First 40 skill points

During gameplay, you have the opportunity to allocate 21 SPECIAL skill points. This choice will influence the tactics you use. Below is a suggested allocation for the first 40 points (requirements are in parentheses):

SPECIAL stat breakdown

Strength 3
Perception 4 (add Bobblehead at start of game for a total of 5)
Endurance 1 (default)
Charisma 6
Intelligence 5 (add Bobblehead at start of game for a total of 6)
Dexterity 8 (add 1 with “You’re Special” at start of game for a total of 9)
Luck 1 (default)

Level 1-10

1. Beginning

2. (1) Action Boy / Action Girl (Dexterity 5, level 0) – Action Points regenerate 25% faster.

3. (1) Gun Nut (Intelligence 3, level 0) – Enables level 1 modifications.

4. (1) Marksman (Perception 2, level 0) – Increases firepower of a non-automatic rifle by 20%).

5. (1) Lone Wanderer (Charisma 3, level 0) – Increases carry weight by 50, reduces damage taken by 15% if Dogmeat is the only companion.

6. Awareness (Perception 3, level 0) – Shows the level of enemies and their defense.

7. (1) Ninja (Dexterity 7, level 0) – increases stealth attack damage from 2 X to 2.5 X and melee damage to 4 X.

8. (1) Advanced Locksmith (Perception 4, level 0) – allows you to pick locks with the (advanced) skill.

9. (2) Marksman (Perception 2, level 9) – increases the firepower of a non-automatic rifle by 40%, ignores 15% of enemy armor.

10. (1) Local Leader (Charisma 6, level 0) – power lines can be established connecting settlements.

Level 11-20

11. (1) Blitz (Dexterity 9, level 0) – Greatly increases melee range in VATS.

12. (2) Expert Locksmith (Perception 4, level 7) – Allows you to pick locks with expert locks.

13. (2) Gun Nut (Intelligence 3, level 13) – Unlocks Tier 2 weapon modifications.

14. (1) Armorer (Strength 3, level 0) – Unlocks Tier 1 armor modifications.

15. (2) Armorer (Strength 3, level 13) – Unlocks Tier 2 armor modifications.

16. (2) Ninja (Dexterity 7, level 16) – Sneak attack damage is 3X greater and melee damage is 5X (fivefold).

17 (2) Lone Wanderer (Charisma 3, level 17) – increases carry weight by 100, reduces damage taken by 30% if Dogmeat is the only companion.

18 (3) Master Locksmith (Perception 4, level 18) – allows you to pick master locks.

19 (2) Action Boy / Girl (Dexterity 5, level 18) – action points regenerate 50% faster.

20 (3) Marksman (Perception 2, level 18) – increases firepower with a non-automatic rifle by 60%, ignores 20% of enemy armor.

Level 21-30

21 (1) Mr. Sandman (Dexterity 4, level 0) – Instant kill a sleeping enemy, sneak weapons deal +15% damage.

22 (2) Mr. Sandman (Dexterity 4, level 17) – Sneak weapons deal +30% damage.

23 (1) Sneak (Dexterity 3, level 0) – You are 20% harder to detect while sneaking.

24 Save your points for (3) Gun Nut and (3) Armorer.

25 (3) Gun Nut (Intelligence 3, level 25) – Unlocks tier 3 weapon modifications.

25 (3) Armorer (Strength 3, level 25) – Unlocks class 3 armor modifications.

26 (2) Sneak (Dexterity 3, level 5) You are 30% harder to detect while sneaking / floor traps are not a threat.

27 (3) Sneak (Dexterity 3, level 12) – You are 40% harder to detect while sneaking / mines are no longer a threat.

28 (4) Sneak (Dexterity 3, level 23) – You are 50% harder to detect while sneaking / sprinting does not affect invisibility.

29 (2) Blitz (Dexterity 9, level 0) – Significantly increases melee range in VATS.

30 (3) Mr. Sandman (Dexterity 4, level 30) – Sneak weapons deal +50% damage.

Level 31-40

31 (4) Marksman (Perception 2, level 31) – increases firepower of non-automatic rifles by 80%, ignores 25% of enemy armor and can cripple.

32 (1) Demolition (Perception 5, level 0) – increases explosive damage by 25%, you can create explosives.

33 (3) Ninja (Dexterity 7, level 33) – increases sneak attack damage multiplier to 3.5X and melee damage by 10X.

34 (2) Demolition (Perception 5, level 10) – increases explosive damage by 50%, you can now choose the trajectory of throwing grenades, dynamite, etc.

35 (1) Big Leagues (Strength 2, level 0) – increases melee damage by 20%.

36 (2) Big Leagues (Strength 2, level 7) – Increases melee damage by 40%, chance to disarm an enemy.

37 Save skill points for (4) Gun Nut and (4) Armorer

38 (5) Sneak (Dexterity 3, level 38) – Enemies at range lose sight of you when stealth is activated.

39 (4) Armorer (Strength 3, level 39) – Enables class 4 armor modifications.

39 (4) Gun Nut (Intelligence 3, level 39) – Enables class 4 weapon modifications.

40 (3) Lone Wanderer (Charisma 3, level 40) – You deal an additional 25% damage when adventuring alone, except for Dogmeat.

Source: www.gamefaqs.com