“ Knowledge, wisdom and the ability to think quickly. A high Intelligence is important for any character. ” — Fallout in-game description

Intelligence is one of seven primary statistics in the SPECIAL system.

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Fallout, Fallout 2 and Fallout Tactics Edit

Modifies: the number of new skill points per level, dialogue options, and many skills.

One of the unique qualities of Fallout and Fallout 2 is the difference in gameplay caused by creating a low-Intelligence character. With a dimwitted player character, many non-player characters will simply shrug one off, while others will insult or even attack them. It is possible to complete the game as an idiot, but most side-quests are impossible to do, and character growth is limited, as is the story involvement possible - while it is possible to bumble through the main quests, almost all plot details and background information will be left missing. Furthermore, due to limited-at-best non-player character interaction, almost all side-quests are unavailable.

Ways to increase Intelligence Edit

Intelligence-based perks Edit

Fallout 3 Edit

Modifies: Medicine, Repair, and Science skills, as well as the number of new skill points per level.

Intelligence determines the number of skill points earned per level up. The base number of skill points gained per level is 10 + INT. Skill points gained for raised Intelligence are not retroactive for past levels, so increasing this primary stat early, if at all, is the best. Also, temporary modifiers to Intelligence (e.g. from Night Person or Button's wig) do not affect the number of skill points gained when leveling up.

Value Skill Points / Level Skill Modifiers 1 11 Medicine +2, Repair +2, Science +2 2 12 Medicine +4, Repair +4, Science +4 3 13 Medicine +6, Repair +6, Science +6 4 14 Medicine +8, Repair +8, Science +8 5 15 Medicine +10, Repair +10, Science +10 6 16 Medicine +12, Repair +12, Science +12 7 17 Medicine +14, Repair +14, Science +14 8 18 Medicine +16, Repair +16, Science +16 9 19 Medicine +18, Repair +18, Science +18 10 20 Medicine +20, Repair +20, Science +20

Intelligence-based perks Edit

Ways to increase Intelligence Edit

Permanent

Temporary

Notes Edit

If the Lone Wanderer has an Intelligence below 4, Dean Dewey will call them a "special needs" child and escort them to a classroom.

Fallout: New Vegas Edit

Intelligence affects skill points differently from how it did in Fallout 3. The number of skill points gained each level is based on the formula 10 + (0.5 * IN) per level, including level 1, where IN is the Courier's Intelligence. If one gets a non-whole number of skill points per level (e.g. 10.5 for INT 1) it will be saved for the next even level up (see Skill Rate).

Intelligence-based perks Edit

Ways to increase Intelligence Edit

Permanent

Temporary

Ways to decrease Intelligence Edit

Intelligence in quests and exploration Edit

Level names and statistics Edit

Value Name Skill Points Skill Modifiers 1 Sub-brick 10.5 Medicine/Repair/Science +2 2 Vegetable 11 Medicine/Repair/Science +4 3 Cretin 11.5 Medicine/Repair/Science +6 4 Knucklehead 12 Medicine/Repair/Science +8 5 Knowledgeable 12.5 Medicine/Repair/Science +10 6 Gifted 13 Medicine/Repair/Science +12 7 Smartypants 13.5 Medicine/Repair/Science +14 8 Know-it-all 14 Medicine/Repair/Science +16 9 Genius 14.5 Medicine/Repair/Science +18 10 Omniscient 15 Medicine/Repair/Science +20

Fallout 4 Edit

“ Intelligence is the measure of your overall mental acuity, and affects the number of experience points earned. ”

Unlike in previous games, Intelligence has no effect on skills, since Fallout 4 lacks a separate set of scores for skills. Instead, a higher Intelligence—in addition to unlocking higher perks in the Intelligence category—will increase the amount of experience the player character earns from all sources.

The experience multiplier linearly increases from 103% (1 Intelligence) to 130% (10 Intelligence).[3] In other words, it increases XP gains by 3% per INT. It continues increasing if Intelligence is brought higher than 10. In math terms:

A higher Intelligence also reduces the number of words that are displayed while hacking a terminal; for example, at an Intelligence of 10 or higher with a Science bobblehead, it almost becomes trivial to brute-force most hacking sessions.

