Just a few levels makes a huge difference.

[stcaFylnO]

No wonder characters get OP at max level; performance must be scaling with level? Sure, I didn't get Better Criticals until Level 16, but still....

All below is based upon Very Hard difficulty, so double the performance if on Normal.

At 15-18, I'd resort to the AMR sometimes, for the 110 base damage. Around level 20, using the AMR with Match loads started doing less damage than the Paciencia with HP ammo.

I just tested again at level 22. The Paciencia's crits did 792 damage to a Lonesome Road deathclaw, on VH+HC. This is incredible, considering I had trouble killing Vault 34 Security Officers not too long ago. Meanwhile the AMR with Match, only did 635.

Vault 34 Security Officer vs PC level 15-18
Level 10, HP 400, DT 0: Depends upon buffs & crits; it was 2-4 Paciencia, or 1-2 AMR.

Deathclaw (LR) vs PC level 20-22
Level 20, HP 500, DT 15: This is the current spawn. Overkill by 292 points, no buffs.
Level 45, HP 700, DT 15: These along with Rawr (900, 15), don't look so bad.

[stcaFylnO]

VH+HC Update: Paciencia (HP) vs Rawr

At level 24, it took two shots to kill Rawr with buffs. He survived the first shot with 65 HP. So, current max damage vs. Rawr which has 45 levels, 900 HP, and 15 DT is 835. I probably should have waited one or two more PC levels.

At this point the only other one-shot challenge is:
Legendary Bloatfly (2,000 HP & 20 DT) in OWB

One-shot won't be possible:
X-42 Giant Robo-Scorpion: There are better ways to deal with this enemy, due to VATS bugs; enemy scales. Other than using Robotics Expert to deactivate, or Science skill on terminals, I have not found a better weapon than either of the LAERs.

[Cardan]

can you one shot the legendary bloatfly? I forget how much HP it has but it's one of the tougher enemies in the game. maybe even stronger than the giant robo scorpion I know the bloatfly always gave me more trouble but like I said I forget the numbers so im not certain.

[stcaFylnO]

Originally posted by Cardan:

can you one shot the legendary bloatfly? I forget how much HP it has but it's one of the tougher enemies in the game. maybe even stronger than the giant robo scorpion I know the bloatfly always gave me more trouble but like I said I forget the numbers so im not certain.

It might be possible, depending upon character level. If not, two shots should be well within reason by the time I get there.

Legendary Bloatfly (2,000 HP & 20 DT) in OWB
Normal Difficulty: One shot is easily achieved with overkill.
Very Hard: Not sure yet.

X-42 Giant Robo-Scorpion: Varies from 1500 HP & 15 DT to 3500 HP & 30 DT.
Normal: Was not possible at max scaling. Even when deactivated it required 3 shots.
Very Hard: No way, not unless mods or additonal buffs like Lily could be added.

[Cardan]

Originally posted by stcaFylnO:

Originally posted by Cardan:

can you one shot the legendary bloatfly? I forget how much HP it has but it's one of the tougher enemies in the game. maybe even stronger than the giant robo scorpion I know the bloatfly always gave me more trouble but like I said I forget the numbers so im not certain.

It might be possible, depending upon character level. If not, two shots should be well within reason by the time I get there.

I just googled it and the legendary bloatfly has 2000 HP and deals 300 damage per attack. I'm somewhat doubtful of a one shot but a two shot definitely seems possible. I would say the damage output makes it the hardest enemy in the game, maybe not necessarily the toughest, but certainly the most difficult, at least in my opinion

[stcaFylnO]

I've never let the bloatfly attack, but I bet it would kill my current PC on Very Hard.

I'd have to dig through my screencaptures, but I think my highest Paciencia hit to date was 2,800+ on Normal. However, this character has quite a ways to go before that sort of damage.

add- Yup, I only have 385 HP currently and don't usually wear armor. I'd have to buff with the 80% DR (functional cap).

[stcaFylnO]

Okay, found the old pictures. If the Paciencia can't one-shot the Legendary Bloatfly on Very Hard, I may have to swap to poisoned spears instead and take advantage of Piercing Strike.

This character hasn't done challenges or taken species perks either, so if she can't do it, I may edit her once at level 50 and add Entomologist or whatever might help, then import a new copy of the monsters to test.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2457214995

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2457162689