Fallout Equipment Guide: Weapons

WEAPONS

aka Things that Hurt People

The inhabitants of the post-nuclear world can be divided into two catagories: those who have good weapons, and those who are killed by those who have good weapons. A good weapon can literally mean the difference between life and death.

Melee weapons certainly have their share of drawbacks - the lack of range and the generally low damage are foremost among these. There are very few situations in which you wouldn't be better off using a gun, unless you want a challenge. It's possible to play through the game without firing a shot . . . but it's pretty tough to do so.

Most melee weapons are fairly straightforward; walk up to the enemy and poke them with your stick (or knife, or sledgehammer, etc). There aren't nearly as many melee weapons as there are guns, which rather goes to show that guns were intended to be the primary weapons in the game.

NAME DAMAGE RANGE ACTION POINTS MIN. STRENGTH DESCRIPTION APPEARANCE

Brass Knuckles 2-6 1 3 1 Brass knuckles do more damage than your bare fists . . . but not by much. The worst of the melee weapons.

Cattle Prod 12-21 1 4 4 One of the more highly-powered melee weapons, the cattle prod packs a decent punch - for a glorified electric stick, that is. Uses small energy cells.

Club 1-7 1 3 3 An overpriced stick that couldn't even kill a cave rat with one shot. Don't waste your time with this so-called weapon.

Combat Knife 3-11 1 3 2 Useful early in the game, if you're fighting rats and don't want to waste your ammo. However, by the time you hit Junktown, this thing will be useless.

Crowbar 3-11 1 4 5 What does this weapon have that the combat knife doesn't? Let's see . . . damage is the same, range is the same, action points are . . . higher, as is strength. So the question is: why would you bother with this weapon?

Knife 1-7 1 3 2 Did I say the brass knuckles were the worst melee weapon in the game? This rusty, corroded piece of junk comes pretty close to capturing that title. I would advise you to sell it, but . . . who in their right mind would want to buy it?

Power Fist 12-25 1 3 1 Ah . . . now this is a weapon. Excellent damage, range . . . well, what do you expect the range on a melee weapon to be? Small energy cells provide the extra power.

Ripper 15-33 1 4 4 The ripper is even better than the power fist . . . only the super sledgehammer has higher damage. Ammo: small energy cells.

Sledgehammer 4-10 2 4 6 A higher-than-average range makes the sledgehammer better than knives or crowbars, but it's still a weak weapon.

Spear 3-11 2 4 4 When used in a melee, the spear is an inferior weapon. Good range, but poor damage.

Spiked Knuckles 4-11 1 3 1 These things look far more painful than they really are. The weapon of choice for underworld thugs . . . and if you're an underworld thug, maybe this is the melee weapon for you. I personally would rather have this next weapon . . .

Super Sledgehammer 18-37 2 3 5 The best melee weapon around, by far. Great damage, and good range. Try seeing how far you can get a creature to slide after you hit them . . .

Page by Thorokano

NAME	DAMAGE	RANGE	ACTION POINTS	MIN. STRENGTH	DESCRIPTION	APPEARANCE
Brass Knuckles	2-6	1	3	1	Brass knuckles do more damage than your bare fists . . . but not by much. The worst of the melee weapons.
Cattle Prod	12-21	1	4	4	One of the more highly-powered melee weapons, the cattle prod packs a decent punch - for a glorified electric stick, that is. Uses small energy cells.
Club	1-7	1	3	3	An overpriced stick that couldn't even kill a cave rat with one shot. Don't waste your time with this so-called weapon.
Combat Knife	3-11	1	3	2	Useful early in the game, if you're fighting rats and don't want to waste your ammo. However, by the time you hit Junktown, this thing will be useless.
Crowbar	3-11	1	4	5	What does this weapon have that the combat knife doesn't? Let's see . . . damage is the same, range is the same, action points are . . . higher, as is strength. So the question is: why would you bother with this weapon?
Knife	1-7	1	3	2	Did I say the brass knuckles were the worst melee weapon in the game? This rusty, corroded piece of junk comes pretty close to capturing that title. I would advise you to sell it, but . . . who in their right mind would want to buy it?
Power Fist	12-25	1	3	1	Ah . . . now this is a weapon. Excellent damage, range . . . well, what do you expect the range on a melee weapon to be? Small energy cells provide the extra power.
Ripper	15-33	1	4	4	The ripper is even better than the power fist . . . only the super sledgehammer has higher damage. Ammo: small energy cells.
Sledgehammer	4-10	2	4	6	A higher-than-average range makes the sledgehammer better than knives or crowbars, but it's still a weak weapon.
Spear	3-11	2	4	4	When used in a melee, the spear is an inferior weapon. Good range, but poor damage.
Spiked Knuckles	4-11	1	3	1	These things look far more painful than they really are. The weapon of choice for underworld thugs . . . and if you're an underworld thug, maybe this is the melee weapon for you. I personally would rather have this next weapon . . .
Super Sledgehammer	18-37	2	3	5	The best melee weapon around, by far. Great damage, and good range. Try seeing how far you can get a creature to slide after you hit them . . .