Guides The Best Armor in Fallout 4: Automatron, Far Harbor, and Nuka-World

The Best Armor in Fallout 4: Automatron, Far Harbor, and Nuka-World

Vladislav Sham
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In Fallout 4, there are many different types and kinds of regular armor, and it's easy to miss an interesting piece. In this guide, we will tell you where to get the best regular armor through quests, find or buy it, what properties it has, and how to properly upgrade it to counter most types of damage. This text contains many spoilers for the game and its expansions.

What You Need to Know About Armor in Fallout 4

Any armor in Fallout 4 absorbs up to three types of damage:

  • physical — from firearms and grenades, explosions, as well as from melee weapons;
  • energy — from laser, plasma, electric weapons, and grenades;
  • radiation — from the radiation background, stormy storms, and gamma guns.

Like weapons, armor has so-called legendary properties, such as increasing the SPECIAL characteristics of the character, reducing damage from enemies, from radiation or electricity, simplifying lockpicking, slowing down time, and so on.

Legendary properties affect the character overall and are cumulative with other elements of armor. Such armor drops from legendary enemies, but the best samples can only be bought or found in the Commonwealth.

The main character of Fallout 4 can be dressed in various ways and given different armor. The game has a lot of content, but there is a certain disorganization, so we will try to explain in as much detail as possible about the types of clothing and armor, and what the difference is between them:

  • clothing — the most basic clothing, which simply covers the naked body of the character, but does not provide protection and is not modifiable, for example, synth uniform, raider clothes, casual attire. Allows wearing a full set of armor or its elements on top. Does not come with legendary property.
  • underarmor — looks and wears like regular clothing, for example, an evening dress or tuxedo, but has the possibility of modification. Protection is evenly distributed across all limbs of the character, but underarmor without modifications is very weak. With a few exceptions, does not allow wearing a full set of armor on top. Does not come with legendary property, but improves SPECIAL characteristics.
  • armored outfit — combines good clothing and good armor. Visually, an armored outfit contains lower and upper clothes, coat/jacket, shoes, and gloves. Technically, it has high protection stats, which are evenly distributed across all limbs.

Does not allow wearing a full set of armor or its elements on top, nor clothing or underarmor underneath. Some armored outfits are additionally modifiable, some are not.

Some models come with headgear, others do not. There are options with 1-2 legendary properties or SPECIAL points. Often, an armored outfit can be mistaken for clothing, to be sure, check in the Pip-Boy for the possibility of modification at the workbench.

  • complete armor — in Fallout 4, damage is calculated for legs, arms, torso, and head, which can be destroyed if they take significant damage. It makes sense to protect each body part individually with additional elements. Such armor protects only its area and is worn over clothes or underarmor. Even if you find just one element, it always belongs to some set, hence the name.

In the base game, you can find the following armor sets: leather, raider, metal, combat, synth, and Brotherhood of Steel. With the Automatron expansion, robot armor is added, in Far Harbor there's pre-war marine armor and trapper armor, and in Nuka-World there's Disciples, Operators, and Pack armor.

Different limbs can be equipped with different elements, with no restrictions. From level 20, on enemy corpses, in safes, and from vendors, elements with 1-2 legendary properties or SPECIAL points will start to appear. All modifications for identical elements are the same, regardless of their source.

  • unique set armor — contains from 2 to 6 elements from the point above, but such a set has a unique visual style and several legendary properties. For example, with such armor, you can survive falls from any height or learn to slow down time in critical situations. The possibilities for modifications are preserved, although there may be fewer of them.

Wearing a set by itself does not provide additional bonuses; you can pull the most suitable elements from different sets to match your playstyle and create your own. Or you can wear 2-3 different sets and receive all effects and properties. The effects will also stack with underarmor. Unique armor can be found in a cache, awarded for completing a quest, or purchased, and such items are significantly more expensive than regular armor elements.

  • power armor — a mechanized exoskeleton that completely covers the character's body. Provides maximum protection against ballistic, radiation, energy damage, and poisons, as well as additional functions, such as a jet pack or enemy highlighting:

You can enter it regardless of whether you are wearing underarmor or piece armor.

We have also written important guides on Fallout 4 power armor; in this material, we will not return to this topic:

To make the difference between underarmor, armored outfit, and piece armor clearer, here is how they differ in PipBoy:

Naked character
Underarmor
Complete armor

Let's list the most useful legendary armor properties in descending order:

  • Fortifying increases damage resistance (up to +35) the lower the Survivor's health;
  • Martyr's slows down time for a few seconds in combat if the character's health drops below 20%;
  • Sprinter's increases running speed by 10%;
  • Powered increases the speed of Action Points recovery;
  • VATS Enhanced reduces the cost of actions by 10% for each piece;
  • Chameleon hides the character when hit in melee combat for a few seconds (requires Far Harbor);
  • Auto Stim applies a stimpack when health drops below 25% (requires Far Harbor);
  • Damage Reduction from enemies of a specific type by 15%. There are 6 types of enemies in the game, but only five sets for armor, something has to be sacrificed.
  • Properties that increase SPECIAL system stats are useful in the early stages of the game, as they increase character stats by only 1-2 points.

