SNIPER TACTICS

Master sniping in Fallout with this guide. Learn about the best sniper rifles, combat shotguns, and .223 pistols for various ranges and enemy types, including Deathclaws.

Sniping in Fallout is effective against immobile targets like The Master, unarmed critters, and for general long-range combat. The best weapons for sniping depend on the range and target's armor.

Long-Range Sniping:

• Sniper Rifle: The best choice for long-range sniping. It is effective against all targets, armored or not, with a damage range of 14-34 HP.
• Hunting Rifle: Works well on lightly armored targets, with a max damage of 20 HP.
• Assault Rifle: Suitable for mid-armored targets, and good for bursting on lightly armored targets. Max damage is 16 HP. Can be used in burst mode for sniping.

Short-Range Sniping:

• Combat Shotgun: Excellent for short-distance sniping, especially against unarmed or melee-weapon users. It's the best weapon for mid-armored targets and for short-range control. It's effective with Power Armor against enemies like Decker and can pacify Deathclaws.
• .223 Pistol: Superior to the Combat Shotgun for short-range combat, though less accurate with a smaller 5-round magazine. It can eliminate the need for energy weapons later in the game. Combat shotguns and the .223 pistol are very effective in close-quarters fights, such as those in The Hub.

High Energy Weapons:

• Plasma Rifle: If you have a high energy weapons skill, this is a potent choice as no armor withstands its damage well. A Turbo Plasma Rifle costs only 4 APs for a single shot.

Advanced Tactics:

• Against Deathclaws: With high small guns skill and luck, use a sniper rifle and/or .223 pistol to cripple their legs. Then, aim for head and eye shots when they are down.
• General Melee/Unarmed Combat: The tactic of crippling legs and then targeting weak points works well against unarmed opponents. This strategy shines when combined with weapons like a super sledgehammer or spiked knuckles, allowing you to hit, retreat, and conserve ammo.
• Aimed Shots: With a high small guns skill (1220%+), aim for specific body parts. A skill of 150%+ generally provides a 95% chance to hit at decent ranges, even at night.
• Range Modifiers: Be aware that using long-range weapons at very close range against critters can result in a negative combat modifier due to the Fallout combat engine.