Build Guide: Small Guns with critical hits, sneak and crippling
Playstyle: Human | V.A.T.S. | Crit Build | Crippled Damage | High DPS | Bloodied | Full Life
With the update on September 2nd, 2025, the perk cards are now largely finalized, so I can now present more build guides again without them becoming obsolete after three months. The main focus was on being able to play significantly more different weapons with one build.
This build plays Bloodied as a human, but with minor changes, it can also be played with full health or as a ghoul. The primary weapons are small guns (which are rifles, pistols and also shotguns). Heavy weapons are generally possible, but with an optimized build, there are other options that this build doesn't include. As a bonus for increased damage, the build uses stealth, critical hits, and crippling. New here is crippling, which gives us an additional bonus of up to 345%. This makes the build playable with or without stealth, making it useful in events or daily operations. With Sneak (+2x), you now get a decent bonus through Covert Ops (+50%), Sandman (+100%), Follow Through (+40%), and Suppressor (+50%), and you will take less damage.
Full Life & Ghoul: Skip the Nerd Rage perk, swap Bloodied for something like Aristocrat or Two Shot, and use Vanguard armor instead of Unyielding.
Weapons
Any rifle or pistol can be used. Shotguns are also possible, as they are also considered "small guns". In this guide, I'll be using an assault rifle, as this is among the most powerful automatic rifles in Fallout 76 currently. But I also play single shot rifles e.g. leveraction rifle and hunting rifle. The options are now more varied than with the old perk cards.
The legendary mods on these rifles are mostly the same:
- Bloodied (up to 130% bonus damage at 5% HP)
- Explosive (+20% bonus damage + Demolition Expert)
- V.A.T.S. Enhanced (-35% action point cost in VATS)
- Bully's (+25% damage per crippled target body part)
Note: For most enemies, this means +150% bonus damage from the head, torso, arms, and legs. Some enemies have fewer (EN-06) or more "limbs" (Ultracite Terror), and the damage scales accordingly.
I also tested Vital (+50% damage on critical hits), but Explosive usually performed better. At close range, if you want to remain undetected (e.g., in West Tek), a Vital mod can of course make sense instead of Explosive. Just try it out for yourself. I currently like the Explosive version best.
Armor
I'm using the Secret Service Armor with the following legendary mods:
- Unyielding
- Powered (3x); Poisoners (1x), Fireproof (1x)
- Thru Hikers
- Rangers (2x)
Limit Breaking (3x)
With this combination, the build achieves good SPECIAL stats, has good AP acceleration, reduces the weight of chems & food/drinks, increases ranged damage and scores more critical hits.
Perks
|
S
Strength
9 Points
|
|
|---|---|
| 3* Easy Target | +75% ranged damage to crippled targets. |
| 2* Scattershot |
20% of the damage dealt to a limb is applied to all limbs on your target. Note: Grants fast Crippling.
|
| 2* Bandolier | Ballistic weapon ammo weighs 90% less. |
| 2* Arms Keeper | Your weapons weigh 75% less. |
|
P
Perception
10 + 5 legendary = 15 Points
|
|
|---|---|
| 2* Ground Pounder |
Your small guns reload 20% faster and have 20% more hip fire accuracy.
Datamining:
Hip fire is VATS usage or shooting without aiming down sight. |
| 2* Tank Killer | Your ranged weapons ignore 40% armor. |
| 2* Tormentor |
You deal 20% more damage per crippled limb your target has.
Datamining:
Since all body parts are "limbs" (head, arms, legs, torso) this is a buff of about 120% in average on a crippled enemy. |
| 2* Fast Fighter |
Gain 50% of your bonus movement speed as reload speed.
Datamining:
This bonus is applied by the "Speed demon" mutation. |
| 1* Skeet Shooter | Your small guns have 45% better accuracy and spread. |
| 3* Down Ranger |
You do +20% ranged damage to far enemies.
Datamining:
"Far enemies" can be measured in camp foundations. More than 3.9 foundations counts as "far". |
| 3* Number Cruncher |
Your weapons have 2% increased damage per AP cost. Note: Thats +18% on the Assault Rifle, +78% on the Hunting Rifle and +46% on the Leveraction Rifle.
|
|
E
Endurance
10 Points
|
|
|---|---|
| 2* LifeGiver |
Gain more max HP per point in END. Note: This is a bonus of ca. +106 HP in this case.
|
| 1* Radicool | The greater your Rads, the greater your Strength (max +5 STR)! |
| 1* Thirst Quencher |
Increased Max AP based on END while not diseased. Note: This are +69 Max AP in this case.
|
| 1* Starched Genes | You will never mutate from rads and RadAway will never cure mutations. |
| 1* Iron Stomach |
Increased Damage and Energy Resistance based on END while not diseased. Note: This are +56 DMG and +56 Energy Resist in this case.
|
| 3* Hardy | Take 45% less damage from explosions. |
| 1* Natural Resistance |
Increased Elemental Resistances based on END while not diseased. Note: In this case we get +32 cryo, +32 poison and +32 fire resistance.
|
|
C
Charisma
4 Points
|
|
|---|---|
| 2* Tenderizer |
Each attack makes your target take increased damage.
