When it comes to RPGs, it can be hard to decide which build you want to go with. While also having a lot of FPS genre elements,Fallout 76is no different. Players have been battling with what kind of perks, weapons, and playstyles they should focus on to stay alive in post-apocalyptic Appalachia.
There are a lot of different aspects to keep in mind when deciding on a build for your vault dweller. But no matter what, you’ll want to be effective against all the horrors the wasteland has to throw at you. Here are some of the best builds available in Fallout 76.
Updated Jul 13, 2025, by Zackary Wiggs: Whether you’re on your tenth playthrough, or you’re still waiting on the game to download, there has never been a better time to dive into Fallout 76. After watching Lucy “Goosey” Maclean, you may wish to take on the rolling hills of post-apocalyptic Appalachia in your own Fallout journey. It’s a wide-open world available to you, but whether you’re going in alone, or you want to travel with friends, you may want to look at some of the more popular builds to see what’s available to you.
15Gunslinger
Raul Would Be Proud
Being a desperado can be a fun way to explore Fallout 76, even though you aren’t in the Mojave wasteland anymore. Maining pistols is a great way to stay agile and deals especially well when enemies decide to get in close.
There’s a wide array of pistols, from revolvers and plasma pistols, all the way to the gauss pistol and the always handy 10mm. Ammo is usually pretty common for these weapons, and there’s often a good amount of new pistols for low, medium, and high levels. Not to mention a handful of perks that will help you out, such as Gunslinger, Better Criticals, etc.
14Power Armor Specialist
Keep Those Fusion Cores Handy
There are plenty of builds that can carry you well into late in the game, but focusing on power armor may be a build that really reaches its peak in these later levels due to the need for more caps and power armor pieces.
Finding a whole set of power armor, especially some ofthe better armorsout there, can be a hard task early in the game. But, as you get a better sense for the map and better loot starts appearing, you’ll find it easier and easier. Mix this with your favorite weapons and perks and you’re all set. But, perks like Pain Train and Electric Absorption can really help.
Really, any power armor can be a great boon in high-level fights, allowing you to survive encounters with Scorch Beasts and the like with relative ease. But, ones like the Excavator and Ultrcite armors have some extra boons that will help you stay alive longer and add more pros to different strategies.
13Sniper
Death From Afar
Sometimes it’s best to deal with your problems from afar. If that seems like the perfect way to play, then you should go for a sniper build.
This is an amazing build at medium and high levels, but you can manage at a low level with this build too. Find your favorite long-range rifle and slap a high-powered scope on it and you’re practically halfway there. After that, you’ll want to start collecting perks that boost your accuracy and critical hits. Sniper and Better Criticals are the best to go with, but don’t forget about the Rifleman perks and even Action Boy/Girl for better VATS use.
12Energy Specialist
The Power Of Science
In a world rife with technology, why not put it to good use? Embody your innerBrotherhood of Steelmember and main energy weapons. There’s nothing more exciting than turning your enemies to ash or goo with a well-placed shot.
Laser weapons will be your best friend at low levels, but you can diversify as you explore more. You’ll definitely want to focus on Intelligence for the science-based perks and Perception to increase accuracy — that way you don’t waste that valuable energy ammo.
11Assassin
They’ll Never See You Coming
There are plenty of times when it’s a good idea to get some hits in before the enemy even knows you’re there. If you want to stealth your way through the Appalachian mountains, then going with an Assassin role is for you.
There are plenty of weapons that you can equip with a silencer, plus good ol' melee weapons are always available. This makes you a deadly opponent at any range. Covert Operative and Sneak are great choices for perks, which means you’ll want a lot of points in Agility. A little extra Luck and Perception won’t hurt either.
10Rifleman
Soldier, Surviver, To Each Their Own
This is close to the idea of the Sniper build but with a more wide-range of weapons, which makes it better for low to mid-level adventures. Plus, it allows for some more maneuverability with how close you can engage your foes.
Any rifle makes for a great main-weapon for this build, but the Hunting Rifle and Combat Rifle have great damage and plenty of mods to allow for range of use. Commando and Rifleman are musts, and perks like Bandolier can make your life a lot easier as well.
The key for this is having a rifle that works for multiple ranges and enemies, or multiple rifles like a shot automatic Combat Rifle in addition to a scoped long-range Hunting Rifle, for example.
9Powder Ganger
An Explosive Conclusion
When outnumbered, it can pay off to be extra volatile. It’s those moments when being an explosive specialist comes in handy. If only there was more dynamite.
This can be a dangerous build until you get a feel for it, so expect to blow yourself up here and there. Explosives aren’t the easiest to come by, but when you get the feel of when to use them, you won’t need that many to clear entire rooms and buildings. Still, you may want to have a backup weapon in the form of a pistol or melee weapon for when things get out of hand. Perks like Ordinance Express and Grenadier will take this play style to the next level.
8Raider
It’s A Lawless Place
Becoming a Raider might be easier than you think. Regardless of why you want to bring chaos and carnage to Appalachia, there are plenty of ways to do it thanks to this open-ended archetype.
This build is really more form that function. You’ll want weapons like the Tire Iron and Board at lower levels, you may even add the Bladed mod to these weapons for extra bleed damage, and more Raider-y feel. At higher levels, look to weapons like the Flamer and Minigun to strike fear into the hearts of adventures of all types.
Your perks are up to you, but dipping into the Chemist or Slasher builds can help make for a well-rounded combat focus. For armor, look to the Metal, Leather, and Raider armor types. Honestly, the more haphazard you look, the better.
7Slasher
Cutting Edge Stuff
Well, it doesn’t have to be bladed weapons, but any sort of melee build has its pros in Fallout 76. Becoming the Appalachian Pint-Sized Slasher will definitely make your playthrough a tense and exciting time.
This one can be a bit harder to master since a lot of enemies can really do some damage at close range. You won’t have to worry about ammo though, and there’s a wide range of different melee weapons at any level for you to choose from, even when you narrow it down to one- or two-handed. Perks like Gladiator and Martial Artist will take your melee hits to the next level, oftentimes rivaling firearms with their damage output.
6Survivalist
It’s All About Staying Alive
Survivalist is a playstyle focused more on staying alive than doing damage, which, in the wide world of Fallout, is just as important. Perks like Fortune Finder and Cap Collector will allow for better looting, plus more than a few points into luck.
Sturdy Frame and Pack Rat will help you carry more, too. Put a few points in crafting perks, and you can turn the junk you find into deadly weapons in a flash. From there, you can alter your play style depending on what weapons and armor you scavenge.
