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Fallout 4-Database-Perks-Nuclear Physicist
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Nuclear Physicist
Fallout 4 Perk

Nuclear Physicist

Fusion Cores can be ejected from Power Armor like devastating grenades and Fusion Cores last twice as long.

14
26
I
Intelligence

Nuclear Physicist is an Intelligence perk in Fallout 4 with 3 ranks, requiring Intelligence 9. Its higher ranks unlock at levels 14 and 26.

It affects 220 weapons and 76 armor pieces. Its ranks unlock 12 mod recipes at the workbenches.

You've learned to split the atom... and command it. Radiation weapons do 50% more damage and Fusion Cores last an extra 25% longer.

Nuclear Physicist Builds

Level 51
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The Power Armor Commando
PA Commando build
Level 50
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Harbor Master
Fallout 4 build
Level 51
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a.
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Wasteland Operator
Quartermaster build
Level 50
s.
p.
e.
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a.
l.
Metal General Redux
Minutemen build
Level 19
s.
p.
e.
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Stark
Fallout 4 build
Level 145
s.
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Settlement lord
Pipe Weapons build
Level 50
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l.
Nikolai Kinski
Heavy Gunner build
Level 50
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Brotherhood Of Steel
Heavy PA build
Level 57
s.
p.
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Roleplay Complete
Fallout 4 build
Show all 21
builds

Ranks

You've learned to split the atom... and command it. Radiation weapons do 50% more damage and Fusion Cores last an extra 25% longer.
Level 14
Radiation weapons now do double damage and Fusion Cores last an extra 50% longer.
Level 26
Fusion Cores can be ejected from Power Armor like devastating grenades and Fusion Cores last twice as long.

Effects

This is an approximation of the in-game effects. Some effects may be missing, incorrect, or poorly formatted, but they can often reveal hidden mechanics.
Fusion Core Drain
 
