Survival Mode in Fallout 4 is the hardest difficulty level you can play the game on. If you’re jumping in, you need to be ready with the best character build. So, here is the best build you can use in Survival Mode.
Fallout 4 in true RPG fashion allows players to experiment with a bunch of builds. The Infiltrator build is arguably one of the strongest builds in the game making heavy use of the gun Deliverer which also happens to be one of the best weapons in Fallout 4.
The Infiltrator also relies heavily on VATS to take down enemies with an emphasis on stealth. That being said here’s how you can make the best build for Survival Mode in Fallout 4.
Contents
- Best SPECIAL stats spread
- Best perks to choose
- The best equipment to use
- Best bobbleheads to pick up
Best SPECIAL stats spread for a Survival Mode build
Survival Mode will have you dealing with buffed-up enemies with increased attack strength and damage resistance so you need to plan your stats accordingly. Since this build has a heavy focus on V.A.T.S., put more emphasis on Agility, Luck, and Perception as all of them combined should give you a lot of value when using V.A.T.S.
- Strength: 3
- Perception: 4
- Endurance: 3
- Charisma: 1
- Intelligence: 3
- Agility: 8
- Luck: 6
Best perks to choose for a Survival Mode build
Now that you have allocated attribute points to each SPECIAL stat, the next step is to choose perks and level up accordingly. Here’s a breakdown of the perks you need to focus on throughout the game:
| Perk | SPECIAL attribute rank required | Perk description |
|---|---|---|
| Armorer | Strength – 3 | Receive access to base level and Rank 1 armor mods. |
| Awareness | Perception – 3 | You can view a target’s specific damage resistances in V.A.T.S. |
| Penetrator | Perception – 9 | Allows you to target an enemy’s body parts hidden behind cover when in V.A.T.S., with a decrease in accuracy. |
| Concentrated Fire | Perception – 10 | In V.A.T.S gain +10% accuracy on every attack on the same body part. |
| Gun Nut | Intelligence – 3 | Get access to base level and Rank 1 gun mods. |
| Gunslinger | Agility – 1 | Non-automatic pistols do 20% more damage. |
| Sneak | Agility – 3 | Become 20% harder to detect while sneaking. |
| Mister Sandman | Agility – 4 | Silenced weapons do an additional 15% sneak attack damage. |
| Action Boy/Action Girl | Agility – 5 | Action Points (AP) regenerate 25% faster. |
| Ninja | Agility – 7 | Ranged sneak attacks do 2.5x normal damage and your melee attacks do 4x normal damage. |
| Gun Fu | Agility – 10 | Deal an additional 25% damage to every new target you hit. |
| Bloody Mess | Luck – 3 | +5% bonus damage |
| Better Criticals | Luck – 6 | Criticals do 50% more damage. |
| Grim Reaper’s Sprint | Luck – 8 | V.A.T.S. kill has a 15% chance to restore all AP. |
All of these perks focus on V.A.T.S. kills and sneak attacks which is the essence of this build. Focus as much as you can on these perks.
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Penetrator, Concentrated Fire, and Gun Nut are some of the most important perks that you should unlock as soon as possible. These perks will work in tandem with the Deliverer which is a gun essential to this build.
The best equipment to use for a Survival Mode build
The Infiltrator build in Fallout 4 is highly dependent on strategic weapons and armor choices to maximize its effectiveness. Here’s the best equipment you can use for this build:
Primary Weapon – Deliverer:
- The key weapon for the Infiltrator build is the Deliverer, obtained by joining the Railroad faction. To know the full process of obtaining it, click here.
- The Deliverer has a unique special effect that reduces Action Points (AP) cost in VATS and increases VATS hit chance.
- You can even add mods to the Deliverer for increased damage and VATS performance. Do not remove the suppressor as it is integral to maintaining stealth.
- You can get Deliverer mods from Tinker Tom at Railroad HQ if you lack the crafting perks.
Backup Weapons:
- Look for backup weapons with VATS, accuracy, or AP-related bonuses. The Tinker Tom Special is a good example.
- Avoid automatic weapons to retain the benefits of the Gunslinger perk unless you choose the Commando perk instead.
- Always have the suppressor attachments with backup weapons to maintain stealth.
Armor Choices:
- Prioritize lightweight armor early on while your Sneak perk is low, but consider heavier armor as your Sneak improves.
- Avoid using Power Armor as it does not suit the Infiltrator build’s playstyle.
- Seek out Legendary armor pieces with bonuses for improved Sneak or better VATS performance.
Best bobbleheads to pick up for a Survival Mode build
While collecting bobbleheads is not mandatory some bobbleheads will make the build better and stronger. So, here is a rundown of each bobblehead to collect and the effect they have:
| Bobblehead | Location | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Unarmed Bobblehead | Atom Cats Garage | +25% critical damage gain with unarmed attacks. |
| Luck Bobblehead | Spectacle Island | Increases your Luck by 1. |
| Barter Bobblehead | Longneck Lukowski’s Cannery | Makes prices 5% better. |
| Intelligence Bobblehead | Boston Public Library | Increases your Intelligence by 1. |
| Charisma Bobblehead | Parsons State Insane Asylum | Increases your Charisma by 1. |
| Agility Bobblehead | Wreck of the FMS Northern Star | Increases your Agility by 1. |
For a more in-depth guide on where exactly to find these bobbleheads, check out our guide here.
Check out our other Fallout coverage below:
Fallout 4 console commands | 10 best Fallout 4 mods | All Easter Eggs in Fallout series trailer | Fallout Amazon series: Everything we know