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Can You Collect ‘Em All? A Deep Dive into Fallout 76’s Perk Card System

The wasteland of Fallout 76 is a harsh and unforgiving place. Survival hinges on your ability to adapt, overcome, and build a character that thrives in the face of adversity. At the heart of character customization lies the Perk Card system, a vast and intricate web of abilities that define your strengths and weaknesses. But a burning question lingers in the minds of many players: Is it possible to get all perk cards in Fallout 76?

The simple answer is no, it’s not possible to actively have all perk cards equipped at once. This is due to the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. point system, which limits the number and rank of perk cards you can actively use at any given time. However, it is possible to unlock every perk card in the game, meaning you can add them to your collection and strategically swap them in and out as needed.

The key lies in understanding the distinction between equipping perk cards and unlocking them. You’re limited by your S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats (Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck). You gain one point to allocate per level until level 50, after which you no longer receive points and will be capped at 56 points. Every level after level 50, the player can still receive perk cards and rank them up all the way to gold level. You can equip perk cards up to the value of your S.P.E.C.I.A.L. in each category. So, if you have 10 Strength, you can equip perk cards related to strength that add up to 10 points.

You will unlock your first Legendary Perk Slot at level 50, and up to 6 slots in total at certain level milestones after that: 75, 100, 150, 200, and 300.

Understanding Perk Cards in Fallout 76

How Perk Cards Work

Perk Cards are special abilities that enhance various aspects of your character, from weapon damage and crafting skills to survival and social interactions. Each card is associated with one of the seven S.P.E.C.I.A.L. attributes. The higher your S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stat, the more points you have available to equip perk cards.

Unlocking Perk Cards: You primarily unlock perk cards by leveling up. You’ll receive a Perk Card Pack every other level from 4 to 10, and then every 5 levels after that. Each pack contains a random selection of perk cards, including a chance to get duplicates.
Ranking Up Perk Cards: Duplicate cards can be combined to rank up a perk card. This increases its effectiveness and sometimes unlocks additional benefits. The higher the rank, the more powerful the perk becomes. This is where the long-term progression comes into play.
Equipping Perk Cards: You equip perk cards within the Perk menu, assigning them to a specific S.P.E.C.I.A.L. attribute. The total point value of equipped cards for each S.P.E.C.I.A.L. cannot exceed the current value of that stat.

The Leveling System

The leveling system is crucial for understanding how you acquire perk cards. Here’s a brief overview:

Levels 1-50: During these levels, you receive one S.P.E.C.I.A.L. point per level to allocate as you choose. You also get Perk Card Packs at regular intervals as mentioned above. It could take a few more levels after 50 for you to get all the cards for your build.
Level 50+: After level 50, you no longer receive S.P.E.C.I.A.L. points. This means your attribute scores are fixed. However, you continue to receive Perk Cards every level, allowing you to expand your collection and rank up existing cards. At this point you also gain access to Legendary Perks, these are a whole separate thing from regular perk cards.

Legendary Perks

Legendary perks are a type of perk card that can be unlocked at level 50, and new ones at certain level milestones onward at 75, 100, 150, 200, and 300. There are 26 of these powerful abilities to choose from. Leveling up a perk card costs 50 coins to advance to rank 2, 100 coins to rank 3 and 150 coins to rank 4.

Strategic Card Management

Given the limitations of the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. system, efficient card management is vital. Here’s how to optimize your perk card strategy:

Plan Your Build: Before diving in, decide on the type of character you want to play. Are you a stealthy sniper? A melee powerhouse? A charismatic leader? Knowing your build will help you focus on the relevant S.P.E.C.I.A.L. attributes and corresponding perk cards.
Prioritize Essential Perks: Identify the perk cards that are most crucial to your build and prioritize ranking them up. These are the cards that will provide the biggest impact on your gameplay.
Adapt to Situations: Don’t be afraid to swap out perk cards based on the situation. Crafting perks are helpful for building your camp, but less useful in combat. Lockpicking perks are essential for opening safes, but not necessary for exploring the wilderness.
Take Advantage of Perk Loadouts: Once available, use Perk Loadouts to quickly switch between different perk card configurations for various activities. This allows you to seamlessly transition between combat, crafting, and exploration without having to manually re-equip cards each time.

FAQs About Perk Cards in Fallout 76

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the perk card system:

Can you get every standard perk card at max rank in Fallout 76? Technically yes, with enough time and dedication. You will continue to get Perk Cards after level 50 until you have all of them, but it may take a long while depending on what you already have. This requires accumulating numerous duplicates for ranking up, which becomes increasingly time-consuming.
Do I stop receiving Perk Cards after a certain level? No, you continue to receive Perk Cards every level after 50. You stop getting S.P.E.C.I.A.L. points at level 50, but perk cards keep coming.
How do I get more Perk Card Packs? Perk Card Packs are primarily obtained by leveling up. You’ll get them regularly until level 50, and then every 5 levels thereafter.
Can I buy Perk Card Packs with real money? No. Bethesda has stated that Perk Card Packs cannot be purchased with real money.
What happens if I scrap a perk card? Scrapping duplicate perk cards grants you Perk Coins, which are used to upgrade your Legendary Perk Cards.
What are Legendary Perk Cards, and how do I get them? These cards enhance your character with powerful, passive effects. The first Legendary Perk slot unlocks at level 50. You’ll then unlock an additional slot at levels 75, 100, 150, 200, and 300.
Do Legendary Perk Cards stack with regular Perk Cards? The same legendary perk cards due not stack, however there are variants that DO stack together, like preferred weapon type (normal,advanced,expert), lockpicking, and hacking.
What is the best way to farm XP for leveling up? Participating in public events, completing daily quests, and focusing on areas with high enemy density are all effective ways to farm XP. Ensure you are well-rested and have consumed food buffs to maximize your XP gains.
Can I reset my S.P.E.C.I.A.L. points after level 50? Yes, you can respec your SPECIAL points and card selection once you reach level 25.
What happens to unused Perk Cards? Unused perk cards can be scrapped for Perk Coins, which are then used to rank up Legendary Perk Cards, or traded to other players if the game allows it.
What is the level cap in Fallout 76? While there is no official level cap, most enemies in The Forest max at level 50. A level 200 player would still see level 50 enemies in The Forest, but level 100 enemies in The Mire. To reach “Max” level in the game you’ll need to hit 1111 to be able to unlock every perk at every rank. This will let you have an optimal build to play with all ranks.
What are some of the best Perk Cards in Fallout 76? This depends on your build, but some universally useful cards include Adrenaline, Concentrated Fire, and weapon-specific damage boosters.
What is the maximum amount of perks in Fallout 76? 56 is the max and each attribute can have a maximum of 15 points.
Can you max out all special stats fallout 76? Each individual attribute has the potential to reach a maximum total of 15 points assigned. However, as you will only be allotted 56 points in total, it is not possible to have your attributes all maxed out as that would require 105 points.
How many legendary perks are there in Fallout 76? There are a total of 26 perk cards, one for each of the stats that players have.

Conclusion

While you can’t equip every perk card simultaneously due to S.P.E.C.I.A.L. limitations, the journey of collecting and strategically using them is a core part of the Fallout 76 experience. Embrace the challenges, experiment with different builds, and remember to adapt to the ever-changing wasteland. And as you delve deeper into the game’s mechanics, consider exploring the broader implications of game-based learning and engagement. To learn more, consider visiting Games Learning Society or GamesLearningSociety.org for more resources on the educational aspects of gaming. Happy exploring, Vault Dweller!