Level 10 Perks

Uncover the best Level 10 Perks in Fallout: New Vegas! Learn which perks like And Stay Back, Finesse, and Math Wrath are worth your precious perk points.

Alright, so you've hit level 10 in Fallout: New Vegas, and that means it's time to snag another perk. This is where things start to get really interesting, as you unlock some pretty powerful abilities. Let's break down what's available at this level and figure out which ones will make the biggest difference for your build.

We'll go through each perk, look at what it does, and I'll give you my honest take on whether it's a solid pick or something you can probably skip. Remember, the 'best' perk often depends on how you like to play, so keep that in mind as we go!

And Stay Back!

This perk is all about shotguns. When you shoot an enemy with a shotgun, there's a chance they'll get knocked down. It's super effective against bigger foes like Death Claws and Super Mutants, making them pretty much helpless. Humans are less affected, but honestly, they're usually not tough enough to survive a shotgun blast anyway.

Requirements: Level 10, Guns 70

My take: If you're a shotgun enthusiast, this is a no-brainer, especially if you already grabbed Shotgun Surgeon. It adds a fun and effective crowd-control element to your shotgun gameplay.

Animal Friend

This one's got two ranks. At the first rank, wild animals just won't attack you. At the second rank, they'll even come to your aid in a fight, though they won't attack other animals. It's a neat idea, but honestly, pacifying critters isn't usually as effective as just shooting them. Plus, some of the more dangerous animals only show up in expansions.

Requirements: Level 10, Charisma 6, Survival 45

My take: While it sounds cool, I usually find this perk to be a bit of a waste. You're better off investing those perk points into something that directly boosts your combat effectiveness.

Fight the Power!

This perk is for when you've had enough of the NCR, Legion, or Brotherhood bossing you around. You get +2 Damage Threshold and +5% Critical Hit Chance specifically against enemies wearing the armor of these factions. It's a solid boost that directly competes with perks like Sneering Imperialist, but offers better combat stats.

Requirements: Level 10

My take: If you find yourself frequently fighting these major factions, this perk can be quite useful. The Damage Threshold and Critical Hit Chance are tangible benefits that can make a real difference in tougher encounters.

Finesse

This perk is fantastic for anyone looking to land more critical hits. It gives you a 5% bonus to your Critical Hit Chance, which is basically like having 5 extra points in Luck. This is especially powerful when combined with other perks that boost criticals, like Better Criticals, and weapons that already have a high critical chance.

Requirements: Level 10

My take: Honestly, this is one of the best perks you can get at level 10, or really, at any level. It's universally useful, significantly boosts your damage output, and synergizes incredibly well with other critical-focused builds. Don't skip this one if you can help it.

Here and Now

This perk immediately bumps you up one experience level, giving you all the benefits that come with it. Sounds good, right? Well, you could also just, you know, play the game and level up normally.

Requirements: Level 10

My take: This is a complete waste of a perk point. Just play the game and earn your levels; don't waste a valuable perk slot on something you'll get naturally.

Math Wrath

Math Wrath optimizes your Pip-Boy's V.A.T.S. logic, which means all your Action Point (AP) costs in V.A.T.S. are reduced by 10%. This is super handy if you rely on V.A.T.S. for combat, as it lets you perform more actions before running out of AP.

Requirements: Level 10, Science 70

My take: This is a great perk for V.A.T.S. users. While Action Boy/Girl gives you more AP, Math Wrath makes your existing AP go further, which can be more efficient. If you're using V.A.T.S. regularly, this is a solid choice.

Miss Fortune

This perk, which only works in V.A.T.S., gives you a chance for a special event to occur that can turn the tide of battle. It's similar to the Mysterious Stranger perk.

Requirements: Level 10, Luck 6

My take: Relying on random chance in V.A.T.S. isn't the most reliable combat strategy, especially since V.A.T.S. isn't as powerful in New Vegas as it was in Fallout 3. I'd pass on this one.

Mister Sandman

If you're sneaking around, this perk lets you perform silent, instant kills on sleeping humans and Ghouls, and you get bonus XP for it. It also makes them easier to detect when they're sleeping, which is a bit of a downside.

Requirements: Level 10, Sneak 60

My take: This is a very situational perk. Most enemies you'll want to assassinate won't be sleeping, and the bonus XP isn't usually worth the perk slot. Plus, if they're sleeping, you can often just shoot them from a distance anyway. Generally, I'd skip this.

Mysterious Stranger

This perk summons a helpful NPC, the Mysterious Stranger, who will occasionally appear in V.A.T.S. mode to help you out with a .44 Magnum. He's quite effective when he shows up.

Requirements: Level 10, Luck 6

My take: Similar to Miss Fortune, this perk relies on random chance and V.A.T.S., which makes it unreliable. There are better, more consistent ways to deal damage. Save your perk point.

Nerd Rage!

When your health drops below 20%, you enter a 'Nerd Rage' state. This gives you +20 Damage Resistance and +25% damage with all weapons for 30 seconds. It's a lifesaver when things get hairy!

Requirements: Level 10, Intelligence 5

My take: This is a fantastic panic button perk. It can get you out of a tough spot and turn the tables when you're on the brink of death. If you're playing a character that might find themselves in low-health situations, this is a great defensive and offensive boost.