What Keeps Intelligence at 7 in Fallout 4?
Fallout 4, a beloved post-apocalyptic RPG, allows players to customize their character's skills and attributes, including Intelligence, which impacts dialogue options, hacking, and crafting. However, some players encounter a curious issue where their Intelligence remains stuck at 7, even after investing perk points. This can be a frustrating limitation, hindering the player's ability to fully explore the game's depth.
Understanding Intelligence in Fallout 4
Intelligence is one of the seven Special attributes in Fallout 4, influencing various gameplay elements. It determines the number of perk points you gain at each level, and unlocks perks related to hacking, crafting, and dialogue options.
Why is My Intelligence Stuck at 7?
The primary reason for Intelligence being stuck at 7 is due to a perk called "Gifted." This perk, obtained at Intelligence 7, automatically grants you an extra perk point per level.
How does Gifted affect Intelligence?
While Gifted seems beneficial, it effectively caps your Intelligence at 7. Every time you level up, you gain an extra perk point, but it doesn't increase your Intelligence score. The perk's description clearly states it grants a "bonus perk point," not an increase to the attribute itself.
How to Fix Intelligence being Stuck at 7:
- Don't take Gifted: The simplest solution is to avoid taking Gifted. This allows you to continue increasing your Intelligence and unlocking more powerful perks.
- Reset Perks: If you've already taken Gifted, you can reset your perk points at a level-up, or by using the "Bobblehead" item. However, this will cost you some caps or require finding a specific item.
- Play on a lower difficulty: The impact of Intelligence being stuck at 7 is less noticeable on lower difficulties. However, it still restricts your ability to utilize advanced hacking or crafting options.
What to do if Intelligence is Still Stuck at 7:
- Verify Game Files: If you've tried the above steps and your Intelligence remains stuck, consider verifying the game files through Steam or your game launcher.
- Consult Forums: There are dedicated Fallout 4 forums where you can ask for help or search for solutions related to the Intelligence bug.
- Reinstall the Game: As a last resort, consider reinstalling Fallout 4. This will reset the game and potentially fix any corrupted files that might be causing the bug.
Is there a way to increase Intelligence beyond 7?
Unfortunately, Intelligence is hard-capped at 10 in Fallout 4. The Gifted perk may prevent you from reaching 10, but you can still benefit from investing in other attributes that are not affected by Gifted.
Other factors affecting Intelligence:
- Intelligence Bobbleheads: Finding and using these bobbleheads can temporarily increase your Intelligence, granting you a temporary bonus.
- Cheats: Using console commands in the PC version can manually change your Intelligence to any value you want, but this can potentially break the game or affect save files.
Conclusion
The Intelligence bug in Fallout 4, where the attribute gets stuck at 7 due to the Gifted perk, can be frustrating. However, understanding the cause and implementing the right solutions can prevent further issues. By avoiding Gifted, resetting your perks, or verifying game files, you can ensure your Intelligence rises to the level you desire. Remember to always prioritize your play style and make decisions that best suit your desired gameplay experience in the wasteland.