What is Combat Armor?
Combat Armor is a military-grade armor set, designed to provide exceptional protection against both physical and energy-based attacks. Its rugged, battle-tested appearance reflects its intended purpose: to keep you alive in the thick of a firefight. In the game, it’s instantly recognizable by its segmented design, heavy plating, and the distinct military-inspired aesthetic. You can identify it by its characteristic bulky look, offering a sense of sturdy defense.
Its purpose is clear: to act as a robust barrier against the dangers of the wasteland. Whether you’re facing Super Mutants with their brute strength or Gunners with their advanced weaponry, Combat Armor offers a significant advantage in terms of damage reduction. This armor provides you with a critical edge, turning you into a far more resilient survivor.
Acquisition and Location
Early on in your wasteland exploration, finding Combat Armor can be a bit of a treasure hunt. You might stumble upon individual pieces scattered around, perhaps dropped by fallen enemies or found inside specific containers. Searching through military checkpoints, police stations, and areas where fighting has occurred in the past will likely yield some initial pieces. Vendors, while not always stocking complete sets at the beginning, can occasionally have pieces available for purchase. Keep an eye out for these opportunities, as every piece you find adds to your overall protection.
As you progress deeper into the game, the availability of Combat Armor increases significantly. You’ll start encountering it more regularly as loot from enemies and inside containers in more dangerous locations. The Gunners, a faction of highly-equipped mercenaries, are frequent users of Combat Armor. Engaging in combat with these foes provides a good opportunity to acquire pieces through either looting their corpses or taking the armor after you defeat them.
Furthermore, exploring certain quest locations and completing specific missions will often reward you with Combat Armor, or at least, pieces of it. For example, certain locations with a military theme can offer multiple pieces. Be sure to explore every nook and cranny during your quests, and don’t ignore locations that might seem off the beaten path. Remember that exploring more locations could lead you to more useful items.
There are specific vendors that reliably stock parts. For instance, vendors who specialize in military-grade equipment or armor are good places to check. The vendors found at settlements that specialize in armor and weapons will also often have at least parts of a set available. Make it a habit to check vendors whenever you visit a settlement. The stock can change every few days.
Crafting Combat Armor at a dedicated Armor Workbench is one of the most convenient ways to obtain pieces. It requires specific components, but as you gather junk during your travels, you’ll find yourself able to craft it. Being able to build a full set, or swap out pieces, greatly increases your survivability.
Stats and Properties
When assessing armor, it’s essential to understand its core properties, including the Damage Resistance (DR), Energy Resistance (ER), and Radiation Resistance (RR) values. Combat Armor offers excellent DR, making it highly effective against physical damage from bullets, melee attacks, and explosions. The Energy Resistance is also substantial, helping you endure laser blasts, plasma fire, and other energy-based attacks. The Radiation Resistance, although typically lower, still provides a degree of protection against the effects of nuclear fallout.
Comparing the stats to other armor sets, you’ll see the benefits of Combat Armor. Compared to lighter armor, like leather or metal armor, Combat Armor provides superior protection, particularly when it comes to physical damage. However, you will have to trade off weight for protection. Heavier armors like power armor give greater protection, but they consume resources and slow down your movement, and also add to the amount of weight your character must carry.
The weight of each piece of armor must be taken into account. A full set of Combat Armor will weigh more than lighter armor. Your character’s carrying capacity will determine how much you can carry while wearing a full set, so consider using perks to increase your carrying capacity or finding a companion to help transport some items.
The benefit of choosing Combat Armor is clear: it significantly increases your chances of survival in almost every combat scenario. The ability to withstand more damage, especially against common enemy types, allows you to be more aggressive and take more risks.
Customization and Modifications
One of the most significant advantages of Combat Armor is its extensive customization options. At an Armor Workbench, you can modify almost every piece of your armor, allowing you to tailor it to your specific needs and playstyle. Modifying a Combat Armor piece requires you to have the right resources and to have the correct perks. You can gain perks by leveling up your character.
There is an array of modifications that can be applied to Combat Armor pieces, so you can change your armor to fit your play style or to protect against particular enemies.
First are those related to materials. These mods alter the material composition of the armor. Using different materials can drastically change the armor’s characteristics, like increasing its damage resistance or reducing its weight.
Second is the addition of linings. Linings are upgrades applied to the inside of the armor pieces, adding to your protection against specific damage types and radiation.
Next are mods related to the general build of the armor pieces. These will either decrease your weight or increase its resistance. Examples of these include making a pocketed version of the armor, or using a light, sturdy, or heavy build.
Certain mods can modify the specifics of each piece of armor. For example, on your arms, you can add automatic weapons, or targeting computers to increase your damage output. These mods require the proper skills and resources.
Rarely, you’ll encounter Legendary Combat Armor. Legendary pieces come pre-equipped with a unique special effect. These effects can range from increased damage resistance to improved health regeneration to special effects. They offer substantial advantages in combat.
Strategic Use
Considering the robust nature of Combat Armor, there are some builds that synergize exceptionally well with this armor.
If you like to play as a resilient, melee-focused character, Combat Armor is an excellent choice. By investing in Strength and Endurance perks, you can maximize your damage output and health pool, then complement that with Combat Armor to become a true wasteland tank.
Combat Armor is also suitable for sneak builds. While some players believe that heavy armor isn’t a good choice for stealth, you can modify it for stealth. You can use modifications to reduce its weight and to reduce the amount of noise it makes.
Combat Armor is useful in many different situations. When facing swarms of enemies, its high damage resistance will keep you standing. It is also a great choice when you are expecting a tough, boss-like encounter, where the increased protection will give you a substantial advantage.
Combat Armor interacts well with other skills and perks. The right perks can give you more protection, and increase your damage output. A full set of Combat Armor, combined with the right perks and mods, can transform you into a formidable force on the battlefield.
Variants and Differences
When you collect Combat Armor, you might notice slight differences between the various pieces. You’ll find that the appearance might vary slightly. Certain pieces might have a slightly different paint job or a different design. These variations are purely cosmetic.
A heavier variant of Combat Armor is also available: the Heavy Combat Armor. This version offers significantly improved stats and provides even greater protection. It is found in later areas of the game, and can be crafted.
There are also unique pieces, like named pieces that are found throughout the game. They have different mods and special abilities.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Combat Armor comes with both advantages and disadvantages, which will assist you in making a decision about which armor you should use.
The advantages of Combat Armor are clear. The armor offers great protection, giving you high damage resistance, and making you significantly more durable in combat. The Armor is relatively easy to find, making it a readily available option. You can customize your armor to match your play style.
As for disadvantages, Combat Armor is heavy, so it will impact your carrying capacity. The resources needed to craft and modify Combat Armor pieces can be somewhat expensive.
Final Thoughts
Combat Armor is a standout choice in Fallout 4’s diverse selection of protective gear. It strikes an excellent balance between protection, customization, and availability, making it a reliable choice for almost any player. Its ability to be modified allows you to tailor your armor to different situations. It can be acquired in multiple different locations, so you can find pieces as you progress through the game.
Consider the versatility of Combat Armor as you explore the wasteland. Experiment with different mods, and build the best set of armor for your play style. You might find it the ultimate choice.
Go out there, explore, and find the right set of Combat Armor for you.
Further Reading
If you enjoyed this guide, then you should check out other guides relating to armor and combat in Fallout 4. Learn more about the different mods available, the best places to find them, and about the crafting process. Happy surviving!