The Best Regular Armor Sets in Fallout 4 and Tips for Their Upgrade

Despite the variety of armor types and upgrades for it, all truly valuable pieces are locked behind quests and hidden in expansions. Relying on luck to get something worthwhile from enemies is also not advisable. Therefore, until level 40, you will be wearing regular upgraded armor, starting from level 20 legendary properties will start to appear, do not ignore them.

In Fallout 4, all armor sets are divided into three tiers: standard, sturdy, and heavy, which are tied to the enemy's level, the higher it is, the better quality armor the enemy wears. Here's what it looks like:

Difference in sets

Now let's arrange the heavy faction armor sets by the ratio of protective properties/weight, the further, the better:

  • Operators armor (requires Nuka-World);
  • Raider armor;
  • Disciples armor (requires Nuka-World);
  • Metal armor;
  • Brotherhood of Steel combat armor (rarely drops);
  • Trapper armor (requires Far Harbor);
  • Robot armor (requires Automatron);
  • Pack armor (requires Nuka-World);
  • Leather armor;
  • Synth armor (heavy samples drop after level 48);
  • Gunners combat armor;
  • Marine armor (requires Far Harbor).

To identify the level of piece armor, carefully read the titles, they should start with Sturdy or Heavy, although for Disciples, armor levels are divided into spikes-wrap-metal.

Modified armor starts with words like armored, protected, reinforced, lightweight, has good stats, but this does not yet mean it is high level. The stock variant of the next level is better than the modified previous one.

Important! Armor set modifications are the same for all three levels, which should be used to upgrade an advanced version at the expense of a simple one, without having the required perk level, by simply swapping them. For example, we assemble an asbestos lining modification for standard armor (requires 1st Gun Nut), remove it and put it on heavy armor (requires 3rd Gun Nut).

In any case, you always have to look individually, since everything drops randomly, there are very many end combinations, especially when legendary properties are added. It's impossible to advise something specific from the generally available content. Here are our tips for choosing armor for the playthrough:

  • it's advisable to have one set of armor for combat missions, another for walks and radiation zones;
  • accordingly, choose legendary properties — something will be useful for combat, something for exploring the world;
  • armor pieces have 1-2 modification slots, which is not enough, so choose what is common and can simplify the playthrough, for example, greater carry weight instead of immunity to catching fire;
  • always look at the weight of the armor, the heavier it is, the worse, even despite its protection. Aim to take light and powerful armor, instead of lightening heavy armor with modifications;
  • be sure to wear a helmet or cap on your head, it will save a lot of health points;
  • level up Gun Nut and Science perks to unlock armor modification;
  • complete quests and visit Diamond City to purchase worthy armor pieces.

The Best Under Armor in Fallout 4

The game has several pieces of under armor that allow you to wear a full set of armor on top and provide good protection by themselves. This combination is the most important, all other clothes at high difficulty will not provide sufficient protection without additional armor. Let's list them:

  • Vault 111 jumpsuit — lies on the bench in the locker corridor and at the entrance, opposite the airlock door, where you and your family were dressed in jumpsuits by the story. Modifications are unique, maximum protection can be squeezed out to 2 from physical damage, 27 from energy, and 30 from radiation:
  • similar to the previous option Vault Dweller jumpsuits 81, 88, 114, 118, which can be found, bought, or stolen;
  • the unique under armor Vault 88 Legend reduces damage from ghouls by 15%, (also modifiable), to unlock it, you need to fully complete the Vault-Tec add-on:
  • military fatigues — often found on Gunners, and also sold in the Commonwealth. It can be upgraded with a bulletproof layer to get protection of 110 from physical and 115 from energy damage. Gives +2 to agility:
  • army fatigues are slightly worse — 110 on 110, and the stats are +1 to strength, +1 to agility. Found at pre-war US army facilities, it can be found on the bodies of officers and soldiers guarding the entrance to Vault 111:

Best Power Armors in Fallout 4

In the game, you will find many items from this category, some resemble traditional clothing, others are like the creations of mad inventors. Remember, using them will remove your underarmor or equipped armor sets. Let's list the best power armor options:

Silver Shroud Armor and Hat

A unique silver-gray cloak with its own backstory, which is told in a separate quest:

If the player chooses it, the Survivor, companions, and encountered NPCs will have additional lines and comments. It can be obtained during the Silver Shroud quest. The original is somewhat weak, so talk to Kent Connolly, who will offer three modifications for the silver cloak at levels 25, 35, and 45 of the Survivor. Just don't forget to continue the main storyline, starting with the Reunions quest. This armor can only be worn by the main character. Legendary property: +2 Perception, +1 Agility.

