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For an overview of bloatfly variants, see bloatfly. |
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Bloatflies are mutated insects living in the Mojave Wasteland, Zion Canyon, and Big MT in 2281.
Contents
Background[edit | edit source]
An example of the mutations caused by the Great War, the bloatfly is an evolution of either the Musca domestica common housefly[1] or Tabanus genera of biting horse fly.[2] Tentatively classified as part of the Tabanidae family in the order Diptera, class Insecta, phylum Arthropoda and kingdom Animalia by the Enclave, it is a major divergence from its evolutionary forebears.[2][3]
Characteristics[edit | edit source]
Biology[edit | edit source]
The standard bloatfly has a green and brown carapace and is significantly larger and more tenacious than its predecessors. Its size inhibits previous flight characteristics and agility, making it impossible to feed like pre-War horse flies did. Instead, it uses its engorged stinger and pupae gestating within its abdomen to incapacitate prey.[2] The stinger is capable of launching mature larvae with a barbed sting at the end. These latch onto the target and deliver a neurotoxin capable of incapacitating larger prey, allowing the bloatfly and its larvae to feed.[2]
Its neurotoxin is ineffective against humans and larger targets, causing only localized necrosis.[2] As a result, the bloatfly serves as prey rather than predator among wastelanders who utilize its meat for food.[2] Bloatflies can resort to scavenging in situations where prey or other sources of sustenance are scarce.[4] It adapted to its enlarged size with a unique gland that enables it to balance and maintain speed despite its size.[5] The gland itself may be toxic to consume.[6][3]
Gameplay attributes[edit | edit source]
They are usually found around graveyards, buildings, or pools of radiated water in groups of three to five. Weak by nature, their attacks have very little effect. Their main attack consists of spiked larvae launched from a distance. They are relatively easy to kill in close combat, even should the attacker lack any substantial skill in Unarmed or Melee Weapons, as they have very few Hit Points.
Although it can be a bit tricky to hit them with a ranged weapon without the assistance of V.A.T.S. as they tend to flit about in sporadic patterns, ordinary bloatflies won't initiate combat themselves unless the player approaches quite close--so with patience and timing they can be picked off with sneak attacks from range in complete safety, always waiting for hidden status before firing each shot.
Variants[edit | edit source]
Bloatfly[edit | edit source]
The normal variant with all of the attributes noted above.
| Name | Statistics | Behavior | Abilities | Items | ||||
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| Bloatfly 0009189C |
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Legendary bloatfly[edit | edit source]
A legendary variant can be found in Big MT, at the mysterious cave. It is considerably larger than a normal bloatfly, and has a pale green aura, making it easy to spot in the cave. It also flies much higher, making striking it with melee weapons difficult or entirely impossible. Unlike normal bloatflies, it fires a highly damaging (300 damage, equal to that of deathclaw alpha male) plasma-like projectile from its abdomen, the strength of which is such that even the strongest of attackers will be killed after just a few shots. When killed, it explodes in a manner similar to a plasma grenade, leaving a pile of goo instead of a corpse. Its brain can be targeted in V.A.T.S., and if crippled, will cause it to frenzy. Like Gabe, the legendary bloatfly's immense size is suggested to be the result of a massive intake of chems, notably Buffout and Psycho. It has twice the health of the legendary deathclaw and deals nearly twice the damage.
| Name | Statistics | Behavior | Abilities | Items | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Legendary bloatfly  xx015274 |
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Locations[edit | edit source]
- Their natural habitat is generally the various tar pits, pools of irradiated water, puddles, and graveyards throughout the Mojave Wasteland.
- A large number of bloatflies can be found west of Powder Ganger camp west.
- The Courier can also find two to four of them at the beginning of the game in the Goodsprings Cemetery. These bloatflies only appear during the quest By a Campfire on the Trail, and will not respawn if they are killed.
- The Courier is likely to encounter many of them on the way to Primm from Goodsprings, as there are many tar pits scattered along the left side of the road.
- They may spawn within the Camp Forlorn Hope graveyard next to the camp proper, but will be gunned down quickly.
- Several bloatflies can be found behind the Jean Sky Diving shack, occasionally fighting with some Powder Gangers.
- Some can be found around the wrecked Highwayman.
They infest the mysterious cave, along with the legendary bloatfly.
Notes[edit | edit source]
- The flies that lurk around rotten meat or near ransacked caravans (such as the Cassidy Caravans wreckage) use the bloatfly model, albeit shrunken to the size of a regular fly.
- Bloatflies are among the weakest creatures in the game. On the other hand, the legendary bloatfly, encountered in the mysterious cave, is the most powerful creature in the game, it would be the second most powerful had the Gojira not been cut.
Appearances[edit | edit source]
Bloatflies appear in Fallout: New Vegas and its add-ons Honest Hearts and Old World Blues.
Bugs[edit | edit source]
- After being killed by the legendary bloatfly, and reloading the autosave in the tunnel entrance, the legendary bloatfly may not have the characteristic green glow.[verified]
- The legendary bloatfly won't spot the Courier hiding in the cave tunnel. Shooting the legendary bloatfly will make it hover in the same place and the Courier will be in a state of [CAUTION] if the player attacks it from the tunnel.[verified]
Sounds[edit | edit source]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
Bloatfly dartAdd a photo to this gallery
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Insect DNA chalkboard information
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Enclave field research terminal entries; Enclave field research terminal, Field Entry: "Bloatfly"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Sole Survivor: "Sign me up."
Duff: "You're going to go out, and find a Bloatfly Gland. You see, the oversized Bloatfly of today evolved from an earlier species of smaller fly. Radioactive adaptation has resulted in a unique gland that enables it to balance and maintain speed despite its size. So what do you say? Ready to go out and dissect one?"
(DoctorDuff.txt) - ↑ Cassidy Caravans wreckage
- ↑ Sole Survivor: "Sign me up."
Duff: "You're going to go out, and find a Bloatfly Gland. You see, the oversized Bloatfly of today evolved from an earlier species of smaller fly. Radioactive adaptation has resulted in a unique gland that enables it to balance and maintain speed despite its size. So what do you say? Ready to go out and dissect one?"
(DoctorDuff.txt) - ↑ The Sole Survivor: "Get the Bloatfly Gland. Got it."
Duff: "Remember, bring the gland back in one piece. Oh, and don't chew on it. One of the students got horribly sick because of that mistake."
(DoctorDuff.txt)
