Build 2 — The Sledge (Melee Weapons Bruiser)

Concept

A tougher, weapon-swinging alternative that drops Small Frame for Finesse. You wield the Super Sledge, Ripper and Wakizashi Blade instead of fists. Finesse adds +10% critical chance on every swing, and the extra Endurance point gives you more HP to stand and trade blows.

Strength plan: identical logic — ST 6 start covers Bonus HtH Damage; Power Armor → ST 9 later. Super Sledge itself has generous ST requirements, so you're never under-strength.

SPECIAL Radar

SPECIAL — final values (after traits)

Total = 47 points (base 35 + 5 creation + 7 Gifted). No Small Frame, so AG 10 comes from a base-9 investment.

Stat	Val	Why
ST	6	Bonus HtH Damage; →9 in Power Armor
PE	6	Awareness + Better Criticals
EN	7	Extra HP to brawl toe-to-toe
CH	2	Dump; Mentats to recruit
IN	8	All quest dialogue; 16 skill pts/lvl
AG	10	Max AP/AC; melee perk gate
LK	8	Crit synergy with Finesse

Finesse — read the fine print. +10% crit chance is excellent with More/Better Criticals, but Finesse makes fights against very high Damage-Threshold enemies (deathclaws, power-armored Enclave) a bit slower because more hits become low-roll crits instead of big raw hits. On a Super Sledge (Weapon Knockback) build it's still a net win. If you dislike that, swap Finesse for Bloody Mess (pure cosmetic, no downside).

Derived stats @ Level 1

Hit Points

Action Pts

Armor Class

18%

Base Crit*

Skill Pts/Lvl

175

Carry (lbs)

*8% Luck + 10% Finesse. Note the fat 175 lb carry — no Small Frame penalty, so you haul your own gear.

Traits

Gifted +1 to all stats (−10% skills, −5 skill pts/lvl). Same great deal as Build 1.

Finesse +10% critical hit chance on all attacks. Turns your Super Sledge into a crit cannon; downside is slower kills on ultra-armored foes.

Tag skills

Melee Weapons Super Sledge, Ripper, Wakizashi, Louisville Slugger, Cattle Prod.

Doctor unlocks Living Anatomy (+5 dmg vs living) — stacks beautifully with a big two-hander.

Speech quest solutions & XP.

Weapon shortlist

Weapon	Notes
Ripper	Early powerhouse, low AP cost, great crit rate
Wakizashi Blade	Cheap AP, strong criticals, easy to find
Super Sledge	Late-game king — Weapon Knockback, big raw damage
"Little Jesus"	Unique combat knife, huge crit multiplier

Perk progression (perks every 3 levels)

Lvl	Perk	Req	Payoff
3	Bonus HtH Damage	ST 6, AG 6	+2 melee dmg/rank (x3)
6	More Criticals	LK 6	+5% crit/rank — stacks with Finesse
9	Better Criticals	PE 6, AG 4, LK 6	+20% crit table
12	Living Anatomy	Doctor 60%	+5 dmg vs living
15	Bonus HtH Attacks	AG 6	−1 AP per swing
18	Action Boy	AG 5	+1 AP (x2)
21	Toughness	EN 6, LK 6	+10% DR/rank — you'll want this
24+	Lifegiver / Dodger / Slayer*	—	Survivability or crit apex

Slayer is optional here. It needs Unarmed 80%, not Melee Weapons. If you want it, pump Unarmed as a secondary late-game; otherwise skip it — Super Sledge + Better Criticals already crits constantly, so this build stays strong without it.

How it plays

Sturdier than The Fist — 35 HP, 175 lb carry, and Toughness make you a genuine front-liner rather than a flanker. You wade in, knock enemies back with the Super Sledge, and Finesse ensures a steady stream of criticals. Slightly lower ceiling than a Slayer fist build, but far more forgiving to pilot in the open.