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It can be difficult to get started in thepopular and highly-modableFallout: New Vegas, especially if this is your first in theFalloutseries. There are a lot of stats to choose from, including Strength, Luck, Perception, and more. These traits will affect how your character performs at the beginning of the game, but you will be able to expand on them further as you progress.
At the beginning, you’ll have more than 30 points to allocate between all seven stats. You’ll want to consider these points deeply, especially if you have a particular fighting style that you prefer. Here are some of the best ways to allocate your stats at the beginning ofthis beloved open-world game.
Updated on June 29, 2025, by Christina Roffe:With so many variations in Fallout: New Vegas' SPECIAL stats, Traits, and Skills, there is a wide variety of builds players can create at the beginning of the game. To add more variety to the available options for starting players and the best stats to choose from, we have added an additional build for Tanks. This allows players to have a more defense-focused option when choosing their starting stats, as well as the ability to properly use hefty guns like mini-guns. You will find information on how to create this character build here.
Best Starting Stats: Melee
For those who prefer to get up close and personal with their enemies, ameleestyle is the best choice. To enhance your stats to better fit this style, here’s where you should apply your points.
For starting skills, you’ll want tochooseMelee Weapons, Medicine (or Survival), and Science (or Lockpick). Since you won’t be focusing on guns much, you’ll be better off choosing the Melee Weapons skill to enhance your abilities when using these types of weapons. Medicine or Survival is crucial for melee builds because you will probably be receiving the most damage from enemies out of the three builds due to the proximity of melee weapons. Science or Lockpick is necessary as well since you’ll need to be able to get through locked areas.
As for the two best traits to choose, you’ll wantBuilt to Destroy and Kamikaze. Built to Destroy will give you a higher chance of getting Critical Hits, while Kamikaze will boost your Action Points significantly, which can beincredibly helpful in V.A.T.S. If you don’t plan on focusing on V.A.T.S., just take Built to Destroy.
Best Starting Stats: Sniper
This style is best for those who like to usesniperrifles and take out their enemies from incredible distances. This will also be a build thatis focused onstealthand avoiding up-close fighting. Here’s how to allocate your stat points.
As for the best starting skills for a sniper build, you’ll want to chooseSneak, Guns, and Science (or Lockpick). These skills will allow you to remain undetected as a Sniper, while also making sure that your weapons take out enemies from afar in just a few hits. Science orLockpick will be important for youas you reach new areas. You won’t be able to get very far if you don’t have one of these two unlocked.
As for the two traits you can pick, give yourselfSmall Frame and Built to Destroy. Small Frame will give you an additional Agility point, which will give you a higher chance of getting a headshot in V.A.T.S. Built to Destroy will allow you to also get a higher chance of getting a Critical Hit.
Best Starting Stats: Gunner
For this build, agunnerwill be your typical all-rounder. You’ll focus more onusing medium-range weaponslike an Assault Rifle. If you prefer to take your enemies head-on but don’t want to get too close, like with melee weapons, this is a good option for you. Here’s how to allocate your stat points.
For the starting skills for a Gunner build, you’ll want to chooseGuns, Repair, and Lockpick (or Science).Repair will be a necessary skillfor this build since you will be using ammunition the most out of the three builds. This skill will allow you to easily fix weapons and create additional ammunition.
As for your two traits, chooseBuilt to Destroy and Good Natured. Built to Destroy won’t affect you much since you have the Repair skill, so you’ll be able to easily repair your weapons when they decay. Good Natured will allow you to improve your Repair skills even further.
Best Starting Stats: Tank
Finally, for those players who are looking for a build that provides a substantial amount ofprotection and defense, as well as a high amount of strength and ability to use hefty weapons,like a Mini-Gun, the Tank build is the best option for you. Here’s how you can allocate your stat points.
As you choose your starting Skills for the Tank build, the best options here areGuns, Explosives, and Repair. If you’d rather use weapons like Gatling Lasers, you’re able to swap Gunsfor Energy Weapons. This option and Explosives are a necessity for Tanks to take out enemies in only a few hits.
For the two traits that you may pick at the start, we recommend takingFast Shot and Loose Cannon. Loose Cannon will be especially useful since you will have the ability as a Tank to get up close to enemies, and you will be able to throw your grenades much faster. Fast Shot will also increase the speed of your Guns and Energy Weapons, though you will be less accurate.
