In Fallout: New Vegas you gain a perk every even level (starting at level 2). Perks are separated by their level prerequisites, with every even level opening up more perks. Prerequisites for perks may also include S.P.E.C.I.A.L attributes or skill points. (For example, the Entomologist perk requires that you be level 4, have Intelligence 4, and Survival 45.) Since there are fewer perks you can pick in New Vegas, you should probably be more conscious of what Perks you pick.

Black Widow/Certified Bachelor/Cherchez La Femme/Lady Killer¶

In combat you do +10% damage against male/female opponents. Outside of combat, you’ll sometimes have access to unique dialogue options when dealing with specific genders.

You won’t use these perks much in dialogue, as they just doesn’t have all that many uses. And what few they has, you can get the same results from other methods. Still, the +10% damage to a specific gender is… well, something, which is more than can be said for most of the other level 2 perks. Note that only “human” enemies have a gender. This does not include Feral Ghouls, Animals, Insects, Robots, or Abominations. Since most of the affected enemies are either NCR Troopers, Caesar’s Legion Soldiers, Raiders, or Gang Members, it should be noted that there is a clear plurality of male-gender enemies that will be affected by these perks.

Friend of the Night¶

You are a true friend of the night. Your eyes adapt quickly to low- light conditions indoors and when darkness falls across the wasteland.

First, you can use Cateye to duplicate this effect. Second, you have a Pip-Boy light. Third, it never gets too dark to really need night vision, three, you have allies that can illuminate enemies for you. Useless perk.

Heave, Ho!¶

Quite an arm you’ve got there. All thrown weapons fly farther and faster for you.

Or you could just use a Grenade Rifle or Missile Launcher. Seriously.

Hunter¶

In combat, you do +75% Critical Damage against animals and mutated animals.

Note that this category doesn’t include Ghouls, Insects, or Abominations. But if Bighorners and Geckos are kicking your ass… well, quit playing. Once you get decent guns you’ll pop off Golden Geckos before they get anywhere near you, +75% critical damage or not.

In Shining Armor¶

Beams reflect off the mirror-like finish of your gleaming armor! You gain an additional +5 Damage Threshold against energy weapons while wearing any metal armor, +2 while wearing reflective eyewear.

The concession perk for heavy armor characters, this perk is pretty good too-although about half of all attacks in the game are melee attacks, and of ranged attacks, half of those (generously) are from Energy Weapons. Also, the +5 Damage Threshold just isn’t as good as the 5% Critical Hit Chance from Light Touch. Still, if you’re married to heavy armor… well… eh…

Intense Training¶

With the Intense Training perk, you can put a single point into any of your S.P.E.C.I.A.L attributes.

Beyond equipment and Implants, this is the only way to raise an attribute, and it is arguably a worthy choice for a level 2 perk. If you don’t care for a gender-perk, get this instead.

Junk Rounds¶

Survival is the mother of invention! Craft ammo at the Reloading Bench using alternate materials (Scrap Metal and Tin Cans).

This perk allows you to replace the components of ammo you’re trying to create (save the ammo casings) with Scrap Metal and Tin Cans. So, say you take .308 ammo, which normally requires .308 cases, lead, rifle powder, and large rifle primer, with this perk you’d instead need .308 cases, scrap metal, and tin cans. There are a few problems, however. First, you can just buy or find ammo. No need to create any. Second, it takes five Tin Cans perk round you want to make… are you going to bother harvesting that many Tin Cans, and lugging them around to a Reloading Bench? And if so… why?

Light Touch¶

Heavy armor just isn’t your thing, so you’ve learned to customize light armor for maximum benefit. While wearing light armor you gain a +5 Critical Hit Chance and your enemies suffer a -25% Critical Hit Chance.

This perk gives you a +5% Critical Hit Chance and imposes a -25% Critical Hit Chance on your foes while wearing Light Armor. Sure, when you hit level 50 the reduction of critical hits will be eclipsed by whatever level 50 perk you pick… but the +5% Critical Hit Chance is still as good as Finesse. Of course, the issue here isn’t whether a +5% Critical Hit Chance is a good thing (it should be pretty uncontroversial); the real issue is whether Light Armor - with the aid of this perk - is worth anything. An easy candidate for best armor in the game is the medium armor Elite Riot Gear, which has a max Damage Threshold of 22 and +5% Critical Hit Chance (among other bonuses which aren’t interesting). The best Light Armor challenge to this is probably Joshua Graham’s Armor, which has a max Damage Threshold of 15 and a +3% Critical Hit Chance. So the trade-off with this perk is +3% Critical Hit Chance, faster movement, cheaper repairs (especially with Jury Rigging, almost everything can be used to repair Joshua Graham’s Armor) and this armor weighs 1/4th as much as Elite Riot Gear. Elite Riot Gear, on the other hand, has 7 points of Damage Threshold over Joshua Graham’s Armor. It’s pretty close; you’ll never have enough Damage Threshold to block everything, and as long as you get up near 30 you can ensure that weaker foes and high DPS weapons won’t affect you too much… but it’s really hard to argue with the look of Elite Riot Armor.

Old World Gourmet¶

Thanks to unclean living you’ve learned the secrets of the lounge lizards! +25% Addiction Resistance. +50% Health bonus from Snack Foods. Scotch, Vodka, and Wine now give you Health in addition to their normal effects.

Save/load and you won’t get addicted, and there are better ways to restore health than by resorting to snack food. This perk sucks.

Rapid Reload¶

Rapid Reload makes all of your weapon reloads 25% faster than normal.

This… well, it’s mostly junk, but weapon reloads can be a problem. The faster you reload, the faster you’re firing again, and it might be a consideration if your Agility is a flat five. If you have a higher Agility, like, say you were actually following this guide’s build advice, you’ll reload fast enough.

Retention¶

Rapid Reload makes all of your weapon reloads 25% faster than normal.

This… well, it’s mostly junk, but weapon reloads can be a problem. The faster you reload, the faster you’re firing again, and it might be a consideration if your Agility is a flat five. If you have a higher Agility, like, say you were actually following this guide’s build advice, you’ll reload fast enough.

Swift Learner¶

With the Retention perk, the bonuses granted by skill magazines last three times as long.

Skill magazines are best used in order to pick a lock, hack a computer, or succeed at a skill check, which can typically be done just before interacting with the object or character that requires the check. There is absolutely no reason to require your skill magazines to last three times longer. They weigh nothing, and they are pretty cheap to buy, too… and, with the expansions installed, you’ll get a score of 100 in every skill, making magazines obsolete in the long run. You don’t need this perk.