Hellcat Power Armor: Stats, Mods & Comparison Guide

Hellcat Power Armor is a free set obtainable through the Steel Reign questline in Fallout 76, featuring unique 12% ballistic damage reduction despite not having the highest overall resistance stats.

How to Obtain Hellcat Power Armor

The Hellcat Power Armor is one of the newest additions to Fallout 76, introduced with the Steel Reign update. Unlike other high-tier power armors that require extensive grinding or rare materials, the Hellcat set is accessible through quest completion.

Completing the Steel Dawn Questline

Before you can get your hands on the Hellcat Power Armor, you need to complete the Steel Dawn questline, which serves as a prerequisite for Steel Reign. Here’s how to start:

1. You must be at least level 20 to begin the Brotherhood of Steel (BOS) questline.
2. Open your Pip-Boy and navigate to the Radio tab.
3. Listen to the broadcast that initiates the quest “Welcome to the Neighborhood.”
4. This quest will direct you to Fort Atlas, where you’ll begin your journey with the Brotherhood of Steel.
5. Complete the entire Steel Dawn storyline to unlock access to the Steel Reign questline.

Finishing the Steel Reign Questline

Once you’ve completed Steel Dawn, you can proceed with the Steel Reign questline:

1. Start the Steel Reign questline by visiting Fort Atlas and beginning “A Knight’s Penance” quest.
2. Progress through the storyline until you reach the final mission called “The Catalyst.”
3. Complete “The Catalyst” mission, after which you’ll be rewarded with the Hellcat Power Armor.
4. The crafting plans for each piece of the Hellcat Power Armor will automatically unlock upon completion of this quest.

It’s important to note that the Hellcat Power Armor is non-tradable, and there is no way to purchase its plans from vendors. The only method to obtain this power armor is by completing the Steel Reign questline.

Hellcat Power Armor Stats and Specifications

The Hellcat Power Armor stands out among other power armor sets due to its unique damage reduction properties and decent resistance stats. Let’s break down what makes this power armor special.

Base Stats and Resistances

The Hellcat Power Armor provides the following resistance values at level 50:

When comparing these stats to other power armor sets in Fallout 76, the Hellcat’s damage resistance is decent but not the highest. The T-65 Power Armor, for instance, has significantly higher resistance values across all categories with a total of 565 damage resistance, 470 energy resistance, and 470 radiation resistance.

Special Effects and Inherent Abilities

What truly sets the Hellcat Power Armor apart is its unique set bonus:

• 12% Ballistic Damage Reduction: The Hellcat provides a 2% reduction in ballistic damage per piece (excluding the helmet), for a total of 10% reduction. However, in practice, the helmet also contributes to this effect, bringing the total to 12% reduction.

Like all power armor sets in Fallout 76, the Hellcat also provides:

• 42% Damage Reduction: Standard for all power armor, with 7% per equipped piece.
• 90% Radiation Damage Reduction: Also standard for all power armor, with 15% per piece.
• Immunity to fall damage
• Immunity to limb damage
• Increased Strength: Boosts your Strength stat to a maximum of 11 if it’s below that value.

Crafting Requirements

If you want to craft the Hellcat Power Armor after obtaining the plans, you’ll need the following materials:

Hellcat Power Armor Modifications

Like other power armor sets in Fallout 76, the Hellcat can be modified to enhance its capabilities. However, obtaining these mods requires a significant investment.

How to Get Hellcat Mods

Hellcat modification plans are available exclusively from Regs at Vault 79. You’ll need to purchase them using Gold Bullion, which is the end-game currency in Fallout 76. Here’s what you should know:

1. The mod plans are costly, ranging from 200 to 3,000 Gold Bullion each.
2. Buying all available mods could cost up to 32,000 Gold Bullion in total.
3. Some mods may be crafted by default, such as the motion-assist servos modification, though the plan is still available for purchase.

Recommended Mods for Hellcat Power Armor

Not all mods are worth the investment. Here are the most valuable modifications for the Hellcat Power Armor:

1. Calibrated Shocks: Increases your carry weight capacity, allowing you to transport more items.
2. Emergency Protocols: Boosts your movement speed and damage resistance when your health is low.
3. Targeting HUD: Highlights living enemies, similar to the effect provided by VATS.

Headlamp Limitations

It’s worth noting that the Hellcat Power Armor helmet comes with a red tactical headlamp by default. Unlike other power armor sets, the Hellcat does not support other headlamp options. The red headlamp gives the Hellcat a distinctive appearance with its glowing red visor.

Hellcat vs. T-65: Which Power Armor is Better?

When deciding between the Hellcat and T-65 Power Armor sets, several factors come into play. Let’s compare these two end-game options to help you make an informed choice.

Stat Comparison

As the table shows, the T-65 has significantly higher resistance values across all categories. However, the Hellcat’s special effect provides an additional layer of protection against ballistic damage.

