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The ability to see, hear, taste and notice unusual things. A high Perception is important for a sharpshooter.Fallout in-game description

Perception is one of the seven primary statistics in the SPECIAL system.

Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout Tactics[]

Modifies: Sequence, ranged combat distance modifiers and the First Aid, Doctor, Lockpick, Traps and Pilot skills. A player character with higher Perception may notice things that allow them to open up new dialogue options on occasion. It also determines how far away they start from hostilities in random encounters.

Perception is required for many perks, notably PE 8 for Sniper in Fallout, Fallout 2, and Fallout Tactics.

Ways to increase Perception[]

  • In Fallout, Lorri in the Brotherhood of Steel's Lost Hills bunker can perform an operation to permanently increase Perception by 1, assuming it can be afforded.
  • In Fallout 2, Perception can be permanently raised by 1 with the Green memory module using ACE.
    • Also in Fallout 2, Perception can be temporarily raised by 1 with Jet.
  • In both Fallout and Fallout 2, Mentats can be used to temporarily raise Perception by 2.

Fallout 3[]

Modifies: Explosives, Lockpick and Energy Weapons skills

Perception determines how far away enemies can be detected on the compass (enemies show as red bars). When playing with a high Perception, it is possible to "sense" the enemies even before they come into view.

Having a high Perception can yield dialog options with some NPCs, such as Moira Brown, Mel and Machete.

Value Skill Modifiers
1 Energy Weapons +2, Explosives +2, Lockpick +2
2 Energy Weapons +4, Explosives +4, Lockpick +4
3 Energy Weapons +6, Explosives +6, Lockpick +6
4 Energy Weapons +8, Explosives +8, Lockpick +8
5 Energy Weapons +10, Explosives +10, Lockpick +10
6 Energy Weapons +12, Explosives +12, Lockpick +12
7 Energy Weapons +14, Explosives +14, Lockpick +14
8 Energy Weapons +16, Explosives +16, Lockpick +16
9 Energy Weapons +18, Explosives +18, Lockpick +18
10 Energy Weapons +20, Explosives +20, Lockpick +20

Perception-based perks[]

Perk Requirement Level Additional Requirements
Thief 4 2 Agility 4
Sniper 6 12 Agility 6
Light Step 6 14 Agility 6
Better Criticals 6 16 Luck 6
Infiltrator 7 18 Lockpick 70

The benefit of the Survival Expert perk is affected by what is said to Moira Brown after each portion of the Wasteland Survival Guide quest. Having a Perception of 7 yields relevant "smart" dialog options at the end of the Contract Radiation Sickness and Traversing a Mine Field objectives.

Ways to increase Perception[]

Bobblehead Perception

Bobblehead Perception

Permanent
  • Bobblehead - Perception (+1)
  • Ant Sight quest perk (+1)
  • Intense Training perk (+1)
  • Broken Steel No Weaknesses perk (will raise base to 5 if below 5)
  • Broken Steel Almost Perfect perk (will raise base to 9 if below 9)
Temporary
  • Armor and clothing
    • Maple's garb (+1)
    • Vance's longcoat outfit (+1)
    • Multiple hats give +1.
  • Chems
    • Mentats (+5)
    • Orange Mentats (+5)
  • Night Person perk (+2 between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM)

Fallout: New Vegas[]

Modifies: Explosives, Lockpick and Energy Weapons skills

Again, Perception affects the distance at which the Courier is able to detect other creatures. It also factors into some conversations with some NPCs.

Perception-based perks[]

Perk Requirement Level Additional Requirements
Friend of the Night 6 2 Sneak 30
Alertness Lonesome Road (add-on) 6 - 9 12
Sniper 6 12 Agility 6
Hobbler Dead Money 7 12
Light Step 6 14 Agility 6
Better Criticals 6 16 Luck 6
Infiltrator 7 18 Lockpick 70

Ways to increase Perception[]

Permanent
  • Perception Implant available at the New Vegas medical clinic (+1)
  • Intense Training perk (+1)
  • Lonesome Road (add-on) Completing the quest The Apocalypse or The End will allow raising any one primary statistic by 1.
Temporary
  • Armor and clothing
    • Lonesome Road (add-on) Marked patrol armor (+1)
    • Old World Blues (add-on) Stealth suit Mk II (+1)
    • Multiple types of headgear give +1.
    • Advanced riot gear helmet (+2)
    • Elite riot gear helmet (+2)
    • With the Four Eyes trait, glasses give +2 or +3.
  • Chems
    • Coyote tobacco chew (+1)
    • Mentats (+2)
    • Party Time Mentats (+2)
  • Drinks
    • Absinthe (+1 - +3 depending on Survival skill)
    • Old World Blues (add-on) Nightstalker squeezin's with Mile in Their Shoes perk (+1)
  • Traits
    • Old World Blues (add-on) Claustrophobia (+1 while outdoors, but -1 indoors)
    • Old World Blues (add-on) Early Bird (+2 between 6am and 12pm, but -1 between 6pm and 6am)

Level names and statistics[]

Value Name Skill Modifiers
1 Deaf Bat Energy Weapons/Lockpick/Explosives +2
2 Senile Mole Energy Weapons/Lockpick/Explosives +4
3 Squinting Newt Energy Weapons/Lockpick/Explosives +6
4 Unsuspecting Trout Energy Weapons/Lockpick/Explosives +8
5 Wary Trout Energy Weapons/Lockpick/Explosives +10
6 Alert Coyote Energy Weapons/Lockpick/Explosives +12
7 Big-eyed Tiger Energy Weapons/Lockpick/Explosives +14
8 Monocled Falcon Energy Weapons/Lockpick/Explosives +16
9 Sniper Hawk Energy Weapons/Lockpick/Explosives +18
10 Eagle with Telescope Energy Weapons/Lockpick/Explosives +20

Notes[]

  • Contrary to what the name would make one believe, Perception does not actually increase V.A.T.S or regular accuracy at all.
  • If Perception is at the most extreme (highest or lowest), Doc Mitchell will either respond that nothing gets by the Courier, thinking he could use them when he lost his keys last month [of awakening the Courier] (for highest) or that he is no optometrist, but suggests the Courier should be fitted some glasses while they're at the Doc's place (For lowest).
  • Dialog with Christine has numerous Perception checks between 6 and 7. Intelligence checks of similar levels can substitute for some, but not all of them.
  • Old World Blues has the highest Perception check in Fallout: New Vegas (and by extension all of the New Vegas add-ons), at 8, though it can be bypassed.
  • It is possible to artificially get a Perception of 10 with only 6 points at the start of New Vegas by combining the Four Eyes trait, Lucky Shades, a hat and the Perception Implant (6 - 1 + 3 + 1 + 1 = 10).
    • Similarly, it is possible to achieve a temporary boost to 10 from a mere score of 2 using both kinds of Mentats, Absinthe, Coyote Tobacco Chew, and a hat (2 + 4 + 3 + 1 = 10).
    • By having access to DLC items, it is possible to get up to PE 10 without the Four Eyes trait, even if starting at only 1. The Elite riot gear helmet (+2) can be worn together with the 1st Recon beret (+1) and a Stealth suit Mk II (+1). After installing the Perception implant, Perception is at 6. From there, any combination of Perception-enhancing chems can reach 10.

Fallout 4[]

With the removal of skills in Fallout 4, Perception now directly effects accuracy in V.A.T.S., lockpicking, and stealing attempts.

Primary statistics
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