General of the Minutemen's Uniform and Hat

An old cloak that is given to the Survivor as the general of the Minutemen, but can be worn by another character. The uniform can be picked up from the inventory of the dead General McGann in the tunnels of the Castle:

The character first finds themselves near the Castle through Preston Garvey's Old Guns story quest. The armor has good defense ratings against physical and energy damage. Property: +1 to Charisma.

Hunter's Outfit

Standard armor of the Hunters, which can be picked up from a synth's corpse if you are playing against the Institute, obtained through a quest from Tinker Tom of the Railroad, found within the Institute, or bought there from a synth vendor:

When upgraded with a bulletproof layer to class 5, it provides protection of 140 against physical, 125 against energy, and 15 against radiation damage. Property: +1 Endurance, +1 Perception. The head remains free, so think about what to protect it with.

Magician's Tuxedo and Oswald's Top Hat

Requires the Nuka-World add-on. By installing a bulletproof layer of the fifth level on the tuxedo, you can get excellent protection of 122 against physical and 127 against energy damage. Properties: +1 to Endurance, +1 to Charisma, 15% damage reduction from humans. Also, there is a top hat with 2/2 protection, with the property of +1 to Perception, +1 to Charisma, and increased movement speed by 10%.

The tuxedo and top hat can be obtained during the Magic Kingdom quest, by killing Oswald and searching his corpse.

Railroad Armored Coat

Another full-body armor, so it can't be worn simultaneously with an armor set or underarmor. It can only be obtained by taking it off the corpses of Railroad fighters. If you end Fallout 4 with this faction, then during the Battle of Bunker Hill mission, several Railroad fighters will die, search their bodies.

In Fallout 4, there are 6 variants of this power armor, the higher the level, the higher the class of protection. At maximum, you can get protection of 93 against physical damage, 150 against energy damage, and 10 against radiation. None of the armor levels can be modified at a workbench, nor do they have legendary properties. It also does not come with a helmet.

Elder Maxson's Battlecoat

Despite its scruffy appearance, this is one of the most protective power armors. By installing a bulletproof layer of level 5, you can get more protection than a Railroad Armored Coat of class 5, with less weight. The protection is 160 against physical damage and 110 against energy damage. Property: +1 to Perception.

To obtain the coat, you will have to kill Maxson. This is only possible if you have not joined the Brotherhood of Steel (before the Mass Fusion quest). However, it's possible to kill Maxson without starting the final quest line, for this you will need a harpoon gun and fully upgraded Commando and Ninja perks. Just make 2-3 unnoticed headshots on Maxson in VATS mode.

Mechanist's Armor

Requires the Automatron add-on. By installing a bulletproof layer of level 5, you can get excellent protection of 182 against both physical and energy damage. Properties: +1 to Endurance, 15% damage reduction from robots. There is also a helmet with 13/13 protection, with properties of +1 to Charisma and +1 to Intelligence. Together, the two items provide superb protection of 201/201:

The suit and helmet can be obtained by successfully completing the final quest of the Automatron add-on, Restoring Order.

Other Options

Other unique variants of underarmor, power armors, and headgear that can be obtained through quests or found in the Commonwealth. Each can be upgraded to class 5 and get 110 protection against physical damage, 110 against energy damage, and 0 against radiation:

  • Lorenzo's suit, +2 to Charisma, can be found in the Parsons State Insane Asylum during the quest The Secret of Cabot House;
  • Nuka-World jumpsuit (requires Nuka-World), +1 to Intelligence, +1 to Perception, can be obtained by completing the quest Cappy in a Haystack from Sierra Petrovita;
  • Hubologist's outfit (requires Nuka-World), +2 to Charisma, can be obtained at the local Hubologist's camp after undergoing the alignment procedure with Phil Roller;
  • Mechanic's jumpsuit, which appears in Fallout 4 in two variations — dark green and red-blue, can be found by searching Red Rocket gas stations. Properties: +1 to Intelligence, +1 to Perception.
  • Green hat (110 protection against radiation), felt hat (+1 to Charisma), crumpled fedora (+1 to Luck) — sold by Becky Fallon in Diamond City, as well as by other NPCs in the game.

