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Special Attacks are a series of special Melee Weapons and Unarmed moves in Fallout: New Vegas that can be used in either V.A.T.S. or in real time combat that each have unique characteristics. These attacks, which come with special animations, may allow for faster attacks, greater damage, special effects or some combination of these advantages.

Melee Weapons[]

V.A.T.S. Special Attacks[]

When the player has 50 Melee Weapons skill points, they have access to special melee attacks which consume a certain amount of action points for a variety of effects in V.A.T.S. Attacks most often couple a lower action point cost with lower damage, allowing for more attacks per V.A.T.S. round, but with a lower damage inflicted by each individual attack; a higher action point cost with greater damage, allowing for fewer, more damaging attacks; or a higher action point cost and a lower damage, but the addition of a special effect like the chance to knock down enemies.

Note that, in general, the reduction of action points expended for some special attacks does not make up for the corresponding decrease in damage, compared to usage exclusively in V.A.T.S. The only exceptions are when this reduction allows for a player to make 3 or 2 attacks in one V.A.T.S. round instead of 2 or 1.

Note: All Unarmed/Melee attacks in V.A.T.S. double weapon's base damage.

Special Attacks outside of V.A.T.S.[]

It is possible to execute special attacks outside of V.A.T.S., without the required Melee skill of 50 to perform the moves, by initiating a power attack (hold attack button) while moving forward. Special melee attacks outside of V.A.T.S., however, don't have any special properties to them, but are considered as a standard power attack.

Note: All Unarmed/Melee power attacks double weapon's base damage.

Available Special Attacks[]

Back Slash[]

Most one handed edged weapons have the Back Slash special attack, which, at the cost of less damage, delivers a quicker attack. This attack is a wide side swing with the weapon held in a reverse grip.

Blood-Nap[]

Blood-Nap has the Blood-nap special attack, allowing a faster attack, but causing less damage. Similar to Back Slash, this attack is a wide side swing with the weapon held in a reverse grip.

Dirt-Nap[]

The Bowie knife has the Dirt-Nap special attack, which does less damage while delivering a quicker attack. Similar to Back Slash, this attack is a wide side swing with the weapon held in a reverse grip.

Flambé Cut[]

A special attack used only by the Cosmic knife super-heated, Flambé Cut results in slightly lower base damage, but causes enemies to burst into flames for a short time. Similar to Back Slash, this attack is a wide side swing with the weapon held in a reverse grip.

Fore![]

Unique to the golf clubs 9 iron and Nephi's golf driver is the Fore! special attack, a wide upper-cut swing similar to a golf swing; it does more damage as well as a guarantee to knock enemies down.

Grand Slam[]

Two handed club-like weapons use the Grand Slam special attack, a wide side-swing similar to a baseball swing, which does twice as much damage but is slower to employ.

Inversal Scarifier[]

Inversal Scarifier is a special attack used solely by the Protonic inversal axe that deals double damage at a slower attack speed. Similar to Mauler, this attack uses a spin move side-swinging the weapon around in a full circle around its user before smashing into its target.

Lights Out[]

Most one handed blunt weapons have Lights Out available as a special attack, which, while slower to use, does 25% more damage. This move is identical to the one used by super mutants with the attacker raising the weapon high above their head before swinging it down sharply onto the target.

Long Cut[]

Rippers (Ripper and Ripper (GRA)) use the special attack Long Cut, an attack which uses substantially fewer action points for more V.A.T.S. attacks per round, but only does half the damage per attack. The attacker swings their weapon in a wide arc from the side and holds the weapon against the target for an extra long attack.

Mauler[]

Most two handed melee weapons have the Mauler special attack, a slower attack which causes knock-back but does much less damage. This attack uses a spin move side-swinging the weapon around in a full circle around its user before smashing into its target.

Nuka-Break[]

The Nuka-Breaker has the special attack Nuka-Break that does the same damage as a regular attack at the cost of more actions points. Similar to Mauler, this attack uses a spin move side-swinging the weapon around in a full circle around its user before smashing into its target.

Pain Frequency[]

Pain Frequency is a special melee V.A.T.S. attack unique to the X-2 antenna that does twice normal damage but uses more action points to employ. Similar to Mauler, this attack uses a spin move side-swinging the weapon around in a full circle around its user before smashing into its target.

Proton Electrocutioner[]

The Proton axe uses the special attack Proton Electrocutioner that, while costing the user more actions points, deals out double damage. Similar to Mauler, this attack uses a spin move side-swinging the weapon around in a full circle around its user before smashing into its target.

