Fallout – How does the Pack Alpha perk from Nuka World work

I got sick of waiting for an answer to my broader question regarding how the damage multiplys in general, so I did a bunch of testing myself.

Method:

All tests were done by shooting a friendly setler in the back of the torso at close range.

The NPC was wearing nothing but a Minuteman outfit and had their HP set to 5000 with the console. I did not check what their Damage resistance was nor did I modify it, though I probably should have.

A single shot was taken, NPCs HP remaining checked with the console, then the game was reloaded. This was done 5 times.

Due to perks etc, my Sneak attack bonus was at 4.2 Not sure what my exact critical bonus is, I had 4 ranks of Tesla Science (+20% crit damage) and no other perks or mods which would increase it.

Tests performed with a Laser Rifle, instigating tests performed with Old Faithful with the same mods. Both showed a base damage of 144 in the Pip-Boy interface.

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Results:

Normal Shot

111.81, 214.99, 213.32, 214.57, 212.48

Average: 204.72 damage (Average may be low? First shot did much less damage)

Critical Hit:

350.93, 349.86, 350.63, 350.34, 351.00

Average: 350.552

Sneak Attack:

905.80, 905.97, 906.70, 906.38, 905.46

Average: 906.062

Sneak Attack + Critical Hit:

1040.25, 1042.20, 1040.83, 1038.45, 1040.27

Average: 1040.40

Normal Shot + Instigating Weapon

425.43, 430.58, 431.57, 430.70, 352.29

Average: 414.114 damage (Average may be low? Last shot did much less damage)

Critical Hit + Instigating Weapon:

565.44, 559.52, 566.39, 565.26, 566.12

Average: 564.546

Sneak Attack + Instigating Weapon:

1810.25, 1812.87, 1813.63, 1813.38, 1812.00

Average: 1812.426

Sneak Attack + Critical Hit + Instigating Weapon:

1944.69, 1946.42, 1947.35, 1947.74, 1947.11

Average: 1946.662

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Discussion:

The above results show some variance, with some shots noted as being much lower than others. It is not clear if this was due to poor accuracy causing some bullets to hit the wrong location (though injuries on target suggested all shots hit the back), natural RNG spread of damage, or damage resistance of the target.

When roughly comparing Sneak attacks performed with both Instigating and normal weapons, the stated Sneak Attack bonus does appear to be multiplicative with Instigating ( [Weapon Damage x2] x4.2) or at least close enough to satisfy me that this is the case.

Interestingly, Critical Hits do not appear to be multiplicative with Sneak and Instigating. In all situations the additional damage inflicted was close to the weapons stated base damage (144, give and take some variance). This suggests to me that critical strikes are seperate damage which is calculated and then added after sneak attacks and instigating are multiplied ( {[Weapon Damage x2] x4.2} + [Weapon Damage xCrit Modifier])

The Wiki suggests that Critical Hits use the following formula:

Ranged: Critical Hit Damage = DamagePaper + DamageBase x CriticalMultiplier

Melee/Unarmed: Critical Hit Damage = DamagePaper x 1.5 + DamageBase x CriticalMultiplier

DamageBase = Weapon damage, including workshop mods, but excluding perks and other bonuses. DamagePaper = Damage displayed in PipBoy (PipBoy cuts off decimal places)

Conclusion:

Sneak Attack and Instigating are multiplicative with each other.

Critical Hits are not multiplicative with Sneak or Instigating

This suggests: ([Weapon Damage x Instigating] x Sneak Modifier) + (Weapon Damage x Crit Modifier)

You're not going to achieve the same level of damage resistance without power armor as you will with it. However, there is more to it than just the perks available on the perks screen, throughout the wastelands and the buildings in it there are a variety of books, here are some that I've found so far that will help:

Collectable books:

• Astoundingly Awesome 3 - Take 5% less damage from robots
• Astoundingly Awesome 5 - +5 poison resistance
• Astoundingly Awesome 10 - +5 radiation resistance
• Wasteland Survival 2 - Take 5% less damage from insects
• Wasteland Survival 8 - Take 5% less damage from melee attacks

Note that all of these "5% less damage taken" perks aren't included in your overall damage resistance rating, but the specific damage type resistance ratings are showing on the STAT > STATUS screen in Pip Boy.

Then you've got your perks:

• Toughness - +10 damage resistance per level
• Unstoppable - +1% chance to avoid all damage per level

From there you're looking at building up every piece of your armor to resist as much damage as possible. But you should know, even with the armor I've found so far I'm nowhere near power armor levels.