There are two essential perks that are mandatory if you intend to take settlement building seriously. They add a great deal of functionality to your settlement building experience. In addition there are 6 quality of life perks that improve your settlement building experience.
Cap Collector
This group of perks increases your trading ability.
Rank 1 – CHR 1
- Improves buying and selling prices by 10%.
- Prerequisite for a perk we need.
- Verdict: Essential.
Rank 2 – CHR 1 – Level 20
- Improves buying and selling prices by 20%.
- This perk unlocks the level 3 trader stands, called Emporiums. These emporiums generate more caps, have better gear, and with certain NPCs can be upgraded into a level 4 trader stand.
- Verdict: Essential.
Rank 3 – CHR 1 – Level 41
- Allows you to invest in a store.
- This allows you to invest 500 caps into a store , which increases the amount they can buy off you.
- Verdict: Nice to have.
Local Leader
This group of perks improves settlement utility.
Rank 1 – CHR 6
- Allows you to create supply lines.
- Supply lines allow you to share resources, and excess food and water between settlements.
- Verdict: Essential.
Rank 2 – CHR 6 – Level 14
- Allows you to create stores and workstations.
- Stores when manned generate constant income, and workstations allow crafting.
- Verdict: Essential.
Medic
This group of perks improves settlement utility.
Rank 1 – INT 2
- Stimpacks restore 40% of health, and RadAway removes 40% of radiation.
- Allows you to construct the medic store
- Verdict: Nice to have.
Gun Nut
This group of perks improves settlement defence.
Rank 1 – INT 3
- Enables rank 1 gun mods
- Allows construction of the Heavy Machine Gun Turret
- Verdict: Nice to have.
Rank 2 – INT 3 – Level 13
- Enables rank 2 gun mods
- Allows construction of the Shotgun Turret
- Verdict: Nice to have.
Rank 3 – INT 3 – Level 25
- Enables rank 3 gun mods
- Allows construction of the Missile Turret
- Verdict: Nice to have.
Hacker
This group of perks improves settlement utility.
Rank 1 – INT 4
- Enables hacking of advanced terminals
- Allows construction of the Terminal
- Verdict: Nice to have.
Science!
This group of perks improves settlement defence.
Rank 1 – INT 6
- Enables rank 1 high tech mods
- Allows construction of the Large Generator, and Laser Turret
- Verdict: Nice to have.
Rank 2 – INT 6 – Level 17
- Enables rank 2 high tech mods
- Prerequisite for a perk we need.
- Verdict: Nice to have.
Rank 3 – INT 6 – Level 28
- Enables rank 3 high tech mods
- Allows construction of the Heavy Laser Turret
- Verdict: Nice to have.
Scrapper
This group of perks improves resource gathering.
Rank 1 – INT 5
- Enables salvaging of uncommon components when scrapping
- Allows for more efficient resource utilisation.
- Verdict: Nice to have.
Rank 2 – INT 5 – Level 23
- Enables salvaging of rare components when scrapping
- Allows for more efficient resource utilisation.
- Verdict: Nice to have.
Strong Back
This group of perks improves resource gathering.
Rank 1 – STR 6
- Gains an additional 25 carry weight
- Allows scavenging more materials.
- Verdict: Nice to have.
Rank 2 – STR 6 – Level 10
- Gains an additional 50 carry weight
- Allows scavenging more materials.
- Verdict: Nice to have.
Rank 3 – STR 6 – Level 20
- Can run while over encumbered
- Allows scavenging more materials.
- Verdict: Nice to have.
Rank 4 – STR 6 – Level 30
- Can fast travel while over encumbered
- Allows scavenging more materials.
- Verdict: Nice to have.