Scrap Heap[]

Some automatic melee weapons have a special attack, Scrap Heap, that delivers a forward thrust of the weapon which does much less damage per hit, but comes with a much lower action point cost. When used with the Thermic lance, the attacker first reverses grip on the weapon, then thrusts it into their target.

Surgical Strike[]

A special attack only used by the Cosmic knife clean, Surgical Strike combines damage one and a half times normal with a greater cost in action points. Similar to Back Slash, this attack is a wide side swing with the weapon held in a reverse grip.

Unlabored Flawlessness[]

A special attack for the Katana, Unlabored Flawlessness uses a reverse grip and a powerful side-swing similar to Back Slash, causing vastly more damage but using a greater number of action points.

None[]

The only melee weapons in Fallout: New Vegas that have no special attack are the Broad machete and all thrown melee weapons.

Special Attack Comparison[]

Legend[]

  • Weapon: Fallout: New Vegas melee weapon name.
  • Special Attack: Special attack available in V.A.T.S. or real-time.
  • Dam mod: Amount regular damage is multiplied by.
  • AP mod: Amount regular AP cost is modified by.
  • Special Effect: Special effect associated with special attack.
  • Normal V.A.T.S. Dam: Normal V.A.T.S damage, which is double regular damage for Fallout: New Vegas melee weapons.
  • Special Attack Dam: Special attack V.A.T.S. damage, which is double regular damage, modified by the special attack damage modifier.
  • Normal V.A.T.S. AP: Normal cost in action points for attack.
  • Special Attack AP: Normal cost in action points for attack modified by the special attack AP cost modifier.
  • Normal V.A.T.S. Dam/AP: Normal ratio of damage points dealt per action point spent.
  • Special Attack Dam/AP: Ratio of damage points dealt per action point spent when using the special attack.
  • Normal V.A.T.S. Dam/Rd: Normal damage dealt in one round of V.A.T.S. with an average number of 95 action points available.
  • Special Attack Dam/Rd: Damage dealt in one round of V.A.T.S. with an average number of 95 action points available when using the special attack.

Comparison table[]

