Fallout 76 was kicking my butt until I respecced into an indestructible tank

GamesSurvival & CraftingFallout 76Fallout 76 was kicking my butt until I respecced into an indestructible tankWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Fallout 76 power armour and cat helmet

Like a lot of folks, I got a nasty case of Fallout Fever thanks to the Fallout TV show, and since I’ve already milked every mainline game dry, I decided to cautiously return to Fallout 76. I immediately regretted my decision. I was totally lost—even more so than Lucy—and pretty much everything that wasn’t your bog standard ghoul or supermutant was kicking my arse. It was enough to make me consider going back into the Vault forever. But I’m glad I persevered.

If you’re a complete newcomer, you might be having an easier go of things. Fallout 76’s early quests ease you in, and while level scaling has been in effect since 2020, at lower levels enemies are still more forgiving. You also won’t be inappropriately geared, like I was, as a level 50+ character walking around with level 45 guns and armour. Even a small disparity like that can spell trouble.

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Fallout 76 scientist looking sad

Even after fixing my gear issues, though, Fallout 76 was still a bit of a slog. See, even if you’re geared appropriately, if you’ve not fine-tuned your build, your guns can feel like pea-shooters. And taking a beating costs you a lot more than the time it takes to run back to the site of your death to pick up all of your dropped junk. Repairing armour can be a real time-sink, especially if you don’t have any repair kits, which you have to spend Atoms—Fallout 76’s premium currency—on. While you can gain Atoms from completing challenges, you’ll probably want to save them for neat cosmetic items so you can show off your drip when you bump into other players.

So I ended up spending an inordinate amount of time running around trying to find material to repair my gear, during which I was still getting my arse kicked, adding more crap to my to-do list. I considered packing it in. I have a massive backlog of excellent games to get through, and I don’t really need another live service time-waster. But the desire to get my Fallout fix was just too strong for me to give up. So I decided to learn how to play the game again. And what a shock: actually engaging with the game’s systems and not just winging it helped! Who could have known?

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Fallout 76 explosion

It’s a flipping beast, spitting out mutant-halting death at an alarming rate.

Really, though, what made my life easier was remembering that legendary perks are a thing, and switching out the one I’d picked years ago for one tailored for people who want to live inside a walking fortress. There are plenty of strong builds that don’t require power armour, but there are unsurprisingly so many advantages to being encased in metal. The damage and radiation resistance is a huge boon, and if you’re a pack rat like me the increased carry capacity is a godsend.

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Fallout 76 power armour with cat helmet

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Fallout 76 workbench

You’ll definitely want to spend a bit of time building a proper base first. And to plonk it down somewhere near resources you’ll always need. For me, that’s copper and lead, which are required for repairs and to create more ammunition. Even when death becomes a rare occurrence, you’re still going to be taking damage, and if you’re largely relying on a single gun like I am, you’re going to need to make sure it’s always in tip top condition. I’ve been living just southeast of Fort Defiance, where I’ve got an excavator set up to constantly rip lead out of the ground. If you move there, just remember to set up lots of turrets, or you might come home to find your house flattened.

Now I feel like I’m living my best post-apocalyptic life. There are stronger builds and better legendary perks, but last night I had to leave the game running while I tried to stop a feral cockapoo from destroying a leather sofa, at which point an army of robots ambushed me, and when I finally returned to my PC I’d only lost a sliver of health. That’s good enough for me. Eventually I’ll have so many fusion cores that I’ll be able to switch to another perk, but right now I feel unstoppable.

More about survival craftingSorry everyone, Minecraft 2 is cancelled, and it might be our faultAfter 15 years, Minecraft has finally added two new pig variations: The warm pig and the cold pig, meaning I can delete one mod off my listLatestToday’s Wordle answer for Monday, January 13See more latest►

More about survival crafting

Sorry everyone, Minecraft 2 is cancelled, and it might be our faultAfter 15 years, Minecraft has finally added two new pig variations: The warm pig and the cold pig, meaning I can delete one mod off my list

Herobrine standing in front of a foggy forest

Sorry everyone, Minecraft 2 is cancelled, and it might be our fault

New warm and cold pigs

After 15 years, Minecraft has finally added two new pig variations: The warm pig and the cold pig, meaning I can delete one mod off my list

LatestToday’s Wordle answer for Monday, January 13See more latest►

Latest

Today’s Wordle answer for Monday, January 13

Wordle today being played on a phone

Today’s Wordle answer for Monday, January 13

See more latest►

Most PopularDragonflight got WoW back on its feet, now we get to see if Blizzard can make the Worldsoul Saga runThis bizarre roguelike has a new take on the Vampire Survivors formula: letting you build your own custom weapons out of brains, eyeballs, and chimpanzee spines18 games the PC Gamer team can’t wait to play in 2025The Witcher 3’s now 2-year-old bonus quest is our first taste of the ‘vibe’ CD Projekt is going for in The Witcher 42024 was the year updates for old games beat out all the new ones for meTrain like you game with this adventure-inspired workout’It’s simply impossible to make a difficulty level that’s just right for all players': How Final Fantasy 14’s lead battle designer has been playing a precarious balancing game for Dawntrail’s dungeons and raidsPlease join me in getting super excited for all the cool looking survival games coming in 2025 (and beyond)Competitive shooters are at a crucial crossroads in 2025: ‘sweaty’ teamplay vs. casual funCall of Duty’s $28 Squid Game skins are the perfect crossover for our capitalist dystopia, and Activision knows exactly what it’s doingThese are the 14 biggest upcoming RPGs of 2025—get ready for another amazing year for the genre

Most Popular

Dragonflight got WoW back on its feet, now we get to see if Blizzard can make the Worldsoul Saga run

This bizarre roguelike has a new take on the Vampire Survivors formula: letting you build your own custom weapons out of brains, eyeballs, and chimpanzee spines

18 games the PC Gamer team can’t wait to play in 2025

The Witcher 3’s now 2-year-old bonus quest is our first taste of the ‘vibe’ CD Projekt is going for in The Witcher 4

2024 was the year updates for old games beat out all the new ones for me

Train like you game with this adventure-inspired workout

‘It’s simply impossible to make a difficulty level that’s just right for all players’: How Final Fantasy 14’s lead battle designer has been playing a precarious balancing game for Dawntrail’s dungeons and raids

Please join me in getting super excited for all the cool looking survival games coming in 2025 (and beyond)

Competitive shooters are at a crucial crossroads in 2025: ‘sweaty’ teamplay vs. casual fun

Call of Duty’s $28 Squid Game skins are the perfect crossover for our capitalist dystopia, and Activision knows exactly what it’s doing

These are the 14 biggest upcoming RPGs of 2025—get ready for another amazing year for the genre

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

A bunch of the best Steam Deck accessories on a blue background.

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

Thank Goodness You’re Here review

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

Thank Goodness You’re Here! review: An anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits

2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review—like juggling chainsaws on horseback

3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

4Ikea Utespelare desk review

Ikea Utespelare desk review

5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals#

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals