Mauler

	For all Special Attacks in Fallout: New Vegas, see Special Attack (Fallout: New Vegas). For the weapon, see The Mauler.

Mauler is a Special Attack 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.

Gameplay

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.

V.A.T.S.

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. All Unarmed/Melee attacks in V.A.T.S. double weapon's base damage.

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. All Unarmed/Melee power attacks double weapon's base damage.

Stats

Legend
Label	Description
Weapon	Fallout: New Vegas melee weapon name.
Special Attack	Special attack available in V.A.T.S. or real-time.
Dam mod	Amount regular damage is multiplied by.
AP mod	Amount regular AP cost is modified by.
Special Effect	Special effect associated with special attack.
Normal V.A.T.S. Dam	Normal V.A.T.S damage, which is double regular damage for Fallout: New Vegas melee weapons.
Special Attack Dam	Special attack V.A.T.S. damage, which is double regular damage, modified by the special attack damage modifier.
Normal V.A.T.S. AP	Normal cost in action points for attack.
Special Attack AP	Normal cost in action points for attack modified by the special attack AP cost modifier.
Normal V.A.T.S. Dam/AP	Normal ratio of damage points dealt per action point spent.
Special Attack Dam/AP	Ratio of damage points dealt per action point spent when using the special attack.
Normal V.A.T.S. Dam/Rd	Normal damage dealt in one round of V.A.T.S. with an average number of 95 action points available.
Special Attack Dam/Rd	Damage dealt in one round of V.A.T.S. with an average number of 95 action points available when using the special attack.

Weapon	Special Attack	Dam mod	AP mod	Special Effect	Normal V.A.T.S Dam	Special Attack Dam	Normal V.A.T.S. AP	Special Attack AP	Normal V.A.T.S. Dam/AP	Special Attack Dam/AP	Normal V.A.T.S. Dam/Rd	Special Attack Dam/Rd
Bumper Sword	Mauler	50%	+10	Knockdown chance	64	32	38	48	1.68	0.67	128	32
Blade of the East	Mauler	50%	+9	Knockdown chance	130	65	35	44	3.71	1.48	260	130
Blade of the West	Mauler	50%	+9	Knockdown chance	120	60	29	38	4.14	1.58	360	120
Fire Axe	Mauler	50%	+5	Knockdown chance	110	55	22	27	5.00	2.04	440	165
Knock-Knock	Mauler	50%	+5	Knockdown chance	132	66	21	26	6.29	2.54	528	198
Knife Spear	Mauler	100%	0	Knockdown chance	40	40	35	35	1.14	1.14	80	80
Knife Spear Clean	Mauler	100%	0	Knockdown chance	50	50	35	35	1.43	1.43	100	100
Rebar Club	Mauler	100%	+8	knockdown chance	84	84	40	48	2.10	1.75	168	84
Sledgehammer	Mauler	50%	+10	Knockdown chance	48	24	38	48	1.26	0.50	96	24
Super Sledge	Mauler	50%	+10	Knockdown chance	140	70	38	48	3.68	1.46	280	70
Oh, Baby!	Mauler	50%	+8	Knockdown chance	160	80	35	43	4.57	1.86	320	160