Fallout 4: 15 Most Powerful Weapons Ranked

Fallout IV is home to many powerful weapons – let’s see how you can get the best ones!

Bethesda is known for its uniquely expansive worlds that provide endless freedom to develop your playable character and explore within the role-playing mechanics. From the legendary The Elder Scrolls series to Starfield to the Fallout series, all these video games boast massive collections of memorable locations, stories, personalities, and challenges.

And weapons! Because what’s a lone hero on a grand adventure without the strongest weapon? Since the F4 game also allows you to modify and upgrade your gear, the experience becomes even more immersive. Wondering how to get the best weapons in Fallout 4? This tier list of Fallout 4 best guns and melee weapons comes to the rescue!

	DLC	Release (Steam)	Gameplay Enhancements
	Fallout 4 - Automatron	2016-03-21	Allows players to create and modify robots to aid in combat and tasks, adding a strategic element to encounters and settlement management.
	Fallout 4 - Wasteland Workshop	2016-04-11	Introduces creature capture and arena battles, expanding settlement customization and providing new combat scenarios.
	Fallout 4 - Far Harbor	2016-05-18	Offers a significant expansion of the game world with a deep story, new challenges, and gear, enhancing exploration and combat.
	Fallout 4 - Contraptions Workshop	2016-06-20	Adds depth to crafting and settlement management through automation, allowing for complex production setups.
	Fallout 4 Vault-Tec Workshop	2016-07-25	Enables players to create their personalized Vault, expanding on the base-building aspects and introducing new gameplay opportunities.
	Fallout 4 Nuka-World	2016-08-29	Provides a new area with a unique setting, offering leadership of raider gangs and settlement conquest, alongside new combat capabilities.

1. Gauss Rifle

• Damage – 110
• Magazine Size – 7
• Fire Rate – 66
• Range – 191
• Accuracy – 69
• AP Cost – 40,5

If you’re wondering if energy weapons are worth the effort, the Gauss Rifle definitely is. This legendary rifle is quite challenging to obtain – but lets you explode even multiple enemies on impact if they’re in a group. And that’s still not all, as the Gauss Rifle can destroy level 36 or higher enemies, Fusion cores, and Power Armor elements with a single shot. If you’re lucky, you can also obtain a rarer version of this weapon dealing incredible damage – the Two Shot Gauss Rifle.

How to get it?

You can search for the Gauss Rifle in Skylanes Flight 1981 and Skylanes Flight 1665. However, don’t forget that entering the hidden compartment under the cockpit requires at least level 3 at lockpicking. Alternatively, you can steal the rifle from Prydwen in Teagan’s shop. Fancy something a little better? If you prefer an upgraded version of this phenomenal gun, fight legendary enemies, and you may be lucky enough to obtain the Two Shot Gauss Rifle.

2. The Last Minute

• Damage – 192
• Magazine Size – 7
• Fire Rate – 66
• Range – 203
• Accuracy – 112
• AP Cost – 57

Imagine your opponents getting shot and then crawling away for their lives. That’s what The Last Minute is for! This unique weapon deals incredible damage, blasting everyone on the other side of the barrel into eternity. With a 50 percent Limb Damage effect, it causes your opponents to crawl before you finish them off forever. It’s a rather valuable item, especially if you enjoy every extra dose of brutality while playing the game.

How can you find it?

Obtaining this weapon is easy – you can buy it from Ronnie Shaw of the Minutemen at the Castle in South Boston.

3. Experiment 18-A

• Damage – 24
• Magazine Size – 36
• Fire Rate – 136
• Range – 203
• Accuracy – 140
• AP Cost – N/A

This unique automatic plasma rifle deals epic damage in crowded combat, so it’s perfect for those looking to disintegrate masses of enemies in a single shot. With its equipped Rapid Legendary effect, Experiment 18-A offers boosted performance with 15 percent quicker reloads and a 25 percent faster fire rate. It’s the perfect weapon for players who want to use it only for special occasions as an extra surprise up their sleeve – once you get it, never get rid of it. This gun deals 24 damage at the range 203 but uses rare Plasma Cartridges. If you’re suffering from ammo shortage, check out General McGann’s corpse during Old Guns Quest.

How to obtain Experiment 18-A?

Head to the Institute Concourse and purchase it from the Synth Requisition Officer for 1809 caps!

4. Nuka-Nuke Launcher (Nuka World DLC)

• Damage – 794
• Magazine Size – 1
• Fire Rate – 1
• Range – 117
• Accuracy – 63
• AP Cost – 75

This one of the best weapons in the game is a modified form of the Fat Man using an upgraded version of the standard mini-nukes, the Nuka-Nukes. As you may have guessed, this modified ammo deals more damage – 833 at range 117. And like the Spray n’ Pray, it becomes deadly dangerous in closed areas.