Datamining:
Each hit increases the damage to an enemy by 0.1%, reaching a maximum of 100% after 1000 hits. This stacks with all other players who have this card equipped and are fighting the same enemy. It also stacks with the legendary perk "Taking one for the team." It's very effective in boss fights. |
| 1* Strange In Numbers |
Positive mutation effects are +25% stronger if teammates are mutated too.
Datamining:
You should always play on a public team. |
| 1* Inspirational |
Gain more XP while on a team based on your CHA. Note: In this case we gain about +23% XP.
|
|
I
Intelligence
6 + 5 legendary = 11 Points
|
|
|---|---|
| 2* Nerd Rage! |
While your Health is low, gain increased damage and AP regen.
Datamining:
The damage buff and AP regen scales between 80% and 5% HP, the lower the better. |
| 3* Demolition Expert |
Your explosives do +60% damage. Note: This also includes explosive projectiles like used on the rifles in this build.
|
| 2* Science! |
Increase energy damage based on your INT.
Datamining:
Note: If you just want to use ballistic weapons, you don't need this perk.
|
| 2* Batteries Included | Energy weapon ammo weighs 90% less. |
| 2* Good With Salt | Food in your inventory will spoil 90% slower. |
|
A
Agility
10 + 5 legendary = 15 Points
|
|
|---|---|
| High Agility makes for better Sneak ability, so you're less likely to be detected. | |
| 1* Escape Artist |
Sneak to lose enemies, and running no longer affects stealth.
Datamining:
Sneak to loose enemies, and running no longer affects stealth. Means your steps don't cause noise anymore. When you crouch enemies will loose track. This effect can be triggered every 3 seconds. |
| 2* Adrenaline |
Gain +10% damage per kill while on a Kill Streak (Max 10).
Datamining:
This grants a bonus of +100% after 10 kills. |
| 3* Covert Operative | Your ranged attacks do an additional 50% sneak attack damage. |
| 2* Mister Sandman |
Your silenced weapons do an additional 100% sneak attack damage. Note: This works in this build with every silenced rifle.
|
| 3* Enforcer |
Your small guns gain a 15% stagger chance and +75% limb damage. Note: Combined with the "Scattershot" perk, most enemies are crippled on the first shot, so that from the second shot onwards all bonus buffs against crippled enemies take effect.
|
| 3* Gunslinger |
Your ranged weapons do +12% weak spot damage. Note: This affects damage shown in yellow numbers (mostly on the head).
|
| 1* Gun Fu |
V.A.T.S. swaps targets on kill with +30% damage to your next target. Note: This is great on mobs and rank 1 should be enough here.
|
|
L
Luck
7 + 5 legendary = 12 Points
|
|
|---|---|
| 3* Class Freak | The negative effects of your mutations are reduced by 75%. |
| 1* Serendipity |
While below 30% health, gain a chance to Evade based on LCK. (No Power Armor) Note: This results in a ca. +26% evade chance in this case.
|
| 3* Critical Savvy |
Critical Hits now only consume 55% of your critical meter.
Datamining:
Critical hits are only applied when the meter is full. The faster the meter is charged, the more critical hits can be dealed in shorter time. |
| 3* Better Criticals | V.A.T.S. criticals now do +100% damage. |
| 1* Ricochet |
Gain a chance to Deflect ranged attacks based on LCK. Note: In this case +32% Deflect Chance.
|
| 1* Four Leaf Clover |
Misses in V.A.T.S. now contribute to the Critical Meter based on your LCK. Note: Thats +72% Crit Meter Miss.