-0.333
Effect Strength
 
x1.5
 when * keywords includes Gamma Gun Keyword
Fusion Core Drain
 
-0.5
Effect Strength
 
x2
 when * keywords includes Gamma Gun Keyword
Fusion Core Drain
 
-0.5
Effect Strength
 
x2
 when * keywords includes Gamma Gun Keyword

Affects

Pistols (24)
10mm Pistol
10mm Round
18
Acid Soaker
Acid Concentrate
5
Alien Atomizer
Alien Blaster Round
54
Alien Blaster
Alien Blaster Round
50
Classic 10mm Pistol
10mm Round
28
Compensated 12.7mm Sub-Machine Gun
12.7mm Round
19
Flare Gun
Flare
10
Gamma Gun
Gamma Round
10
Institute Pistol
Fusion Cell
16
Institute Plasma Pistol
Plasma Cartridge
22
22
Ion Gun
Fusion Core
0
1
Laser Pistol
Fusion Cell
24
Nail Gun
Nails
13
Paddle Ball
Paddle Ball String
1
Pipe Bolt-Action Pistol
.308 Round
34
Pipe Pistol
.38 Round
13
Pipe Revolver Pistol
.45 Round
24
Plasma Defender
Plasma Cartridge
28
28
Plasma Pistol
Plasma Cartridge
24
24
Silver Sidearm
10mm Round
25
Snubnosed .44 Pistol
.44 Round
48
T60 Pistol
.44 Round
38
Thirst Zapper
Western Revolver
.44 Round
60
Unique Pistols (22)
AX90 Fury
Plasma Cartridge
24
24
Carlsbad
12.7mm Round
19
Clementine
12.7mm Round
19
Deliverer
10mm Round
25
Early Retirement
.44 Round
50
Eddie's Peace
.44 Round
48
Experiment 18-A
Plasma Cartridge
24
24
Gen-4 10mm Pistol
10mm Round
18
Hub's Alien Blaster
Alien Blaster Round
50
IPX-02 Code Azure
Plasma Cartridge
28
28
Kellogg's Pistol
.44 Round
48
Lorenzo's Artifact
Gamma Round
10
Old Faithful
Fusion Cell
24
Plasma Offender
Plasma Cartridge
28
28
Protectron's Gaze
Fusion Cell
38
Prototype UP77 "Limitless Potential"
Fusion Cell
24
Salvaged Assaultron Head
Fusion Cell
35
Survivor's Special
Fusion Cell
26
The Gainer
.44 Round
48
Ultimatum
10mm Round
28
Wastelander's Friend
10mm Round
18
Zeta Gun
Gamma Round
10
Rifles (30)
Alien Disintegrator
Alien Blaster Round
60
Anti-Materiel Rifle
.50 Caliber
50
CR-74L
.45 Round
27
Chinese Grenade Launcher Rifle
40mm Frag Grenade
200
Cosmic Cannon
Fusion Cell
17
Gauss Rifle
2mm Electromagnetic Cartridge
110
Gauss Rifle Prototype
2mm Electromagnetic Cartridge
100
Institute Plasma Rifle
Plasma Cartridge
28
28
Laser RCW
Electron Charge Pack
12
Manwell Rifle
.308 Round
90
Ported Solar Cannon Rifle
Fusion Cell
35
35
Railway Rifle
Railway Spike
100
Saw Blade Launcher
Saw Blade
78
Short Assault Rifle
5.56 Round
30
Short Combat Rifle
.45 Round
33
Short Combat Shotgun
Shotgun Shell
50
Short Double-Barrel Shotgun
Shotgun Shell
45
Handmade Rifle
7.62 Round
32
Short Handmade Shotgun
Shotgun Shell
45
Short Hunting Rifle
.308 Round
37
Short Laser Musket
Fusion Cell
30
Short Lever Action Rifle
.45-70 Caliber
35
Short Manwell Carbine
.308 Round
69
Short Pipe Grenade Launcher Rifle
40mm Frag Grenade
190
Short Radium Rifle
.45 Round
27
Short Syringer Rifle
Short Triple-Barrel Handmade Shotgun
Shotgun Shell
50
Submachine Gun
.45 Round
10
Thunderbolt
Fusion Cell
43
Varmint Rifle
5.56 Round
27
Unique Rifles (29)
A3-21 Prototype
Plasma Cartridge
28
28
10
Boom Pipe
40mm Frag Grenade
190
December's Child
.45 Round
33
Flakker
40mm Frag Grenade
200
Good Intentions
Fusion Cell
18
Judge
Shotgun Shell
47
Justice
Shotgun Shell
50
Kiloton Radium Rifle
.45 Round
27
Le Fusil Terribles
Shotgun Shell
63
Lucky Eddy
.45-70 Caliber
37
Old Reliable
.45-70 Caliber
70
Outcast
Fusion Cell
38
38
Overkill
Electron Charge Pack
18
Overseer's Guardian
.45 Round
66
Radical Conversion
