Explore all the Fallout 4 Intelligence perks and learn how to optimize your character’s abilities and combat skills.We review all the perks available in Fallout 4’s Intelligence category and rank them from worst to best.There are seven in total, and we have already ranked the available Strength , Toughness , Charisma , and Luck perks from worst to best .
Now it’s time to talk about Intelligence , one of the most important skills in Fallout 4, as it determines the amount of XP points we get with each action.
Below, we review the Intelligence perks available in Fallout 4 and rank them from worst to best .
VAN’S
This is the most basic Intelligence perk, which you get from level 1. It only has one rank , which is why we consider it the worst of all. Still, it can be very useful in the early stages of the game.
The VANS perk displays the closest mission objective when you open VATS , Fallout 4’s aiming system.
Shipbreaker
If building and upgrading settlements is your thing, you might want to turn on the Scrapper perk. It will give you better resources and materials when scrapping items .
It is obtained at level 5 and has two upgrade levels. By scrapping a weapon or outfit, you can obtain screws, aluminum, copper, nuclear material or optical fiber, which are rare resources.
Gun freak
A very useful perk for customizing weapons. Mostly because it opens the doors to more advanced modules, so you can equip the best modifications. It is obtained at level 3 , and can be improved up to four ranks .
From level 1 modules to the highest level weapon modules (4) , it is an extra that allows you to customize a wide variety of weapons as you prefer. If you have the necessary resources, of course.
Chemical
It is obtained at level 7 , and can be upgraded up to four ranks . The Chemist perk makes you a true drug expert, mainly because its effect will last much longer.
At the first rank, drugs will have double the effect (50% increase), but at the maximum rank you will enjoy 200% additional effect time for each Fallout 4 drug.
Science!
It’s very similar to the Weapon Boost perk, but focused on Fallout 4’s energy weapons. You’ll be able to apply all kinds of upgrades to pistols, rifles, and other energy weapons, but also to powerful plasma devices.
It is unlocked at level 6 , and has four ranks . If you upgrade it to the maximum, you will be able to access the powerful Tier 4 energy weapon modules .
Nuclear Physicist
It’s true that there aren’t many weapons that cause radiation, but power armor is a more than useful outfit in the variety of situations in Fallout 4. That’s why you should get the Nuclear Physicist perk.
It is unlocked at level 9 , and has three ranks . At the first rank, you’ll deal 50% more damage with radiation weapons, and fusion cores will last 25% longer. If you upgrade it to the max, you’ll even be able to use fusion cores as atomic grenades .
Rage of the wise men
Brainiacs can become real beasts. Watch out for the perk Know-It-All Rage, which is achieved at level 10 (the maximum) and can be upgraded to the third rank .
At rank 1, it’s a perk that slows down time, gives you +20 stamina, and increases your damage output by 20%, but only when your health drops below 20% . At its maximum effect, it increases your stamina level by 40 points and you deal 40% more damage when your health is low.
Hacker
An essential perk, which complements Locksmith. It is obtained at level 4 of Intelligence, and can be upgraded by up to four ranks . It is the perk that determines whether or not you can hack a terminal you find.
Rank 1 allows you to hack advanced terminals, and rank 2 will make expert terminals hold no secrets for you. Rank 3 allows you to hack master terminals. If you upgrade it to the max, terminals will never kick you out if you fail .
Robotics expert
A very important extra, because it allows you to build robots and change parts (only with the Automatron DLC). In addition, it unlocks a skill that allows you to hack robots to different degrees.
It is obtained at level 8 , and has three ranks . Its benefits range from being able to turn on, turn off or activate the self-destruction of a robot, to even giving them direct orders, such as attacking or searching for objects for us .
Doctor
The best Intelligence perk, because it makes you a health tank and almost invulnerable to radiation. You can activate it from level 2 and it has up to four upgrade ranks .
If you do, you’ll be able to increase the effect of stims (to restore health) and RadAway (to reduce radiation levels). At max level, any use will restore your health to full and reduce all radiation you have.
Fallout 4 is one of the best RPGs of recent years, and it continues to receive incredible mods like the one for Boon Island, which has its own lore and voice acting . You can enjoy Bethesda’s RPG on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One , and hybrid consoles like the Steam Deck .