Each weapon type has its place in Fallout 76. While some weapons are primarily useful in close-combat situations, others excel from a range. One of the most common weapon types is pistols since you can find them all over the Wasteland.
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PostsPistols aren't the strongest weapon type in terms of damage, but they're powerful when you pair them with the right SPECIAL stats and Perk Cards. This guide will walk you through how to create an effective pistol build in Fallout 76 and the best pistols you can obtain.
Updated June 20, 2024, by Andrew Scariati: With the release of the Skyline Valley update, we've updated our Fallout 76 Pistol Build with a new weapon focus and more legendary perks to hunt on your pistols. Whether you're just looking for Fallout 76's best pistol or you need a full Pistol build stat spread, we have it covered.
What Is The Best Weapon For A Pistol Build?
Pistols are a common weapon type to encounter, so it's no surprise that there are many to acquire. Although there are lots of pistols, the following weapons are the strongest handguns you can get in Fallout 76. Here's everything you need to know about the best pistols and how to obtain them.
Alien Blaster
The Alien Blaster is easily the most unique pistol in both appearance and function, as it requires Alien Blaster (AB) Rounds to fire, and gives off a unique effect. This weapon deals 24–37 energy damage per shot, and can hold up to 42 rounds in its magazine.
This energy pistol can be looted from aliens during the Event: Invaders from Beyond and plans to craft it also drop from the event.
You can craft a level 50 version using eight Adhesive, 13 Aluminum, nine Circuitry, eight Fiber Optics, nine Glass, 22 Plastic, and 14 Screws.
Screws are a valuable commodity you should farm, so you can craft without worrying about scavenging for the materials.
Crusader Pistol
The Crusader Pistol is one of the most powerful weapons you can get in Fallout 76.
This handgun deals 28-35 base damage and can hold 12 bullets in its clip. The Crusader Pistol is particularly unique because you can craft attachments that allow it to fire many different types of projectile damage, including cryo damage.
If you want a Crusader Pistol, then you'll need to craft it at a weapons workbench upon earning the Crusader Pistol plans, which you can get by completing Daily Ops after you reach level 50.
To craft a level 50 Crusader Pistol at a Weapons Workbench, you'll need 12 Screws, 14 Springs, nine Adhesive, 18 Steel, and 12 Aluminum. You also need the third stage of Gunsmith to craft a Crusader Pistol.
Gauss Pistol
Gauss weapons are powerful in Fallout 76, so it makes sense that the Gauss pistol is one of the strongest handguns in the Wasteland. The Gauss Pistol has multiple attributes that make it unique, including its ability to charge up a more powerful shot.
The Gauss Pistol deals 62-115 base damage, but it really shines because of its ammo capacity, which allows 18 rounds per clip.
There aren't many handguns in Fallout 76 that can live up to the Gauss Pistol, so it's worth adding it to your arsenal regardless of your preferences.
Crafting the Gauss Pistol is a major task. First, you'll need to complete the Settlers or Raiders questline and then speak to Regs. Regs will sell you the plans for the Gauss Pistol for 250 Gold Bullion.
Next, you'll need to travel to a Weapons Workbench and craft the handgun with 11 Screws, two Silver, two Springs, eight Aluminum, ten Steel, four Circuitry, and two Legendary Modules.
You need the first stage of the Science perk to craft the Gauss Pistol.
What Is The Best Legendary Effect For A Pistol?
Legendary effects are a unique bonus or ability that weapons and armor can possess.
The strongest legendary effect for a pistol is Two Shot, which fires two bullets for every trigger pull, increasing your damage per second (DPS), and increasing your efficiency against multiple targets.
The Two Shot perk should be paired with the Explosive legendary effect for maximum damage, otherwise, other options will perform better.
If you're running a Bloodied build, then the Bloodied perk will be an excellent alternative, since you'll be doing almost 100 percent bonus damage while you're at low health.
Furious is a great third option because it increases your damage against a target every time you successfully hit them.
The Furious effect is particularly useful for pistols, since they aren't heavy-hitting weapons, and you'll often need to hit your target many times before defeating them. This effect is great for challenging powerful enemies to a fight while playing solo.
