Wasteland 3 enhances turn-based combat with a system where all allies take their turn together, followed by all enemies. This makes battles feel faster and more intense, requiring strategic positioning and skillful execution. Whether you’re new to the game or looking to refine your tactics, this guide will teach you how to dominate in combat and survive the harsh battles of Colorado.

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Pre-Combat Preparation

• Always Heal and Restock – Since combat encounters can be unpredictable, heal your squad and check your ammo levels after every fight. You never know when the next battle will strike.
• Spot Hostile NPCs Early – If NPCs in a new area have red health bars, expect an immediate fight. Use this knowledge to set up your squad before engaging.
• Positioning is Key – Before combat begins, place snipers and ranged characters in the back, melee fighters close to the action, and mid-range fighters like rifle users in between.
• Use Cover and Crouch – Positioning your characters behind cover before combat starts gives you a defensive advantage and improves stealth.
• Initiate Combat with a Sniper – The first shot should come from your highest-damage Ranger (typically a sniper). Snipers with the Sneaky Shit skill gain a stealth damage bonus, making them perfect for opening a fight.

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Early Fight Priorities

• Destroy Explosive Barrels & Generators – Take advantage of the environment. Blowing up fuel tanks and disabling turret generators can turn the tide before the enemy gets a chance to act.
• Hack Machines & Turrets – If you have a character with Nerd Stuff, use them to hack turrets or enemy bots to turn them against their allies.
• Use Melee Characters for Hacking – Since melee characters move around the battlefield a lot, they are well-suited for reaching and hacking key systems before engaging in direct combat.

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General Combat Strategies

1. Leverage Your Animal Companions

• Animal Whisperer is one of the best skills in Wasteland 3. Recruiting animal companions gives your squad extra damage and durability.
• Some animals provide buffs (e.g., cats grant increased crit chance), while others serve as distractions in battle.

2. Use Deployables to Distract Enemies

• Engineers with Mechanics can deploy turrets and spiked traps, forcing enemies to waste attacks on them instead of your Rangers.
• Deployables can deal damage as well, making them useful in prolonged fights.

3. Swap Quick Slot Items and Weapons Without Cost

• You can change quick slot items in combat without using AP – for example, switching healing items or turrets.
• Weapon swapping also doesn’t use AP, but remember that you’ll need to reload before firing.

4. Use Throwables Early for Maximum Damage

• Enemies are often grouped together at the start of combat, making it the perfect time for grenades, molotovs, and other AOE attacks.
• Take advantage of clustered enemies to maximize damage output.

5. Optimize Strike Abilities

• Strike attacks do not cost extra AP, making them invaluable for landing devastating hits.
• Instead of always aiming for the head, consider targeting limbs for debilitating effects (e.g., shooting legs to slow melee enemies).

6. Revive Tactically

• Characters cannot permanently die in combat. If a Ranger goes down, they will revive after battle but require medical attention before fighting again.
• Use your Leader to revive teammates, as this triggers an AOE heal for all nearby allies.
• The Rally perk is invaluable at the start of a fight, providing an extra 2 AP to all Rangers, which can be used to reposition or attack.

7. Spend Final AP Efficiently

• If you have leftover AP at the end of your turn, use Prepare instead of Defend (unless you’re a melee character or exposed in the open).
• Prepare saves AP for the next turn, allowing for more attacks or movement.

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Out-of-Combat Optimization

1. Mod Weapons & Armor Frequently

• Use mods as soon as you get them. You’ll find new ones regularly, so there’s no need to hoard.
• The mod quality is tied to its skill requirement – mods requiring higher Weapon/Armor Modding skills tend to be more powerful.

2. Stock Up on Supplies

• Visit vendors often to purchase ammo and healing items. Running out of bullets in a fight is a disaster.
• Keep a minimum of 50 rounds per weapon type to ensure you’re always prepared.
• Having different characters use different ammo types prevents a single resource from depleting too quickly.

3. Visit the Bizarre for Early Gear Upgrades

• The Bizarre is one of the best early-game shopping hubs. It offers high-quality weapons, armor, mods, and healing items.

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Building an Effective Combat Team

While party composition is flexible, certain roles maximize efficiency:

1. A Dedicated Healer – To manage injuries and keep your squad in fighting shape.
2. A Sniper – Snipers deal high single-target damage and conserve ammo due to infrequent shots.
3. A Melee Fighter (Optional) – High damage, but requires careful positioning and healing support.
4. A Balanced Squad – Each character should specialize in different weapon types to spread out ammo consumption.

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Final Thoughts

Mastering combat in Wasteland 3 means planning ahead, using the environment, and leveraging every advantage. Whether it’s deploying turrets, using animal companions, or striking with powerful AOE attacks, small optimizations make a huge difference.

Experiment with different team compositions and find what works best for your playstyle. Let us know in the comments what strategies you use and what your favorite party setup is!