The Best Power Armor in Fallout 76

Only one of the 12 Power Armor sets in Fallout 76 is necessary to conquer Appalachia, leading to the question: Which Power Armor is truly the best?

In Fallout 76, each Power Armor has its own strengths and weaknesses. However, all variants provide increased resistance against Radiation and damage. This universal buff is the primary reason why many players can’t decide which PA to invest in. With most sets being capable of carrying you through end-game content, the decision can be overwhelming. To simplify the process, we’ve curated a selection of the top Fallout 76 Power Armors, helping you decide which ones belong in their inventory and why.

Here are the criteria used to select the best Power Armor sets:

• Affordability: Power Armor sets that are difficult to obtain rank lower or may not be included.
• Utility: Sets offering niche uses that enhance gameplay or aid progression rank higher.
• Stats: Power Armors with strong base stats or upgrade potential for defense, offense, or hybrid builds rank higher.
• Appeal: Aesthetic features and popular skins can elevate a set’s ranking.

Updated on April 5, 2025, by Mohsen Baqery: With the addition of Vulcan Power Armor to the game, this post was updated to better reflect the current state of PAs in Fallout 76. The Union Power Armor has also been added to the list, offering a vital option for hybrid builds balancing defense and offense. Additionally, a new section now explains the ranking criteria and how each Power Armor was selected for its category.

Fallout 76 Power Armor Tier List

In Fallout 76, the S-rank Power Armor includes Hellcat, T-65, Excavator, Union, X-01, and Vulcan. Ultracite, Raider, and Strangler Heart fall into the A-tier category. T-45, T-51b, and T-60 are ranked as B-tier due to their statistical weaknesses.

Power Armor Tiers Explained

• S+: These are the finest and strongest PAs in the entire Appalachia.
• S: This tier includes practical Power Armor sets that are easy to obtain.
• A: A-tier PAs come with interesting features but lack affordability.
• B: PAs that fall into this category are affordable, but they have unimpressive stats compared with others on the list.

Note that there’s a consensus regarding Power Armors in Fallout 76, suggesting that all options, regardless of tier, are excellent choices for new players. The tier list becomes relevant when players can access end-game content and freely choose between these Power Armor sets. For newcomers, all twelve Power Armors should be considered top-tier until they can afford the best models.

The Best Power Armor in Fallout 76 (Overall)

Hellcat Is Not the Strongest, But It’s Accessible

Considering its attainability and utility, Hellcat is the best Power Armor in Fallout 76. The reason for this is that Hellcat is obtainable through a quest line and has an extra 12% ballistic damage reduction on top of the base 42%.

Statistically, the most powerful Power Armor is the T-65. However, this sought-after set is a Bullion-exclusive Power Armor, meaning that it is not as accessible as Hellcat. Plus, paring Hellcat with the Electrical Absorption perk card boosts its resistance to a point where it compares to T-65 despite the former being much easier to craft and maintain.

The Best Fallout 76 Power Armor for PvP

T-65 Has the Highest Damage Resistance

In terms of Physical, Electrical, and Radiation resistance, T-65 is the best Power Armor in Fallout 76. The suit has the highest stats for Physical and Electrical defense among all PAs in Fallout 76, making it the ideal option for PvP battles. The only downside is that the T-65 is a Gold-Bullion-exclusive suit, and getting all of its components costs up to 6,900.

The Best Fallout 76 Power Armor for a Bloodied Build

Union Unites and Unleashes Your Power

Before the Skyline Valley update, the Union Power Armor was largely overlooked. Few players wanted to spend over 4,000 hard-earned Stamps on a set that offered little advantage over other S-tier options. However, with its price now reduced to just 720 Stamps for all six parts, the Union PA has reclaimed its place among the best Power Armor sets in Fallout 76. It’s undoubtedly an S-tier option today.

What sets this armor apart is its impressive base Carry Weight bonus (+75) and Poison Resistance (+150) when equipped with all six pieces. It’s also a top choice for Bloodied builds, thanks to its high Damage Resistance, which provides a significant boost to low-HP builds. This combination makes Union a formidable PA, blending exceptional survivability with deadly offensive power.

Previously, each piece of the Union Power Armor was sold by Giuseppe for 800 Stamps, making it a costly investment. However, an update slashed its price by 85%, turning it into an affordable option for every Appalachian adventurer.

The Best Power Armor for Fallout 76 Beginners

Raider Is One of the Easiest PAs to Get

As the only equippable Power Armor for players below Level 25, Raider Power Armor is the best for Fallout 76 beginners. The protective suit can be found as a complete set at around Level 15 and is easy to repair, an essential upside early in the game.

With a max resistance of 341, Raider is the second-weakest Power Armor in Fallout 76 (the weakest is Excavator). However, it comes with a base 42% damage reduction, which helps survivors level up much faster.

The Best Fallout 76 Power Armor for Mining Minerals

Thanks to its default Carry Weight booster, the Excavator or EXC-17 is the best Power Armor for farming in Fallout 76. The full suit increases CW by 100, and the arms quadruple excavated vein minerals, making it the best choice for harvesting resources.

Resistance-wise, the Excavator is the weakest Power Armor. However, when paired with the right perk cards and modifiers, it buffs damage defense almost the same as other Power Armor sets.

Players should craft the Calibrated Shocks for the Excavator’s legs early in the game. It adds an extra 50 Carry Weight on top of the default 100.

The Best-Looking Power Armor in Fallout 76

T-51b Has the Most Vibrant Skins

With over 30 unique paint jobs, the T-51b is the best Power Armor for customization. It’s also a popular mid-game choice because it has the second-highest base damage resistance among all Power Armor sets. The only downside to the T-51b is that it’s pretty weak against Radiation, which is why Hellcat and T-65 outperform it.

Other Noteworthy Power Armor Sets in Fallout 76 (Honorary Mentions)

Since all the Power Armor in Fallout 76 have the same base damage reduction stat, the pluses are subtle, and so each could technically be classed as the best power armor for a specific purpose or reason. Strangler Heart, for example, is the best Power Armor for Radiation resistance, Ultracite is an ideal choice among tradable Power Armor sets, and X-01 is arguably the most stylish.

In conclusion, while some of the Power Armor sets in Fallout 76 come with stronger stats than others, it’s ultimately the players’ needs that determine which one is the best and is thus worthy of their investment.

Special Mention: Best Non-Power Armor in Fallout 76

Overall, the best non-power-armor protective suit in Fallout 76 is the Secret Service Armor. Although a bit expensive, this armor set provides decent protection against Radiation and significantly reduces damage taken. However, for those running a stealth-based build, the Chinese Stealth Armor is a better option.

If you’re a beginner, you will benefit from wearing the Combat and Leather Armor sets, as they are both sturdy and easy to obtain. But if you’ve advanced in the story and are close to end-game content, you will also find the Brotherhood Recon Armor quite reliable, thanks to its top-notch stats.