Fallout 76 weapons/Comparison

Overview
All weapons in Fallout 76, ballistic, energy, explosive, melee, or unarmed have a randomly generated condition bar, the same weapon may have a different amount of condition and a different condition bar length. Player characters with higher Intelligence can craft weapons with larger durability bars. Players with higher Luck can influence the condition of found weapons.

Additionally, a weapon's level determines the base damage output and condition of the weapon. An example would be the combat rifle having a base damage increase by increments of 4 between level 20 and 50 leaving an unmodified level 50 combat rifle to have an additional 12 base damage over the level 20 counterpart and having a slightly longer condition bar. Higher level weapons also have higher build and repair costs.

Perks that affect weapons
1 requires power armor

Other weapon perks include:


 * Covert Operative (AGI) and Ninja (AGI): Increased sneak attack multiplier with ranged and melee weapons respectively.
 * Mister Sandman (LUK): Increased sneak attack multiplier at night with silenced ranged weapons.
 * Quick Hands (LUK): Chance for instantly reloading the weapon when the clip empties.
 * Sniper (PER): Reduces weapon scope sway.

Crafting and durability are affected by the following perks, granting up to +50% durability and unlocking mod crafting.


 * Gunsmith (INT): Ballistic weapons.
 * Licensed Plumber (INT): Pipe guns.
 * Makeshift Warrior (INT): Melee weapons.
 * Science, Science Expert, Science Master (INT): Energy weapons and throwables.
 * Weapon Artisan (INT): Can repair any weapon up to 200% of its normal condition.
 * Luck of the Draw (LUK): Chance for weapon to repair itself when hitting an enemy.

Radiation weapons
All melee and unarmed weapons can become radiation weapons via the perk Overly Generous.

Unarmed
Unarmed weapons will benefit from melee perks such as Martial Artist, Incisor, Ninja, etc. However, damage perks are restricted to the Iron Fist perk instead of the melee perks. Unarmed weapons cannot be used while wearing Power armor.

Other Melee
Other melee weapons are not known to be modified by any current perk cards, and thus scale solely with your strength stat.

Syringers
These weapons are used to apply buffs or debuffs. They are classified as ballistic weapons, however ballistic damage buffs will only apply to the on-hit damage, which is <1.

Optics
These weapons do not deal any damage directly and are solely used for scouting long distances.

Cameras
This weapon does not deal damage directly and is solely used to take pictures.