PIP-OS v7.1.1

Perks

• Gunslinger rank 1 (AGI 1) — take immediately, it's your entire damage source
• Sneak rank 1 (AGI 1) — cheap early damage multiplier on opening shots
• Gunslinger rank 2

Stats

No further SPECIAL spend yet — save points, you're already at the LCK/AGI target range from creation.

Gear

Any 10mm pistol with a scope + compensator early on. Grab the Deliverer from the Railroad questline as soon as it's accessible (it has an innate 20% VATS AP-cost reduction, the single best pistol for this build). Wear whatever light armor you find — combat armor pieces are fine.

Perks

• Better Criticals rank 1 (LCK 6) — flat crit damage boost
• Gunslinger rank 3
• Action Boy/Girl rank 1 (AGI 4) — start smoothing out AP regen
• Bloody Mess rank 1 (LCK 4, optional) — free flat damage, no downside

Stats

Use a bobblehead or level-up point to push Perception to 4 if you haven't already, unlocking Locksmith down the line isn't required but Rifleman/VATS accuracy benefits from PER regardless.

Gear

Start modding the Deliverer or your main pistol at the weapons workbench: prioritize a suppressor (stealth) and a better sight. Look for a legendary drop with Instigating or Two Shot — either is a strong pistol roll to hold onto.

Perks

• Gunslinger rank 4
• Action Boy/Girl rank 2
• Four Leaf Clover rank 1 (LCK 5) — passive chance at a free crit on any hit
• Toughness rank 1 (END 3, optional) — you're a squishy crit build, a little DR buys margin for error

Stats

Push Endurance to 3 if you skipped it, or push Agility toward 8 — both matter more than raw Strength/Charisma for this build.

Gear

Upgrade to a mid-tier receiver on your pistol (Advanced or better) as soon as Gun Nut allows. If you found an Instigating or Two Shot pistol, this is when it starts to outpace crafted options — keep it as your primary going forward.

Perks

• Critical Banker (LCK 9) — the build's signature perk: bank crits instead of firing automatically, then dump 2–3 at once on a hard target
• Gunslinger rank 5 — max rank adds a guaranteed critical hit on any sneak attack
• Better Criticals rank 2

Stats

Luck should be at 9 by now (via creation + bobblehead/level points) to unlock Critical Banker. This is the priority stat threshold for the whole build — don't delay it.

Gear

Start building out armor for survivability rather than offense — you don't need more pistol damage yet, you need to survive long enough to bank crits. Ballistic-weave-lined clothing under armor pieces (needs Railroad affinity + Armorer) is excellent here.

Perks

• Grim Reaper's Sprint (LCK 7) — VATS kills have a chance to fully refund AP, this is what makes the loop near-infinite against groups
• Action Boy/Girl rank 3
• Better Criticals rank 3 (max) — +50% crit damage total

Stats

Luck to 10 (final target) if not already there. Start dipping into Endurance or Intelligence bobbleheads for quality of life — the core offensive stats are done.

Gear

Legendary Unyielding chest piece is the standard choice here — it trades defense for +3 to all SPECIAL stats except Endurance while below 20% HP, which directly buffs Luck/Agility/Perception mid-fight.

Perks

• Concentrated Fire (PER 8, optional) — VATS accuracy climbs the longer you target the same body part, great for consistent headshots on tough enemies
• Mister Sandman (AGI 8, optional) — bonus sneak-attack damage on sleeping/unaware targets if you're opening fights from stealth
• Fill remaining ranks in Gunslinger-adjacent perks (Rifleman if you swap to a scoped pistol build, or Sneak for stealth openers)

Stats

By this point most of the build's power comes from perks and gear rather than further SPECIAL spend — put remaining points into Endurance or Intelligence for survivability and XP.

Gear

Full matching legendary set: Unyielding chest, Instigating/Two Shot Deliverer or .44, and a set of Sentinel's or Cavalier's on the remaining armor slots for a defensive floor. This is the finished version of the build.

Perks

• Sneak rank 1–2 (AGI 1)
• Big Leagues rank 1 (STR 1)

Gear

Any early melee weapon (Board, Pipe Wrench). Prioritize light/no armor on the torso for lower detection.

Perks

• Ninja rank 1–2 (AGI 3) — massive sneak-attack multiplier
• Sneak rank 3
• Big Leagues rank 2–3

Gear

Look for a legendary melee weapon with Instigating (double damage vs full-health targets — perfect for a stealth opener).

Perks

• Blitz (AGI 6) — VATS melee attacks close distance instantly, the build's signature tool
• Ninja rank 3 (max)
• Big Leagues rank 4

Gear

Chameleon-effect armor pieces (from Railroad or crafted with Refractor mod) stack with Sneak for near-permanent stealth while stationary.

Perks

• Big Leagues rank 5 (max) — disarm chance
• Iron Fist if going unarmed instead of a weapon
• Bloody Mess (LCK 4) for flat extra damage

Gear

Unyielding chest piece works here too, since a good stealth opener means you rarely take return fire before the kill lands.

Perks

• Commando rank 1–2 (AGI 3)
• Bloody Mess rank 1 (LCK 4)

Gear

Combat Rifle or Assault Rifle converted to automatic receiver as soon as Gun Nut allows.

Perks

• Commando rank 3
• Action Boy/Girl rank 1–2 (AGI 4)
• Rifleman is a trap here — automatics don't benefit, skip it and stay on Commando

Gear

Prioritize a large magazine mod for fewer reloads; ammo capacity matters more than accuracy on this build.

Perks

• Gun Fu (AGI 8) — bonus damage scaling with number of enemies queued in the same VATS sequence
• Commando rank 4
• Concentrated Fire (PER 8, optional)

Gear

A legendary Furious automatic weapon is excellent — each consecutive hit on the same target ramps damage, and Gun Fu keeps you hitting fast.

Perks

• Commando rank 5 (max)
• Bloody Mess to max rank

Gear

Never Ending legendary effect removes the reload downtime almost entirely — huge quality-of-life pickup if you find one.

Perks

• Demolition Expert rank 1–2 (PER 3) — increases explosive damage and radius

Gear

Stock up on frag grenades and mines from vendors early — crafting them requires perk ranks you won't have yet.

Perks

• Demolition Expert rank 3
• Nuclear Physicist rank 1 (INT 6, optional) — longer Fat Man/mini nuke radiation effect, faster fusion core drain reduction

Gear

Start carrying a Fat Man if found — ammo (mini nukes) is rare but devastating vs. Power Armor and Behemoths.

Perks

• Demolition Expert rank 4–5 (max)
• Grenadier-line perks if using thrown weapons heavily

Gear

Craft mines in bulk once you have the chem/explosives station perks — cheap area denial for defending settlements too.

Perks

• Nuclear Physicist rank 2–3 if running Fat Man regularly
• Fill remaining points into Toughness/Lifegiver — this build fights up close with slow ordnance and needs the HP buffer

Gear

A legendary Explosive-effect weapon (any weapon type) stacks with Demolition Expert for absurd burst damage — one of the strongest general legendary rolls if you're already explosives-focused.