Yes, you can increase intelligence in Fallout: New Vegas

As an avid Fallout: New Vegas fan with over 800 hours played, I‘ve extensively tested every method of raising my character‘s intelligence. With each playthrough I‘ve experimented with different builds, balancing strong combat prowess with speech, science, and other intelligence-reliant skills that unlock rewarding quest outcomes.

In this definitive guide, I‘ll cover all techniques for boosting intelligence, analyzing the pros and cons of each approach. You‘ll also get data-backed recommendations from my first-hand experience and expert sources on optimizing your S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats.

Should You Increase Intelligence in Fallout: New Vegas?

But first – is raising your intelligence actually worth it in New Vegas? Absolutely! According to long-time Fallout experts on Reddit, higher intelligence grants more skill points each time you level up:

With Fallout: New Vegas having a level cap of 30, a high intelligence playthrough can net you 60+ extra skill points – allowing you to create a much stronger wanderer by endgame!

These extra points let you flesh out additional combat skills like energy weapons or make speech checks to unlock new story outcomes. Intelligence also boosts the effectiveness of crafting skills like science and lockpicking.

In my experience, I always aim for 8-10 intelligence when planning my Courier builds. The benefits outweigh any tradeoffs. Now let‘s dive into each intelligence boosting method:

Method 1: Intense Training Perk

Whenever you level up, the Intense Training perk allows investing that level‘s skill point directly into any S.P.E.C.I.A.L. attribute instead.

Using Intense Training on intelligence can raise it 1 point per level. With the level 30 cap, you could gain up to +10 intelligence if investing every level!

However, it is quite costly to miss out on those skill points each time. I‘d recommend only using Intense Training twice on intelligence – any more is overkill. Those levels are better spent boosting skills directly.

Method 2: Intelligence Implant

Once your character reaches New Vegas, you can purchase an Intelligence Implant for 4,000 caps at the New Vegas Medical Clinic. This implant permanently boosts intelligence by +1, unless you already have 10 intelligence.

The implant process takes 3 in-game hours to complete. Unlike Intense Training, this leaves your gained skill points untouched!

One downside – you‘ll need a high enough endurance level to get all implants. Use this in combination with Intense Training for hitting intelligence 10.

Method 3: Mentats

A handy temporary boost comes from the various Mentats items found throughout the Mojave wasteland:

• Mentats – +2 Intelligence for 3 minutes
• Berry Mentats – +2 Intelligence, also highlights living creatures for 3 minutes
• Party Time Mentats – +5 Intelligence but lowers Perception by -3, lasts for 2 minutes

I use Mentats when I‘m just short of passing an important speech check related to quests or an NPC dialogue tree. The quick intelligence fix unlocks new options before returning to normal.

However, Mentats only provide a short term boost – they aren‘t a replacement for permanently upgrading intelligence through other methods on this list. Their crafting recipe also requires high science skill.

Method 4: Logan‘s Loophole Trait

When initially creating your character, selecting the Logan‘s Loophole trait will raise all your S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats by +1!

The only downside is that you cannot use chems, as this trait prevents addictions. Not an optimal choice if you were already planning on a high drug usage character.

But if avoiding chems regardless, the free special boost makes Logan‘s Loophole an easy intelligence pick-up early on.

Method 5: equip Intelligence-boosting Headgear

Certain hats and helmets found in the Mojave wasteland directly boost your intelligence stat:

• Vault 34 Security Helmet – +1 Intelligence
• Gannon Family Tesla Helmet – +2 Intelligence
• Dr. Klein‘s Glasses – +2 Intelligence

The downside is you must wear the apparel constantly to benefit from the intelligence gain. I tend to pick one headgear and stick with it rather than lugging multiple sets around.

The Gannon Family Tesla Helmet from Arcade‘s companion quest provides both strong DT and intelligence in one. But the others are good early options available at lower levels.

Method 6: Bobbleheads and Skill Books

While the standard Fallout series Bobbleheads don‘t directly raise S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats, New Vegas does include skill book items.

Upon reading a skill book, you permanently gain 3 points (!) in that skill. With high intelligence allowing more skill points on level up, collecting books complement an intelligent build.

Wasteland Scavenger mods like this one also introduce new Vault-tec bobblehead items into New Vegas. Picking one up will raise a related S.P.E.C.I.A.L stat by 1 – with an Intelligence bobblehead available!

So installing mods can unlock more intelligence boosting options within New Vegas for the ultimate brainy wanderer.

In Closing

I hope this guide has given you all the tools needed to maximize your courier‘s intelligence and get those extra dialog options in New Vegas.

The key is combining multiple boosting sources – the implant, intense training, Logan‘s Loophole and mentats create an 13-15 intelligence powerhouse! This build variety is why Fallout: New Vegas remains one of the best RPGs out there.

Let me know if this helped you spec out your new intelligent wastelander! What‘s been your favorite high-intelligence playthrough? Sound off in the comments!