Alright, let me tell you how I got my gunslinger build going in Fallout 76. I’d been messing around with heavy guns and rifles for ages, felt like a change, y’know? Wanted something a bit faster, more… stylish? Pistols seemed like the way to go.
Getting Started: The SPECIAL Plan
First thing I did was figure out my SPECIAL stats. It was pretty obvious pistols needed good aiming and fast hands. So, I started pumping points into Perception and Agility right from the get-go. Perception helps with VATS accuracy and holds those crucial pistol damage perks. Agility gives you Action Points for VATS and sneaking, plus more pistol perks. I also put a decent chunk into Luck later on, ’cause VATS crits are where the real magic happens with this kinda build.
Picking the Perks: Damage and Speed
This was the core part. As soon as I could, I started grabbing the main damage cards:
- Gunslinger
- Expert Gunslinger
- Master Gunslinger
I made sure to level these up whenever possible. Stacking all three gives a huge damage boost to non-automatic pistols. Then, for VATS, which is like, essential for a gunslinger, I grabbed:
- Concentrated Fire (in Perception): Lets you target specific body parts in VATS, headshots mostly. Gotta get that extra damage and accuracy boost per shot.
- Gun Fu (in Agility): This one’s awesome. Kill an enemy in VATS, and you instantly swap to the next target with increasing damage. Feels real slick when you clear a room fast.
- Action Boy / Action Girl (in Agility): More AP regen! You burn through AP like crazy in VATS, so this is almost mandatory.
Later on, I focused on those Luck perks to make VATS even better:
- Better Criticals: Makes your critical hits hit harder. Simple, effective.
- Critical Savvy: Lets you use critical hits more often, costs less AP to fill the crit meter. Big difference maker.
- Four Leaf Clover: Chance to instantly fill the crit meter with each hit. More crits!
Sometimes I’d mix in some stealth perks like Covert Operative if I felt like sneaking around for that big opening shot damage.
Finding the Right Tools: My Pistols
Early on, I was just using whatever I could find. A basic 10mm pistol did the job for a while. Then I found a decent .44 Revolver. Felt real good, powerful shots, felt like a proper wasteland cowboy. That carried me for a long time.
I spent a lot of time at workbenches, scrapping other pistols to learn mods. Better receivers, barrels, grips – anything to squeeze out more damage, accuracy, or better AP cost in VATS. It makes a difference.
Eventually, I got my hands on some fancier stuff. A good Western Revolver hits hard. Tried a Gauss Pistol for a bit, that energy damage is nice. Even plasma pistols can be fun if you mod them right for pistol grips.
How It Played Out
Playing as a gunslinger is fast. You’re constantly in and out of VATS, snapping off shots. Against single tough enemies, you’re aiming for the head, hitting that critical button whenever it pops. Against crowds, Gun Fu lets you bounce between targets super quick. Pop, pop, pop.
It’s not like standing back with a sniper rifle, and you’re definitely not as tanky as a Power Armor build. You gotta move, use cover sometimes, and really rely on VATS to land those crucial shots. Managing AP is key – can’t just hold down the VATS button forever.
Ammo could sometimes be a pain, especially .44 rounds early on. Had to craft or trade for it quite a bit. But the 10mm is everywhere, so that’s a reliable backup.
Final Thoughts on the Build
So, yeah. That was my journey setting up the gunslinger. It took some time, gathering the right perk cards, finding good pistols, learning the rhythm of VATS combat. It might not have the highest possible DPS compared to some meta builds, but man, is it fun. There’s something really satisfying about fanning the hammer, metaphorically speaking, and dropping enemies with quick, precise shots. If you want a high-action, VATS-heavy playstyle that feels cool, give pistols a shot. Worked out pretty well for me.