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If you’re diving into the irradiated wastelands of Appalachia and want to run a deadly energy build, there’s no better way to start than by understanding which skills truly enhance energy weapons. These high-tech arms—like Plasma Rifles, Laser Guns, and the Gauss Rifle—aren’t just flashy alternatives to ballistics; they’re often some of the most powerful and stylish tools in Fallout 76. To truly get the most out of them, you need to combine them with the right Perk Cards and S.P.E.C.I.A.L. setup.

Here are 11 skills that pair best with energy weapons in Fallout 76—whether you’re clearing Daily Ops or taking down Scorchbeasts.

1. Rifleman / Expert Rifleman / Master Rifleman

These Strength-based Perks boost the damage of semi-automatic rifles, which includes laser rifles and other energy variants. If you’re going for semi-auto plasma or laser builds, these three are foundational.

2. Commando Line (Commando / Expert Commando / Master Commando)

Using automatic energy weapons like the Laser Gun or Plasma Gun? Then the Commando perks in Agility are a must. These boost automatic rifle damage and are essential for any full-auto energy setup.

3. Science Expert

Found under Intelligence, this perk is required for crafting and modifying most high-tier energy weapons. While not directly affecting damage, it’s crucial for customizing your guns to fit your build.

4. Demolition Expert

Surprisingly, many energy weapons—like Plasma Guns with explosive legendary effects—benefit from this Intelligence perk. It significantly boosts explosive damage, which can melt enemies when paired with certain legendary rolls.

5. Gunsmith

Energy weapons degrade fast, especially in intense combat. This Intelligence perk slows weapon condition loss and unlocks advanced mod crafting, making your expensive gear last longer and stay viable.

6. Batteries Included

This Intelligence perk reduces the weight of energy ammo like fusion cells, plasma cartridges, and more. If you're hoarding thousands of rounds (as most energy builds do), this perk is a huge quality-of-life upgrade.

7. Stabilized

For Power Armor users, Stabilized (in Intelligence) is a game-changer. It increases energy and ballistic weapon damage while reducing recoil. It’s one of the most impactful perks for energy rifle users in Power Armor.

8. Adrenaline

Adrenaline is an Agility perk that boosts your damage after each kill, stacking up to 60% extra. This is incredibly strong when combined with fast-firing energy weapons and mob-heavy areas like Daily Ops or Radiation Rumble.

9. Tank Killer

This Perception perk increases armor penetration and adds a chance to stagger. While its name suggests it's for ballistic rifles, it works with all rifles, including energy ones, making it essential for harder targets.

10. Concentrated Fire

A V.A.T.S.-focused Perception perk that allows you to target limbs and increases V.A.T.S. accuracy. If you’re building around crits or precise takedowns with your energy weapon, this perk is indispensable.

11. Bloody Mess

A classic under Luck, Bloody Mess gives a flat bonus to all damage and has some fun visual flair. It synergizes with all weapon types, including energy builds, and helps push your DPS over the edge.

Energy weapons in Fallout 76 are powerful, flexible, and can fit a variety of playstyles—from crit-heavy V.A.T.S. builds to Power Armor tanks with explosive plasma rifles. These 11 perks form the core of any successful energy-focused build, giving you both the firepower and utility to survive the toughest challenges.

And remember, powerful builds often rely on high-end gear. If you’re optimizing your setup, checking current Fallout 76 items for sale PC can be useful to compare weapon rolls and mod availability. Likewise, players looking to gear up quickly might want to buy Fallout 76 caps Xbox to grab what they need from other players.

With the right skill combo and a charged plasma rifle in hand, you'll be ready to vaporize your enemies in no time.