Ways to increase Intelligence Edit

Permanent

Temporary

Ways to decrease Intelligence Edit

Temporary

Intelligence in quests and exploration Edit

The Last Voyage of the U.S.S. Constitution has multiple intelligence checks that can speed up progression through the quest. Instead of replacing components, the player character can repair them instead. This strategy applies to the replacement of the wires (requiring an intelligence of 5) and radio antenna (with a score of 9 int).

When romancing Magnolia, she may compliment the player character's intelligence if the score is their highest SPECIAL attribute.

Ablutions, an Int of 7 or higher can be used to make the decontamination arches remove radiation.

Fallout 76 Edit

“ Intelligence is a measure of your overall mental acuity. It affects the Condition and Durability of crafted items, the amount of material gained from Scrapping, and the difficulty of Hacking. ”

Modifies: Item Condition and Durability, Ability to Hack Terminals, and Scrapping Return

Raising Intelligence decreases the number of words when hacking terminals.

At an Intelligence of 1 there is +0% crafted item condition bonus. Each additional level of Intelligence increases this condition bonus by +5%, except for the jump from Intelligence = 4 to Intelligence = 5, where the bonus increases by +10%. At the maximum Intelligence of 15, the crafted item condition bonus is +75%.

Effects on Scrapping Yield Edit

A higher level of Intelligence increases the return from scrapping items.

Intelligence Level Scrapping Yield 1 +0% 2 +20% 3 +33% 4 +40% 5 +46% 6 +50% 7 +53% 8 +56% 9 +58% 10 +60% 11 +61% 12 +62% 13 +64% 14 +65% 15 +66%

Intelligence-based perks Edit

Name Level Rank Description Armorer 15 1 You can now craft advanced armor mods. (Plans Required) 2 Crafting armor now costs fewer materials. 3 Your crafted armor has improved durability. Batteries Included 28 1 Energy weapon ammo weighs 30% less. 2 Energy weapon ammo weighs 60% less. 3 Energy weapon ammo weighs 90% less. Chemist 34 1 You get double the quantity when you craft chems! Contractor 18 1 Crafting workshop items now costs 25% fewer materials. 2 Crafting workshop items now costs 50% fewer materials. Demolition Expert 10 1 Your explosives do +20% damage 2 Your explosives do +30% damage 3 Your explosives do +40% damage 4 Your explosives do +50% damage 5 Your explosives do +60% damage Expert Hacker 22 1 Gain +1 hacking skill, and terminal lock-out time is reduced. First Aid 2 1 Stimpaks restore 15% more lost Health. 2 Stimpaks restore 30% more lost Health. 3 Stimpaks restore 45% more lost Health. Fix It Good 27 1 You can repair armor and Power Armor to 130% of normal maximum condition. 2 You can repair armor and Power Armor to 160% of normal maximum condition. 3 You can repair armor and Power Armor to 200% of normal maximum condition. Gunsmith 11 1 Guns break 10% slower and you can now craft Tier 1 guns (Plans required). 2 Guns break 20% slower and you can now craft Tier 2 guns (Plans required). 3 Guns break 30% slower and you can now craft Tier 3 guns (Plans required). 4 Guns break 40% slower and you can now craft Tier 4 guns (Plans required). 5 Guns break 50% slower and you can now craft Tier 5 guns (Plans required). Hacker 4 1 Gain +1 hacking skill, and terminal lock-out time is reduced. Licensed Plumber 5 1 Your pipe weapons break 20% more slowly and are cheaper to repair. 2 Your pipe weapons break 40% more slowly and are cheaper to repair. 3 Your pipe weapons break 60% more slowly and are cheaper to repair. Makeshift Warrior 9 1 Melee weapons break 10% slower and you can craft Tier 1 melee weapons. (Plans required) 2 Melee weapons break 20% slower and you can craft Tier 2 melee weapons. (Plans required) 3 Melee weapons break 30% slower and you can craft Tier 3 melee weapons. (Plans required) 4 Melee weapons break 40% slower and you can craft Tier 4 melee weapons. (Plans required) 5 Melee weapons break 50% slower and you can craft Tier 5 melee weapons. (Plans required) Master Hacker 38 1 Gain +1 hacking skill, and terminal lock-out time is reduced. Nerd Rage! 46 1 While below 20% Health, gain 20 Damage Resist, 10% damage and 15% AP regen. 2 While below 20% Health, gain 30 Damage Resist, 15% damage and 15% AP regen. 3 While below 20% Health, gain 40 Damage Resist, 20% damage and 15% AP regen. Pharmacist 6 1 RadAway removes 30% more radiation. 2 RadAway removes 60% more radiation. 3 RadAway removes twice as much radiation. Portable Power 49 1 All Power Armor parts and chassis weights are reduced by 25%. 2 All Power Armor parts and chassis weights are reduced by 50%. 3 All Power Armor parts and chassis weights are reduced by 75%. Power Smith 41 1 You can now craft advanced Power Armor mods. (Plans required) 2 Crafting Power Armor now cost fewer materials. 3 Your crafted Power Armor now has improved durability. Power Patcher 44 1 Your Power Armor breaks 20% more slowly and is cheaper to repair. 2 Your Power Armor breaks 40% more slowly and is cheaper to repair. 3 Your Power Armor breaks 60% more slowly and is cheaper to repair. Power User 50 1 Fusion Cores now last 30% longer. 2 Fusion Cores now last 60% longer. 3 Fusion Core duration is now doubled. Robotics Expert 48 1 Hack an enemy robot for a 25% chance to pacify it. 2 Hack an enemy robot for a 50% chance to pacify it. 3 Hack an enemy robot for a 75% chance to pacify it. Science 20 1 You can now craft energy guns. (Plans required) 2 You can craft Rank 1 energy gun mods. (Plans required Science Expert 31 1 You can craft Rank 2 energy gun mods. (Plans required) 2 Crafting energy guns now costs fewer materials. Science Master 43 1 You can craft Rank 3 energy gun mods. (Plans required) 2 Your crafted energy guns have improved durability. Scrapper 13 1 Obtain more components when you scrap weapons and armor. Stabilized 36 1 In Power Armor, heavy guns gain more accuracy and ignore 15% armor. 2 In Power Armor, heavy guns gain even more accuracy and ignore 30% armor. 3 In Power Armor, heavy guns gain excellent accuracy and ignore 45% armor. Weapon Artisan 40 1 You can repair any weapon to 130% of normal maximum condition. 2 You can repair any weapon to 160% of normal maximum condition. 3 You can repair any weapon to 200% of normal maximum condition. Wrecking Ball 29 1 You deal +40% damage to workshop objects. 2 You deal +80% damage to workshop objects. 3 You deal +120% damage to workshop objects.

