Okay look Ive been enjoying this game until know, Im level 23, why is it so hard to Kill Super mutants, Death claws, and other armored opponents, It really ruining my gameplay experience, I under stand its challenging but its shouldnt take 10 stimpacks of healing and 48 ( i counted) Laser rifles shoots to kill one effing super mutant!!!!! Ive spent all my perks into vats and When I unload on these things there take almost no damage! then there in my face and 2 shot me! its getting to the point were I just dont wanna play the game anymore, unless im fighting raiders or ghouls im just not having fun. Can someone tell me what the hell im doing wrong? I mean even armor piercing rounds dont do anything. This whole system with DT and Threshold kind of blows.

Lower the difficulty. On Normal, I can slaughter a Super Mutant Master with about 4 Plasma Rifle shots.

You need better weapons or better skills, How did you get to level 23 with such a broken build?

Can you be more Specific?

It is on normal. Its take 16 shots with the super POwer Plasma rifle i found. how the hell are you killing them in 4 shots? Do i need to upload a video to show you? I unload in VATS and they still have 3/4 of HP left, it took me 35 stimpacks and half my ammo cache to finish "CARZY, CRAZY, CRAZY" quest.

Energy Weapons characters are meant to specialize in critical % (Critical strikes ignore DT) and science (for crafting better ammo).
Oh and by the way, get weapons with high DAM and not high DPS for high DT enemies.

Ya i know, I build it like that.

Putting all of your perks into VATS is bound to produce a weaker character. Try bringing Boone along with you, improve your own DT. I'm on normal, and I needed to use This Machine to effectively take out super mutants on a mountain when I was not sniping them. I was not using armor piercing rounds though. I did get an implant to improve my DT and I also purchased some nice armor before going there though. It took me a few minutes, but I mopped them up.

Ok.
What's your Luck?
Do you wear the 1st Recon Beret?
Did you take Laser Commander?
Have you gotten rank 2 of the challenge perk Set Lasers For Fun?
Did you take the Finesse perk?
What is your EW skill at?

6
YES
No just rank one
Yes
75

Oddly enough, I was level 23 also, and without any companions. But my DT was 30, guns at about 75. Sneak was about 80. I fast traveled to the mountain, sniped a few, and just as I was about to WAIT a few hours for nightfall, I saw 6 nightkin masters on their way. It was funny, because they were moving in perfect unison. Creepy perfect, like the wrinkles of an accordion. Nothing to do at that point. Grabbed a gun and started shooting. But I barely took any damage because of my DT. No power armor. I also took toughness twice.

First yes, was that a yes to the beret or the laser commander perk?

sorry YEs to both.

Heres a question for you, Have you seen a shield on the enemies name health meter. If yes, is it a full shield, then your weapon of choice isn't getting through their armor.

Steal everything from the Van Graffs, you should be in good shape after that. Although Energy Weapons have been nerfed.

Ya so how do i Get though it? People just say "get a better weapon" but I can seem to find any weapon thats gets past it.

I used VATS and aimed for the head, easy. I have 82 EW, and a high science skill. I have incredible perception and the such. I have always specialized in EW.

Ok, so.
27% chance to critically strike with lasers.
16% chance to critically strike with other weapons.
It all comes down to the weapons X% multiplier as well.
Anyway, I guess you should go get Gauss Rifle or start wasting all your money to convert all MFC to MC.
Seriously though IMO the only two weapons worth bothering with at high levels is the unique Gauss Rifle and the Laser RCW+.
Energy weapons are very nerfed imo and hardly any of them are any good.

i have 100% gun and only 35% energy weapons and can still take down death claws with plasma and laser rifles with less then 25 shots. its all about how you set your character up. you must have really screwed yours up if you built him for energy weapons and they do nothing. my guys built for guns, speech and barter. im level 23(just turned actulay) i have no problem taking down enemy's of the higher levels with any mid level energy/gun. its all about your character build and how you go about playing the game, if you run head on into a battle with a death claw carrying a laser rifle thats damn near broken and leather armor thats pulverized epect to die. invest in some better armor, like reinforced combat armor mk2, and keep your weapons in mint condition.

This is why im confused. Im wearing POwer Armor and all my weapon are above 75%.

Ahyeah, what other damage perks do you have?
Mutant Massacrer?
Bug Stomper?
Bloody Mess?
I find +damage perks to be crucial to energy weapons.

Like I said go to the Van Graffs, if you cant kill things efficiently with the Multiplas, Tri beam laser, or Plasma Caster, then your games is bugged or something. Like Gabe said above, by level 23 you should have some of the challenge perks, these along with the energy weapon level perks should get you by.

Higher DMG, buddy. Higher DMG. High DPS does practically nothing to armored opponents even with high skill.

Here is my story:

I was walking towards the NCR safehouse. By mistake, I got too close to the Black Mountain Road.

Then out of nowhere..... A HUGE Super Mutant Master pops out of nowhere and takes a swipe at me. I take out my Plasma Rifle, enter VATS, aim 4 shots at his head, and I take the shots.

BOOM, his entire body blows up.

What makes this more ironic is the fact that I NEVER were armor. I always wear Pre-War clothing or my Armored Vault 13 Suit.

wats all your skills set at?