Best Unique Full Armor Set in Fallout 4

Marine Assault Armor

The Far Harbor DLC is required. This is heavy pre-war armor used by the US Navy SEALs. The full set is perhaps the most effective armor in the game, especially in terms of protection/weight ratio. Only power armor offers better protection for the character. When combined with under-armor clothing, like military fatigues, one can achieve the maximum protection levels for the Survivor:

The armor can be acquired through the main quest of Far Harbor, Best Left Forgotten, which is given by DiMA at The Nucleus. At the very end, once you decrypt all five of DiMA's memory tapes and return them to him, he will drop the coordinates for the marine assault armor (a search mission will appear in the Misc section).

Head to the point, eliminate a whole squad of mutants, and find the armor in barrels. After that, you can upgrade the armor to your liking.

In Far Harbor, you can also purchase Zealot's marine armor:

Its stats are half as potent, but it's useful if you don't want to finish the game siding with the Institute, the synth rebels, or the local settlers. The set is sold by Brother Kane in The Nucleus, and depending on the Survivor's perks, it will cost around 50,000 caps.

Upon completing the Reformation quest, High Confessor Tektus will gift you a piece of the Armor of Atom (either a chest piece or armor for the right arm). It increases resistance to ballistic and energy damage (up to +35) as the character's radiation level increases.

Marine Recon Armor

A legendary version of the assault variant, however, it is intentionally made incomplete. This set includes:

  • a helmet, sold by Brooks in Far Harbor, which gives +1 to Agility and Perception;
  • the torso can be bought from Cog in Acadia, it reduces damage while stationary by 15%;
  • the right arm, sold by Sister Mai in The Nucleus, it increases movement speed by 10%;
  • the left arm is sold by Brother Kane in The Nucleus, and it temporarily slows time in combat if your health drops below 20%.

Besides the legendary properties, the armor features a unique engraving. Unfortunately, we only had enough money for the right arm, as each piece costs around 15,000 caps:

Apocalypse Set

Consists of two pieces from the metal armor series, providing solid base protection, available for 10,000 caps:

  • The Apocalypse Chest Piece is sold by a random NPC named Scriptor, for which you need to appoint him as a merchant in your settlement. The chest piece temporarily slows time in combat if your health drops below 20%.
  • The Left Leg of Apocalypse is sold by the story NPC Vault-Tec Representative, for which you need to appoint him as a merchant in your settlement. The lower the health, the higher the damage resistance (up to +35) of this piece.

Champion's Set

Consists of three pieces from the metal armor series, offering decent base protection, available for 15,000 caps:

  • The Champion's Chest Piece reduces damage from robots by 15% and can be bought in the basement of Fallon's, from Becky Fallon of Diamond City;
  • The Champion's Left Arm increases strength and endurance by +1, available from the wandering merchant Lucas Miller throughout the Commonwealth.
  • The Champion's Right Arm increases agility and perception by +1, available in the basement of Fallon's, from Becky Fallon of Diamond City.

Destroyer's Set

Consists of five pieces from the combat armor series, offering decent base protection, available for 25,000 caps:

  • Destroyer's helmet increases Charisma and Intelligence by +1, sold by Penny Fitzgerald in Covenant. During the game, this NPC can be lost if you clear the Covenant area;
  • Destroyer's chest piece reduces damage from humans by 15%, can be bought from Daisy in Goodneighbor;
  • Destroyer's left arm reduces incoming damage by 15% while blocking or sprinting, sold by Deb in Bunker Hill;
  • Destroyer's left and right leg, each of which increases the Survivor's movement speed by 10%, sold respectively by Daisy in Goodneighbor and Alexis Combs in Vault 81.

Guardian's Set

Consists of two pieces from the combat armor series, offers good base protection, available for 10,000 caps:

  • Guardian's left arm reduces the action point cost in VATS by 10%, can be bought from Alexis Combs in Vault 81;
  • Guardian's right arm reduces incoming damage by 15% while the character is stationary. Sold by the same Alexis Combs.

Special Synth Armor Pieces

Now let's list individual synth armor pieces that cannot be looted from enemies, but can only be purchased (from 2,500 to 5,000) from a synth vendor in the Institute or obtained as quest rewards. Each piece provides good protection and comes with a host of bonuses:

  • 3rd generation synth chest piece increases damage resistance (up to +35) on this piece as health decreases;
  • 3rd generation synth right arm increases action point recovery speed;
  • 4th generation synth chest and leg pieces with random characteristics. Sold by some named trader characters in settlements built by the Survivor, if placed in armor shops.
  • Acadia's Shield is a unique variant of the synth chest piece, offering excellent protective properties and adding +1 to Agility, Endurance, and Intelligence.

***

We hope our guide helps you decide on your armor choice in Fallout 4. If you want to add to the guide or find an inaccuracy, be sure to write about it in the comments!

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