Ways to increase Intelligence Edit

Note that all stat boosts in Fallout 76 are temporary.

Fallout Shelter Edit

Intelligence affects how efficient a dweller is while working in the medbay and science lab facilities. A dweller's Intelligence can be increased by assigning them to the classroom.

Fallout: The Board Game Edit

Unlike other games, Intelligence is not treated as a variable ranging from 1 to 10, but instead as a token that can be obtained at the start or when leveling up. A player character with the Intelligence token gets free rerolls during certain tests, as well as during fights if equipped with an Intelligence-based weapon. They can also recruit certain companions from the shop.

The Brotherhood Outcast player character always begins the game with Intelligence. Any player character wearing the lab coat gains one hit during an Intelligence test. During any Intelligence test, Mentats can be used to gain one free hit.

Intelligence-based perks Edit

Intelligence-based weapons Edit

Companions requiring Intelligence Edit

Low Intelligence characters Edit

Fallout 1 & 2 Edit

When the player character in Fallout and Fallout 2 has less than 4 Intelligence, the biggest change in gameplay is undoubtedly the dialogue. Upon reaching Shady Sands, the villagers take pity on the Vault Dweller, and Aradesh will simply shrug them off. The best they can speak is half-word sentences or gibberish. This makes for some humorous unique dialogue with the Overseer while attempting to return the Water chip.

Talius at the Boneyard will gift a low intelligence character with some mentats, and Darrel at the Lost Hills bunker gives them Rad-X. Additionally, during Dr. Lorri's surgeries, a Vault Dweller with low intelligence will fittingly receive a 50% discount on the intelligence boosting implant, lowering the price to 3000 caps.

The only companion available to stupid characters is Dogmeat.

The real downside, though, is the nigh impossibility to do about 90% of the side quests. No one will talk to a moron or even give them the time of day.