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PostsWhat Are The Best Stats For A Pistol Build?
Every build has a unique combination of SPECIAL stats and Perk Cards that pair together to create a powerful character. Mutations can also aid a pistol build in unique ways. The following section will explain the best stats and perks you can use to customize a pistol build.
The Best SPECIAL Stat Allocation For A Pistol Build
SPECIAL stats are an important part of any build in Fallout 76 because they control which Perk Cards you can equip, as well as offer unique gameplay advantages.
You start a new character with one point in each stat and gain one point every time you level up until reaching level 50. In total, you can earn 56 SPECIAL points in Fallout 76 without Legendary Perks.
A pistol build has a strong SPECIAL foundation that focuses on Perception, Agility, and Luck.
However, Intelligence may also play a role depending on which Perk Cards you plan to equip.
The following SPECIAL stat allocation is a useful base if you want to customize your pistol build for use in VATS.
SPECIAL Stat
Number Of Points
Strength
One
Perception
13
Endurance
Four
Charisma
Five
Intelligence
Eight
Agility
15
Luck
Ten
The Best Perk Cards For A Pistol Build
There are dozens of Perk Cards in Fallout 76, and each of them offers an opportunity to increase your combat ability.
You earn Perk Cards as your character levels up, and each card requires a certain SPECIAL stat total to equip.
For example, you can only equip a Luck Perk Card with three next to its name if you have three available Luck points.
These eight Perk Cards are great for Pistol builds since they primarily focus on damage dealt with pistols and through critical hits.
Perk Card
Base Effect
SPECIAL Stat Requirement
Level Requirement
Modern Renegade
Your Hip-Fire Accuracy Is Better With Pistols, And You Have A two percent Chance to Break An Enemy's Limb
1 Agility
Level 18
Bloody Mess
Your Damage With All Weapons is Increased By five percent
1 Luck
Level 42
Crack Shot
While Aiming Down Sights, Your Accuracy And Range With Pistols Is ten percent Better
1 Perception
Level Seven
Adrenaline
Your Damage Increases six percent Every Time You Defeat An Enemy (Lasts For 30 Seconds And Stacks six Times)
1 Agility
Level 49
Concentrated Fire
You Can Now Target Individual Limbs In VATS
1 Perception
Level Two
Better Criticals
Critical Hits In VATS Deal 20 percent More Damage
1 Luck
Level 47
Gunsmith
Your Guns Lose Durability ten percent Slower, And You Can Craft Higher Tier Guns
1 Intelligence
Level 11
Gunslinger (+Expert & Master Gunslinger)
Non-Automatic Pistols Deal ten percent More Damage
1 Agility
Level Six
The Best Legendary Perks For A Pistol Build
Legendary Perks share similarities with Perk Cards, but you can only equip them once you reach level 50.
You earn a new Legendary Perk slot at levels 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, and 300. There are dozens of Legendary Perks to consider, but these six are the best perks to pair with a pistol build.
Legendary Perk
Base Effect
Far-Flung Fireworks
Enemies Have A ten percent Chance To Explode When You Defeat Them With A Ranged Weapon
Follow Through
Enemies Take ten percent More Damage When You Hit Them With A Ranged Sneak Attack, Lasts For 10 Seconds
Ammo Factory
You Get 50 percent More Ammo When You Craft Ammunition
Legendary Perception
Gain +1 Perception And Perception Point
Legendary Agility
Gain +1 Agility And Agility Point
Legendary Luck
Gain +1 Luck And Luck Point
The Best Mutation For A Pistol Build
Many mutations can benefit a pistol build, but the best mutation possible is Eagle Eyes since it increases your Perception stat by four points and increases your critical hit damage by 25 percent.
Eagle Eyes also reduces your STR stat by four.
Bird Bones increases your Agility stat by four points, but also decreases your Strength stat by four points. You should pick one of these mutations depending on whether you prioritize Perception or Agility while distributing your SPECIAL points.
You can get mutations by coming into contact with radiation, which is easy to do if you know where to look for it.
You can gain radiation by eating irradiated food, swimming in irradiated water, or walking around in irradiated areas of the Wasteland.
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