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March 2025 Perk Card Changes can be found here.
General Perk Card Changes and Updates - September 2024
These changes affect the Evade and Deflect mechanics, as well as perks that involve reflection and evasion.
Deflect and Damage Reflection (with Damage Reduction Scaling)
A limit has been added to the amount of bonus damage that can be reflected back to attackers. The mechanics now consider damage reduction (DR)Â from armor, with a cap on how much DR can boost reflection.
Reflection Percentage:
Normal Armor: Reflects 100%Â of the incoming damage.
Power Armor: Reflects 200%Â of the incoming damage.
DR Scaling Cap:
DR scaling is limited to a maximum of 4x based on the remaining damage after armor reduction.
If armor reduces 75% or more of incoming damage, the scaling factor is clamped to 4x.
For lower DR:
50% reduction gives a scaling factor of 2x.
65% reduction gives a scaling factor of 2.85x.
Final Reflection Formula:
Reflected Damage = Incoming Damage × Reflection Percentage × Armor Scaling Factor
Examples
Example 1: Wearing Power Armor and taking 10 damage with 75% or more DR:
Reflection = 10 × 2 × 4 = 80 (Power Armor reflection capped at 4x).
Example 2: Wearing Power Armor, taking 100 damage with 65% DR:
Reflection = 100 × 2 × 2.85 = 570.
Evade Cooldown and Armor Penalty
The Evade perk now has a base cooldown of 1 second, which scales based on the type and amount of armor equipped. Each armor class adds a slight delay:
Light Armor:Â Adds 0.1 seconds per piece
Medium Armor:Â Adds 0.2 seconds per piece
Heavy Armor:Â Adds 0.4 seconds per piece
The final cooldown depends on the total armor equipped and how much damage was dodged. Here’s the formula:
Evade Cooldown Formula: Â
Cooldown = (1 second + Armor Penalty) × Curve Value (based on % HP dodged)
Armor Penalty Examples
Example 1: Light Armor
You have 3 pieces of Light Armor equipped.
Total Armor Penalty = 0.1 seconds × 3 = 0.3 seconds.
Cooldown = (1 + 0.3) = 1.3 seconds (before the curve adjustment).
Example 2: Medium Armor
You have 2 pieces of Medium Armor equipped.
Total Armor Penalty = 0.2 seconds × 2 = 0.4 seconds.
Cooldown = (1 + 0.4) = 1.4 seconds (before the curve adjustment).
Example 3: Heavy Armor
You have 4 pieces of Heavy Armor equipped.
Total Armor Penalty = 0.4 seconds × 4 = 1.6 seconds.
Cooldown = (1 + 1.6) = 2.6 seconds (before the curve adjustment).
Affected Perk Cards
These changes apply to the following perk cards:
Evasive: Updated cooldown scaling based on armor class.
Ricochet: Reflects damage back to attackers, scaling with DR and affected by Power Armor’s 200% reflection bonus.
Bullet Shield: Now applies the same deflect/ricochet effect.
Serendipity: Utilizes the updated Evade cooldown mechanics for evasion at low health.
Note: There’s no need to scrap any perk cards before the update. The game will automatically convert them into rank 2 and rank 1 cards, which you can then upgrade or scrap as you see fit. You won’t lose any perk cards or perk points during this process.
If you have a rank 3 animated perk card and it is one of the perk cards that are being updated, it will split into rank 2 and rank 1 animated perk cards.
Adamantium Skeleton
SPECIAL:
Endurance
New Perk Card Description:
Gain Limb Damage Reduction based on your Endurance.
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Reduced from Rank 3 to Rank 1
Perk Point Cost: 1
Image of updated perk card:
All Night Long
SPECIAL:
Endurance
New Perk Card Description:
The positive effects of pre-war alcohol last twice as long.
Note: Nuka Cola Dark is not affected by this perk card. This is intentional.
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Reduced from Rank 3 to Rank 1
Perk Point Cost: 2
Calculator:
Calculator not required for this Perk Card.
Image of updated perk card:
Batteries Included
SPECIAL:
Intelligence
New Perk Card Description:
Reduces the weight of energy ammo
Rank 1 now offers 45% weight reduction
Rank 2 now offers 90% weight reduction
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Reduced from Rank 3 to Rank 2
Perk Point Cost: 1/2
Calculator:
Calculator not required for this Perk Card.
Image of updated perk card:
Bloodsucker
SPECIAL:
Endurance (moved from Charisma)
New Perk Card Description:
Bloodpacks and Cannibal now satisfy thirst, no longer cause radiation, and have a healing bonus increased to 200%.
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Reduced from Rank 3 to Rank 1
Perk Point Cost: 1
Calculator:
Calculator not required for this Perk Card.
Image of updated perk card:
Bullet Shield
SPECIAL:
Endurance (moved from Strength)
New Perk Card Description:
Grants a 5% chance per rank to deflect ranged attacks for 6 seconds when firing a heavy weapon.
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Increased from Rank 3 to Rank 4
Perk Point Cost: 1/2/3/4
Calculator:
Calculator not required for this Perk Card.
Image of updated perk card:
Cannibal
SPECIAL:
Endurance
New Perk Card Description:
Increases healing received and hunger restored.
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Reduced from Rank 3 to Rank 1
Perk Point Cost: 1
Calculator:
Calculator not required for this Perk Card.
Image of updated perk card:
Cap Collector - This perk card has been updated again in the March 2025 Patch
SPECIAL:
Luck
New Perk Card Description:
Now applies to all containers and corpses, not just Cap Stashes. The number of caps found scales with Luck.