In Fallout 2, the Chosen One may meet Torr, the "town simpleton of Klamath," who would normally give them a quest to help protect his brahmin against "the evil bugmen." If the player character has low Intelligence, however, he will appear to be highly intelligent as if being stupid has a culture and language of its own. Two flat-headed people can have a complete, thought-provoking, and fully articulated conversation between them.

Another person one may have an "intelligent" conversation with is AHS-9, who becomes able to understand what the Chosen One tries to say after the alignment, and gives the quest to kill the Shi Emperor.

At the Den, low Intelligence characters still have the option to become a Slaver, and they will still receive a reward from Becky for killing Metzger. Killing Metzger is also the only way for dim-witted characters to free Vic, and he will still be available as a potential companion regardless of Intelligence.

For idiot players, the quest Something strange is happening at the farm northeast of Modoc. Investigate and report back to Jo becomes much easier. It will be presented to them while talking with Jo at Modoc. If they agree, all they have to do is travel to the Ghost Farm and talk to Vegeir. It is followed by Deliver Slag message to Jo in Modoc. One will be rewarded with the location of the Gecko town, which Jo mistook for a G.E.C.K. They will also receive an additional reward for completing the quest Farrel has a rodent problem in his garden. Remove the infestation, a cookie.

At Vault City, Skeev will try and enslave a stupid Chosen One. If one allows it, they will trigger a brief cinematic at the Servant Allocation Center with Barkus, before being automatically transported to Vault 8. If the auto-doc in the courtyard has been repaired, then the unmarked quest Auto-Doc Rodeo becomes available. This quest gives 2 unique perks which are determined by ones Luck stat.

For some reason, a stupid Chosen One will speak a unique stupid line after hitting Lumpy at Broken Hills with their Highwayman. This is interesting, as one will need to boost their intelligence via the use of Mentats in order to purchase and repair the highwayman first. The mutant sheriff of Broken Hills Marcus, may become provoked if insulted by a stupid character, which makes him turn hostile.

When talking to Algernon in the basement of New Reno Arms, the Chosen One can start a childhood "cop and robbers" type dialog in which they accidentally "shoot" and kill him.

"Take care of Officer Jack" for Mira is a unique quest available only to player characters with an intelligence stat of below 4 and a Strength stat of 7 or above. Also, the quest Retrieve Parts/Gain Access to Vault 15 is still available and one can still have a somewhat normal conversation with President Tandi at the NCR town.

Gruthar allows the Chosen One to enter Vault 13 freely, after realizing that they are clearly mentally-handicapped.

Low Intelligence characters are presented with an additional option when it comes to completing the Navarro quest You need to use a FOB to access the navigation computer. They can lie to the base commander's room guard after they are mistaken as clean up crew, allowing them entry to his room. Unique dialogue is also present while conversing with the sympathetic quatermaster.

A character with a low Intelligence is unable to gamble. When they observe a roulette table or a slot machine, the character will respond to it as a fun toy or an interactive character, respectively. Visiting a craps table will result in a dumb Chosen One commenting to the dealer that they "play craps in pants".

Fallout 3 Edit

In Fallout 3, there are conversation situations where characters with low Intelligence are granted other dialogue options, often relating to their low intellect. However, these options are few and far between, unlike the other Fallout games where one could play the entire game as a person without Intelligence. One instance is in Roosevelt Academy, where if the Lone Wanderer activates Dean Dewey while having an Intelligence below 4, he will deem them a "special needs" child, and escort them to a "proper room."

Fallout: New Vegas Edit

In addition to alternative Intelligence checks, low Intelligence changes some dialog options when speaking to vendors and non-player characters. For example, when speaking to Miguel at Miguel's Pawn Shop, the option to start trading is "Me buy things," and when speaking with Dr. Usanagi at the New Vegas medical clinic after she gives the Courier the initial description about implants they get the dialogue option "You sell plants, too?", which will cause her to re-explain the implants and suggest [the player character] take the implant to make them smarter. If taking her up on this deal, she will state that she thinks the Courier "could really benefit from it," and offer the implant at a discount.

In place of the gibberish of past games, however, the player character will simply not completely understand a conversation, confuse what someone is saying with something else entirely, or not understand what situation they are currently in. In the REPCONN headquarters, for example, a character with an IN of < 3 can bypass a robot that demands a password by saying "ICE CREAM!" Normally, a Luck of at least 7 would be needed to guess this.