|
Perk Set
Click the perk cards to enlarge
Legendary Perks
Mutations
| Eagle Eyes |
Positive effects:
Critical Damage +50%, PER +4 Negative effects: STR -4 |
| Adrenal Reaction |
Positive effects:
+5% DMG per kill while on a Kill Streak; Max 10 stacks. On bottom right the bonus is display with a skull icon and number. Negative effects: Max HP -50 |
| Electrically Charged |
Positive effects:
Chance to shock melee attackers Negative effects: Small amount of damage done to player |
| Marsupial |
Positive effects:
Carry Weight +20, +jump height Negative effects: INT -4 |
| Egg Head |
Positive effects:
INT +6 Negative effects: STR -3, END -3 |
| Herd Mentality |
Positive effects:
All SPECIAL stats +2 when grouped (Alone in a public team is fine) Negative effects: All SPECIAL stats -2 when solo |
| Herbivore |
Positive effects:
Eating plant-based food provides double the hunger satisfaction, HP restoration, and consumable buffs, with no disease chance Negative effects: Eating meat does not satisfy hunger, restore HP, or apply buffs |
| Speed Demon |
Positive effects:
Movement speed +20%, faster reload +20% Negative effects: +50% drain on hunger and thirst while moving |
| Bird Bones |
Positive effects:
-65% falling speed, +5 AGI Negative effects: STR -4, take extra limb damage |
Buffs
Fully fed: +1 STR, +35 HP, +35 Disease Resist
Fully hydrated: +35% AP Regen, +1 END, +35 Disease Resist
You should always use these two buffs. Both are easy to maintain if you use Perfect Bubblegum (lasts 1 hour). Perfect Bubblegum is available in Foundation and Crater for gold.
In order to get maximum damage on critical hits, this build can use buffs in appropriate situations. It makes sense to buff the damage on critical hits, as well as the ap acceleration / and max AP to be able to act better in VATS.
AP Acceleration:
Either company tea or the combination of corn soup and hard lemonade . Company Tea usually does not stack with other AP regenerating food.
Currently it stacks with hard lemonade, which seems to be a bug.
For situations in which you need more AP for a maximum of 25 seconds, you can also eat several canned coffee and thus get more AP in this time (no acceleration).
More damage on critical hits:
Blight Soup (lasts 30 minutes) or Sweet Mutaberry Tea (lasts 60 minutes) +125% critical damage in combination with Strange in Numbers (+ mutated team members).
Furthermore you can buff the critical hits with the magazine guns and bullets 3 with +100% more damage for ballistic critical hits to a total of +225% (blight soup +125% & guns & bullets 3 +100% = 225% ).
There are also chems to improve the damage: Overdrive also increases the damage from critical hits by +30%
More ballistic damage:
You can also buff the general ballistic damage. You can use psychotats (+25% damage) instead of Overdrive, small guns bobbleheads (+20% ballistic damage for pistols and rifles) and ballistic bock (+15% ballistic damage).
With energy rifles you can then use high-voltage yeast wheat instead of ballistics bock.
Max Damage on Critical Hits Combo:
- Small Guns bobblehead (+20% ballistic damage)
- Magazine: Guns & Bullets 3 (+100% damage on critical hits)
- Company tea (more AP Acceleration)
- Blight Soup or Sweet Mutaberry Tea (+125% damage on critical hits)
- Overdrive (+30% damage on critical hits)
- Ballistic Bock (+15% ballistic damage)
Overall: Ballistic Damage Bonus +35% (20+15), Critical Damage Bonus +255% (125+100+30)
If you want to buff yourself for Earle (A Colossal Problem), you can drink Mutfix before Ballistic Bock, both of which stack in this combination.
The calculated bonus cannot be observed 1:1 in the game. There are many factors that come into play, such as other players, the environment and the opponents. The legendary perks Aftermath and Full Deployment also keep the bonuses going up and down.
Gameplay
Assault Rifle vs. Scorchbeast Queen
Fazit
This build currently represents the meta for me in the "small guns" category, meaning rifles in automatic and single-shot variants, pistols in automatic and single-shot variants, and also shotguns. For single-shot, you can also use a "reverse onslaught" build, but this variant works very well for Bloodied and also allows for the use of more perk cards.
Another big advantage of this build is the stopping effect of the Crippling. This quickly and effectively prevents large enemies from attacking you with full force.
What do you think of this build? Which variant do you like best?
Comments:
Ist für mich der Kernsatz !
Hoffentlich hat das Bestand, aber wahrscheinlich wird das Sturmgewehr genau so "angepasst" werden wie alle anderen Waffen, im 3-Monats Turnus 0 28.09.2025 at 19:25:33
- Switch Nerd rage for another Card,
- use overeaters or vanguards on 1st star for armor
- and aristocrats, mutants or two shot for the weapons. if you only sneak, you can also use snipers or stalkers.
If you want to use furious it's more complicated, you need to make room in agility and sort out a lot and it depends if you want to use single shot or auto weapons (reverse onslaught or not). 0 13.01.2026 at 07:06:55
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