Fallout 4: How to Max Out All SPECIAL Stats (With Bobblehead & Book Locations)

Maxing out your S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats is the way to go, and here’s the best part: you can push one stat to a jaw-dropping 12. Whether you’re eyeing Strength to haul more loot or Intelligence to level up fast, I’ve got your back. This guide’s loaded with every bobblehead spot, the You’re SPECIAL book trick, and a friendly nudge to hit the stat cap. Let’s make you a Commonwealth champ! If you’ve already started bobblehead hunting, my "Get All the Bobbleheads in Fallout 4" post will let you find them all with ease. For now, let’s kick things off so you can max out your S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats!

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Your Fallout 4 character shines through seven SPECIAL stats: Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck. Strength pumps up melee damage and carry weight. Perception sharpens your V.A.T.S. aim. Intelligence speeds up XP gains—super handy for quick leveling, etc. You start with 21 points to split between them, and 10’s the usual ceiling, unless you’ve got some tricks up your sleeve.

Alright, picture this: you’ve got your bobbleheads lined up and that one special book in hand, ready to crank every stat to 11 across the board—oh, and you can even juice one up to 12. Want to smash through the Commonwealth with a Strength 12 sledgehammer that sends raiders flying? Or maybe you’re dreaming of Luck 12, crits popping off like fireworks every fight. It’s a total game-changer, and I’m stoked to guide you through it, nice and easy, step by step. Since Fallout 4 doesn’t slap a level cap on you, time’s on your side—I’m just here to speed up the ride. Let’s do this!

Step 1: Kick Off with a Solid Build

You’ve got 21 points to play with in the beginning. Let’s set you up right:

• Spread It Out: Don’t pile everything into one stat—those boosts later will overflow past 10. Try 4-6 in must-haves like Intelligence (XP boost) or Strength (carry weight), then sprinkle the rest.
• Pick Your Star: Want Intelligence 12 for speedy levels? Start it at 9 or 10. Strength 12 for melee mayhem? Same deal.

Leveling Hint: Every level gives you 1 point for perks or stats. Hang onto a few to nudge stats to 10 later—patience pays off!

Step 2: Grab the You’re SPECIAL Book

Here’s the scoop: this sweet little book gives you a +1 boost to any stat you want—yep, it’s your golden ticket to hitting 12. You can snag it back in your old pre-war digs in Sanctuary Hills, tucked away in Shaun’s Room. The best time to grab it? Right after you stumble out of Vault 111, before you even say hi to Codsworth. Easy peasy—let’s get you that edge!

Don’t use it yet though! Save it for after you hit 11 in your fave stat (more on that soon). I’d pick Intelligence for XP, Strength for hauling, or Luck for crits—your call! Need it asap? PC folks can spawn it with player.additem 000a8100 1.

Step 3: Hunt Down Every Bobblehead

Seven bobbleheads, seven stats, seven +1 boosts. Get them all for 11 everywhere, then use the book for 12. I’ll give you the full rundown:

1. - Strength Bobblehead:

• Where: Mass Fusion Building, top floor, perched on a metal sculpture overlooking the lobby.
• How: Take the elevator up (watch for 5-6 raiders in the lobby). At the top, face 3 more raiders, then spot the bobblehead above a desk—jump or snipe it down if you’re sneaky.
• Console: player.additem 00178b63 1

2. - Perception Bobblehead:

• Where: Museum of Freedom in Concord, on a desk in the room where Preston Garvey’s holed up.
• How: During "When Freedom Calls," clear 8-10 raiders outside, then head upstairs. Preston’s crew is in the last room—bobblehead’s right by the busted terminal.
• Console: player.additem 00178b5d 1

3. - Endurance Bobblehead:

• Where: Poseidon Energy, south of Boston, in a control room near the reactor.
• How: Enter via the front (watch for 4 Mirelurks outside). Inside, 3 more Mirelurks and a Hunter lurk—sneak left through pipes to the control room. It’s on a desk by a red toolbox.
• Console: player.additem 00178b55 1

4. - Charisma Bobblehead:

• Where: Parsons State Insane Asylum, in Jack Cabot’s office.
• How: Start "The Secret of Cabot House" (chat with Edward Deegan in Diamond City’s Dugout Inn). At Parsons, fight 6-8 raiders outside, then enter with Lorenzo’s key. Jack’s office is upstairs—bobblehead’s on his desk.
• Console: player.additem 00178b54 1

5. - Intelligence Bobblehead:

• Where: Boston Public Library, northwest corner, on a computer bank.
• How: Enter from the east (4 Super Mutants outside). Inside, 6 more Mutants roam—sneak or blast to the back room. It’s on a terminal bank near a busted wall.
• Console: player.additem 00178b58 1

6. - Agility Bobblehead:

• Where: Wreck of the FMS Northern Star, southeast map edge, on the ship’s bow.
• How: Swim or boat over (2 Mirelurks on shore). Climb the deck—4 raiders patrol—then head to the bow. It’s on a plank sticking out, easy to spot with a quick scan.
• Console: player.additem 00178b51 1

7. - Luck Bobblehead:

• Where: Spectacle Island, south shore, in a green boat’s locker. (this Island is worth claiming!)
• How: Swim from the mainland (3 Mirelurks greet you). Clear the island (5-6 more Mirelurks), then check the south shore. The boat’s half-sunk—open the locker inside.
• Console: player.additem 00178b5a 1

Step 4: Level Up to 11 (and Then Some)

Here’s how you pull this off: pump a stat up to 10 using your starting points and some level-ups. Once you’re there, snatch its bobblehead to bump it to 11. Then, and only then, crack open that You’re SPECIAL book to slam it to 12. Picture it like this: Strength 10, grab the bobblehead for 11, then hit it with the book for a beefy 12. For everything else? Get all your stats to 10 through leveling, then hunt down those bobbleheads to lock in 11 across the board. You’ll be a wasteland legend in no time!

XP Tricks: 

• Intelligence 10 + Idiot Savant (Luck 5) = XP heaven. Snag that Intelligence bobblehead early.
• Build workshops in Sanctuary (beds, water pumps), do Minutemen quests, and clear raider camps.
• No Rush: You’d need ~275 levels to max all stats to 10 from scratch, but with boosts, you’re golden by 50-60.

*“50-60” and “275” are estimates, not exact, but they’re practical and widely accepted in the community.

So, kick things off by maxing Intelligence first—more XP means you’ll level up faster. Next, pump up Perception for those clutch V.A.T.S. moments. After that, focus on your superstar stat to hit that sweet 12. Oh, and don’t sleep on the DLC goodies—grab the Captain’s Hat in Far Harbor for a slick +1 Intelligence boost, or snag the Lucky Rabbit’s Foot in Nuka-World to bump Luck by +1. One last tip: save like your life depends on it. Bobbleheads can get glitchy sometimes, so keep a backup save handy just in case. You’ve got this!

With the You’re SPECIAL book tucked away, all seven bobbleheads in hand, and a smart leveling plan, you’re set—11 across the board and 12 where it counts. Strength 12 to haul the world? Intelligence 12 to outsmart it? You’re unstoppable. So what’s your 12-stat pick? Drop it in the comments—I’m all ears! For more Fallout 4 fun, peek at my Bobblehead Guide, or even how (and where) to get every Power Armor Set Guide. Go rock the Commonwealth, champ!