The Fallout standard SPECIAL stats return for Fallout 76, but the perk system is getting a major change this time around. SPECIAL perks are now determined by cards.
Each time you level up, you’ll be able to pick one point to increase from your SPECIAL, and then choose a Perk Card. Each SPECIAL stat has their own associated cards, and each time you level up, new cards will be added to pick from (but not all categories get a new card every level). You also do not need to necessarily pick a card from the stat you increased. Any cards not picked will remain locked until the next time you level up, at which point you can choose another card.
There are hundreds of cards available in Fallout 76 and new cards are made available as your character reaches higher levels. These Perk Cards can be shared among teammates and swapped out at any time. To equip a Perk Card, you must have enough unused points available in that SPECIAL category.
Perk Cards all have number ranks assigned to them, and some cards found in Card Packs have level requirements you may not meet yet. For instance, if you have a 3 points in Intelligence and a Rank 4 card, you have to wait to add another point in Intelligence before you can equip the card.
Each SPECIAL stat can have up to 15 points. SPECIAL points are earned with each level up until level 50, and your character starts with one point in each SPECIAL. It’s important to note that even though you stop gaining SPECIAL points at level 50, you can keep getting more cards every level, and there doesn’t seem to be a level cap at all.
How to Get Perk Card Packs
Perk Card Packs can only be obtained by leveling up, and are not for purchase. You’ll earn card packs at every other level starting at level 4 until you reach level 10. After that, card packs are given every 5 levels.
Each Perk Card Pack comes with four random cards and a piece of gum that includes a joke on its wrapper. The cards you get will be random, and may include perks that you can’t even equip yet due to level restrictions – but once the time comes you’ll essentially have that perk card free without having to spend a level acquiring the first rank.
Sharing Perks
Once you put at least three points in Charisma, you’ll have the opportunity to share active perks with the rest of your team. As long as your Charisma is three times the point cost of a perk card (for example, Rank 1 of Green Thumb costs 1 point, so you could share it with 3 Charisma. Rank 2 costs 2 points, so you would need 6 Charisma, and so on) you’ll be able to let your team reap the benefits of your card, and use it to plan effective strategies to synergize available perks.
How to Raise Card Ranks
Card Packs mean random cards, and RNG means duplicates. To raise the rank of your cards, you’ll simply have to combine duplicates found in Card Packs.
