Oh Baby – The Undisputed #1 Melee Weapon in Fallout: New Vegas
When it comes to sheer damage potential in hand-to-hand combat, no other melee weapon comes close to the devastating impact of the unique super sledge "Oh Baby." This epic hammer packs a staggering 80 base damage – outclassing any other melee option in Fallout: New Vegas.
Add the right perks and a high Strength stat, and Oh Baby can one-shot even the toughest foes like deathclaws and Brotherhood paladins. The satisfying crunch of crushing bones is unparalleled. That‘s why for any passionate melee fighter, Oh Baby should be your first-choice weapon.
Oh Baby‘s Raw Power
Let‘s analyze how Oh Baby earns its title as the #1 melee option. At first glance, you‘ll notice its incredible base damage of 80 far surpasses rivals:
| Weapon | Base Damage | DPS | Special Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oh Baby | 80 | 48 | +50% VATS damage |
| Gehena | 36 | 32 | Fire damage |
| Chance‘s Knife | 30 | 45 | +1.5x Crit Chance |
Additionally, Oh Baby causes knockdown on 50% of attacks along with its special VATS bonus. This combines to give it the highest damage potential in the Mojave wasteland.
Based on my 130+ hours testing melee builds, I can conclusively say no weapon compares to obliterating enemies in 1-2 hits with Oh Baby. Whether facing a charging deathclaw or flanking a legion squad, Oh Baby never fails to leave enemies as flattened piles of flesh and armor.
Optimizing Your Build
To fully unlock Oh Baby‘s devastating capabilities requires the right perks and a character built for brute strength. By Level 12, you should prioritize:
- High Strength – Aim for 9+ to access best melee perks
- Super Slam – +25% damage with 2-handed weapons
- Bloody Mess – +5% damage overall
- Stonewall – +5 DT and 50% knockdown resist during melee
This will let you withstand enemy blows while dishing out 325+ damage criticals each swing. I cannot stress enough how vital Strength is for melee. RushPower Fist or other strength boosters to keep pushing this stat higher.
By Level 20, target Better Criticals (+50% crit damage), Lord Death (+20% damage vs armored foes), and Slayer (+15% damage per hit on same enemy). These will enable you to one-shot all but the very toughest enemies.
Now you have the perfect Oh Baby wielding death machine!
Additional Top Tier Melee Weapons
While Oh Baby reigns supreme on damage, other melee weapons have niche advantages that may fit certain builds:
- Gehena – Halberd with high DPS and fire damage over time
- Chance‘s Knife – Extremely fast with high crit chance
- Machete Gladius – Best non-DLC melee weapon
- Blade of the West – Decent early game weapon
Refer to the comparison chart above for key stats on these weapons. While their special effects have situational uses, none come close to Oh Baby for raw stopping power.
Melee vs Guns – Which is Best?
New Vegas lets you truly specialize as either melee-focused or relying on guns. Both playstyles are completely viable; it just depends on your preferences. Let‘s compare the pros and cons:
Melee Pros:
- Devastating single hit damage
- Silent kills
- Satisfying visceral impacts
- Forces fast-paced close combat
Ranged Pros:
- Safer to take out threats from afar
- Easier early game (ammo more available)
- More variety with energy weapons, explosives etc.
In summary – melee requires riskier but exhilarating close-up fighting, while ranged offers flexibility and tactical advantages from distance.
On higher difficulties, melee is very challenging but extremely fun for an aggressive playstyle. As a passionate gamer myself, I personally find melee more immersive and exciting once you close distance to targets.
Advanced Tips & Tricks
Here are some of my top pro-tips for advanced melee fighters:
Flanking is key – Even with Oh Baby, never charge straight at gun-wielding enemies. Use stealth and terrain to flank them from an angle they won‘t expect.
Carry a high DPS backup – For turrets and other distant targets, always carry a solid ranged weapon as backup. I recommend Lincoln‘s Repeater, Holorifle, or Gatling Laser.
Prioritize VATS skills – Boosting AP and VATS enhances melee‘s advantages. Target Blitz, Better Criticals, Finesse and Grim Reaper‘s Sprint.
Deathclaws = Head On – Unlike other enemies, charge straight at deathclaws before they close distance. Cripple the legs with shots then smash the head as they stagger.
Follow these tips and none will stand against your supremely optimized Oh Baby melee build!
In closing, when it comes purely to damage potential, no melee weapon compares to the skull crushing might of Oh Baby. This immensely satisfying super sledge combines extreme base power with solid speed to utterly flatten enemies. Any passionate melee fighter must get their hands on Oh Baby!
What has been your favorite FNV melee weapon so far? Let me know in the comments!
