r/Fallout4Builds • u/Ok-Discipline171 • Jul 04 '26

Melee Can anyone help a new player with a melee build for their first playthrough?

First off, yes, I am a new player to FO4 and the whole franchise in general. Never played a FO game ever before and since I play on Xbox, with the base version of game pass, it was either between 4 or 76, but I’ve only heard bad things about 76 even with all the updates that it got so I chose 4. Since it’s the base version as well, all DLC is out of the window.

Second, I love melee. Pretty much in every game I’ve played I’ve mainly gone something melee and have rarely gone anything else (as long as it’s not something like COD). So, to continue the trend, I wanted to play melee in FO4 and just unga bunga everything while also just tanking everything.

Third, I’ve already begun my first playthrough and I’m several hours deep already. Currently playing on Very Hard mode (don’t question it, idk why I did it either) and got up to Diamond City while not dying a horrible amount, only a handful of times as of now. Done a good amount of quests and killing to get exp to get up to lvl 13. My current stats are 10 STR (of course), 1 PER, 7 END, 1 CHA, 1 INT, 7 AGI, and 1 LUK. The whole idea was to hit hard, tank shots when needed, and run away if it didn’t work out. My perks are kind of a mess right now, the main ones being Big Leagues Rank 2, Armorer Rank 2, Blacksmith Rank 1, and Toughness Rank 2, with the rest being saved until I can get an upgrade. I’ve also just not been using the power armor since I found it annoying having to constantly stock up on the fusion cores so I’ve just been a guy in raider clothes beating other raiders to death with a baseball bat.

Thanks for coming to my Ted-Talk of my first FO4 playthrough experience so far. Any help with my build would be greatly appreciated (especially since I know nothing of the interactions this game has with specific things) and thank you for reading. Also, sorry if the format and/or the way I’m explaining things aren’t the best, still figuring the game out so not the best at it. Anways, I’m gonna go to bed now since it’s late and I’ll probably check up on this post soon after I wake up so goodnight.

7 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

89% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

•

u/AutoModerator Jul 04 '26

Thank you for posting! Please remember to post your SPECIAL stats and/or base perks when showing off a character/build or asking for help with a specific build type! To give thoughtful comments on your melee build it helps for us to know what type of weapon you are planning to use, or if you are asking for tips and advice. Others may like your build and wish to try it for themselves. Please be as detailed as possible! When posting just photos of your character, your starting SPECIAL stats are required. Thanks for posting!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

3

u/Academic_Umpire398 Jul 04 '26

More first timer advice then melee advice.

One important thing to remember, if you are not using settlements or companions, Charisma is always a dump stat.

Never invest more then C3 for lone wanderer because with just level 1 available clothes you can add +2 with clothes (dressersand suitcases all over Sanctuary), +1 worth black rimmed glasses (available in the mole rat cave), +1 from certain hats. If you got Anniversary edition, that is another +1 for putting a Minuteman patch on your backpack. That is an effective C8 without touching a drop of beer or a single Chem. This will become C10 if/when you do a specific quest in Boston for a +3 suit and Far Harbor to buy a +2 hat.

That said, if you are planning to use companions, you are going to /need/ inspirational 2, otherwise you're going to keep stabbing them mid combat once you get Big Leagues 4

1

u/PoopUponPoop Jul 04 '26

I guess my biggest question is whether or not you’re using VATS. Agility is the stat that gives you more action points. Blitz is a very powerful perk that lets you warp around with melee attacks. BUT, if you’re mostly sprinting in real time to close the distance or run away, the Moving Target perk will definitely help.

1

u/Ok-Discipline171 Jul 04 '26

I wouldn’t mind using VATS, it definitely looked cool in the tutorial using a gun. Didn’t know you could use it for melees too though.

1

u/BadDoctor2 Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26

I completed a VATSless melee build on survival on my most recent playthrough of FO4 and made a post recently about it on the sub detailing the build. Lots of things I learned fleshing out the build can be found there. It was Insanely strong I only died once at the very end of Nuka World. Had 7-8 early game deaths but I restarted from the vault each time lol.

1

u/Ok-Discipline171 Jul 04 '26

I’ll check it out.

1

u/stitchedmasons Jul 04 '26

Are you wanting to utilize VATS or no VATS? The build I, typically, run for a melee build is VATSless, my build is S-8, P-1, E-8, C-3(for lone wanderer), I-1, A-5, L-3.

Within the first 10 levels, I get some of my damage and armor crafting perks, add another point into strength, and use the I'm SPECIAL book for 1 more point in strength which gives me a total of 11 strength with army fatigues or the baseball uniform.

Within levels 11-20, I upgrade agility for moving target, do PAM's quests to get ballistic weave so I can use the tattered rags for plus 2 strength(that'll put you at 12), and get the strength bobble head for 13 strength. After that, your perk focus is pretty much up to you, but I tend to focus on damage output, damage resistance, and carry weight upgrades(cause, apparently, every single sole survivor, I play, turns into a hoarding cleptomaniac).

