Obsidian built New Vegas in about eighteen months on Fallout 3's engine, and it is still the reference point for reactive RPG writing. You play a courier shot in the head over a package, then decide whether the Mojave belongs to the NCR, Caesar's Legion, Mr. House or nobody at all. Thirteen skills, a perk on every even level, and a cap of 50 once all four story DLCs are installed.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary equipment | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your build's key combinations |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary equipment | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Goodsprings
Key resources: Varmint rifle, Sunny Smiles' hunting lesson, first faction reputation choice Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Anti-Materiel Rifle upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Primm
Key resources: ED-E, Vance's 9mm SMG, the sheriff decision Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Anti-Materiel Rifle upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Novac
Key resources: Boone as a companion, That Gun, the Come Fly With Me quest Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Anti-Materiel Rifle upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Freeside
Key resources: Arcade Gannon, Silver Rush energy weapons, Strip entry Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for That Gun max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Hoover Dam
Key resources: Faction ending, endgame equipment, the last point of no return Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for That Gun max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Goodsprings to Primm)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Anti-Materiel Rifle once accessible
Mid Game (Novac)
- Push Anti-Materiel Rifle to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for That Gun
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Freeside to Hoover Dam)
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple equipment: Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials: Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear: Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Novac farming: This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early: Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- Intelligence controls skill points at 10 plus half your Intelligence per level, so the gap between Intelligence 4 and Intelligence 8 is roughly a hundred skill points over a full run. Take it high at creation or buy the implant early.
- Farm Novac during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build. Some classes farm faster in certain areas
More Fallout: New Vegas Guides
- Fallout: New Vegas Fallout: New Vegas Overview
- Fallout: New Vegas Best Builds
- Fallout: New Vegas Tier List
- Fallout: New Vegas Walkthrough
- Fallout: New Vegas Beginner's Guide
- Fallout: New Vegas Tips & Tricks
- Fallout: New Vegas Weapons Guide
- Fallout: New Vegas Combat Guide
- Fallout: New Vegas Boss Guide
- Fallout: New Vegas Maps & Locations
- Fallout: New Vegas Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Fallout: New Vegas, check out these related guides:
- Elden Ring Crafting Guide: rpg game with similar mechanics
- Baldur's Gate 3 Crafting Guide: rpg game with similar mechanics
- Cyberpunk 2077 Crafting Guide: rpg game with similar mechanics
