Stealth Archer Build | Fallout 76


(QUICK NOTE: These Builds are usable but NOT updated past the Steel Reign update. Until I get a chance to update all the builds, these should be thought of as more of a build starter)

This build is PRETTY close to my usual Archer setup (same SPECIAL so you can easily swap) but this one is a tad bit more focused on utilizing FULL stealth mechanics, alongside VATS, rather than being a bit more “open” with your setup.

It’s not that much different, but I thought I’d share it for those of you who LONG for that extra stealth damage.

S.P.E.C.I.A.L.

Fallout 76 Stealth Archer Build

Perk Cards (Solo)

Fallout 76 Stealth Archer Build

Perk Cards (Team)

Fallout 76 Stealth Archer Build

Legendary Perk Cards

Fallout 76 Stealth Archer Build

NukesDragons has a FANTASTIC Fallout 76 Character Builder, and if you’re looking to create a build concept BEFORE you go for the real thing, definitely check out:

NukesDragons Character Build Planner & Calculator

Weapons

For this build, you’ll want the best bow you can possibly find to deal maximum damage. We’re definitely focusing on either Bloodied or Instigating for this one, as that’ll give you possibly the highest damage you can get when hitting an enemy (who’s at full health) from stealth. 

Other than that, here’s what you want to look for with a Legendary bow.

Legendary Main Effects:

  1. Bloodied : More Damage the Lower your Health it
  2. Instigating: Enemies at full health take double damage
  4. Junkie’s : More Damage the more Addictions you have
  5. Anti-Armor : Ignores 50% of your enemies Armor
  6. Two Shot : Fires 2 projectiles per 1 shot

Legendary Major Effects:

  1. +50% VATS Critical shot Damage
  2. +33% VATS Hit Chance
  3. 50% Limb Damage

Legendary Minor Effects:

  1. 25% Less VATS Action Point Cost
  2. 1 Agility
  3. 1 Luck
  4. 1 Perception

Armor

With the Stealth archer build, the armor you use heavily depends on whether or not you’re playing Bloodied. If you ARE Bloodied, Unyielding 10000%, just because the benefits are so great. Other than that, you could also use something like Vanguard’s to hit some high resistance levels, especially if you’re playing with Instigating or Junkie’s, anything NOT bloodied (But remember, Junkie’s still benefits from high rads).

Here is some armor to consider.

Under Armor

Under Armor can be one of the most essential pieces to your build, simply because it adds so much straight up damage resistance and SPECIAL bonuses. Remember, you DO NOT receive under armor bonuses while in Power Armor, you will only get the benefits from the Power Armor itself.

The best one you’ll want to try and get is the Secret Service under armor providing:

  • +15 Damage resistance
  • +15 Energy Resistance
  • +15 Radiation Resistance

With Shielded Lining:

  • +4 Strength
  • +2 Perception
  • +4 Endurance

If you can’t get this under armor yet, which new players won’t for a good while, stick with any others you can get along the way, modding them with what you can! (Collect those plans!)

Regular Armor

Regular armor is totally up to the user on which they wear, but when we’re talking about Rifle builds… well, actually any build pretty much, you’re going to want to go with Secret Service armor, which is purchased with Gold Bullion after completing the Wastelander’s main campaign. It provides an insane amount of armor, better than anything else, and the ONLY problem is that you need to buy it at the extremely expensive price and then HOPE you roll some good perks on it.

By the way, quick note, if you’re wanting to use a bloodied build with Archer builds (which is where Nerd Rage comes in handy, and damage goes crazy) you’ll want to definitely stick to either Unyielding or Bolstering if you’re dying a lot.

