As a possible section of the melee weapons page

Special Attacks

When the player has 50 Melee Weapons skill points, they have access to special melee attacks which consume a certain amount of action points for a variety of effects in V.A.T.S..

Note that, in general, the reduction of action points expended for some special attacks does not make up for the corresponding decrease in damage. The only exceptions are when this reduction allows for a player to make 3 or 2 attacks in one V.A.T.S. round instead of 2 or 1; or allows for a player to enter V.A.T.S. and perform one final attack when none would otherwise be possible, since managing to do just one attack in V.A.T.S. yields more damage than one outside of V.A.T.S..

The only melee weapon in Fallout: New Vegas that has no special attack is the Broad machete.

Back slash

Most one handed edged weapons have the Back Slash special attack, which, at the cost of less damage, delivers a quicker attack. Weapons effected are:

Blood-nap

Blood-Nap has the Blood-nap special attack, allowing a faster attack, but causing less damage.

Dirt-nap

The Bowie knife has the Dirt-nap special attack, which does less damage while delivering a quicker attack.

Flambé Cut

A special attack used only by the Cosmic knife super-heated, Flambé Cut results in slightly lower base damage, but causes enemies to burst into flames for a short time.

Fore!

Unique to the golf clubs 9 iron and Nephi's golf driver is the Fore! special attack; it does more damage as well as a guarantee to knock enemies down.

Grand Slam

Two handed club-like weapons use the Grand Slam special attack, which does twice as much damage but is slower to employ. Weapons effected are:

Inversal Scarifier

Inversal Scarifier is a special attack used solely by the Protonic inversal axe that deals double damage at a slower attack speed.

Lights Out

Most one handed blunt weapons have Lights Out available as a special attack, which, while slower to use, does 25% more damage. This move is identical to the one used by super mutants. Weapons effected are:

Long Cut

Rippers (Ripper and Ripper (GRA)) use the special attack Long Cut, an attack which uses substantially fewer actions points for more V.A.T.S. attacks per round, but only does half the damage per attack.

Mauler

Most two handed melee weapons have the Mauler special attack, a slower attack which causes knock-back but does much less damage. Weapons effected are:

Nuka-Break

The Nuka Breaker has the special attack Nuka-Break that does the same damage as a regular attack at the cost of more actions points.

Pain Frequency

Pain Frequency is a special melee V.A.T.S. attack that does twice normal damage but uses more action points to employ.

Proton Electrocutioner

The Proton axe uses the special attack Proton Electrocutioner that, while costing the user more actions points, deals out double damage.

Scrap Heap

Some automatic melee weapons have a special attack, Scrap Heap, that delivers an overhead swing which does more much less damage per hit, but comes with a much lower action point cost.

Surgical Strike

A special attack only used by the Cosmic knife clean, Surgical Strike combines damage one and a half times normal with a greater cost in action points.

Unlabored Flawlessness

A special attack for the Katana, Unlabored Flawlessness uses a reverse grip causing vastly more damage but uses more action points.

As a possible page by itself

Special Attacks are a series of special Melee Weapons moves that can be used in either V.A.T.S., or in real time combat, that each have unique characteristics. These attacks, which come with special animations, may allow for faster attacks, greater damage, special effects or some combination of these advantages.

V.A.T.S. Special Attacks

When the player has 50 Melee Weapons skill points, they have access to special melee attacks which consume a certain amount of action points for a variety of effects in V.A.T.S.. Attacks most often couple a lower action point cost with lower damage, allowing for more attacks per V.A.T.S. round, but with a lower damage inflicted by each individual attack; a higher action point cost with greater damage, allowing for fewer, more damaging attacks; or a higher action point cost and a lower damage, but the addition of a special effect like the chance to knock down an enemies.

Use of special attacks in V.A.T.S. takes advantage of the doubling of melee weapon damage in Fallout: New Vegas, making special attacks that deal only 50% regular damage as powerful as those outside of V.A.T.S, but allowing for faster attacks and special effects.

Note that, in general, the reduction of action points expended for some special attacks does not make up for the corresponding decrease in damage, compared to usage exclusively in V.A.T.S.. The only exceptions are when this reduction allows for a player to make 3 or 2 attacks in one V.A.T.S. round instead of 2 or 1; or allows for a player to enter V.A.T.S. and perform one final attack when none would otherwise be possible, since managing to do just one attack in V.A.T.S. yields more damage than one outside of V.A.T.S..

Special Attacks outside of V.A.T.S.

It is possible to execute special attacks outside of V.A.T.S., without the required Melee skill of 50 to perform the moves, by initiating a power attack (hold attack button) while moving forward. Special attacks that have a lower action point and reduced damage have much less utility when used outside of V.A.T.S., while those with increased damage have a greater effectiveness.

Available Special Attacks

Back slash

Most one handed edged weapons have the Back Slash special attack, which, at the cost of less damage, delivers a quicker attack. Weapons effected are:

Blood-nap

Blood-Nap has the Blood-nap special attack, allowing a faster attack, but causing less damage.

Dirt-nap

The Bowie knife has the Dirt-nap special attack, which does less damage while delivering a quicker attack.

Flambé Cut

A special attack used only by the Cosmic knife super-heated, Flambé Cut results in slightly lower base damage, but causes enemies to burst into flames for a short time.

Fore!

Unique to the golf clubs 9 iron and Nephi's golf driver is the Fore! special attack; it does more damage as well as a guarantee to knock enemies down.

Grand Slam

Two handed club-like weapons use the Grand Slam special attack, which does twice as much damage but is slower to employ. Weapons effected are:

Inversal Scarifier

Inversal Scarifier is a special attack used solely by the Protonic inversal axe that deals double damage at a slower attack speed.

Lights Out