.45 Round
27
Reba
.308 Round
37
Reba II
.308 Round
37
Righteous Authority
Fusion Cell
26
Sentinel's Plasmacaster
Plasma Cartridge
24
24
Silver Submachine Gun
.45 Round
10
Solar Cannon Mk. II
Fusion Cell
30
30
Splattercannon
7.62 Round
32
Spray n' Pray
.45 Round
10
Tesla Rifle
Fusion Cell
32
The Last Minute
2mm Electromagnetic Cartridge
110
The Problem Solver
7.62 Round
21
Tinker Tom Special
.308 Round
37
Virgil's Rifle
Fusion Cell
18
Wazer Wifle
Fusion Cell
50
Heavy Guns (14)
BFG 9000
Argent Plasma Cell
50
250
Baseball Launcher
Modified Baseball
47
Broadsider
Cannonball
108
Cryolator
Cryo Cell
20
Fat Man
Mini Nuke
468
Flamer
Flamer Fuel
9
Gatling Laser
Fusion Core
14
Harpoon Gun
Harpoon
150
Heavy Incinerator
Flamer Fuel
5
40
Institute Plasma Blaster
Fusion Core
16
30
Junk Jet
40
Minigun
5mm Round
8
Missile Launcher
Missile
150
Tesla Cannon
Fusion Cell
60
Unique Heavy Guns (16)
Admiral's Friend
Harpoon
150
Aeternus
Fusion Core
14
Ashmaker
5mm Round
8
Bean Launcher
Piggy Bank Launcher Bomb
468
Big Boy
Mini Nuke
936
Death From Above
Missile
150
Defender's Harpoon Gun
Harpoon
150
Fahrenheit Flamer
Flamer Fuel
9
Fahrenheit's Flaming Minigun
5mm Round
8
Final Judgment
Fusion Core
14
IPX-03 Phoenix
Fusion Core
16
30
Nuka-Nuke Launcher
Nuka-Nuke
468
Partystarter
Missile
150
Sergeant Ash
Flamer Fuel
9
Skipper's Last Stand
Harpoon
150
The Striker
Modified Bowling Ball
100
One-Handed Melee (18)
Alien Shock Baton
11
8
Assaultron Blade
17
Board
14
Chinese Officer Sword
16
Combat Knife
9
Commie Whacker
10
Disciples Blade
25
Lead Pipe
11
Machete
14
Pipe Wrench
13
Revolutionary Sword
16
Ripper
4
Rolling Pin
11
Security Baton
11
Shishkebab
13
13
Switchblade
8
Tire Iron
12
Walking Cane
10
Unique One-Handed Melee (13)
Big Jim
13
General Chao's Revenge
16
Kremvh's Tooth
28
Oathblood
25
Pickman's Blade
16
Assassin's Pint-Sized Slasher Knife
12
Reckoning
4
Shem Drowne Sword
16
5
Steel Sword
25
Sword of Wonders
28
5
The Harvester
4
Throatslicer
25
Zao's sword
16
Two-Handed Melee (8)
2076 World Series Baseball Bat
22
Baseball Bat
16
Grognak's Axe
25
Mr. Handy Buzz Blade
5
Pole Hook
30
Pool Cue
13
Sledgehammer
23
Super Sledge
40
Unique Two-Handed Melee (7)
Atom's Judgement
40
100
Bloodletter
30
Cito's Shiny Slugger
47
Fencebuster
16
Rockville Slugger
21
Swatter
18
The Fish Catcher
30
Unarmed (5)
Boxing Glove
9
Deathclaw Gauntlet
25
Knuckles
10
Meat Hook
20
Power Fist
20
Unique Unarmed (1)
Butcher's Hook
20
Mines (11)
Bear Trap
30
Bleeding Bear Trap
30
Bottlecap Mine
301
Caltrops
5
Cryo Mine
101
Fragmentation Mine
101
Nuke Mine
301
100
Piggy Bank Mine
352
Plasma Mine
150
150
Poisoned Caltrops
7
2
Pulse Mine
150
Grenades (22)
Artillery Smoke Grenade
1
Baseball Grenade
101
Cryogenic Grenade
101
Flashbang Grenade
3
Fragmentation Grenade
151
Fragmentation Grenade MIRV
151
Fury Grenade
1
HalluciGen Gas Grenade
1
Homing Beacon
1
Institute Beacon
1
Lucky Rabbit's Foot
1
Molotov Cocktail
51
Nuka Grenade
301
100
Nuka Quantum Grenade
301
Persuasion Grenade
1
Piggy Bank Grenade
352
Plasma Grenade
150
150
Predator Grenade
1
Pulse Grenade
150
Smart Fragmentation Grenade
151
Synth Relay Grenade
1
Vertibird Signal Grenade
1
Power Armor (76)
CC-00 Helmet
Power Helmet
180
120
150
CC-00 Left Arm
Power Left Arm
130
85
150
CC-00 Left Leg
Power Left Leg
130
85
150
CC-00 Right Arm
Power Right Arm
130
85
150
CC-00 Right Leg
Power Right Leg
130
85
150