Low-intelligence characters attempting to do the quest That Lucky Old Sun will be granted several unique and highly entertaining dialog options when conversing with Fantastic and Ignacio Rivas. An example is when informed about the hostilities between the Followers and the NCR, the Courier can ask, "Do Flowers and NCR bear play together?"

When first speaking to Ranger Milo he will inform the Courier that some "Legion snakes" are held up in Nelson, to which they can respond "Snakes are small. Why don't you just use a gun or whatever to shoot them." He will then call them a "special folk," and explain that they are not really snakes but "like snakes."

While helping Argyll in Nellis medical station while doing the quest Volare!, the Courier is given an option to "CHOP CHOP CHOP!" instead of giving him treatment. Ironically, the Courier actually saves the patient and Argyll comments on it, saying it was "dumb luck."

In Dead Money, the Courier will say "bye-bye, light person!" upon exiting dialogue with a hologram.

Notable quotes Edit

" Me Shoulder " – a ditzy Vault Dweller

" – a ditzy Vault Dweller " Glug glug glug glug glug glug! " – another Vault Dweller

" – another Vault Dweller " Damn! It was a failure. Well I didn't have much to work with. Sorry, you're just an idiot and will most likely remain an idiot. We can only do the operation once, sorry to say. " – Dr. Lorri after a failed operation

" – Dr. Lorri after a failed operation " I doubt even the FEV will help you. Why am I talking? It's unlikely you even understand... " – the Master

" – the Master " I don't care if you were dropped on your head as a kid. No guns in the city limits. " – NCR gate guard

" – NCR gate guard " *Snfff* You big meenie... *snff*... me go sumplace 'n have partee wiff clowns... *snfff*... and ice cream... and kake... and me no invit meen peuple like YOU! " – a childish Chosen One

" – a childish Chosen One " Most people have evil spirits. You? You have stupid spirits. Go see shaman, get hole in head... Big hole... Very big... Huge. " – Sulik Play sound

FO2 Sulik YouHaveStupidSpirits.ogg

" – Sulik " Hep Torr hep moo-moo. (Yes, of course I'll help you fend off the predation of your family's brahmin by these nefarious bugmen.) " – Chosen One to Torr

" – Chosen One to Torr " Me help shoulders make shinies warm. " – A Courier

" – A Courier " I IS SCIENTISTIC! " – another Courier with improper language skills

" – another Courier with improper language skills " What are Flowers of Pock-lips? " – a Courier misunderstanding

" – a Courier misunderstanding " Ooh Shiney Robot " – the Lone Wanderer

" – the Lone Wanderer " ICE CREAM! " – Courier with Intelligence 1 or 2 at REPCONN headquarters

" – Courier with Intelligence 1 or 2 at REPCONN headquarters " Me pet aminals " – the Courier

" – the Courier " I no hurt anyone " – the Courier

" – the Courier " Where I send shiny juice? " – the Courier

" – the Courier " Me take you job cause me is smarter " – the Courier

" – the Courier " You no ask. " – the Courier

" – the Courier " Very well. Let me put this into terms you'll understand. Brain: Smart. Heart: Stupid. Spine: Very stupid. You: Exceptionally stupid. " – the Courier's brain to a low intelligence Courier

" – the Courier's brain to a low intelligence Courier " Not 'ha ha' funny, you moron. Funny as in suspicious. " – Eddie to a dumb Courier.

" – Eddie to a dumb Courier. " Hmm. Wow. You sound like you really do need some help. Look, I can help you out, but you can't do anything stu- <ahem> I mean, you can't... help bad people, who want to hurt the locals in Freeside. If you do, I'll leave. Does that make sense? " – Arcade Gannon

" – Arcade Gannon "Pizza/Warm" – the Courier misinterpreting "Peace" and "War" respectively

Notes Edit

In Fallout: New Vegas, if the Courier's Intelligence stat is the most extreme (highest or lowest), Doc Mitchell will either compliment saying "maybe them bullets done your brain some good." (for highest) or apologize, stating he fixed up the Courier's head the best he could. (For lowest).

Gallery Edit

Video Edit

Fallout 4 S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Video Series - Intelligence