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On PC, hold V to enter V.A.T.S., select an enemy and body part, then press E to execute your queued attacks. Your available Action Points (AP) limit how many attacks you can queue. Right-click exits V.A.T.S. and cancels queued attacks.
How to use V.A.T.S. step by step
- Equip the weapon you want to use and face the combat area.
- Hold V to scan for visible targets.
- Select a target. Releasing V after selecting zooms in, allowing you to choose a body part.
- Select a body part and queue attacks. If you have AP left, you can switch to another available target.
- Check the hit percentage and AP display before adding attacks. A displayed hit percentage is a chance for each shot, not a guarantee.
- Press E to accept and execute the queued sequence. Right-click exits V.A.T.S. and cancels queued attacks.
These keyboard and mouse controls are for the PC version, as documented in the Fallout 3 PC Manual.
What the V.A.T.S. display means
- Hit percentage: For ranged weapons, this is the chance that each shot will hit the selected body part.
- AP bar: Attacks consume AP. The flashing portion shows the cost of an attack, and your remaining AP limits how many attacks you can queue. The manual says total AP is based on Agility; smaller weapons generally cost fewer AP per shot.
- Limb condition: The limb bar shows the selected body part’s condition. When it is depleted, that part is crippled.
- Enemy health and projected damage: The display shows remaining health and the damage an attack would do if it succeeds. Projected damage can differ by body part.
Which body part should you target?
Choose according to the displayed hit chance and the effect you want; there is no universally best body part. Crippling a leg reduces an enemy’s movement speed and lunging attacks, while crippling an arm affects accuracy. The manual also describes effects for the head, chest, and certain creature-specific body parts.
Melee and unarmed attacks require close proximity. Melee attacks and grenades are full-body attacks in V.A.T.S., so you cannot select a specific body part for them.
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How to choose between attack plans
Before confirming, weigh four things: the displayed chance to hit, the AP cost and AP remaining, projected damage, and the tactical effect of crippling the chosen limb. The right choice depends on the encounter; the manual does not identify one best plan for every fight.
Source and platform scope
The controls and mechanics above come from the Fallout 3 PC Manual. Bethesda Support’s manual information page links to the digital PC manual and says Bethesda cannot provide physical copies of the manual. The button instructions here are for PC; they do not establish console controls.
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