How to obtain it?

First, you need to complete the Cappy in a Haystack quest. Once done, you will receive a code from Sierra to John-Caleb Bradberton’s office and will need to turn off the power to his life support system to kill him. If you agree to this deal, Bradberton will tell you how to access his secret vault containing this epic Nuka-Nuke Launcher.

5. Atom’s Judgement (Far Harbor DLC)

• Damage – 40 regular, 100 radiation
• Speed – Slow
• AP Cost – 45

This sledgehammer is as deadly as it looks! Plus, it’s probably the most powerful melee weapon in the game. Thanks to the cracked fusion cores on its head, Atom’s Judgement deals a terrifying amount of 40 regular and 100 radiation damage. Want more? Invest in the nuclear physicist perk and see how it becomes even more powerful! Radiation makes this weapon incredibly handy, as it quickly finishes off all enemies you didn’t manage to kill right away.

How to get it?

Encounter the Children of Atom sect and accept The Heretic quest. Once completed, you’ll get Atom’s Judgement as a reward.

6. Final Judgement

• Damage – 14
• Magazine Size – 500
• Fire Rate – 340
• Range – 203
• Accuracy – 48
• AP Cost – 30

This Gatling laser deals an extraordinary amount of 26 damage at an impressive fire rate. Like most energy weapons, it’s a godsend during encounters with challenging enemies like Deathclaws. The only downside to this weapon is it uses Fusion Cores, which are expensive (especially if you also need them to run your power armor). Therefore, we recommend saving more caps for this particular investment.

How can you get Final Judgement?

Although the weapon belongs to Arthur Maxson, you have several opportunities to become its owner. Fortunately, you can encounter and kill him during several quests like Rocket’s Red Glare and Precipice of War.

7. Ashmaker Minigun

• Damage – 8
• Magazine Size – 500
• Fire Rate – 272
• Range – 131
• Accuracy – 35
• AP Cost – 40

While the minigun may sound unimpressive compared to other recommendations on this list, the Ashmaker makes up for it by adding fire damage, increasing the overall damage per second of each shot. It’s also quite heavy, so give it to a companion to save inventory space. That way, you’ll still enjoy its might without worrying about running out of space for valuable loot. The gun is only available through completing the quest, but each outcome guarantees it as a reward. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about whether choices made during the quest will lead you to this dream weapon.

How to get it?

The Ashmaker minigun is only available as a reward for The Big Dig quest given by Bobbi No-Nose in Goodneighbor. Regardless of which outcome you reach, the weapon is yours!

8. Cryolator

• Damage – 20
• Magazine Size – 25
• Fire Rate – 90
• Range – 71
• Accuracy – 66
• AP Cost – 21

Who doesn’t love slowing down their foes before sending the final shot? That’s the power of the Cryolator – a weapon that freezes and slows your enemies, so you have more time to deal with them. Funnily enough, players encounter it right at the beginning of the game but can’t reach it due to low lockpicking skills. Therefore, we recommend returning to it after gaining experience. It doesn’t deal much damage but definitely adds flavor to the classic Fallout experience.

So, how do you get to it?

Travel back to Vault 111 (the game’s starting area) and break into the overseer’s room via the Master level lock. Once inside, head to the display case and get your beautiful weapon.

9. Spray n’ Pray

• Damage – 34
• Magazine Size – 100
• Fire Rate – 127
• Range – 77
• Accuracy – 69
• AP Cost – 43

Spray n’ Pray is exactly what its name says – a highly overpowered .45 mm submachine gun dealing 48 damage with exploding ammo, causing 15 area-of-effect damage. Moreover, it’s fully customizable, so you can equip it with various modifications to suit your needs. Fancy more damage? You can get that with the Demolition Expert perk, but beware, as using that gun in a closed area can easily unalive your companions and yourself.

How to get it?

That can be tricky but not impossible. You can purchase Spray n’ Pray from the wandering merchant Cricket, who, unfortunately, likes to wander. Search for her in Bunker Hill, Vault 81, the Diamond City, and Warwick Homestead. Sometimes, players also encounter her traveling across random Commonwealth locations. But that’s not the only place to find that fantastic weapon, as sometimes it spawns on random vendors or Legendary Raiders outside Diamond City.

10. Le Fusil Terribles

• Damage – 62
• Magazine Size – 32
• Fire Rate – 20
• Range – 71
• Accuracy – 41
• AP Cost – 35

Pick this weapon if you’re a shotgun fan! While most firearms of this type feature a small magazine capacity, slow reload time, and limited range, the Les Fusil Terribles is a welcome exception. The weapon offers more recoil than most combat shotguns but excels in fire rate and range. Plus, it provides a bonus of 25 percent increased damage and a higher chance of injuring an enemy’s limbs.

