Strength is one of seven Primary Statistics in the SPECIAL system.
Fallout, Fallout 2, and Fallout Tactics
Modifies: Hit Points, Melee damage, and Carry weight
Strength is primarily relevant to two game mechanics: Carry Weight and satisfying the minimum Strength requirements on weapons. You gain 25 lbs. of carry weight per point of Strength (unless you have the Small Frame trait, in which case it's 15). Also, if you meet the minimum strength requirements of your weapon you do not suffer accuracy penalties with that weapon.
Strength can be permanently increased by 6 points throughout both Fallout and Fallout 2.
Ways to increase Strength
- Wearing T-51b power armor increases Strength by 3. Advanced power armor increases Strength by 4.
- The Brotherhood of Steel can perform an operation to increase Strength by 1, assuming the player can afford it (Fallout 1) or has found the appropriate module chip (Fallout 2).
- Buffout temporarily increases Strength by 2.
- Several Perks increase Strength. Adrenaline Rush raises Strength by 1 when the player has less than 50% health. Gain (Statistic) Perk can be used to boost Strength by 1. Some Perks raise Strength when checking for modifiers. Heave Ho! raises Strength by 2 for purposes of throwing weapons. Weapon Handling boosts raises Strength by 3 for purposes of checking the minimum Strength needed to use a weapon.
- The Bruiser Trait raises Strength by 2 but lowers the player's AP.
Fallout 3
Modifies: Melee Weapons skill, Carry weight, Melee damage bonus
Strength slightly increases melee damage and carrying capacity. Melee damage is at 1 damage for every 2 strength (+5 damage at 10) and carrying capacity is an added 10 for every point (+100 at 10). Strength does not affect unarmed damage, even though Iron Fist requires some strength. Unlike previous Fallout games, none of the weapons have a minimum strength requirement, and a character with 1 strength can use a minigun without penalties.
High Strength can be used to intimidate others when in a conversation.
| Value | Carry Weight | Damage Bonus* | Skill Modifiers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 160 | +0.5 | Melee Weapons +2 |
| 2 | 170 | +1 | Melee Weapons +4 |
| 3 | 180 | +1.5 | Melee Weapons +6 |
| 4 | 190 | +2 | Melee Weapons +8 |
| 5 | 200 | +2.5 | Melee Weapons +10 |
| 6 | 210 | +3 | Melee Weapons +12 |
| 7 | 220 | +3.5 | Melee Weapons +14 |
| 8 | 230 | +4 | Melee Weapons +16 |
| 9 | 240 | +4.5 | Melee Weapons +18 |
| 10 | 250 | +5 | Melee Weapons +20 |
Note:* Does NOT affect unarmed damage in any way (see discussion page).
Strength-based perks
| Perk | Required | Level | Additional Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Leaguer | 4 | 2 | |
| Iron Fist | 4 | 4 | |
| Strong Back | 5 | 8 | Endurance 5 |
Ways to increase Strength
- Bobblehead - Strength found in Lucas Simms' house in Megaton, on a desk in the bedroom
- Quest Perk Ant Might
- Nerd Rage! perk
- Intense Training perk
- Various armor and clothing
- Buffout
- Alcohol beverages
- Ant Nectar
Fallout: New Vegas
Strength in New Vegas modifies Melee damage, Carry weight, Melee Weapons skill and which weapons you're strong enough to use. If you don't meet the strength requirement of a weapon then you will be less accurate (for ranged weapons), or hit slower (for melee/unarmed weapons). You can reduce the strength requirements of weapons by two if you take the Weapon Handling perk.
Strength-based perks
| Perk | Required | Level | Additional Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heave, Ho! | 5 | 2 | Explosives 30 |
| Strong Back | 5 | 8 | Endurance 5 |
| Stonewall | 6 | 8 | Endurance 6 |
| Super Slam | 6 | 8 | Melee Weapons 45 |
Heavyweight 
|
7 | 12 | — |
| Unstoppable Force | 7 | 12 | Melee Weapons 90 |
| Weapon Handling | <10 | 16 | — |
Burden to Bear 
|
6 | 30 | Endurance 6 |
Ways to increase
- Armor or clothing.
- Numerous chems, foods, and alcohol.
- Intense Training
- Nerd Rage!
- Solar Powered
- Strength Implant
- Spineless
- Reinforced Spine
Level names and statistics
| Value | Name | Carry Weight | Melee Damage Bonus | Skill Modifiers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wet Noodle | 160 | 0.5 | Melee Weapons +2 |
| 2 | Beached Jellyfish | 170 | 1.0 | Melee Weapons +4 |
| 3 | Doughy Baby | 180 | 1.5 | Melee Weapons +6 |
| 4 | Lightweight | 190 | 2.0 | Melee Weapons +8 |
| 5 | Average Joe | 200 | 2.5 | Melee Weapons +10 |
| 6 | Barrel Chested | 210 | 3.0 | Melee Weapons +12 |
| 7 | Beach Bully | 220 | 3.5 | Melee Weapons +14 |
| 8 | Circus Strongman | 230 | 4.0 | Melee Weapons +16 |
| 9 | Doomsday Pecs | 240 | 4.5 | Melee Weapons +18 |
| 10 | Hercules' Bigger Cousin | 250 | 5.0 | Melee Weapons +20 |
Notes
- If the player's highest SPECIAL stat is Strength while having no stats lower than the points added to the strength stat (e.g Strength of 7 highest and a Luck 2 lowest), Doc Mitchell will say "Surprised anybody'd want to tangle with you. Heck, you could go Deathclaw hunting with a switch."
- If the player's lowest SPECIAL stat is Strength while having no stats higher than the points removed (e.g Strength of 2 lowest and a Luck 9 highest), Doc Mitchell will say "That's some serious atrophy, even for someone who's been in bed awhile. It's a wonder you can move at all."
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