S.P.E.C.I.A.L, which stands for strength, perception, endurance, charisma, intelligence, agility, and luck are statistics that will determine what kind and how many perks players will earn when as you progress in the game. Here is why the points matter and how players can earn them.

Strength is important in melee damage and in carrying weight; perception is for storage and lockpicks; endurance increases your resistance against hit points and energy when sprinting; charisma increases your success in bartering; intelligence increases your XP and your ability in crafting and hacking terminals; agility is for sneaking and action points; and luck gives you random bonuses as the game progresses as well as plays a vital role in your recharge rate.

One important thing that Fallout players need to remember is to never begin their stats at 10 because bobbleheads, collectibles that enhance their S.P.E.C.I.A.L skills, that appear every time their statistics increase by one point. One of the most important bobbleheads players need to collect when starting off is the perception bobblehead.

After perception, two of the very helpful statistics that players need to build on are intelligence and luck. On the other hand, the endurance stat will keep players survive until the end. However, once the stats reach 40 or 50, players need to bring it down to 10 again because it will add up retroactively.

If there are good stats, there are also useless stats, which are strength and charisma as players can do well without them in the game. However, charisma can be overpowered to make player invulnerable in Power Armor and allow them to purchase infinite wealth.

At the beginning of the game, players can find a Special Book which increases their special stat by one point. The book can be found under Shaun's Crib in the old house.