Combat

Horizon introduces many changes to combat, this article provides an overview.

Armor Classification

In the first patch for 1.9.0, this will only effect Raiders and Super Mutants. As long as they appear to be working perfectly it will be expanded to other factions.

Humanoids are now classified based on their armor types:

Unarmored + hat

That means standard clothing, and light headgear, and maybe some light armor pieces. Unarmored humanoids often have 0 defense (or very little defense) and may be slightly easier to kill now. Low calibers will usually damage unarmored targets EQUALLY as well as high calibers (i.e. low calibers are fairly efficient)

Moderate armor + open helmet

That means the helmet covers their head, but not fully enclosed. Moderate armored humanoids usually have moderate defenses and will be harder to kill now. Moderate armor protects better against low calibers better, but may still be viable.

Heavy armor + heavy helmet

That means the helmet is usually closed or at least well covered. Heavy armored humanoids (with heavy helmets) will be much more difficult. Heavy armor protects well against low calibers, so you're best using higher calibers or even API for armor penetration In many cases, armored humanoids also have worse accuracy, to account for their bulky armor Heavy armored enemies are usually more rare, so you won't come across them as often, but they WILL be a challenge when you do.

Critical damage

Critical damage should occur because of the following situations:

• Skill - Being skillful enough to aim at weak points even inside of vulnerable areas
• Surges - Energy weapons could potentially be overloaded to provide extra damage at times
• Strength - Using brute strength to occasionally add more power to your swing

Critical damage is now intended to only work well if you actually invest into it.

• The base critical hit damage for most ranged weapons is now +25% damage (down from +100%)
• The base critical hit damage for most melee weapons remains at +100%
• Critical damage bonuses are being removed from ballistic weapon mods, and replaced with other bonuses
• Critical damage bonuses will remain on energy weapon mods, with the idea that surges of energy could be released
• Critical damage is adjusted on perks
• Critical Hit chance is added to 3 different perks, and works with all attacks (even outside of VATS)

Sneak attacks

Sneak attack damage is much more balanced in Horizon. You can no longer stack absurd amounts of it, but it's also not necessary anymore either since Horizon's NPC health is no longer bloated out of control.

• Base ranged weapon sneak attack damage is +50% damage
• Base melee weapon sneak attack damage is +100% damage
• Most sneak attack bonus damage on mods and perks is reduced

Legendary Items

• MANY legendary properties have been rebalanced to fit Horizon
• Legendary Melee weapon rolls will now choose better types (it will no longer roll boards, canes, pool cues, etc.)
• Legendary weapons will now roll melee weapons less often
• Legendary humans now drop an "Empty Mutagenic Serum" item (makes it more believable as to why a human is mutating)
• Legendary synths and robots now drop a "Burnt Overdrive Unit" item
• Some Legendary creatures now drop unique junk items that contain rare components (Hunters get even more)