Fallout 4's weapons consist mainly of crude and rudimentary items cobbled together in the midst of the global nuclear collapse. As such, they aren't particularly interesting or engaging, especially for gamers who have played through Fallout 4 multiple times. Thankfully, the modding community has been steadily working on a series of excellent mods that add new weapons to the game.

Some of these mods include replacer packs that swap out the vanilla weapons for something better, while others inject entirely new weapons packs. Whether it's melee weaponry or modern artillery, lore-friendly or not, gamers have a choice when it comes to customizing their weapons loadouts in Fallout 4.Some of these mods work well with the popular Quick Weapon Modification, one of the best UI-related mods for Fallout 4.

10 Combined Arms - Modern Weapon Pack

A soldier with night vision goggles carrying a sniper rifle on the shoulder in Fallout 4

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Combined Arms is one of the newest weapons packs for Fallout 4, first uploaded in June of 2021. It has taken the Fallout 4 community by storm, giving players an excellent arsenal of weapons that can change combat for the better. The pack is an amalgamation of several weapons mods by author NovaFinch.

This mod adds 14 new weapons to the game, including handguns, rifles, and a few machine guns. It also includes character poses, reticle customization options, support for many different ammo types, and compatibility with popular mods like Scope Overlay Framework.

9 Modern Firearms

A female soldier holding a handgun in Fallout 4

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Modern Firearms is another weapons mod pack for Fallout 4 that does just as the title suggests. This project introduces a number of weapons taken from the modern era, from AR-15s to HK-7s and MP5s. The mod doesn't just include the weapons themselves, though. It also changes combat in a few ways.

For instance, the weapons in this pack do not scale with levels, which means they hit higher-level enemies just as hard. While this may appear to make the game too easy, players should remember that enemy NPCs will also carry these weapons, which can kill with just a few bullets. Therefore, strategy and cover become more crucial than ever.

8 Official Horizon Weapon Merge Pack

The title screen of the Official Horizon Merge Pack mod with weapons on display racks in Fallout 4

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This mod pack consists of 14 weapons considered lore-friendly by the author, which can integrate well with the vanilla game's arsenal. It includes weapon mods from several different authors merged into one file. It is designed to work with the Horizon V1.8.0 gameplay overhaul mod, which is a hard requirement.

The pack includes five pistols, eight rifles, one SMG, one shotgun and a new explosive weapon to create a healthy balance across different weapon types. Each weapon has appeared in a previous Fallout game in the franchise, which is good news for players who love the lore and want to feel more connected with its history.

7 Weapon Overhauls (AIO)

A descriptive loading screen featuring an assault rifle from Fallout 4

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While not technically a mod that adds new weapons, this mod does overhaul the existing items in the game while introducing new perks and abilities. This can make the old weapons feel new again, almost like replacers all on their own. Retooling of weapons is a major focus, but that's not all.

Attachments have been overhauled into three distinct categories: damage, frames, and triggers. Depending on the combination, multiplicative bonuses and penalties can be added. Other features like ammo-switching, reworked ammo types, and a variety of new attachments.

6 Melee Collectible And Adventure Mod (Weapon Pack)

A pile of various melee weapons in Fallout 4

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Melee weapons are handy for players who run out of ammo in the middle of a firefight, and they can mean the difference between life and death. This mod injects 30 new melee weapons into the game to give players a better choice of how to throw down when the going gets rough.

The mod includes everything from katanas and bolt cutters to hatchets and frying pans. It also includes unique new locations to explore, NPCs with one-of-a-kind weapons to acquire, and two new voiced characters to help work in tandem with some of Fallout 4's best immersion mods.

5 Any Mod Any Weapon (AMAW)

A heavily modded Fallout 4 pistol

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This mod does not add any new weapons to the game, but its very functionality makes it the next best thing. It allows any weapon to be slotted with any upgrade, regardless of type. While not the most lore-friendly mod of the bunch, this mod is certainly going to attract players who want to unleash their creative minds.

AMAW can produce almost any weapon combination imaginable, from miniguns that fire tactical nukes  to shotguns that fire gamma energy bursts. A big part of the fun lies in the aesthetics of weapons that are outfitted with outrageously inappropriate mods. This mod might not be to everyone's tastes, but there's no denying how it changes the game.

4 Machineguns Rebirth

A man holding an enormous machine gun in Fallout 4

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This mod offers just two new weapons, but they are sure to be a hit for gamers who like busting out heavy machine guns. Machineguns Rebirth adds the MK22 and MK19 heavy machineguns toFallout 4, with top notch 3D models and texture work to boot.

It's quite a new mod, having just been uploaded on Aug, 6, 2021, and it remains to be seen if the author will expand on it with future updates. For now, gamers can walk confidently with one of these super-powerful weapons at their side, and it also looks great when combined with Fallout 4's coolest and best armor sets.

3 MTS-255 Revolver Shotgun

A shot of the pistol shotgun mod for Fallout 4

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Standalone weapon add-ons are useful for gamers who like to use particular weapon types and don't want to be loaded down with superfluous choices they'll never use. Shotgunners will appreciate this quirky and interesting mod that adds a new variation to the game.

The MTS-255 is a hybrid of a large-barrel shotgun and a traditional revolver. In addition to being a cool-looking weapon with a lot of weight and presence, it also comes with four receivers, six grips, 12 barrels, 12 sights and scopes, four ammo conversions and eight damage modifiers. It's sure to be a handy fallback in close quarters.

2 X12 Plasmacaster

A female soldier holding an X12 Plasmacaster in Fallout 4

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Plasmacasters are most famous for being one of the Predator's most dangerous weapons, but Fallout 4 takes a different approach. Gamers who prefer energy-based weapons will appreciate the style and elegance brought to the game courtesy of the X12 Plasmacaster mod. It's a huge upgrade from the vanilla game's clunky and junky-looking energy rifles, with a suave, elegant design and color scheme.

The Plasmacaster isn't simply a traditional carbine. It can also act as a shotgun, smart rifle and a sniper rifle, depending on the installed barrel and mods. It also features new first-person and third-person animations to make it fit better into the game and look more authentic.

1 Glock 86 - Plasma Pistol

A two-sided comparison of the Glock 86 energy pistol mod for Fallout 4

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Pistol lovers might be interested in this cool and stylish-looking mod which adds an entirely new type of plasma pistol to the game. The Glock 86 comes with several high-level modifications that can increase its stopping power as players progress through the game, making it a handy fallback weapon.

The ability to mod the pistol with an additional tank, a supercharger, a new alternator, and a scissor-style bayonet is a plus. It guarantees that the Glock 86 doesn't get stale or boring over time and allows for greater customization and a personal touch.

NEXT: Fallout 4's 10 Best Graphics Mods To Build A Beautiful Game