First 40 skill points
During gameplay, you have the opportunity to allocate 21 SPECIAL skill points. This choice will influence the tactics you use. Below is a suggested allocation for the first 40 points (requirements are in parentheses):
SPECIAL stat breakdown
- Strength 3
- Perception 4 (add Bobblehead at start of game for a total of 5)
- Endurance 1 (default)
- Charisma 6
- Intelligence 5 (add Bobblehead at start of game for a total of 6)
- Dexterity 8 (add 1 with "You're Special" at start of game for a total of 9)
- Luck 1 (default)
Level 1-10
1. Beginning
2. (1) Action Boy / Action Girl (Dexterity 5, level 0) - Action Points regenerate 25% faster.
3. (1) Gun Nut (Intelligence 3, level 0) - Enables level 1 modifications.
4. (1) Marksman (Perception 2, level 0) - Increases firepower of a non-automatic rifle by 20%).
5. (1) Lone Wanderer (Charisma 3, level 0) - Increases carry weight by 50, reduces damage taken by 15% if Dogmeat is the only companion.
6. Awareness (Perception 3, level 0) - Shows the level of enemies and their defense.
7. (1) Ninja (Dexterity 7, level 0) - increases stealth attack damage from 2 X to 2.5 X and melee damage to 4 X.
8. (1) Advanced Locksmith (Perception 4, level 0) - allows you to pick locks with the (advanced) skill.
9. (2) Marksman (Perception 2, level 9) - increases the firepower of a non-automatic rifle by 40%, ignores 15% of enemy armor.
10. (1) Local Leader (Charisma 6, level 0) - power lines can be established connecting settlements.
Level 11-20
11. (1) Blitz (Dexterity 9, level 0) - Greatly increases melee range in VATS.
12. (2) Expert Locksmith (Perception 4, level 7) - Allows you to pick locks with expert locks.
13. (2) Gun Nut (Intelligence 3, level 13) - Unlocks Tier 2 weapon modifications.
14. (1) Armorer (Strength 3, level 0) - Unlocks Tier 1 armor modifications.
15. (2) Armorer (Strength 3, level 13) - Unlocks Tier 2 armor modifications.
16. (2) Ninja (Dexterity 7, level 16) - Sneak attack damage is 3X greater and melee damage is 5X (fivefold).
17 (2) Lone Wanderer (Charisma 3, level 17) - increases carry weight by 100, reduces damage taken by 30% if Dogmeat is the only companion.
18 (3) Master Locksmith (Perception 4, level 18) - allows you to pick master locks.
19 (2) Action Boy / Girl (Dexterity 5, level 18) - action points regenerate 50% faster.
20 (3) Marksman (Perception 2, level 18) - increases firepower with a non-automatic rifle by 60%, ignores 20% of enemy armor.
Level 21-30
21 (1) Mr. Sandman (Dexterity 4, level 0) - Instant kill a sleeping enemy, sneak weapons deal +15% damage.
22 (2) Mr. Sandman (Dexterity 4, level 17) - Sneak weapons deal +30% damage.
23 (1) Sneak (Dexterity 3, level 0) - You are 20% harder to detect while sneaking.
24 Save your points for (3) Gun Nut and (3) Armorer.
25 (3) Gun Nut (Intelligence 3, level 25) - Unlocks tier 3 weapon modifications.
25 (3) Armorer (Strength 3, level 25) - Unlocks class 3 armor modifications.
26 (2) Sneak (Dexterity 3, level 5) You are 30% harder to detect while sneaking / floor traps are not a threat.
27 (3) Sneak (Dexterity 3, level 12) - You are 40% harder to detect while sneaking / mines are no longer a threat.
28 (4) Sneak (Dexterity 3, level 23) - You are 50% harder to detect while sneaking / sprinting does not affect invisibility.
29 (2) Blitz (Dexterity 9, level 0) - Significantly increases melee range in VATS.
30 (3) Mr. Sandman (Dexterity 4, level 30) - Sneak weapons deal +50% damage.
Level 31-40
31 (4) Marksman (Perception 2, level 31) - increases firepower of non-automatic rifles by 80%, ignores 25% of enemy armor and can cripple.
32 (1) Demolition (Perception 5, level 0) - increases explosive damage by 25%, you can create explosives.
33 (3) Ninja (Dexterity 7, level 33) - increases sneak attack damage multiplier to 3.5X and melee damage by 10X.
34 (2) Demolition (Perception 5, level 10) - increases explosive damage by 50%, you can now choose the trajectory of throwing grenades, dynamite, etc.
35 (1) Big Leagues (Strength 2, level 0) - increases melee damage by 20%.
36 (2) Big Leagues (Strength 2, level 7) - Increases melee damage by 40%, chance to disarm an enemy.
37 Save skill points for (4) Gun Nut and (4) Armorer
38 (5) Sneak (Dexterity 3, level 38) - Enemies at range lose sight of you when stealth is activated.
39 (4) Armorer (Strength 3, level 39) - Enables class 4 armor modifications.
39 (4) Gun Nut (Intelligence 3, level 39) - Enables class 4 weapon modifications.
40 (3) Lone Wanderer (Charisma 3, level 40) - You deal an additional 25% damage when adventuring alone, except for Dogmeat.
Source: www.gamefaqs.com, SSoHPKC
See also:
SPECIAL bobbleheads and skills
Character control in the game
Guide to nuclear blocks (Fusion cells)