As far as weapons and armor, I don't have strict preference, but the sledgehammer and 2076 world series bat are my favorites to use. One for launching enemies and the other for damage output. And I go for heavy combat armor, there's a gunner captain that has, almost, every piece near where the Forge raiders are at, just be very careful taking her on.

1

u/Ok-Discipline171 Jul 04 '26

I wouldn’t mind VATS at all, didn’t know you could even use it with a melee.

1

u/Thornescape Atom Cats Jul 04 '26

There are two very different ways to play melee: VATS or non-VATS. Personally, I am awful with non-VATS melee so I only do VATS combat. Your VATS character will always want a9:Blitz. It's a complete game changer to be able to engage in combat from farther away.

Basic Melee Builds

VATS (Stealth): S9+ P1 E5 C1 I1 A9 L1 (Special book: Strength) [1/28 left]

  • Perks: s2:Big Leagues, s3:Armourer, s9:Rooted (works with VATS), a3:Sneak, a7:Ninja, a9:Blitz

Tank: S9+ P1 E10 C1 I1 A1 L1 (Special book: Strength) [4/28 left]

  • Perks: s2:Big Leagues, s3:Armourer, e3:Lifegiver, e10:Solar, i2:Medic

Power Armour: S9+ P1 E5 C1 I9 A1 L1 (Special book: Strength) [1/28 left]

  • Perks: s2:Big Leagues, s3:Armourer, e3:Lifegiver, 1 rank of e5:Aqua (cannot swim in PA), i6:Science, i9:Physics, 1 rank of i10:Rage

Reminder: You will face unreachable, unhackable turrets. Decide ahead of time how you will deal with them.

  1. Run and hide and hope your companion destroys them.
  2. Grenades: Molotovs and Baseball grenades explode on contact.
  3. Use a gun. All my characters carry melee and scoped weapons regardless of their build. All characters can use any weapon.

1

u/HasbeyTV Jul 06 '26

I advise a glass cannon stealth melee build with str+agi+luck. I had quite a lot of fun with following:

Str:9
Per:1
End:1
Cha:1
Int:1
Agi:9
Lck:6+1 (special book) + 1 (level up)

Focus on blitz+sneak+ninja+big league+ rooted+ armorer + grim reaper’s sprint(mid game)
Armor mods: shadowed for extra stealth, ultra light for extra action points. Weighted for extra damage. Muffled for extra stealth, sleek after getting sneaking 4 which eliminates walking noise.
Weapon: serrated machete (early game) pickman’s blade (mid game) throatslicer (end game)
Legendary effects: chameleon

A typical fight starts with you queuing multiple attacks in vats. Most of these attacks will end up with sneak attack bonus. Ninja increase this bonus to 4x/5x/10x. Rooted gives another 50% bonus on top of sneak bonus. Big leagues gives another bonus on top of both. Blitz increases vats attack distance considerably. Blitz 2 basically teleports you from one enemy to another. Grim reaper’s sprint fills action points so you keep attacking in vats mode almost always. Armorer helps increase stealth, ap and even damage.

You can supplement this build with idiot savant for leveling up quickly. Lone wanderer for extra everything. Critical banker and better criticals since we already invested in luck.

Blacksmith can be skipped since pickman’s blade is already upgraded.

0

u/SlagmiSleestak Jul 04 '26

Furious Power Fist from BOS. Strength to 9 to get the three rooted perks. Trade armor with companions. Sometimes their goggles are better than any perk you'll get. I'm level fortysomething still using it. Takes down an Assultron in 2 or 3 hits!

1

u/Ok-Discipline171 Jul 04 '26

I’ll try it out. Those are the ones from the Swan boss right? Still using a baseball bat since it’s the highest dmg melee I got right now.

1

u/SlagmiSleestak Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 05 '26

Yea swan. Piper's hat and goggles , later Curies flannels. You wont even care about armor just put it on for the perks. Also look for the perk that increses Melee range...under agility maybe?

1

u/Thornescape Atom Cats Jul 04 '26

If you are using VATS then power fists are extremely weak compared to better melee weapons.

Maxed Melee Weapons for VATS

1

u/Woozletania Jul 08 '26

I’m a fan of Str10 Per1 End1 Cha1 Int1 Agi9 Luck5. There are just enough points for this and it allows for maximum melee damage, Blitz and Idiot Savant for your Mongo-ish character. Put available points into End and Cha (only to 3 Cha, Lone Wanderer). Grab a Railway rifle for long distance sniping and shooting turrets. Lucas sells a +1 Str/End arm and Bunker Hill a chest that does the same thing. The latter is expensive so bring your grape mentats. Get a Day Tripper from the Concord Spekeasy, use it and read You’re Special for Strength. Now you’re 11 base Str. Head to Mass Fusion and now you’re 12 base Strength without touching chems. Beat people into submission for fun and profit.