De-Capitalist Helmet
Power Helmet
180
120
150
Exemplar's T-60c Torso
Power Torso
280
185
300
Hellfire Helmet
Power Helmet
120
100
150
Hellfire Left Arm
Power Left Arm
70
70
150
Hellfire Left Leg
Power Left Leg
70
70
150
Hellfire Right Arm
Power Right Arm
70
70
150
Hellfire Right Leg
Power Right Leg
70
70
150
Hellfire Torso
Power Torso
220
170
300
Honor
Power Left Leg
130
85
150
Horse Helmet
Power Helmet
120
80
150
Horse Left Arm
Power Left Arm
50
50
150
Horse Left Leg
Power Left Leg
50
50
150
Horse Right Arm
Power Right Arm
50
50
150
Horse Right Leg
Power Right Leg
50
50
150
Horse Torso
Power Torso
220
150
300
Jet Pack CC-00 Torso
Power Torso
280
185
300
Overboss Power Chest Piece
Power Torso
320
320
300
Overboss Power Helmet
Power Helmet
220
220
150
Overboss Power Left Arm
Power Left Arm
170
170
150
Overboss Power Left Leg
Power Left Leg
170
170
150
Overboss Power Right Arm
Power Right Arm
170
170
150
Overboss Power Right Leg
Power Right Leg
170
170
150
Piezonucleic Power Armor Chest
Power Torso
200
130
300
Raider Power Helmet
Power Helmet
100
50
150
Raider Power Left Arm
Power Left Arm
50
25
150
Raider Power Left Leg
Power Left Leg
50
25
150
Raider Power Right Arm
Power Right Arm
50
25
150
Raider Power Right Leg
Power Right Leg
50
25
150
Raider Power Torso
Power Torso
200
100
300
T-45 Helmet
Power Helmet
100
60
150
T-45 Left Arm
Power Left Arm
50
30
150
T-45 Left Leg
Power Left Leg
50
30
150
T-45 Right Arm
Power Right Arm
50
30
150
T-45 Right Leg
Power Right Leg
50
30
150
T-45 Torso
Power Torso
200
130
300
T-51 Helmet
Power Helmet
140
90
150
T-51 Left Arm
Power Left Arm
90
60
150
T-51 Left Leg
Power Left Leg
90
60
150
T-51 Right Arm
Power Right Arm
90
60
150
T-51 Right Leg
Power Right Leg
90
60
150
T-51 Torso
Power Torso
240
160
300
T-60 Helmet
Power Helmet
180
120
150
T-60 Left Arm
Power Left Arm
130
85
150
T-60 Left Leg
Power Left Leg
130
85
150
T-60 Right Arm
Power Right Arm
130
85
150
T-60 Right Leg
Power Right Leg
130
85
150
T-60 Tesla Left Arm
Power Left Arm
130
85
150
T-60 Tesla Right Arm
Power Right Arm
130
85
150
T-60 Tesla Torso
Power Torso
280
185
300
T-60 Torso
Power Torso
280
185
300
Tessa's Fist
Power Right Arm
50
25
150
Vengeance
Power Right Leg
130
85
150
Visionary's T-60c Helm
Power Helmet
180
120
150
X-01 Helmet
Power Helmet
220
140
150
X-01 Left Arm
Power Left Arm
170
110
150
X-01 Left Leg
Power Left Leg
170
110
150
X-01 Right Arm
Power Right Arm
170
110
150
X-01 Right Leg
Power Right Leg
170
110
150
X-01 Torso
Power Torso
320
210
300
X-01 Helmet
Power Helmet
220
140
150
X-01 Left Arm
Power Left Arm
170
110
150
X-01 Left Leg
Power Left Leg
170
110
150
X-01 Right Arm
Power Right Arm
170
110
150
X-01 Right Leg
Power Right Leg
170
110
150
X-01 Torso
Power Torso
320
210
300
X-02 Helmet
Power Helmet
220
140
150
X-02 Left Arm
Power Left Arm
170
110
150
X-02 Left Leg
Power Left Leg
170
110
150
X-02 Right Arm
Power Right Arm
170
110
150
X-02 Right Leg
Power Right Leg
170
110
150
X-02 Torso
Power Clothing
320
210
300

Unlocks

Mods (12)
Charged Charging Barrel
Barrel
Charging Barrel
Barrel
Charging Barrel
Barrel
Converted Plasma Cartridge
Mag
Experimental Charging Barrel
Barrel
Experimental Irradiated Charging Barrel
Barrel
Irradiated Charging Barrel
Barrel
Quad Focuser
Muzzle
Quad Focuser
Muzzle
Supercharged Plasma Injector
Receiver
Supercharged Plasma Injector
Receiver
Tri Focuser
Muzzle