, it deals 28 damage, 44 Crit damage, 47 DPS, and takes 370 strikes from full condition before breaking.
Now, these next three fisting tools are for all the wet noodles who want to be pro fisters but don’t want to hurt anyone.
Boxing Gloves
– These Boxing Gloves can be for those of you who are wet noodles or charitable, as this literally only requires 1 strength and deals almost no damage. Instead of injuring your enemies, you do 35 fatigue damage. If an enemy takes enough fatigue damage they get knocked out. If you can’t fatigue your enemies, you do a pitiful 10 damage to them. 995 strikes from full condition will break these mitts.
Golden Gloves
– At least the cool look of these makes up for the fact that you can’t kill anyone with these. Deals 50 fatigue damage instead of 35, and if the enemy cannot be fatigued, it does 15 damage. It takes about 1,245 strikes to break these.
Boxing Tape
– Now you can be a wannabe Street Fighter and terrorize people on the strip with these stylish rolls of duct tape you put on your hands.. They deal 20 fatigue damage and 5 damage otherwise. They also sport the best durability of the 3 wet noodle tools, taking 2,495 strikes before breaking.
Brass Knuckles/Knuckle Dusters
– For the tough guys out there, this is the tool for you. 18 damage, 36 DPS, and take 995 strikes from full condition before breaking. While they’re not the most efficient, they do make you look like a badace mothertrucker.
Dog Tag Fist
– Show how many NCR you’ve fisted by fisting even more NCR in the face with the dog tags of their dead comrades! It deals 20 damage and 31 DPS, and takes 495 strikes from full condition to break.
Recompense of The Fallen
– A unique variant of the Dog Tag Fist, It does 25 damage and 47 DPS, and swings slightly faster than the original, taking 745 strikes from full condition to break.
Fist of Rawr
– The only Deathclaw Gauntlet available in the game, it can only be acquired after killing Rawr in the Divide. With Wild Wasteland, it turns into the Fist of the North Rawr, although the only difference between the two is the ID and the name. Deals 50 damage, 75 crit damage, and about 97 DPS. Takes 445 strikes from full condition to break these stylish skin on skin fists.
Mantis Gauntlet
– Become one with nature by killing innocent bugs and using their forelegs as a weapon! Deals 30 damage and 60 DPS, It’ll take 245 strikes from full condition to break these stylish fists.
Embrace of The Mantis King!
– Now you can use the forelegs of some bigger bugs as a weapon! 42 damage, 64 Crit damage, 65 DPS, and an additional crit chance. Takes 395 strikes from full condition to break.
Scientist Glove
– Bring out the nerdy scientist within you with this fisting tool! Designed for safety, it sadly only does 21 damage and a puny 5 crit damage, with about 28 DPS. It takes 245 strikes from full condition before it breaks.
Choosing Your Protection, Part 3
The final part you’ll need to read to find out what suits you best for fisting people.
Corrosive Glove
– It seems you acidentally spilled some green stuff all over your Scientist Glove. This rare variant of the Scientist Glove deals 2 poison damage over 2 seconds to enemies when you critical hit, and works on organic and robotic lifeforms. Same base damage as Scientist Glove, 22 DPS, and 745 strikes from full condition to break.
Sterilizer Glove
– Because you’re a germophob and don’t want to get diseases from fisting, you use the Sterilizer Glove! Another unique variant of the Scientist Glove, it has all the same base effects as the Scientist Glove, however deals 2 heat damage for 5 seconds as well. The only base stat different from the Scientist Glove is that it takes 995 strikes from full condition to break it.
Dr. Klein’s Glove
– Yet another unique Scientist Glove variant, it deals 34 damage, 46 DPS, it weakens the power of energy weapons and the strength of an opponent upon punching them. Takes 495 strikes from full condition to break.
Dr. Mobius’ Glove
– The last unique variant of the Scientist Glove, this variant deals 28 damage and has 32 DPS, causes less power in energy weapons and decreased perception upon hit, and upon crit, Knocks enemies back and causes them to go into a frenzy. Takes 495 strikes from full condition to break.
Spiked Knuckles
– Even more badace than the normal knuckle dusters, they deal 25 damage, 59 DPS, and can strike 1,495 times from full condition before breaking.
Love and Hate
– Show just how bi-polar you are with these DUEL brass knuckles! deals 30 damage, 75 DPS, and takes 1,495 strikes from full condition to break.
Yao Guia Gauntlet
– Worn like a glove and taken from the right arm of a Yao Guia, it deals 20 damage, 32 DPS, and ignores Damage Resistance and Damage Threshold. Takes 2,995 strikes from full condition to break them.
She’s Embrace
– 25 Damage, 37 crit damage, 44 DPS, and ignores Damage Resistance and Damage Threshold. Takes 4,495 strikes from full condition to break it. Because when you want to remember her, always have a part of her with you. Literally.
Technique
1. Approach enemy.
2. Click left mouse.
3. ???????
4. Profit!
I guess that wasn’t good enough, so here’s an actual technique.
While it’s worthwhile to note that followers can help make you last 95% longer while fisting, it comes down to 3 things: Your agility, health, and armor. While an agile fist can be a good fist, it also means more dodging from cover to cover in order to make it to the prime fisting target. A high health/high armor means that you can tank it and just go in a beeline for your enemy. However sometimes, it isn’t a good idea to try and tank a cazador nest. Therefore, even though this is a guide for fisting, it might be a good idea to bring something to reduce the enemies health before finishing them off with your hand of destruction. One of the best choices for this would be…
The Alien Blaster.
Now, you don’t really need a gun with a ton of ammo, you just need something strong that you can hit an enemy with once, so that you can go in for the finisher with your pasty knuckles. It deals 100% Crits, so no worries about it dealing negligible damage like a 9mm.
Outro
I hope you enjoyed my first ever steam guide and learned some useful info from this! Now go forth, and fist everyone!