In best armor sets to survive the nuclear wastelands. While weapons are abundant in the RPG, it's easy to clutter your inventory with firearms that don't suit your playstyle, lack the necessary ammo, or fail to deliver enough damage against stronger enemies.

Several standout weapons can be acquired from vendors, earned through quests, or dropped by enemies. Legendary weapons often require crafting but offer powerful advantages in combat. You can significantly enhance your combat effectiveness in the game by obtaining and modifying top-tier weapons to suit various needs and ensuring a diverse arsenal.

10 Gauss Minigun

Automatic Weapon

The Gauss Minigun is an iconic Fallout 76 weapon renowned for its ability to obliterate enemies with a single burst. This heavy gun, firing 2mm electromagnetic cartridges that explode on impact, excels in crowd control and is effective against swarms of foes. Its charging mechanism enhances its lethality, as the longer you hold the trigger, the more damage it deals, making it a powerful addition to anyone's arsenal.

Already one of the most devastating weapons, it can be upgraded to deal with additional energy damage, expand ammo capacity, and boost the fire rate. When crafted, it utilizes legendary modules, transforming into a legendary weapon with random effects. These enhancements further elevate its damage capabilities.

Like other weapons that require gold bullion in Fallout 76: Wastelanders, the Gauss Minigun cannot be traded, dropped, or sold to vendors.

Once you acquire the Weapon Plan, the Minigun can be crafted at a Weapons Workbench. Mortimer can purchase this for 750 gold bullion, provided you have achieved an Ally reputation with the Raiders. After acquiring the plan, Gauss Miniguns can appear as legendary weapons, obtainable through crafting or quest rewards.

9 Handmade Rifle

Automatic Weapon

The Handmade Rifle, highly sought after for its adaptability, can be upgraded to level 45 and offers substantial potential with the right customization and perks, like Rifleman and Commando. Its stats and extensive modifications make it ideal for tailoring to various combat styles, capable of taking down the toughest enemies.

The Handmade Rifle is widely available across Appalachia. It is often dropped by Raiders or sold by wandering vendors like Grahm. It can also be purchased from the Watoga vendor bot at Watoga Station and Sunny at the Foundation settlement, providing multiple opportunities for players to acquire this versatile weapon.

8 Tesla Rifle

Automatic Weapon

The Tesla Rifle is an electric-type weapon in Fallout 76. It is favored for its ability to quickly dispatch hordes of enemies. With each trigger pull, the rifle releases bursts of arc energy, chaining attacks between enemies within a certain radius.

Although 35% less potent with each chain hit, the cumulative effect rapidly depletes enemies' HP. SequentialGamer_Fallout effectively demonstrates the Tesla Rifle's prowess during Fallout 76's 'Radiation Rumble' event, especially in scenarios where high-level enemies gather in confined areas. The weapon uses readily available Fusion Cells and is known for its durability, making it a reliable choice.

To increase its damage, equip the rifle with a Charging Shotgun Barrel mod, which adds an extra 30 energy damage per hit.

The Weapon Plan for the rifle can be bought from vendor bot Phoenix at the Super-Duper Mart in Watoga Shopping Plaza or from Fallout 76's Brotherhood of Steel vendor at Whitespring Mall. Occasionally, Deathclaws and boss chests have a chance to drop it.

7 Auto Grenade Launcher

Automatic Weapon

The Auto Grenade Launcher is a powerful 40mm heavy explosive weapon that rapidly fires 12-round belts of grenades. It's excellent for quickly dealing massive damage and is effective against clusters of Scorched and high-level Super Mutants in Fallout 76. When defeated, these enemies can also drop this weapon.

The grenade launcher boasts high accuracy and range, allowing for easy and swift obliteration of enemies. With 107 base area damage, its effectiveness can be enhanced with perks like Demolition Expert and various weapon modifications.

Use this weapon with care, especially in confined spaces, as it risks damaging you and your companions.

Vendor bot Phoenix offers the grenade launcher for sale. However, be prepared to spend plenty of Bottle Caps in Fallout 76. While not the cheapest, the investment reflects its high quality and effectiveness in combat.

6 Perfect Storm SMG

Automatic Weapon

Perfect Storm, a standout SMG, is favored for its common ammo type and utility, especially in early-game quests. Although potentially outclassed later, this lightweight rifle is invaluable for beginners. It deals a base 14 ballistic damage plus 24 burning damage over 3 seconds on enemies. Add the best mods in Fallout, as well as perks like Commando, to boost its damage output.

While navigating Fallout 76's wasteland, you'll often find 10mm Rounds, utilized by the Perfect Storm, and may become your primary ammo type due to the scarcity of other options. Even if you have better weapons, a lack of specific ammo limits their use. With dangers lurking and limited opportunities to scavenge for resources, the Perfect Storm is a reliable go-to weapon due to the abundance of its ammo.

To acquire the rifle, complete the 'Cold Case' quest. Head to Wavy Willard's Water Park, clearing the ghouls on your way, and speak with Miss Annie, a robot who initiates the quest and rewards you with the rifle upon its completion.

5 All Rise Sledgehammer

Melee Weapon

The All Rise is one of the best weapons in Fallout 76, notable for its legendary effect of 90% reduced weight. It features a unique modification, Heavy Rocket, attached to the hammer, aiding your ability to crush and cleave through enemies. This weapon offers an improved swing rate compared to regular sledgehammers and grants +10 Health to the player simply for equipping it.

Heavy Rocket is exclusive to All Rise and is not available for other weapon types in Fallout 76. Once removed, it cannot be reattached.