Where to find it?

Head to Libertalia, the raider encampment south of Nahant Wharf. You’ll find this weapon peacefully sitting on top of the wooden crate in the captain’s cabin. Get to this location by following the Synth Retention quest from the Institute.

11. Deliverer

• Damage – 25
• Magazine Size – 12
• Fire Rate – 66
• Range – 53
• Accuracy – 67
• AP Cost – 26

Since 10mm ammo is plentiful across the Wasteland, the Deliverer is the best choice for those looking to focus on V.A.T.S. and stealth. Its built-in suppressor makes you unnoticeable, and its 25 percent lower Action Point consumption makes it a real lifesaver on the battlefield. The gun also offers an impressive range and damage, so it often serves as a versatile weapon for every occasion.

How to get it?

Like the Tinker Tom Special, it’s only available by joining the Railroad faction. Once you complete the Tradecraft quest, you will receive the weapon from Deacon as a reward. Remember, however, that joining this faction will result in hostility from the Institute and the Brotherhood of Steel.

12. Alien Blaster Pistol

• Damage – 50
• Magazine Size – 42
• Fire Rate – 100
• Range – 119
• Accuracy – 79
• AP Cost – 20

Appearing in every Fallout installment, this extraterrestrial gun may seem small but can deal some seriously impressive damage. Its only real drawback is it uses rare ammo, around 400 of which come with it (but is unavailable anywhere else in the game). You can, however, modify the gun to use standard fusion cells (with the Science perk maxed out).

How can You find it?

It’s a tricky task, as no one knows what causes the Alien Blaster Pistol to spawn in the game. Many players believe it only appears when the playable character reaches level 20. That triggers the UFO event – you can tell by the strange sound and light in the sky, but it’s remarkably easy to miss. Therefore, try to travel with a companion who will always comment on this strange phenomenon. If you ever manage to see it, head to Oberland Station and go to the Beantown Brewery. That’s where you should discover the crash site – follow the green blood trail to find its owner and kill him for the gun.

13. Tinker Tom Special

• Damage – 37
• Magazine Size – 5
• Fire Rate – 3
• Range – 185
• Accuracy – 112
• AP Cost – N/A

This unique hunting rifle increases V.A.T.S. accuracy thanks to the Stalker’s legendary effect (when not in combat), making it ideal for those who prefer a stealthy approach. Pick this weapon to eliminate enemies from a long range up to 185 using regular ammo. However, it comes with a catch – you have to be a member of the Railroad to get this weapon. As you may already know, such a decision can negatively affect your relations with other factions like the Brotherhood of Steel or the Institute, so choose wisely.

Where can you find it?

Complete the Road to Freedom quest, then proceed to the Tradecraft quest. Once they are over, you can join the Railroad and buy the weapon from Tinker Tom for 709 Caps.

14. Pickman’s Blade

• Damage – 15
• Speed – Fast
• AP Cost – 20

It’s one of the most effort-worthy melee weapons in the game, equipped with a Wounding effect that causes enemies to bleed out for an extra 25 points of damage. It’s also an excellent choice for players who prefer a stealth approach, as its stealth blade mod deals 10 points of bleed damage for 5 seconds and boosts the damage multiplier on Sneak Attacks by 0.5. Although it only works at range 10, it’s a fast and deadly solution for close combat.

You can obtain it in Pickman’s Gallery.

Explore the location and head to the sewers to rescue Pickman from raiders during the Pickman’s Gift quest. In return, he will give you the key to the safe behind the Picnic for Stanley painting, where you will find Pickman’s Blade and a fair amount of bottle caps.

15. Shishkebab

• Damage – 13 regular, 13 energy
• Speed – Medium
• AP Cost – 35

If owning a post-apocalyptic samurai flaming sword is your dream, go for Shishkebab. This legendary weapon may not deal the most damage, but it definitely is an item worth trying at least once. Since it has appeared in many previous games in the series, players go out of their way to get it and see how it feels and looks in their hands.

Where can you get it?

Sometimes, Shishkebab drops from legendary enemies, but the chances of that happening are slim. However, you can head to the Finch Farm (northeast corner of the map), where Abraham Finch will give you a quest that will result in getting this sword as a reward.

Conclusion

As you can see, aside from a few legendary options that only drop from legendary enemies, obtaining most of the best weapons in Fallout IV is not as complicated as it might initially seem. You usually have to go somewhere, complete a quest, and receive the gun as a reward. Therefore, it’s crucial to explore every corner of this massive post-apocalyptic world and sometimes stray from the familiar path of the main plot. Such a strategy results in phenomenal loot and endless discoveries – two birds with one stone for every RPG fanatic!