RPGs are always filled with hundreds of different item types for players to experiment with. Depending on the game, these items can range from being game-changing to small benefits. Some games provide so many items that players never experiment with them.
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Bethesda’s modernFallouttitles are a great example of this. Despite the hundreds of miscellaneous and consumable items that dot the wasteland, few players ever use them. This is a massive shame considering that many items from each game provide massive bonuses. From skill-enhancing tools to crippling enemies with darts, here are ten underrated items that players should use in theFalloutfranchise.
10Vault 13 Canteen (Fallout And Fallout: New Vegas)
Nearly everyFallout: New Vegasplayer has seen the message on their screen stating they took atrusty sip from their Vault 13 Canteen. What many speculate is a simple message that adds to immersion actually serves a purpose.
This flask from the originalFalloutstaves off dehydration in both games. In the originalFallout, the Vault 13 Canteen prevented dehydration encounters from occurring while exploring. InFallout: New Vegas, every five real-time minutes, the player will need to drink from the flask, restoring 15 HP and reducing a player’s dehydration by 25. It won’t fulfill a player’s dehydration needs on its own, but it is a useful item thatmakes Hardcore runsslightly easier.
9Tools (Fallout, Fallout 2, And Fallout: Tactics)
The originalFalloutgames had tools that players could find. These tools were typically associated with a particular skill, such as the Motion Sensor attachment for thePip-Boy granting a bonus to the Outdoorsman skill. Every tool granted a 20% increase to a certain skill, making checks related to those skills much easier than they otherwise would be. Since magazines in modernFallouttitles grant temporary skill and stat bonuses, tools were phased out of the franchise entirely.
8Alternate Currency
Not everyFalloutgame requires players to use Bottle Caps as currency. There are plenty of alternate currency items introduced inFallout 2and beyond that prove to be exceptionally useful.
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Fallout 2took this to the extreme by making Bottle Caps not worth anything since the NCR could print money.Fallout: New Vegaslets players use Bottle Caps, NCR dollars, Legion Denarius, and Pre-War Money to purchase items.Fallout 3andFallout 4only have Bottle Caps and Pre-War Money, although purified water is so common inFallout 4that it can be used as a form of valuable currency.
7Plasma Thrower (Fallout 4)
Out of every weapon inFallout 4, arguably the most underrated gun in the game is the plasma thrower conversion for the plasma gun. In essence, this barrel will convert the slow-firing projectile plasma gun into a mobile flamethrower that shoots plasma. This deals incredible amounts of damage per tick.
Eleven damage might not sound great, but this attachment nearly triples its fire rate. When combined with other mods and aLegendary effect such as the Staggering modifier, this weapon can shut down any opponent in the game in a few seconds—just make sure to bring enough ammo.
6Nuka-Grenades (Fallout: New Vegas)
While Nuka-Grenades are present inFallout 3andFallout 4, they truly shine inFallout: New Vegasdue to the Nuka Chemist perk. These unique grenades deal animmense amount of damage and are worth hundreds of Bottle Caps, but these grenades are rather rare—at least, in every game excludingNew Vegas.
Should players obtain the Nuka Chemist perk, these grenades can be made for the low cost of three Nuka-Colas, one Abraxo Cleaner, a Tin Can, and Turpentine. These materials are so common in the Mojave that players can create dozens or even hundreds of these devastating grenades in a playthrough. Considering how much damage each grenade can dish out, there is no reason not to make Nuka-Grenades.
5Dart Gun (Fallout 3)
Crafting might not have been incredibly strong inFallout 3, but it was responsible for some of the strongest items in the game.No weapon exemplifies this betterthanFallout 3’sdart gun.
Every dart from this weapon will cripple an enemy’s limb regardless of their health pool. Is a Deathclaw quickly closing the gap? Fire a dart in its knee to prevent it from running. Is a Yao Guai proving troublesome? Fire a dart in its arm. This weapon could trivialize entire combat encounters, which is likely why this weapon would return in a significantly nerfed state in future titles.
4Lucky 8-Ball (Fallout 3)
One ofFallout 3’sstrongest items comes in the form of a miscellaneous item. The Lucky 8-Ball is a unique item that can be found on a pool table in Big Town. Grabbing it will increase a player’s Luck by one until dropped. It technically increases a player’s base Luck by one while in a player’s inventory, meaning players can obtain perks what wouldotherwise be unavailableto them. Since Luck influences every stat in a small way and boosts critical hit chance, this item is a must for any build.
3Faction Armor (Fallout, Fallout 2, And Fallout: New Vegas)
Some players forget that mostFallouttitles have faction-specific armor that will elicit reactions from others. In the originalFallout, wearing a vault suit in certain towns would cause NPCs to become more hostile or trigger additional conversations.
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Fallout 2andNew Vegasalso have this behavior. Using faction-specific armor can allow players to infiltrate certain areas that would otherwise be hostile to them. This is fantastic for stealth characters or those that wish to accept quests from hostile factions.
2Chems
Chems are a category of item that are severely underrated by many players. These situational buffs provide major benefits at the risk of addiction or certain downsides. Bonuses can include increasing a S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stat,slowing down time, gaining massive damage resistance, or increasing a player’s skills.
EveryFalloutgame has chems, so ensure to use them whenever the player is just shy of succeeding a check or is having a tough time in combat.
1Magazines And Books
Books and Magazines are powerful items that offer either temporary or permanent bonuses. InFallout,Fallout 2, andFallout: New Vegas, books offer permanent increases to stats by a small amount. With how plentiful books are, these small bonuses add up to multiple levels worth of increases.
Fallout 3introduced magazines to the franchise that provide powerful, temporary increases to skills. These typically grant +10 to a skill for a short duration.Fallout: New Vegashad these, as well. They were also inFallout 4, althoughthey behaved differently. In that game, Magazines worked more like books in that they granted permanent bonuses. Instead of skill points, these magazines grant miniature perks that mimicFallout: New Vegas’schallenge perks.
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