If you can’t get Secret Service armor just yet, don’t worry about it, as long as you have armor like Combat Armor, Brotherhood Recon, or Marine Armor. Speaking of perks, these are the ones you’ll want to look out for:

Legendary Main Effects:

  1. Unyielding
  2. Bolstering
  3. Vanguard’s

Legendary Major Effects:

  1. Any of the +1 to SPECIAL
  2. Powered

Legendary Minor Effects:

  1. 50% More durability
  2. Receive 15% less Limb Damage
  3. Ammo Weight Reduced by 20%
  4. Weapon Weight Reduced by 20%
  5. Food, Drink, and Chem Weight reduced by 20%
  6. Junk Weight Reduced by 20%

Power Armor

Just like regular Armor, Power Armor also has it’s “better” versions that are pretty much just superior to the rest. If you’re rocking Power Armor with an Archer build, you’ll want to get T-65. The T-65 Power Armor provides the absolute highest amount of damage resistances as possible, but also costs a fortune in Gold Bullion to purchase all the plans, so once again, use what you can. T-60, X-01, and Ultracite Power Armors are quite easy to come across just by completing the Enclave and Brotherhood questlines.

For Power Armor Mods (because you’ll definitely want to mod them to make them the best) you’re wanting to look for:

  • Helmet: Internal Database – +2 Intelligance
    • Targeting Hud – Highlights Living Targets
  • Torso: Emergency Protocols – Benefits from being Bloodied
    • Jet Pack is also helpful
  • Arms: None of them will really help out a lot, don’t waste bullion
  • Legs: Calibrated Shocks – Carry weight +50 per mod

Buffs

This is for those of you that enjoy going out and absolutizing maximizing the damage output you can deal with your builds. Little do a lot of folks realize, taking the right foods and drastically boost the performance of your build, making it beyond worth it to gather these quick items.

Food/Soup

  • Grilled Radstag: 
    • Super Easy to make, increases Carry weight by +20
  • Pumpkin Pie: 
    • Max Health +40
  • Smoked Mirelurk Filets: 
    • +250 HP and +30 Carry Weight
  • Blight Soup:
    • Critical Damage +20%
  • Megasloth Mushroom Soup: 
    • Critical Damage +20%

    Drink

    • High Voltage Bock (If using Energy mod):
      • +15 Energy Damage BUT Increases the Condition Cost by 15%
    • Firecracker Berry Juice: 
      • +10% Critical Damage
    • Hard Lemonade: 
      • +30 Max AP and +10 AP Regen
    • Steeped Tea Thistle/Sweet Mutfruit Tea:
      • Critical Hit +20%

      Mutations

      • Marsupial
        • Carry Weight +20%, +Jump Height
      • Adrenal Reaction
        • Higher Weapon Damage the lower your HP
      • Speed Demon
        • +20 Faster Movement Speed +20% Faster Reload
      • Eagle Eyes
        • +25% Critical Damage and +4 Perception

        Drugs

        • Overdrive
          • +15% Damage, +15% Critical Damage
        • Pyscho
          • +25 Damage Resistance, +15% Damage
        • Pyschobuff
          • +25% Damage, Strength/Endurance +3, Max HP +65

        Magazines & Bobbleheads

        Thing about Magazines is that there are SO MANY of them that is can make it difficult to pick and choose between them all, whereas Bobbleheads are quite a bit easier as there are FAR less.

        Depending on the Mods you put on your Bow, you’ll definitely want to consider all the options of magazines that boost specific damage types.

        Magazines:

        • Guns & Bullets #3 – “Little Guns for the Ladies”
          • +30% Critical Damage with Ballistic Guns
        • Guns & Bullets #9 – “Plasma: The Weapon of Tomorrow”
          • +30% Critical Damage with Plasma Weapons
        • Live & Love #2 – “Nuke-The-Man”
          • +5% Damage when in a Team
        • Tesla Science #7 – “U.S. Army Goes to Space”
          • +30% Energy Gun Critical Damage
        • Tesla Science #8 – “10 Number 1 Hits!!!”
          • +15% Critical Damage

        BobbleHeads:

        • Small Guns
          • +20% Damage with Small Weapons
        • Energy Weapons
          • +25% Damage with Energy Weapons

        More Guides

        Fallout 76 Builds
        Twitter Youtube Instagram Twitch Discord