Special Attack ( Fallout : New Vegas ) Special Attacks are a series of special Melee Weapons and Unarmed moves in " " that can be used in either V . A . T . S . or in real time combat that each have unique characteristics . These attacks , which come with special animations , may allow for faster attacks , greater damage , special effects or some combination of these advantages . = Melee Weapons = V . A . T . S . Special Attacks . When the player has 50 Melee Weapons skill points , they have access to special melee attacks which consume a certain amount of action points for a variety of effects in V . A . T . S . Attacks most often couple a lower action point cost with lower damage , allowing for more attacks per V . A . T . S . round , but with a lower damage inflicted by each individual attack ; a higher action point cost with greater damage , allowing for fewer , more damaging attacks ; or a higher action point cost and a lower damage , but the addition of a special effect like the chance to knock down enemies . Note that , in general , the reduction of action points expended for some special attacks does not make up for the corresponding decrease in damage , compared to usage exclusively in V . A . T . S . The only exceptions are when this reduction allows for a player to make 3 or 2 attacks in one V . A . T . S . round instead of 2 or 1 . Special Attacks outside of V . A . T . S . . It is possible to execute special attacks outside of V . A . T . S . , without the required Melee skill of 50 to perform the moves , by initiating a " power attack " ( hold attack button ) while moving forward . Special melee attacks outside of V . A . T . S . , however , don ' t have any special properties to them , but are considered as a standard power attack . Available Special Attacks . Back Slash . Most one handed edged weapons have the " Back Slash " special attack , which , at the cost of less damage , delivers a quicker attack . This attack is a wide side swing with the weapon held in a reverse grip . Blood - Nap . Blood - Nap has the " Blood - nap " special attack , allowing a faster attack , but causing less damage . Similar to " Back Slash " , this attack is a wide side swing with the weapon held in a reverse grip . Dirt - Nap . The Bowie knife has the " Dirt - nap " special attack , which does less damage while delivering a quicker attack . Similar to " Back Slash " , this attack is a wide side swing with the weapon held in a reverse grip . Flambé Cut . A special attack used only by the Cosmic knife super - heated , " Flambé Cut " results in slightly lower base damage , but causes enemies to burst into flames for a short time . Similar to " Back Slash " , this attack is a wide side swing with the weapon held in a reverse grip . Fore ! Unique to the golf clubs 9 iron and Nephi ' s golf driver is the " Fore ! " special attack , a wide upper - cut swing similar to a golf swing ; it does more damage as well as a guarantee to knock enemies down . Grand Slam . Two handed club - like weapons use the " Grand Slam " special attack , a wide side - swing similar to a baseball swing , which does twice as much damage but is slower to employ . Inversal Scarifier . " Inversal Scarifier " is a special attack used solely by the Protonic inversal axe that deals double damage at a slower attack speed . Similar to " Mauler " , this attack uses a spin move side - swinging the weapon around in a full circle around its user before smashing into its target . Lights Out . Most one handed blunt weapons have " Lights Out " available as a special attack , which , while slower to use , does 25 % more damage . This move is identical to the one used by s with the attacker raising the weapon high above their head before swinging it down sharply onto the target . Long Cut . Rippers ( and Ripper ( GRA ) ) use the special attack " Long Cut " , an attack which uses substantially fewer actions points for more V . A . T . S . attacks per round , but only does half the damage per attack . The attacker swings their weapon in a wide arc from the side and holds the weapon against the target for an extra long attack . Mauler . Most two handed melee weapons have the " Mauler " special attack , a slower attack which causes knock - back but does much less damage . This attack uses a spin move side - swinging the weapon around in a full circle around its user before smashing into its target . Nuka - Break . The Nuka Breaker has the special attack " Nuka - Break " that does the same damage as a regular attack at the cost of more actions points . Similar to " Mauler " , this attack uses a spin move side - swinging the weapon around in a full circle around its user before smashing into its target . Pain Frequency . " Pain Frequency " is a special melee V . A . T . S . attack unique to the X - 2 antenna that does twice normal damage but uses more action points to employ . Similar to " Mauler " , this attack uses a spin move side - swinging the weapon around in a full circle around its user before smashing into its target . Proton Electrocutioner . The Proton axe uses the special attack " Proton Electrocutioner " that , while costing the user more actions points , deals out double damage . Similar to " Mauler " , this attack uses a spin move side - swinging the weapon around in a full circle around its user before smashing into its target . Scrap Heap . Some automatic melee weapons have a special attack , " Scrap Heap " , that delivers a forward thrust of the weapon which does much less damage per hit , but comes with a much lower action point cost . When used with the Thermic lance , the attacker first reverses grip on the weapon , then thrusts it into their target . Surgical Strike . A special attack only used by the Cosmic knife clean , " Surgical Strike " combines damage one and a half times normal with a greater cost in action points . Similar to " Back Slash " , this attack is a wide side swing with the weapon held in a reverse grip . Unlabored Flawlessness . A special attack for the Katana , " Unlabored Flawlessness " uses a reverse grip and a powerful side - swing similar to " Back Slash " , causing vastly more damage but using a greater number of action points . None . The only melee weapons in " Fallout : New Vegas " that have no special attack are the Broad machete and all . Special Attack Comparison . Comparison Table . = Unarmed = V . A . T . S . Special Attacks . Starting from 50 Unarmed skill points , players gain access to special unarmed V . A . T . S . attacks which all consume 20 action points for a variety of effects . Special Power Attacks outside of V . A . T . S . . There are four different special moves that can be learned from different non - player characters in the game :