To enhance the All Rise's base 160 Damage, consider pairing it with the Martial Artist and Slugger perk cards. These perks reduce the weapon's weight and increase swing speed, significantly boosting its damage output. With these adjustments, the sledgehammer becomes even more powerful, allowing for better performance in combat.

Complete the 'Mayor for a Day' quest in Watoga to acquire the sledgehammer. To obtain the highest-leveled version of All Rise, ensure you are over level 50 when progressing the quest.

4 Black Diamond Ski Sword

Melee Weapon

Although utilizing swords seems archaic in the post-apocalyptic world of Fallout 76, the Black Diamond, a unique variant of the Ski Sword, remains an excellent choice. The Black Diamond is creatively fashioned from a ski, enhanced with menacing metal shards. It also features a bladed mod and +1 Strength Legendary effect, making it a deadly weapon in the wasteland.

The sword inflicts substantial damage with a high swing rate, enhanced by your additional strength point for higher impact. To maximize its effectiveness, modify the sword with the Martial Artist Perk to increase swing speed. The Gladiator Perk boosts base damage, allowing you to slice through opponents efficiently.

The sword is awarded by the robot Rose, located at the Top of the World, upon completing the 'Flavours of Mayhem,' a questline related to Fallout 76's Raiders. Additionally, another sword variant can be found at the Sunnytop Ski Lanes Base Lodge.

3 Alien Blaster

Hand Gun

The Alien Blaster is a formidable energy pistol in Fallout 76 that utilizes Fusion Cells. It combines extra Critical Damage with its top-tier Two-shot effect to deal massive damage to bosses and one-shot regular enemies. Although Fusion Cells are costly to craft, the efficiency of the Alien Blaster often means fewer shots are needed to defeat targets than other weapons.

By using a Fusion Mag, the weapon can be modified to shoot the more common Fusion Cells, though this conversion reduces damage output and ammo capacity.

Pistols are advantageous as a primary weapon in the wasteland due to their quick draw speed and low stamina cost. They are ideal for rapid response when ambushed by enemies, unlike heavier weapons, which take longer to ready and may result in significant damage intake.

Aliens drop this quirky weapon during Fallout 76's 'Invaders from Beyond event, showcased by Angry Turtle. Alternatively, it can be found in the Toxic Valley, inside a broken safe submerged in a toxic pond, located southeast of the Graninger farm and southwest of Philippi Battlefield Cemetery.

2 The Dragon

Shotgun

With a whopping 230 Base Damage, The Dragon is a quad-barrel shotgun in Fallout 76, capable of unleashing up to 920 Damage if all rounds hit. It fires four projectiles per .50 caliber ball, distributing damage evenly. Despite offering the highest single-shot damage among ballistic rifles, its drawback is its lengthy 10-second reload time, which can be slightly reduced with perks like Ground Pounder or specific legendary effects.

You can significantly increase the damage output of The Dragon by using the Rifleman and Covert Operative perk cards, especially as an opening attack in engagements. With the enhanced damage and sneak multipliers, this tactic can deliver devastating first strikes against enemies.

A host of enemies can drop The Dragon, including Progenitor Wendigo, Fog Crawlers, Honeybeasts, and the . To by these challenging foes, you can purchase them from Grahm, the vendor bots at Berkeley Springs Station and Watoga Station, and the Free States Vendor at the Whitespring Resort. Though expensive, the weapon's effectiveness justifies the cost.

The Dragon Features	Stats
Type/Class	Ranged Non-automatic Rifle
Level	35/45
Damage	200/225
Ammo	.50 Caliber Ball
Magazine Size	1
Fire Rate	1
Value	200 Caps

1 Hunting Rifle

Non-Automatic weapon

The Hunting Rifle is an optimal long-range weapon in Fallout 76, especially when modified with a scope and converted to use .50 cal rounds, enhancing its sniper capabilities. It's compatible with various scope sizes, catering to short, medium, or long scope preferences. Although it has a slow firing rate, the high damage per shot compensates, making it highly effective for precise, powerful hits.

Equipping weapons like the Hunting Rifle with a scope is crucial for managing long-range encounters. It lets you deal with enemies stealthily from a distance before venturing into danger zones. By thinning out enemy numbers, you make entering these hazardous areas more manageable.

Maintain distance to avoid detection, and consider using a suppressor to prevent your initial shot from revealing your position.

For maximum effectiveness with a sniper rifle, crouch and utilize terrain for cover, triggering bonus damage with Sneak Attacks. Sneak Attacks provide extra damage when hitting unaware targets, making your shots incredibly potent.

To acquire this weapon in Fallout 76, search for the Weapon Plan in containers or from creatures in the Savage Divide. Additionally, you can find it in the trainyard east of Watoga or within Sam Blackwell's bunker in the Mire.

Source: SequentialGamer_Fallout/YouTube, Angry Turtle/YouTube

Hunting Rifle Features	Stats
Type/Class	Ranged Non-automatic Rifle
Level	1 / 5 / 10 / 20 / 30 / 40 / 50
Damage	40 / 45 / 50 / 55 / 60 / 65 / 70
Ammo	.308 round (Ultracite)
Magazine Size	5
Fire Rate	3
Value	200 Caps

Fallout 76

Action

RPG

Released

November 14, 2018

7/10

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol

Developer(s)

Bethesda

Publisher(s)

Bethesda

Franchise

Fallout

Platform(s)

Xbox One

How Long To Beat

34 Hours

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