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Critical chance
Fo1 CritChanceCritical Chance
Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout Tactics
ModifiesChance to cause a critical hit
Governed ByLuck
Initial ValueLuck x 1%
Related PerksMore Criticals
Related TraitsFinesse
Fallout 3
ModifiesChance to cause a critical hit
Governed ByLuck
Initial ValueLuck x 1%
Related PerksFinesse
Fallout: New Vegas
ModifiesChance to cause a critical hit
Governed ByLuck
Initial ValueLuck x 1%
Related PerksFinesse, Light Touch, Ninja, Laser Commander
Related TraitsBuilt to Destroy
 
Gametitle-FO1Gametitle-FO2Gametitle-FO3Gametitle-FNVGametitle-FOTGametitle-FOBOS
Gametitle-FO1Gametitle-FO2Gametitle-FO3Gametitle-FNVGametitle-FOTGametitle-FOBOS

Critical Chance is a derived statistic in Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout Tactics and Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel.

Fallout, Fallout 2 and Fallout Tactics[]

The chance to cause a critical hit in combat is increased by this amount.

— Fallout In-game description

An Aimed Shot has a higher chance to score a critical hit than an unaimed shot. In Fallout Tactics, the Science skill also apparently has an effect on critical chance against robotic enemies.

  • The Finesse trait increases the critical chance by 10%.
  • The Heavy Handed trait has the negative side effect of a -30% critical chance.
  • The More Criticals perk increases the critical chance by 5% per rank.
  • The Sniper perk increases the critical chance to 10*Luck for ranged weapons.
  • The Slayer perk increases the critical chance to 100% for melee weapons.

Fallout 3[]

Base Chance[]

Luck in the main base factor that determines the chances of a critical strike on a opponent.

Example: A starting Luck of 5.

Notes:

  • Maximum initial base is capped at 10%.
  • Ninja perk can increase this limit by another +15% for Melee and Unarmed weapons.
  • Finesse perk can increase this limit by another +5%.
  • Survival Expert perk can increase this limit by another +3%.
  • Strikes dealt in V.A.T.S have additional +15% critical chance added.
  • Some weapons have 0% chance of a critical strike (see Critical Multiplier for detail of effects).

PCIcon pc You can also check your critical chance with the console command player.getav critchance

Critical Multiplier[]

All weapons have a critical multiplier that modifies the player's base critical chance to create a new percentage to score a critical hit. This may improve or hinder the player's ability to score a critical hit depending on the weapons Critical multiplier.

Example: A starting Luck of 5 and using a sniper rifle, which has a x5 Critical Multiplier.

Notes

  • The critical multiplier for fully automatic weapons is much lower than for single-shot weapons.
  • There are a few weapons that have a x 0 multiplier, which makes it impossible to score a critical hit
  • For a detailed list of weapon critical multipliers see Fallout 3 weapons.

Weapon Condition[]

The final critical chance is also modified by weapon condition.[1]

For example, a character with 5 Luck and using a sniper rifle in 50% condition would have,

Fallout: New Vegas[]

The formulas for critical chance seem unchanged from Fallout 3. You receive 1% of critical chance for each point placed into Luck. At character creation you can add an additional 3% for all weapons by choosing the Built to Destroy trait.

Attributes, perks and traits that increase critical chance include
¹ The critical chance added by these perks is a flat bonus and is not affected by your weapon's critical multiplier.
² Ninja multiplies your total critical chance after all modifiers by 1.15; thus it adds 15% of your normal critical chance, not a flat 15% boost.
Items that increase critical chance
¹ The critical chance added by V.A.T.S. is a flat bonus and is not affected by your weapon's critical multiplier.

Currently, the highest possible critical chance that will be affected by your multiplier is 38% (10 Luck, Finesse, Built to Destroy, 1st Recon Beret, Elite Riot Gear/Ulysses' Duster, True Police Stories with Comprehension). As mentioned above, Light Touch, Laser Commander, Set Lasers for Fun, Ninja, and V.A.T.S. can further increase your chance.

Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel[]

In Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, a critical hit allows to exceed the maximum limit of damage for a weapon.

Some weapons are very powerful with a high critical chance, such as the double-barrel shotgun or The Slugger and also the weapons in bursts.

An energy weapon with the skill Energy Charge or a Melee weapon with the skill Special Attack can be extremely powerful if the charged attack is a critical hit.

The chance to cause a critical hit in combat is increased by

Initial Level: Each character starts with a 1% critical chance.

  • The Butcher skill (only Cain) increases the critical chance by 5% only for blades for each ranks until a total of 25%.
  • The Desert Soldier skill (only female character) increases the critical chance by 5% only for conventional weapons (weapon that uses 9mm) for each ranks until a total of 25%.
  • The Future Woman skill (only female character) increases the critical chance by 5% only for energy weapons for each ranks until a total of 25%.
  • The Heavy Hitter skill (only human male character) increases the critical chance by 5% only for Blunt weapon (Gloves, Clubs and Hammers) for each ranks until a total of 25%.
  • The Pyromaniac skill (only Cain) increases the critical chance by 5% when using a fire-based weapon (like the frag grenade, flamer, etc.) for each ranks until a total of 25%.
  • The Slayer skill increases the critical chance by 5% for each ranks until a total of 25%.
  • The Wastelander skill (only human male character) increases the critical chance by 10% only when using home-made weapons for each ranks until a total of 50%.

The type of weapon with a maximum critical chance with the skill required is the home-made weapons with a total of 75%.

See also[]

Gallery[]

References[]

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