Almost every weapon in Fallout 76 is able to be modified by attaching various modifications. Each modification will impact how the weapon performs, and some provide a visual change. The most desirable of these mods are legendary effects.
All weapons in Fallout 76 have a randomly generated condition bar, which visualizes the maximum durability of the weapon. Weapons of the same type may have a different almount of current condition and a different condition bar length. Weapon modifications may influence the length of the condition bar. Player characters with higher Intelligence can craft weapons with larger durability bars. Players with higher Luck can influence the current condition of found weapons.
Additionally, a weapon's level determines the base damage output and maximum condition bar 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 craft and repair costs.
Weapons that can be configured as either pistols or rifles, depending on the attached grip/stock modification. This also affects which perks they'll benefit from; either Gunslinger, Rifleman, Commando, or Guerrilla.
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Pistols/Rifles
Enclave plasma gun
Laser gun
Pipe bolt-action
Pistols[]
Damage dealt is increased by the Gunslinger or Guerrilla perks.
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Pistols
.44 pistol
10mm pistol
Alien blaster
Rifles[]
Damage dealt is increased by the Rifleman or Commando perks.
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Rifles
10mm submachine gun
Alien disintegrator
Assault rifle
Shotguns[]
Damage dealt is increased by the Shotgunner perks. All shotguns fire 8 projectiles, and each pellet deals 1/8th of the damage listed in the Pipboy.
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Shotguns
Combat shotgun
Double-barrel shotgun
Gauss shotgun
Bows[]
Damage dealt is increased by the Archer perks.
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Bows
Bow
Compound bow
Crossbow
Heavy guns[]
Damage dealt is increased by the Heavy Gunner perks.
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Heavy guns
50 cal machine gun
Cryolator
Flamer
Explosive heavy guns[]
Damage dealt is increased by the Demolition Expert perk.
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Explosive heavy guns
Auto grenade launcher
Broadsider
Fat Man
Unique[]
Weapons that are variants of other weapons. Usually they come with predefined legendary effects. Sometimes they come with an unique skin.
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Unique
Acceptable Overkill
Anti-Scorched training pistol
Boomstick
Melee[]
One-handed[]
Damage dealt is increased by +5% per Strength and by the Gladiator perks.
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One-handed
Assaultron blade
Baton
Bone club
Two-handed[]
Damage dealt is increased by +5% per Strength and by the Slugger perks.
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Two-handed
Auto axe
Baseball bat
Board
Unarmed[]
Damage dealt is increased by +10% per Strength and by the Iron Fist perk. Cannot be equipped while in power armor.
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Unarmed
Bear Arm
Boxing glove
Death tambo
Unique[]
Weapons that are variants of other weapons. Usually they come with predefined legedary effects. Sometimes they come with an unique skin.
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Unique
All Rise
Black Diamond
Blade of Bastet
Thrown[]
Crackle fireworks
Grenades[]
Direct hits deal 1 damage, separate from their main explosion damage. Explosion damage is increased by the Demolition Expert perk and diminishes over 2 area-of-effect radii.
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Grenades
Artillery smoke grenade
Baseball grenade
Bug grenade
Mines[]
Direct hits deal 1 damage, separate from their main explosion damage. Explosion damage is increased by the Demolition Expert perk and diminishes over 2 area-of-effect radii.
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Mines
Blast mine
Bottlecap mine
Cryo mine
Throwing knives[]
Damage dealt is modified by legendary effects provided by the equipped weapon.
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Throwing knives
Meat cleaver
Sheepsquatch shard
Throwing knife
Other[]
Binoculars: Utility weapons used for scouting long distances. While they do not deal damage directly, they may still be used to weapon bash, and will not suffer condition degradation.
Cameras: Utility weapons used to take pictures. While they do not deal damage directly, they may still be used to weapon bash, and will not suffer condition degradation.