Dominate Dead Money: The Definitive Guide to the Best Weapons in Fallout: New Vegas’ DLC
What are the best weapons in Dead Money, New Vegas? The answer, while nuanced, boils down to a mix of readily available options and late-game rewards. Early on, Cosmic Knives and their variants, along with Bear Trap Fists, are your best bet due to their low skill requirements and surprisingly effective damage. As you progress, the Holorifle, despite being somewhat divisive, emerges as a powerful contender, especially for its unique mechanics and ability to pierce armor. However, it’s important to note that most vanilla New Vegas weapons, while absent initially in Dead Money, generally outclass the DLC’s arsenal, barring the Holorifle and BAR, when you can finally bring them back in. Ultimately, mastery of Dead Money isn’t solely about the weapons, but rather how you adapt your play style with the options available.
Early Game Arsenal: The Underdog Champions
The Cosmic Knives: Your Bread and Butter
The Cosmic Knives are the standout early-game melee weapons. Their biggest advantage is the complete lack of skill requirements, meaning even a character heavily invested in other stats can effectively use them. This is crucial since you start the DLC stripped of all your gear. While their base damage isn’t astronomical, their speed and ease of access make them invaluable. Look out for variations like the Cosmic Knife, Super-Heated, which deal extra damage. These will quickly become your trusted companion against the Ghost People.
Bear Trap Fists: A Brutal Alternative
If you prefer a more direct approach, the Bear Trap Fists offer a solid alternative to the knives. These function like brass knuckles, dealing slightly higher damage than the base Cosmic Knife and boasting a satisfying, bone-crunching effect. However, they’re slower, so you’ll need to be mindful of enemy spacing. They require some melee skill, but it’s generally less than most other melee options and worth investing in. These are particularly useful when facing lone Ghost People early on.
Mid to Late Game Options: The Holorifle & Beyond
The Holorifle: A Unique Powerhouse
The Holorifle is a standout weapon exclusive to Dead Money. It’s a high-tech laser rifle that fires holographic projectiles, capable of dealing considerable damage and piercing armor. Its accuracy is excellent, and it’s powerful enough to handle most enemies in the DLC. Although some find its firing pattern unusual, mastering the Holorifle can turn you into a force of nature within the Sierra Madre. Moreover, its high value makes it a good choice for selling after you’ve completed the DLC.
The BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle): A Late Game Rarity
The BAR is a rare find in Dead Money, often only obtained from a safe in the villa. It’s a powerful automatic rifle that uses .308 rounds, making it a significant step up from the other weaponry of the DLC. However, the high recoil and rarity of ammunition make it less versatile than the Holorifle. It’s a powerful tool if you can get your hands on it and have a decent stockpile of ammo but relies on you being able to acquire it and ammo for it.
Why Vanilla Weapons Often Outshine the DLC
It’s essential to acknowledge that most of the weapons in Dead Money are outclassed by those in vanilla Fallout: New Vegas. This is particularly true when you are able to return to the Mojave Wasteland. The likes of the Ranger Sequoia, Medicine Stick, and This Machine offer higher damage, better range, and often superior overall performance. This discrepancy makes the initial transition into Dead Money more challenging, forcing players to rely on less powerful tools. However, it also reinforces the isolated and resource-scarce atmosphere of the Sierra Madre.
Adapting Your Playstyle for Dead Money
The best approach to combat in Dead Money doesn’t just rely on which weapon you have. Because you’re stripped of all your equipment at the start of the DLC, and then you’re in the thick of the action, it is crucial to adapt your playstyle to rely on those specific weapons and gear in the DLC, especially early on. This means understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the Cosmic Knives, Bear Trap Fists, and the Holorifle. Focus on skills that augment these, such as melee, repair, and science. Also, don’t underestimate the importance of stealth in the early areas to avoid or thin out encounters and the crucial importance of the Old World Gourmet perk which makes the healing items incredibly useful.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Weapons in Dead Money
1. What is the best early-game weapon in Dead Money if my melee skill is low?
The Cosmic Knife and its variants are the best early-game weapons for characters with low melee skills, as they have no skill requirement, and are easy to obtain.
2. Are the Bear Trap Fists worth using?
Yes, the Bear Trap Fists are a decent early-game melee option, especially if you prefer a direct, blunt approach, but you do need to have some skill in the melee to use them to their full potential.
3. How powerful is the Holorifle compared to other weapons?
The Holorifle is one of the most powerful weapons in Dead Money. Its high damage output, accuracy, and ability to pierce armor make it a formidable option, especially when facing a number of enemies.
4. Where can I find the Holorifle?
The Holorifle is given to the player by Elijah as a reward for progressing through his initial tasks at the villa. You can also acquire several additional holorifles throughout the DLC.
5. Is the BAR a good weapon in Dead Money?
The BAR is a powerful automatic rifle that can be a very effective option in combat, but its rarity and the scarcity of its ammunition make it less versatile than the Holorifle.
6. Can I keep the Holorifle after Dead Money?
Yes, you can keep the Holorifle and use it in the Mojave Wasteland after completing the Dead Money DLC, and you can also take a number of the unique weapons you find here.
7. Are there any other unique weapons in Dead Money besides the Holorifle and BAR?
Yes, there are several unique weapons in Dead Money, but most are melee weapons, with variants of the Cosmic Knife or different forms of Bear Trap Fists, like the Knife Spear. You will also have to contend with the weapons that the ghost people will carry on their person.
8. How do I best handle the Ghost People in combat?
Utilize your environment, using stealth and flanking maneuvers. The Cosmic Knives and Holorifle are particularly effective against Ghost People. Using explosives to disorient and cripple limbs is also helpful.
9. Do my vanilla weapons carry over to Dead Money?
No, you lose all your items at the start of the DLC. You get them back after you’ve completed it, so you will have to utilize the weapons of Dead Money to complete the DLC.
10. What skills should I focus on to maximize my effectiveness in Dead Money?
Focus on melee, repair, science, and survival. High speech, medicine, and lockpick also have their uses for additional options and items. The Old World Gourmet perk is also extremely powerful for resource management.
11. Is it worth investing heavily in melee for Dead Money?
Investing in melee, especially with the Cosmic Knife and Bear Trap Fists, can be very useful as you’ll be relying on them early on, but you might want to switch to the Holorifle once you get it. However, melee perks are also useful even if you switch to a primarily ranged approach later on.
12. How do I get more ammunition in Dead Money?
Scavenge every location thoroughly. Use your speech checks when you have the chance to get additional resources, and purchase what you can from vending machines, using the casino chips you collect from the pre-war money. The chips can be obtained in significant quantity if you have access to a high science skill.
13. Is the radiation in Dead Money a significant problem?
The radiation from the Cloud is a constant threat. Utilizing the Rad Child perk is a great way to negate the radiation damage and is useful for exploring the more dangerous areas.
14. How does jury rigging help in Dead Money?
Jury Rigging lets you repair your gear with similar items, which is incredibly useful given how quickly weapons will degrade, and how scarce resources are in Dead Money.
15. What is the best overall strategy for surviving in Dead Money?
Adaptability is key. Focus on stealth and resource management, understand your surroundings, and make the most out of the available tools, most importantly the Cosmic Knife, Bear Trap Fists, and Holorifle. Utilizing your skills and perks to support this will also make your life significantly easier.