Fallout 76 offers a wide selection of weapons, weapon types, and mods. With the number of possible playstyles, it’s easy to lose track. We give you some tips for weapons that we personally use to rock the wasteland.
That’s why the selection is important: In Fallout 76, you can specialize in certain weapons and build a character around them with your perks. The trick is that you can reduce the weight of the respective weapons with perks, increase their damage, or unlock special traits.
While it can be useful to carry different weapons at all times to switch in emergencies or change ammunition, focusing on one or two weapon types greatly increases your damage.
These are our best weapons in Fallout 76
Both Tarek and I, Benedict, have both put in many hours into Fallout 76. During this time, we have tried and switched many weapons. Here are our current firearms and tips for experimenting and modifying.
Most weapons can be used with or without the coveted power armors. Only “unarmed” weapons, such as melee weapons, are generally excluded from this rule.
Good weapons for the “midgame”
Our author Tarek is currently playing with friends at a mid-level between level 20 and 30 on the PS4. He is particularly fond of two special rifles.
Hunting Rifle
The hunting rifle is one of the weapons that players can find continuously early in the game and all the way to the end. It is a non-automatic rifle and is especially suitable for long-range battles.
Mods and Benefits:
- Reinforced bolt
- Extended standard barrel
- Adjusted stock
- Penetrating magazine
- Short-range scope
- No muzzle brake
With these mods, the hunting rifle becomes a sniper rifle that can penetrate opponents’ armor at long distances and deal lethal damage. From stealth, you can usually take out multiple enemies before they notice you.
Handmade Rifle
The handmade rifle is inspired by the famous AK-47 and is an automatic rifle that is popular among many players at all levels. However, to craft it, you first need the blueprint for the handmade rifle.
Mods and Benefits:
- Calibrated bolt
- Extended barrel
- Solid stock
- Penetrating magazine
- Reflex sight (dot)
- No muzzle brake
The handmade rifle is counted among automatic rifles and with these mods, it becomes a deadly bullet thrower at medium range. Shots from the hip are more accurate, and in close combat, the quick strike deals more damage.
Good weapons for the “endgame”
I am currently playing mostly solo on PC and wandering through Appalachia at level 65. I frequently have to fight in impact zones of atomic bombs with mutated enemies and have found joy in heavy weapons.
Gatling
The Gatling is a hand-operated weapon, mostly known from the Wild West. Heavy projectiles are fired by turning a crank. This heavy weapon also has several modification options.
Mods and Benefits:
- Swift bolt
- Extended barrel
- Comfort grip
- Standard magazine
- Open sight
- No muzzle brake
The Gatling does significant damage per shot and holds a large magazine, so you don’t have to reload too often even against large hordes of enemies. It is suitable at medium and short range and hits more accurately and shoots faster with these modifications.
I don’t use a normal Gatling gun, but a legendary one. Legendary items can be found all over Appalachia. The gun is dropped by a random boss enemy.
Combat Rifle
The combat rifle is a sort of evolution of the hunting rifle. It has a larger magazine and a faster rate of fire, but does less damage per shot. However, with the right mods, it can still be deadly at long and medium ranges.
Mods and Benefits:
- Powerful bolt
- Adjusted extended stock
- Stabilized stock
- Bitten magazine
- Long-range scope
- Silencer
With these mods, the combat rifle becomes a silent killer at longer to medium distances. If you can’t kill enemies from a distance with the rifle, it also offers good precision from the hip.
The benefits of mods
Most weapons can be customized with modifications. The mods change the properties of the weapons. You can modify almost every weapon stat:
- Damage
- Weight
- Range
- Precision and recoil
Most mods improve the weapon at the cost of weight. However, some also change the behavior of the weapon from single-shot to automatic, change the loaded ammo type, or add silencing.
Mods adapt a weapon even more to your playstyle and give you the opportunity to customize a weapon for yourself. However, some perks require a higher level of the weapon artisan perk.
The important side weapons
Both Tarek and I still always have a melee weapon with us.
- Tarek takes a ski sword with metal splinter mod.
- I always have a serrated machete and a bowie knife with me.
Melee weapons do not require ammunition and deal significant damage even without using perks to enhance them. They don’t need to be reloaded and hit in a narrow, conical area in front of the player.
They are therefore always a great advantage when many enemies rush at the same time, and you don’t want to waste your time reloading.
Which weapons do you prefer to use?
Some of the strongest weapons and mods require a rare material. Here’s how to find the rare ultracite in Fallout 76.
