Brothers and sisters of the Enlightened, gather close, for the wise Mothman watches. His many eyes gaze beyond the veil, seeing what we cannot, guiding us toward the path of truth.
You have walked this path well, through darkness, through trials, through the burdens placed upon the unworthy. Yet, you remain, you endure, and for that, you are blessed.
The winds carry his whispers, the shadows stretch in reverence, and from their depths, a gift is revealed. A mark, not of flesh, nor of ink, but of power.
The Elder’s Mark
Wrought in darkness, bound by destiny. It is no mere weapon.
It is a beacon of judgment, a tool of enlightenment, a harbinger of his will. Take it. Wield it. And strike down those who would shun the wisdom of the Mothman.
Let its fire burn away the blind. Let its fury forge a new path. You are chosen. And with the Elder’s Mark in your hand… you shall make them see.
What Is The Elder’s Mark?
The Elder’s Mark is one of my favorite weapons in Fallout 76. A cursed SMG with a solid fire rate, high damage, and a sinister lore that makes it a standout in any arsenal.
You can earn this weapon by doing the Beasts of Burden event with Luca as the Sacramental Glade.
Legendary Effects
- Furious (⭐) – +5% damage per Onslaught stack, with 9 additional max stacks.
- Rapid (⭐⭐) – Faster fire rate
- Swift (⭐⭐⭐) – Increases reload speed — crucial for this gun’s single-round reload mechanic.
These CAN be re-rolled, but they’re not a bad base stat.
Hidden Bonuses
- Cursed Effect: Higher damage + fire rate, faster break rate
Build Goals
We want to take advantage of Commando Perks, V.A.T.S Uptime, and sustained damage in combat. We also want to take advantage of the Ghoul’s “Glow” pool, recharging it while we’re reloading for maximum damage.
Legendary Perks
For your Legendary Perks, aim to have three S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Legendary Perks at 4-star levels (+5 Points) and one S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Legendary Perk at 3-star level (+3 Points).
Other legendary perks to consider:
- Sizzling Style
- Funky Duds
- Follow Through
Target S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Distribution
With Legendary Perks applied:
- Strength: 6
- Perception: 15
- Endurance: 12
- Charisma: 5
- Intelligence: 5
- Agility: 15
- Luck: 15
Perk Breakdown
Strength
- Arms Keeper – Reduce weapon weight
- Bandolier – Reduce ammo weight
- Arms of Steel – +30% accuracy while shooting
Perception
- Commando / Expert / Master Commando – +60% automatic rifle damage
- Tank Killer – Armor penetration (applies to all small guns)
- Awareness – See enemy resistances
- Concentrated Fire – Better VATS targeting
Endurance
- Radiation Power – Expends glow for damage
- Fireproof – Fire resistance
- Glowing Gut & Thru-Hiker – Regain glow quickly and manage food weight
- Life Giver – Extra health
Charisma
- Tenderizer – Extra damage to enemies
- Moral Support & United Ordeal – Boost feral meter & S.P.E.C.I.A.L. when grouped with other ghouls
- Strange in Numbers – Stronger mutations in a team
Intelligence
- Gunsmith – Slower weapon breaking
- Science Monster – +Damage while glowing
Agility
- Guerrilla Expert – Extra reload speed per Onslaught stack + extra stacks
- Guerrilla Master – Extra ranged damage to close enemies per Onslaught stack + extra stacks
- Gunslinger Expert – Extra weak point damage per Onslaught stack + extra stacks
- Gunslinger Master – Changes the way Onslaught stacks are earned & spent + extra stacks
- Adrenaline – Damage boost per kill
- Gun Fu – Target switching bonus in VATS
- Covert Operative – Boost sneak damage
- Mr. Sandman – Extra sneak damage with silenced weapons
🎯 Gunslinger Master changes the way Onslaught stacks are earned and spent. If you want higher damage out of the gate, and have downtime between kills to regenerate stacks, consider equipping Gunslinger Master. If you will be in combat consistently with little downtime, or fighting a boss with a larger HP pool, consider removing Gunslinger Master to have a higher sustained damage over time.
Luck
- Wild West Hands – Chance to reload weapon instantly
- Bloody Mess – General damage boost
- Faulty Spots – Increased weak spot damage
- Four Leaf Clover – Misses help build crit meter
- Better Criticals – Boost critical damage
- Glowing Criticals – More glow on crit
- Class Freak – Reduces mutation penalties
- Junk Shield – Additional damage resistance
Recommended Mutations
- Eagle Eyes – Crit damage and +PER
- Marsupial – Jump height and carry weight
- Herbivore – Improved food buffs from plant-based meals
- Speed Demon – Reload and movement speed boost
- Healing Factor – Out-of-combat HP regeneration
- Bird Bones – +AGI and feather fall
- Herd Mentality – +2 to all S.P.E.C.I.A.L. when grouped (solo groups count)
Armor
Underarmor
Secret Service Underarmor (Shielded) – +STR, +PER, +LCK
Main Armor
Highest you can get (Civil Engineering, Secret Service, Brotherhood Recon)
Legendary Effects
- Vanguard’s (⭐) – Damage resistance scales with HP
- Powered (⭐⭐) – AP Regen
- Arms Keeper (⭐⭐⭐) – Weapon weight management
- Rangers (⭐⭐⭐⭐) – Bonus ranged damage
Playstyle Tips
- Focus on VATS as your main method of engagement
- Use time between VATS/AP recharge to regain Glow
- Slot perks based on burst vs. sustained damage needs
- Use Gunslinger Master for wave events (e.g. Guided Meditation) and remove it for bosses (e.g. Earl) for longer sustained fights
Build Rating
- Overall: A
- Viability: Easily group-viable, potential for raid optimization with the right group.
- Limitations: Not many – really depends on the team you’re with and how you can compliment them in higher-end content (Raids, etc.)
Final Thoughts
The Elder’s Mark is a fantastic commando alternative to the Fixer—especially for glow builds. It’s versatile, stylish, and surprisingly powerful, even in high-end content like Gleaming Depths with the right team.
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Thanks for checking out this build. And may the wise Mothman see your success through.