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Reduced from Rank 3 to Rank 1
Perk Point Cost: 1
Calculator:
There is a curve table for this perk card, but the information can be confusing. Essentially, you earn more caps as your Luck increases, from 5% extra caps at low Luck to a maximum of 200% at high Luck.
Using an example base amount of 5 caps (note that this is just an example and actual base values may vary):
1 Luck: You’d receive about 5% extra, totaling approximately 6 (5.25) caps.
30 Luck: You’d receive around 60% extra, totaling 8 caps.
100 Luck: You’d receive up to 200% extra, totaling 15 caps (or 3 times the base amount).
Image of updated perk card:
Evasive
SPECIAL:
Agility
New Perk Card Description:
Evade Chance now scales with Agility (AGI).
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Reduced from Rank 3 to Rank 1
Perk Point Cost: 1
Image of updated perk card:
First Aid
SPECIAL:
Intelligence
New Perk Card Description:
Healing from Stimpaks now scales with Intelligence (INT) and applies to Stimpaks, Stimpak Diluted, Super Stimpaks, and Stimpak Diffusers.
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Reduced from Rank 3 to Rank 1
Perk Point Cost: 1
Image of updated perk card:
Four Leaf Clover
SPECIAL:
Luck
New Perk Card Description:
Misses in VATS contribute to the Critical Meter based on Luck (LCK).
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Reduced from Rank 3 to Rank 1
Perk Point Cost: 1
Image of updated perk card:
Hard Bargain
SPECIAL:
Charisma
New Perk Card Description:
Grants +7 Charisma while bartering with NPCs.
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Reduced from Rank 3 to Rank 1
Perk Point Cost: 1
Calculator:
Calculator not required for this Perk Card.
Image of updated perk card:
Iron Stomach
SPECIAL:
Endurance
New Perk Card Description:
Now also increases Energy Resistance.
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Remains Rank 1
Perk Point Cost: 1
Image of updated perk card:
Junk Shield
SPECIAL:
Luck
New Perk Card Description:
Gain Damage and Energy Resistance based on your Luck (LCK) and the amount of junk held (not weight).
Now works while in Power Armor.
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Reduced from Rank 3 to Rank 1
Perk Point Cost: 1
Image of updated perk card:
Lifegiver
SPECIAL:
Endurance
New Perk Card Description:
Improves HP gained based on Endurance (END).
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Reduced from Rank 3 to Rank 1
Perk Point Cost: 2
Image of updated perk card:
Lone Wanderer
SPECIAL:
Charisma
New Perk Card Description:
AP Regen and defense bonuses now scale with Charisma (CHA).
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Reduced from Rank 3 to Rank 1
Perk Point Cost: 2
Image of updated perk card:
Natural Resistance
SPECIAL:
Endurance
New Perk Card Description:
No longer provides Energy Resistance.
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Remains Rank 1
Perk Point Cost: 1
Image of updated perk card:
Night Eyes
SPECIAL:
Perception
New Perk Card Description:
No longer restricted by time of day; now works anytime.
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Remains Rank 1
Perk Point Cost: 1
Calculator:
Calculator not required for this Perk Card.
Image of updated perk card:
Ordnance Express
SPECIAL:
Strength
New Perk Card Description:
Reduces the weight of explosive ammo
Rank 1 now offers 45% weight reduction
Rank 2 now offers 90% weight reduction
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Reduced from Rank 3 to Rank 2
Perk Point Cost: 1/2
Calculator:
Calculator not required for this Perk Card.
Image of updated perk card:
Pharmacist
SPECIAL:
Intelligence
New Perk Card Description:
RadAway removes more radiation based on your Intelligence (INT).
No longer required for crafting Disease Cures or Water Filters.
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Reduced from Rank 3 to Rank 1
Perk Point Cost: 1
Image of updated perk card:
Professional Drinker
SPECIAL:
Endurance
New Perk Card Description:
Reduces negative effects of alcohol.
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Reduced from Rank 3 to Rank 2
Perk Point Cost: 2
Calculator:
Calculator not required for this Perk Card.
Image of updated perk card:
Ricochet
SPECIAL:
Luck
New Perk Card Description:
Chance to deflect ranged attacks now scales with Luck (LCK).
Chance to deflect increases in Heavy or Power Armor.
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Reduced from Rank 3 to Rank 1
Perk Point Cost: 1
Image of updated perk card:
Serendipity
SPECIAL:
Luck
New Perk Card Description:
Evade chance now scales with Luck (LCK) when your health is below 30%, giving a chance to avoid all incoming damage from direct attacks. Evade can activate once every 2 seconds but will not work if you are over-encumbered or wearing Power Armor.
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Reduced from Rank 3 to Rank 1
Perk Point Cost: 1
Image of updated perk card:
Starched Genes
SPECIAL:
Endurance (moved from Luck)
New Perk Card Description:
You will never mutate from rads, and RadAway will never cure mutations.
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Reduced from Rank 2 to Rank 1
Perk Point Cost: 1
Calculator:
Calculator not required for this Perk Card.
Image of updated perk card:
Thru-Hiker
SPECIAL:
New Perk Card Description:
Reduces the weight of food and drink
Rank 1 now offers 45% weight reduction
Rank 2 now offers 90% weight reduction
Card Rank and Cost:
Card Rank: Reduced from Rank 3 to Rank 2
Perk Point Cost: 1/2
Calculator:
Calculator not required for this Perk Card.
Image of updated perk card:
Body Armour Classification
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