Paralyzing Palm (Fallout 3)

Paralyzing Palm is a Fallout 3 Perk.

With Paralyzing Palm, you will sometimes perform a special V.A.T.S. palm strike that paralyzes your opponent for 30 seconds. Note that in order to perform the Paralyzing Palm, you must be completely unarmed. The chance of paralysis is 30%.

Strategy

 * The Paralyzing Palm is a chance event that may occur during a V.A.T.S. sequence. It will replace one of the player's Unarmed strikes in V.A.T.S. with a Paralyzing Palm. The V.A.T.S. sequence is not interrupted, and the player will continue to attack the paralyzed enemy if there are more attacks queued. It does not cost any AP, or do any more or less damage than what it would have done if it were a normal strike. It can be visualized as a regular unarmed attack with a paralyzing effect.


 * This perk is extremely useful for Unarmed users because it allows them to fight two or more enemies at the same time with slightly lowered risk. Paralyzing one enemy, and concentrating on the other is an effective strategy. Unfortunately, any of the player's followers will not recognize an enemy as paralyzed and switch to a higher-priority target unless they are attacked, and deem the new attacker a greater threat. The follower's combat AI will not change when attacking a paralyzed target: for example, Sergeant RL-3 will continue evasive manuevers and attacks rather than all-out attack the helpless foe.
 * Killing Super Mutant Behemoths is ridiculously easy using this perk. 5 unarmed V.A.T.S strikes to start will nearly guarantee a whopping 30 second stun, at which point the player can beat the immobilized Behemoth to death.


 * Paralyzed bodies can be moved, albeit with difficulty. A Missile Launcher can be used to blow the once-threat off a cliff.


 * Never use the brief respite from battle to drop mines on the enemy's body, hoping to catch the enemy in a blast when they regain their mobility. Mines in Fallout 3 are not motion-sensing, they are detonated by proximity. Mines dropped on a paralyzed body will instantly detonate.


 * If the player is outmatched and has AP left, he or she may try for a last-ditch attempt at a Paralyzing Palm, using bare fists to maximize the amount of V.A.T.S. strikes and subsequently, the chance of a Paralyzing Palm. If successful, the player can try to flee battle.

Bugs

 * Attacking a paralyzed enemy with an Unarmed weapon can be difficult at times. The hitbox that determines where the target can be attacked for damage can sometimes disappear altogether. Attacking such a bugged creature will result in specks of dust coming off it with a dull thud sound, as if the player were attacking a wall.