Practical Performance

In practical combat situations, the difference between these two armor sets might not be as significant as the numbers suggest:

1. Against Ballistic Damage: Despite the T-65’s higher damage resistance, the Hellcat’s 12% ballistic damage reduction makes it approximately 10% more effective against ballistic weapons. This is particularly valuable against enemies with armor-piercing capabilities, such as Mr. Gutsy robots or enemies in Daily Ops with the armor-piercing mutation.
2. Against Energy Damage: The T-65 clearly outperforms the Hellcat when it comes to energy resistance. If you frequently face enemies with energy weapons, the T-65 might be the better choice.
3. Accessibility: The Hellcat is obtained for free through quest completion, while the T-65 requires a substantial investment of Gold Bullion (approximately 6,900 in total).

Situational Advantages

The Hellcat Power Armor shines in specific scenarios:

1. Decryption Daily Ops: In this mode, enemies have armor-piercing rounds, making percentage-based damage reduction more valuable than raw damage resistance.
2. Against Armor-Piercing Enemies: The percentage-based damage reduction cannot be bypassed by armor-piercing effects, unlike damage resistance.
3. Cost-Effectiveness: If you pair the Hellcat with perks like Electrical Absorption, you can boost its effectiveness to a point where it compares favorably to the T-65, despite being much easier to obtain.

Legendary Hellcat Power Armor

With the legendary crafting system in Fallout 76, you can create legendary versions of your Hellcat Power Armor to further enhance its capabilities.

Obtaining Legendary Hellcat Pieces

There are three primary methods to obtain legendary Hellcat Power Armor pieces:

1. Crafting: You can craft legendary Hellcat pieces using legendary modules and cores at a power armor station.
2. Quest Rewards: Some quests may reward you with legendary Hellcat pieces after you’ve unlocked the base plans.
3. The Purveyor: You can purchase legendary power armor pieces from the Purveyor at The Rusty Pick, with a chance of receiving Hellcat pieces if you’ve unlocked the plans.

It’s important to note that legendary Hellcat parts will not drop from legendary enemies, even if you know the crafting plans. This is a known limitation specific to the Hellcat Power Armor.

Known Bugs and Limitations

When using the Hellcat Power Armor, be aware of these known issues:

1. The helmet will not display the 2% ballistic damage reduction effect when inspected, though the effect still applies when equipped.
2. Only the red tactical headlamp is available for the Hellcat Power Armor helmet, and it’s equipped by default. All other headlamps are omitted from the game.
3. Some weapons are bugged and lack the “WeaponTypeBallistic” keyword, meaning their damage will not be reduced by the Hellcat’s special effect.

Hellcat Power Armor Paints and Customization

The Hellcat Power Armor can be customized with various paint schemes to change its appearance. Here are some of the available paint options:

1. Devilish Hellcat Paint
2. Golden Hellcat Power Armor Paint
3. Jackpot Hellcat Power Armor Paint
4. Nuka-Cola Classic Hellcat Power Armor Paint
5. Pioneer Scouts Hellcat Paint
6. Presidential Hellcat Power Armor Paint
7. Sheepsquatch Hellcat Power Armor Paint
8. Union Hellcat Power Armor Paint
9. Vault-Tec Hellcat Power Armor Paint

These paints are typically available through the Atomic Shop, seasonal events, or as rewards from the Scoreboard.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hellcat Power Armor

Is Hellcat Power Armor Worth Getting?

Yes, the Hellcat Power Armor is worth obtaining for several reasons:

1. It’s free and relatively easy to acquire through quest completion.
2. It provides a unique 12% ballistic damage reduction that’s particularly effective against armor-piercing enemies.
3. While not the strongest in terms of raw stats, its special effect makes it competitive with higher-tier power armors like the T-65 in certain situations.

Can I Trade Hellcat Power Armor?

No, the Hellcat Power Armor is non-tradable. This means you cannot sell or give the armor to other players. Each player must complete the Steel Reign questline to obtain their own set.

How Does Hellcat Compare to Other Power Armors?

The Hellcat sits in a unique position among Fallout 76’s power armors:

1. It has better overall protection than mid-tier options like the T-60 and Ultracite.
2. It offers less raw resistance than the T-65 but compensates with its ballistic damage reduction.
3. It’s more accessible than Gold Bullion power armors but requires quest completion.
4. Its effectiveness against ballistic damage makes it particularly useful in PvE scenarios where enemies use ballistic weapons.

Can I Get Legendary Effects on Hellcat Power Armor?

Yes, you can apply legendary effects to Hellcat Power Armor through the legendary crafting system. This allows you to further customize and enhance your armor’s capabilities based on your playstyle.

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Samantha Yates

Samantha Yates is a creative writer and journalist with expertise in content creation and editing. She holds an MA in Creative Writing and brings professional experience from Lionbridge, where she developed engaging content for leading technology companies