Weapon Special Attack Dam mod AP mod Special Effect Normal V.A.T.S Dam Special Attack Dam Normal V.A.T.S. AP Special Attack AP Normal V.A.T.S. Dam Per AP Special Attack Dam Per AP Normal V.A.T.S. Dam Per Rd Special Attack Dam Per Rd
9 iron Fore! 100% +13 Automatic knockdown 34 34 22 35 1.55 0.97 136 68
Nephi's golf driver Fore! 100% +4 Automatic knockdown 60 60 21 25 2.86 2.40 240 180
Baseball bat
(GRA)
Grand Slam 200% +10 none 44 88 25 35 1.76 2.51 132 176
Bowie knife Dirt-Nap 80% -8 none 46 36.8 20 12 2.30 3.07 184 257.6
Blood-Nap Blood-Nap 80% -7 none 60 48 17 10 3.53 4.80 300 432
Bumper sword Mauler 50% +10 Knockdown chance 64 32 38 48 1.68 0.67 128 32
Blade of the East Mauler 50% +9 Knockdown chance 130 65 35 44 3.71 1.48 260 130
Blade of the West Mauler 50% +9 Knockdown chance 120 60 29 38 4.14 1.58 360 120
Cattle prod Lights Out 125% +8 none 10 12.5 28 36 0.36 0.35 30 25
Chainsaw
(GRA)
Scrap Heap 50% -20 none 160 80 65 45 2.46 1.78 160 160
Cleaver Back Slash 70% -5 none 14 9.8 22 17 0.64 0.58 56 49
Chopper Back Slash 70% -5 none 28 19.6 22 17 1.27 1.15 112 98
Combat knife Back Slash 70% -3 none 30 21 17 14 1.76 1.50 150 126
Chance's knife Back Slash 70% -3 none 44 30.8 17 14 2.59 2.20 220 184.4
Cosmic knife Back Slash 70% -4 none 24 16.8 20 16 1.20 1.05 96 84
Cosmic knife clean Surgical Strike 150% +5 none 30 45 20 25 1.50 1.80 120 135
Cosmic knife super-heated Flambé Cut 90% 0 2 dam
(5 sec) Fire
28 25.2 + 2 (5sec)Fire 20 20 1.40 1.76 112 140.8
Dress cane Lights Out 125% +8 none 44 55 27 35 1.63 1.57 132 110
Fire axe Mauler 50% +5 Knockdown chance 110 55 22 27 5.00 2.04 440 165
Knock-Knock Mauler 50% +5 Knockdown chance 132 66 21 26 6.29 2.54 528 198
Hatchet Back Slash 70% -5 none 32 22.4 22 17 1.45 1.32 128 112
Katana Unlabored Flawlessness 250% +19 none 44 110 21 40 2.10 2.75 176 220
Knife Back Slash 70% -4 none 16 11.2 20 16 0.80 0.70 64 56
Knife spear Mauler 100% 0 Knockdown chance 40 40 35 35 1.14 1.14 80 80
Knife spear clean Mauler 100% 0 Knockdown chance 50 50 35 35 1.43 1.43 100 100
Lead pipe Lights Out 125% +6 none 44 55 24 30 1.83 1.83 132 165
The Humble Cudgel Lights Out 125% +9 none 52 65 21 30 2.48 2.17 208 195
Machete Back Slash 70% -4 none 22 15.4 20 16 1.10 0.96 88 77
Liberator Back Slash 70% -3 none 36 25.2 18 15 2.00 1.68 180 151.2
Machete gladius Back Slash 70% -4 none 56 39.2 20 16 2.80 2.45 224 196
Nail board Grand Slam 200% +11 none 50 100 27 38 1.85 2.63 150 200
Old Glory Grand Slam 200% +13 none 90 180 22 35 4.09 5.14 360 360
Pool cue Grand Slam 200% +11 none 30 60 27 38 1.11 1.58 90 120
Police baton Lights Out 125% +6 none 20 25 23 29 0.87 0.86 80 75
Proton axe Proton Electrocutioner 200% +13 none 100 200 22 35 4.55 5.71 400 400
Protonic inversal axe Inversal Scarifier 200% +10 none 116 232 25 35 4.64 6.63 348 464
Rebar club Mauler 100% +8 knockdown chance 84 84 40 48 2.10 1.75 168 84
Nuka Breaker Nuka-Break 100% +7 none 100 100 35 42 2.86 2.38 200 200
Ripper
(GRA)
Long Cut 50% -20 none 100 50 65 45 1.54 1.11 100 100
Rolling pin Lights Out 125% +6 none 6 7.5 24 30 0.25 0.25 18 22.5
Shishkebab Back Slash 70% -6 none 80 56 25 22 2.86 2.55 240 224
Gehenna Back Slash 70% -3 none 84 58.8 25 22 3.36 2.67 252 235.2
Shovel Grand Slam 100% +8 Automatic knockdown 24 24 28 36 0.86 0.67 72 48
Sledgehammer Mauler 50% +10 Knockdown chance 48 24 38 48 1.26 0.50 96 24
Straight razor Back Slash 70% -3 none 10 7 18 15 0.56 0.47 50 42
Figaro Back Slash 70% -3 none 16 11.2 17 14 0.94 0.80 80 67.2
Super sledge Mauler 50% +10 Knockdown chance 140 70 38 48 3.68 1.46 280 70
Oh, Baby! Mauler 50% +8 Knockdown chance 160 80 35 43 4.57 1.86 320 160
Switchblade Back Slash 70% -3 none 14 9.8 18 15 0.78 0.65 70 58.8
Thermic lance Scrap Heap 50% -20 none 200 100 65 45 3.08 2.22 200 200
Tire iron Lights Out 125% +8 none 30 37.5 27 35 1.11 1.07 90 75
War club Lights Out 125% +5 none 38 47.5 21 26 1.81 1.83 152 142.5
X-2 antenna Pain Frequency 200% +13 none 130 260 22 35 5.91 7.43 520 520

Unarmed[]

V.A.T.S. Special Attacks[]

Starting from 50 Unarmed skill points, players gain access to special unarmed V.A.T.S. attacks which all consume 20 action points for a variety of effects.

Name Unarmed AP Damage Bonus Notes
Stomp 50 20 100% Only on knocked down opponents
Uppercut 50 20 15%
Cross 75 20 10% 2.5x Increased Limb Damage
Note: All Unarmed/Melee attacks in V.A.T.S. double weapon's base damage.

Special Power Attacks outside of V.A.T.S.[]

There are four different special moves that can be learned from different non-player characters in the game:

Attack Name NPC Requirements Properties
Ranger Takedown Ranger Andy Quest or Speech 30 Knock down opponents
Legion Assault Lucius Unarmed 50 Knock back opponents
Scribe Counter Veronica Santangelo Quest Quick counter-attack after block
Khan Trick Diane Quest Temporarily stun opponents by throwing dust or dirt at their eyes (requires dirt or sand ground)
Note: All Unarmed/Melee power attacks double weapon's base damage.
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