Strength Strength is one of the seven primary statistic s in the SPECIAL system . " Fallout " , " Fallout 2 " , and " Fallout Tactics " . Modifies : Hit Points , Melee Damage , and Carry Weight Strength is primarily relevant to two in - game mechanics : Carry Weight and satisfying the minimum Strength requirements on weapons . Each point of it grants 25 lbs . of Carry Weight ( with the Small Frame trait , it is 15 instead ) . Not meeting a weapon ' s minimum Strength requirement penalizes aim accuracy with that weapon by - 20 % for each missing point in Strength . " Fallout 3 " . Modifies : Melee Weapons skill , Carry Weight , Melee damage bonus Strength slightly increases melee damage and carrying capacity . Melee damage is at 1 damage for every 2 Strength ( + 5 damage at 10 ) and carrying capacity is an added 10 lbs for every point ( + 100 lbs at 10 strength ) . Strength does not affect unarmed damage , even though Iron Fist requires 4 Strength . Unlike previous " Fallout " games , none of the weapons have a minimum Strength requirement , and a character with 1 Strength can use a minigun without penalties . High Strength can sometimes be used to intimidate others when in a conversation . Note that while at first glance the damage bonus seems minor at best , the damage bonus is applied " after " a weapon ' s base damage has been adjusted by the Melee Weapons skill and weapon condition . So , the damage bonus can be a very significant increase for much of the game . Moreover , even with maximum Melee Weapons skill and weapon condition , high Strength can still amount to a 10 % or better increase in the weapon ' s damage ( see specific weapon pages for specifics ) . This is basically equivalent to , or better than , a free perk . Moreover , multipliers on damage ( from perks like Entomologist ) also affect the bonus damage , in case there was any confusion . Note : Does " not " affect unarmed damage in any way ( see ) . " Fallout : New Vegas " . Modifies : Melee Weapons skill , Melee Damage , Carry Weight and which weapons the Courier is strong enough to use . Not meeting the Strength requirement of a weapon will decrease accuracy ( for ranged weapons ) , or slower swings ( for melee / unarmed weapons ) . The Strength requirement of weapons can be lowered by taking the Weapon Handling perk . Level names and statistics . Similar to " Fallout 3 " , while at first glance the damage bonus seems minor at best , the damage bonus is applied " after " a weapon ' s base damage has been adjusted by the Melee Weapons skill and weapon condition . So , the damage bonus can be a very significant increase for much of the game . In addition , with the changed use of Damage Threshold instead of Damage Resistance as an armor mechanic , the bonus damage from Strength can significantly increase the DPS of low - damage , high - attack - rate weapons against unarmored targets ( such as the Katana ) . " Fallout 4 " . Modifies : Melee Damage , Carry Weight The mechanics of Strength differ slightly from previous titles . In terms of game mechanics , it only directly affects Melee / Unarmed Damage and Carry Weight . In otherwords , each point of strength gives you an extra + 10 carry capacity and 10 % melee ( and unarmed ) damage . Strength , like other SPECIAL stats in Fallout 4 , also has a set of perks that fall under it .