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All Skills in Fallout New Vegas

Which skill route will you take?

If you are the type of gamer that loves to utilize specific skills when leveling up, then you will love the Fallout games for their upgrade system. You can tailor your character's abilities to your playstyle, making it all the more satisfying to gain experience and apply those points. Here are all of the skills in Fallout: New Vegas.

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All Skill Categories in Fallout New Vegas List

Skills in Fallout: New Vegas can be improved by putting skill points into their respective category when leveling up or by picking up magazines and books around the Mojave Wasteland. Each skill has a specific magazine associated with it, so always be on the lookout when looting new places. As Fallout 3 takes place in a very dangerous world, you'll need all the help you can get.

Related: All Cheats & Console Commands in Fallout New Vegas

SkillDescription/UseAffected StatSkill MagazinesSkill Books
BarterAdding points to the barter skill will improve your character when haggling (or bartering) is necessary. It can be helpful in trading instances, speech instances for quests, and negotiating to get better quest rewards.CharismaSalesman WeeklyTales of a Junktown Jerky Vendor
Energy WeaponsPutting points into the energy weapons category will give you a damage and hit rate advantage when using said weapons.PerceptionFuture Weapons TodayNikola Tesla and You
ExplosivesPutting points into the explosives category will give you proficiency when using explosive weaponry, crafting explosives, and disarming them (such as with mines).PerceptionPatriot's CookbookDuck and Cover!
GunsAllotting points to the guns category will increase your proficiency with standard ammunition guns.AgilityMilsurp ReviewGuns and Bullets
LockpickAllocating skill points to the lockpick category will increase your success of unlocking doors using a lockpick.PerceptionLocksmith's ReaderTumblers Today
MedicinePlacing points into the medicine skill will make your character better at using drugs/healing items, medical tools, and crafting Doctor's Bags.IntelligenceToday's PhysicianD.C. Journal of Internal Medicine
Melee WeaponsOpting to put points in the melee weapons skill will increase your proficiency with items such as baseball bats etc.StrengthTæles of ChivalrieGrognak the Barbarian
RepairLevelling up the repair category will increase your ability to craft items, craft ammunition, and repair things.IntelligenceFixin' ThingsDean's Electronics
ScienceChoosing to upgrade the science category will increase your ability to hack into computer terminals, craft chems, pass science-related dialogue checks, and recycle energy ammunition at workbenches.IntelligenceProgrammer's DigestBig Book of Science
SneakApplying points to the sneak skill will decrease your chances of being detected while sneaking and stealing.Agility¡La Fantoma!Chinese Army: Special Ops Training Manual
SpeechDeciding to level up the speech skill will make you proficient at negotiating. The more you invest in the speech skill, the more chance you will have of talking your way out of confrontations/combat, persuading people to reveal key information, and getting better quest rewards.CharismaMeeting PeopleLying, Congressional Style
SurvivalElecting to put points into the survival skill will increase your abilities when crafting natural equipment and consumables, cooking, and making poisons. You will also gain more health and buffs from eating food.EnduranceLad's LifeThe Wasteland Survival Guide
UnarmedUpping your skills in the unarmed category will make you better at fighting bare-handed.EnduranceBoxing TimesPugilism Illustrated

Looking for more content? Why not check out All of the console commands in Fallout: New Vegas?


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Nebojša Prijić
Nebojša Prijić is a Managing Editor at Pro Game Guides with over 25 years of experience in journalism, screenwriting, and copywriting. He previously worked as Editor-in-Chief of Maxim Serbia magazine and the IGN Adria website. Nebojša is an old-school gamer who loves real-time strategies, shooters, and RPGs, but most of all, he plays Roblox and mobile games with his son. He remembers the first Diablo, PC games on a single floppy disk, and playing Mortal Kombat on the keyboard.