You can consider Perception as your environmental awareness or 6th sense. Perception perks in Fallout 4 help you increase weapon accuracy in VATS. The higher your Perception the better your chances of hitting the enemy. Moreover, a higher perception level will help detect enemy threats as red dots on your compass at a distance.
Spending 1 perk point to gain Perception to a maximum of 10. There are no requirements for Perception training in Fallout 4. Below is everything you need to know about Fallout 4 Perception Perks.
Fallout 4 Perception Perks
There are 10 Perception Perks in Fallout 4, each has its own rank and requirement.
- Pickpocket
- Rifleman
- Awareness
- Locksmith
- Demolition Expert
- Night Person
- Refractor
- Sniper
- Penetrator
- Concentrated Fire
Pickpocket
Sometimes facing enemies head-on to steal something from them isn’t the best way to go. Especially higher-level enemies will shred you to pieces for that. Hence, you need to invest in Pickpocket perk to make stealing easier in Fallout 4.
| Rank | Requirements | Effects |
| 1 | PER 1 | +25% easier to pickpocket. |
| 2 | Level 6, PER 1 | +50% easier to pickpocket. |
| 3 | Level 17, PER 1 | +75% easier to pickpocket, steal equipped weapons. |
| 4 | Level 30, PER 1 | 2x easier to pickpocket, and steal equipped items. |
Rifleman
Investing in Rifleman perk would help your character spot and remove enemies at a greater distance. Attacks with Rifles do more damage and as you invest more perk points, non-automatic Rifles will do some serious damage to armored enemies.
| Rank | Requirements | Effects |
| 1 | PER 2 | +20% more damage with non-automatic rifles. |
| 2 | Level 9, PER 2 | +40% more damage with non-automatic rifles, +15% damage to armor. |
| 3 | Level 18, PER 2 | +60% more damage with non-automatic rifles, +20% damage to armor. |
| 4 | Level 31, PER 2 | +80% more damage with non-automatic rifles, +25% damage to armor. Slight chance to cripple limbs. |
| 5 | Level 46, PER 2 | 2x more damage with non-automatic rifles, +30% damage to armor. Higher chance to cripple limbs. |
Awareness
If you are looking for additional information about the enemies around you, invest in the Awareness Perception perk. Awareness gives you more information regarding enemy weaknesses when VATS is active.
| Rank | Requirements | Effects |
| 1 | PER 3 | Know enemy weaknesses in VATS as well as their specific Damage Resistance. |
Locksmith
During the main and side quests, you will often come across many locked doors. Often, you’ll have to unlock many security doors during exploration as well. Completing quests and getting a high-end look requires investing in the Locksmith.
| Rank | Requirements | Effects |
| 1 | PER 4 | Pick Advanced locks. |
| 2 | Level 7, PER 4 | Pick Experts locks. |
| 3 | Level 17, PER 4 | Pick Master locks. |
| 4 | Level 41, PER 4 | Bobby pins never break during lockpicking. |
Demolition Expert
Damage output is a key factor for success in Fallout 4. And you can do some serious damage with explosives by investing in the Demolition Expert perk.
| Rank | Requirements | Effects |
| 1 | PER 5 | +25% explosive damage, and craft explosives at any chem station. |
| 2 | Level 10, PER 5 | +50% explosive damage, grenades get a throwing arc. |
| 3 | Level 22, PER 5 | +75% explosive damage and a larger AOE. |
| 4 | Level 34, PER 5 | 2x explosive damage. Explosives shot in VATS do double damage. |
Night Person
Investing in the Night Person perk gives you additional Perception and Intelligence during the night. It helps you spot enemies at a distance and VATS enhancements for Perception.
| Rank | Requirements | Effects |
| 1 | PER 6 | +2 Intelligence and Perception from 6PM to 6AM. |
| 2 | Level 25, PER 6 | +3 Intelligence and Perception between 6PM and 6AM and night vision when sneaking. |
Refractor
Some enemies do energy damage and the Refractor perk helps you gain damage resistance for it. Enemies wielding cryo and energy weapons won’t be able to do as much damage anymore.
| Rank | Requirements | Effects |
| 1 | PER 7 | +10 Enemy Resistance. |
| 2 | Level 11, PER 7 | +20 Energy Resistance. |
| 3 | Level 21, PER 7 | +30 Energy Resistance. |
| 4 | Level 35, PER 7 | +40 Energy Resistance. |
| 5 | Level 42. PER 7 | +50 Energy Resistance. |
Sniper
Investing in the Sniper perks allows you to have more control over your sniper rifles. Being able to aim properly and hold your breath for longer will help a lot in Fallout 4.
| Rank | Requirements | Effects |
| 1 | PER 8 | Improved control and hold your breath for longer. |
| 2 | Level 13, PER 8 | Sniper rifles have a chance of knocking down enemies. |
| 3 | Level 26, PER 8 | +25% accuracy to headshots with sniper rifles in VATS |
Penetrator
Higher-level enemies often wear armor or items that cover their weak body parts. However, using the Penetrator Perception perk in Fallout 4 you can still target those parts but with decrease accuracy.
| Rank | Requirements | Effects |
| 1 | PER 9 | Target covered body parts that are covered during VATS. But experience a decreased accuracy. |
| 2 | Level 28, PER 9 | Target covered body parts that are covered during VATS. No decreased accuracy. |
Concentrated Fire
Concentrated Fire perk allows you to target the same enemy body part with increased accuracy when VATS is active. Combine this with the Penetrator to target weak body points.
| Rank | Requirements | Effects |
| 1 | PER 10 | +10% accuracy on the same body part with every attack. |
| 2 | Level 26, PER 10 | +15% accuracy on the same body part with every attack. |
| 3 | Level 50, PER 10 | +20% accuracy on the same body part with every attack, and 20% more damage. |
Best Perception Perks
The best Perception perks depend on what kind of character build you want. However, there are some general suggestions I can give you. Focus on investing Perk Points toward Penetrator and Concentrated Fire.
And that’s the complete list of Perception perks in Fallout 4. Need more help? Check out Strength perks, how to cure exhaustion, unique weapons locations, unique armor locations, power armor frames locations, Charisma Perks, Endurance Perks.
