Martialize
🟠 Updated over a year ago⚠️ Install Order · 5 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview

🔍 Analysis
- 👍 0.3% endorsement rate
- 🏆 #101 of 441 Gameplay Effects and Changes mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
So you get close to an NPC, and somehow they decide it's a good idea to expose themselves completely and holster their gun instead of hitting you with it. That does not make sense so this is my attempt to improve that dynamic.
All human NPCs have a chance, when in combat, to throw some moves when the enemy is close. It doesn't matter if it's currently holding a weapon or not.
Makes melee combat more realistic and difficult. If you don't focus on block and dodge, you won't be on your feet for much longer. The chance of move excecution depends on each NPC Strength, Aggression, Agility and Unarmed stats.
You can block their moves, but stronger NPCs might break your defense.
Strength stat will reduce damage for blocked blows, Endurace stat will reduce the damage and staggering chance of direct blows.
Stonewall perk will reduce your staggering chance, drop weapon chance, etc..
New: NPCs who use boxing gloves or boxing tape won't use legs techniques.
Check teh config file Martialize.ini to:
- Avoid FPS drops on crowded places (crowdlimit).
- Reduce staggering chance when hit (lessStaggering).
Current moves are:
-
[]Kick!
[
]Several one handed punches with/without weapon[]Palm Strike: This one has a highaer chance of defense break and knocking the enemy down, even for weak characters, but requires higher unarmed stat.
[]Brahmin Push: Only if they caught the enemy from behind.
[]Ranger Takedown: Only rangers (somehow Sunny knows that move too). You can dodge it by jumping.
[]Legion Assault: Only Legion soldiers (somehow Joe Cobb is inlcuded too). You can block it but dodge is recommended.
- Khan Trick: Only Great Khans (somehow Barton Thorn knwos this technique as well). They'll use some kind of rudimentary firework to blind their enemies and play dirty (only way to survive in the wasteland). Won't damage health but will reduce victim's perception for a short time and produce staggering unless you wear glasses!
Comments and suggestion are welcome.
Recommended mods:
Humanize-Brutalize
BLEED or Fallout 4 Survival Mode-Style Damage
Limited Game Savings or Saving Reworked (for a real challenge)
Quick Use + Quick Drop
NPC use Aid Items + NPC can Miss
NPC Level Overhaul
Flesh Burnification
Throwable bottles
A Crime Against Nature
Canibal Reborn
Drag things to ther cells
Go to Fallout.ini and FalloutPrefs.ini, find "bAllowHavokGrabTheLiving=0", change 0 to 1 and save (source).
Martialize is a gameplay mod that grants NPCs basic close-quarters combat abilities, allowing them to kick or strike with their guns before switching to melee mode. With 931 endorsements and over 354,000 downloads, it's a popular choice for players seeking more dynamic enemy encounters.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Huge community adoption (931 endorsements, 354k downloads) shows it's a must-have for combat overhauls
- Makes NPCs feel more aggressive and unpredictable in close quarters
- Lightweight tweak that doesn't overhaul the whole combat system
⚠️ Cons
- Last updated Dec 2024 – may not be compatible with future game patches
- No details on how it interacts with other combat mods – could cause conflicts
For players who want smarter, more aggressive NPCs in melee range without a full combat overhaul. Perfect for those who enjoy tactical shooters and want enemies to punish you for getting too close. Skip if you prefer vanilla AI behavior or use heavy combat mods that might conflict.
💡 Beginner Tips
- If you're using other combat mods, test Martialize in a new save to see if NPCs behave as expected.
- Watch NPCs during close encounters – they'll now mix gun strikes and kicks, so keep your distance or be ready to dodge.
- Since it's a gameplay tweak, it's safe to add mid-playthrough, but always back up your save before installing any mod.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- New Vegas Mods
- Author
- GG
- Version
- 0.75
- Downloads
- 354,767
- Endorsements
- 931
- Category
- Gameplay Effects and Changes
- Created
- 7/17/2022
- Updated
- 12/5/2024
🧩 Commonly Used Together
Users add these mods to the same collections — a real compatibility signal, not an AI guess.
🔧 How to Install New Vegas Mods
Download from Nexus.
📖 Full step-by-step install guide for New Vegas →
Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.
🎮 Need cheat codes or console commands? Check ur gaming wiki for New Vegas commands, item IDs, and more.
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