Melee Weapons (Fallout: New Vegas)

Melee Weapons is a skill in Fallout: New Vegas. This skill determines combat effectiveness with any melee weapon and combat effectiveness with non-explosive throwing weapons.

Math

 * $$\text{Initial level}=2+(2\times\text{Strength})+\left\lceil\frac{\text{Luck}}{2}\right\rceil$$

Example: A starting Strength of 5 and Luck of 5.
 * $$2+(2\times5)+\left\lceil\frac{5}{2}\right\rceil=15$$

As this skill increases, so does the damage inflicted with all of these weapons, both in and out of V.A.T.S. mode.

Special Attacks
When the player character has 50 Melee skill points, they have access to special melee moves which consume a certain amount of AP for a variety of effects in V.A.T.S.

V.A.T.S. vs. real-time
It is possible to execute all special melee moves outside of V.A.T.S., although the animation can look different in first-person view than in third-person view. It is not required to have 50 points of the skill to perform the moves. To perform any special move described above, initiate a power attack (hold attack button) while moving forward. However, executed outside of V.A.T.S. they don't have any special properties but have a benefit of a standard power attack: doubling weapon base damage.

Unlike in Fallout 3, a potentially significant amount of damage can be taken in V.A.T.S., heightening the danger of meleeing in it, as one cannot dodge or block while in V.A.T.S. However, all melee weapons, except thrown, do twice as much base damage.

Ways to increase Melee Weapons

 * Permanent
 * Leveling up (up to +15 or +17 with Educated)
 * Grognak the Barbarian (+3 or 4 with Comprehension)
 * Tag! (+15)
 * Skilled (+5)
 * Temporary
 * Note: Only items adding +5 or more are included.


 * Motor-Runner's helmet
 * Tæles of Chivalrie (+10 or 20 with Comprehension)

Affected weapons
Fallout: New Vegas Melee Weapons skill weapons, 2