Is "iron fist" useless?

[DrakenKin]

It only boosts unarmed, and all melee builds use a melee weapon. Useless or is there a way to make it work somehow?

[DA REEL NANCY BOI]

Iron Fist is for unarmed weapons, which exist and include the Knuckles, Power Fist, and Deathclaw Gauntlet.

[Duke Flapjack]

I was given my deathclaw gauntlet directly from a deathclaw. It's badass. :D

[DrakenKin]

Ah I see, so there are actually three melee class weapons and 3 perks for them.

[Jester]

Also power armor punches are unarmed too.

[Urizen]

what about rifle bash with power armor?

[DA REEL NANCY BOI]

Originally posted by RustNick29:

what about rifle bash with power armor?

Power armor or no, weapon bashes are unique. I *think* that damage is calculated relative to your strength and, oddly enough, the relative weapon perks - at least, it's odd when considering ranged weapons.

[Person321]

there's a rifle bash perk tree separate. STR factors into without any other perks just like unarmed/melee

[DrakenKin]

Do we know how much damage each point of strength adds to melee damage?

[Foxador]

Originally posted by Draken:

Do we know how much damage each point of strength adds to melee damage?

10% per point

As per your first question. Iron fist is for unarmed where you don't use a weapon or you use knuckles, power fist, death claw fist or boxing gloves (those are all the unarmed weapons).

Melee is referring to using a weapon like switchblade, chinese sword, or ripper (there are many more).

When it comes down to it unarmed has limited weapons and they cannot be used in power armor. While in power armor the only unarmed weapon you can use is your fist which means you'll be highly gimped if you go unarmed only.

Melee on the other hand can be used in power armor.

Do keep in mind you can also mod your armor to increase your damage with both melee and unarmed

[DrakenKin]

Wow 10% per strength, that's a lot. I was expecting it to be 5% or so.

Should have started with more strength in my current build then. I wish the game would display these stats.

[DrakenKin]

I don't see melee bonus mods on my leather armor, which armor has the option?

[DA REEL NANCY BOI]

Originally posted by Draken:

I don't see melee bonus mods on my leather armor, which armor has the option?

I don't know that such mods exist, IIRC. I'm pretty sure there is a mod (on Leather, for reference) that improes your unarmed.

[DrakenKin]

Found it,

It is a mod availbe only on the arms armor pieces. The first mod only improves unarmed, and the second (needs armorer 4) improves both unarmed and melee damage.