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General Perk Card Changes and Updates
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) from armor, with a cap on how much DR can boost reflection.
Reflection Percentage:
Normal Armor: Reflects 100% of the incoming damage.
Power Armor: Reflects 200% 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: Adds 0.1 seconds per piece
Medium Armor: Adds 0.2 seconds per piece
Heavy Armor: 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:
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
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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