Fallout 76: The Best Power Armor

Only one of the 11 Power Armor sets in Fallout 76 is needed to conquer Appalachia. But which Power Armor is actually the best? The following guide introduces the strongest and most practical PAs and explains why you need them in your inventory.

In Fallout 76, each Power Armor has its own strengths and weaknesses. However, all variants provide increased resistance against radiation and damage. This universal buff is the primary reason why many players can’t decide which PA to invest in. With most sets being capable of carrying you through end-game content, the decision can be overwhelming. To simplify the process, we’ve curated a selection of the top Fallout 76 Power Armors to guide your choice.

Updated on August 19, 2024, by Mohsen Baqery: Fallout 76 continues to deliver fresh content for both veteran and new players with each update. However, Power Armor sets have remained largely unchanged in recent years. Despite this stability, the guide has been updated to clarify the criteria behind our tier list and added a new section showcasing the best Armor in Fallout 76—a handy guide for newcomers.

Fallout 76 Power Armor Tier List

In Fallout 76, the S-rank Power Armor includes Hellcat, T-65, Excavator, Union, and X-01. Ultracite, Raider, and Strangler Heart fall into the A-tier category. T-45, T-51b, and T-60 are ranked as B-tier due to their statistical weaknesses.

Power Armor Tier List Criteria

• S+: These are the finest and strongest PAs in the entire Appalachia.
• S: This tier includes practical Power Armor sets that are easy to obtain.
• A: A-tier PAs are those that come with interesting features but lack affordability.
• B: PAs that fall in this category are affordable, but they have unimpressive stats compared with others on the list.

Note that there’s a consensus regarding Power Armors in Fallout 76, suggesting that all options, regardless of tier, are excellent choices for new players. The tier list becomes relevant when players can access end-game content and freely choose between these Power Armor sets. For newcomers, all eleven Power Armors should be considered top-tier until they can afford the best models.

The Best Power Armor in Fallout 76 (Overall)

Hellcat Is Not the Strongest, But It’s Accessible

Considering its attainability and utility, Hellcat is the best Power Armor in Fallout 76. The reason for this is that Hellcat is obtainable through a quest line and has an extra 12% ballistic damage reduction on top of the base 42%.

Statistically, the most powerful Power Armor is the T-65. However, that’s a Bullion-exclusive Power Armor, meaning that it is not as accessible as Hellcat. Plus, paring Hellcat with the Electrical Absorption perk card boosts its resistance to a point where it compares to T-65 despite the former being much easier to craft and maintain.

The Best Fallout 76 Power Armor for PvP

T-65 Has the Highest Damage Resistance

In terms of Physical, Electrical, and Radiation resistance, T-65 is the best Power Armor in Fallout 76. The suit has the highest stats for Physical and Electrical defense among all PAs in Fallout 76, making it the ideal option for PvP battles. The only downside is that T-65 is a Gold-Bullion-exclusive suit, and getting all of its components costs up to 6,900.

The Best Power Armor for Fallout 76 Beginners

Raider Is One of the Easiest PAs to Get

As the only equippable Power Armor for players below Level 25, Raider Power Armor is the best for Fallout 76 beginners. The protective suit can be found as a complete set at around Level 15 and is easy to repair; an essential upside early in the game.

With a max resistance of 341, Raider is the second-weakest Power Armor in Fallout 76 (the weakest is Excavator). However, it comes with a base 42% damage reduction, which helps survivors level up much faster.

The Best Fallout 76 Power Armor for Mining Minerals

Thanks to its default Carry Weight booster, the Excavator or EXC-17 is the best Power Armor for farming in Fallout 76. The full suit increases CW by 100, and the arms quadruple excavated vein minerals, making it the best choice for harvesting resources.

Resistance-wise, the Excavator is the weakest Power Armor. However, when paired with the right perk cards and modifiers, it buffs damage defense almost the same as other Power Armor sets.

The Best-Looking Power Armor in Fallout 76

T-51b Has the Most Vibrant Skins

With over 30 unique paint jobs, T-51b is the best Power Armor for customization. It’s also a popular mid-game choice because it has the second-highest base damage resistance among all Power Armor sets. The only downside to T-51b is that it’s pretty weak against Radiation, which is why Hellcat and T-65 outperform it.

Other Noteworthy Power Armor Sets in Fallout 76 (Honorary Mentions)

Since all Power Armor in Fallout 76 has the same base damage reduction stat, the pluses are subtle and so each could technically be classed as the best power armor for a specific purpose or reason. Strangler Heart, for example, is the best Power Armor for Radiation resistance, Ultracite is an ideal choice among tradable Power Armor sets, and X-01 is arguably the most stylish.

In conclusion, while some of the Power Armor sets in Fallout 76 come with stronger stats than others, it’s ultimately the players’ needs that determine which one is the best and is thus worthy of their investment.

Special Mention: Best Non-Power Armor in Fallout 76

Overall, the best non-power-armor protective suit in Fallout 76 is the Secret Service Armor. Although a bit expensive, this armor set provides decent protection against radiation and significantly reduces damage taken. However, for those running a stealth-based build, the Chinese Stealth Armor is a better option.

If you’re a beginner, you will benefit from wearing the Combat and Leather Armor sets, as they are both sturdy and easy to obtain. But if you’ve advanced in the story and are close to end-game content, you will also find the Brotherhood Recon Armor quite reliable, thanks to its top-notch stats.

Fallout 76

Released

November 14, 2018

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Engine

Creation

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol

How Long To Beat

34 Hours

Steam Deck Compatibility

yes

X|S Enhanced

No

PS Plus Availability

Extra & Premium

File Size Xbox Series

97 GB (May 2024)

Cross Save

no

Cross-Platform Play

no

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