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For an overview page of deathclaw variants, see deathclaw. |
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Deathclaws are creatures living in the Capital Wasteland in 2277. They are a large, agile, and strong species of mutant Jackson's chameleon[1] and are far more common in the Capital Wasteland than the West coast despite the more desolate, barren and desert-like characteristics of the wasteland.
Characteristics
The creatures are found throughout the Capital Wasteland, creating nests where eggs are found. Branchtender Linden describes his experience with deathclaws, where he was the only survivor of his Brotherhood Outcasts squad after an attack by the creatures.[2] Deathclaws were experimented upon by the Enclave in attempt to create expendable soldiers.[3]
Biology
Deathclaws have a hunchbacked humanoid build, with a reptilian head and limbs. Their build gives them incredible speed and strength in close combat, making them an extreme threat at all times. Deathclaws lay eggs in dark, sheltered locations and are fiercely guarded by their mother. Young deathclaws reach maturity under the care of their parents, following them closely until they are old enough to fend for themselves.
Gameplay attributes
Deathclaws are one of the fastest and most powerful creatures in the game. They are not however, found in many areas around the Capital Wasteland, so their impact on where and when the Lone Wanderer travels is limited.
Variants
Deathclaw
A regular deathclaw, with all of the characteristics and attributes described above.
| Name (Form ID) | Statistics | Behavior | Abilities | Items | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deathclaw 0000CF9A 000C3280 00031E29 |
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Enclave deathclaw
Enclave deathclaws only make appearances as Enclave camps begin to appear. Many of these camps are likely to house mind-controlled deathclaws in cages, which are just the same as regular ones, with the exception that they will not attack Enclave forces. The domestication units on their heads can be targeted and crippled, which will frenzy them. Enclave deathclaws may also be dropped off from Enclave Vertibirds, along with Enclave soldiers and sentry bots.
During the quest The American Dream, a deathclaw can be seen in a cage in Raven Rock. This deathclaw has not yet been fitted with the mind-control device and can be released from captivity with a Lockpick skill of 50. When released, it will attempt to kill anything in sight (excluding its liberator) until it runs out of other enemies to fight. It will then proceed to attack the Lone Wanderer.
During the quest Shock Value, if one receives Scribe Vallincourt's deathclaw control scrambler, the Enclave deathclaws will act as temporary followers, but if they are led too far from the transmitters of the Enclave outpost where they were stationed, their heads will explode.
| Name (Form ID) | Statistics | Behavior | Abilities | Items | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deathclaw 000BCC4D 0001CF72 000AA836 xx00946B |
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Deathclaw  xx00223C (follower) |
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Locations
- Random encounter locations.
- The deathclaw sanctuary.
- Many are found in and around Old Olney.
- The area around F. Scott Key Trail & Campground.
- West of Canterbury Commons.
- In and around Raven Rock.
- Around the west side of Mason Dixon Salvage.
Inside a hangar and the mobile base crawler at Adams Air Force Base.- Deathclaws do not spawn inside the D.C. Metro area, although the Enclave may bring them in after The Waters of Life.
- An Enclave deathclaw spawns near Dukov's Place, in the open area to the left of the building after The Waters of Life.
- Enclave deathclaws are commonly found wherever there are Enclave camps.
- An Enclave deathclaw spawns outside the Capitol Building.
- At an Enclave base near Girdershade, two deathclaws have killed their captors and roam freely.
- In the area west of the abandoned car fort.
- Occasionally spawn around the Dunwich Building and will attack the yao guai that also spawns there.
- Can be occasionally found near Wheaton Armory.
Notes
- Deathclaw corpses contain a deathclaw hand, a component which can be used in creating a deathclaw gauntlet. However, when the hand is taken, the deathclaw will still have both hands.
- Deathclaws are classified as "abominations," and are therefore not affected by the Animal Friend perk.
- With Broken Steel installed, random encounters with deathclaws occur far more often. At higher levels, deathclaws can be commonly seen traveling in pairs.
- Crippling a deathclaw's leg slows it down and also prevents it from using its leaping attack, thus decreasing its combat effectiveness. Crippling a leg also slows a deathclaw down more than it does most other wasteland creatures, because deathclaws are bipeds rather than quadrupeds.
- If the player remains hidden at the Enclave outpost near Dukov's Place, the Enclave deathclaw will usually go berserk and attack the Enclave soldiers, even without the jammer.
Appearances
Deathclaws appear in Fallout 3 and in the Fallout 3 add-on Broken Steel.
Bugs
- Deathclaws occasionally fly off into the sky in a physics engine glitch. They can still be targeted and killed in V.A.T.S. which will result in their dead body flying across a large amount of land. [verified]
- A deathclaw may spawn inside Regulator HQ and attack everyone. It will continue to spawn in this manner after the first time this happens. [verified]
- When using the deathclaw control scrambler, it is possible for them to not follow the player, but die automatically. [verified]
- A deathclaw may spawn inside Tenpenny Tower and attack everyone. It will continue to spawn in this manner after the first time this happens. [verified]
- A deathclaw may spawn inside Megaton and will kill everyone. However, the deathclaw will not be hostile towards the player. This problem can be fixed by removing the deathclaw from the game with console commands. [verified]
Sounds
- Forward attacking deathclaw
Gallery
References
- ↑ Joseph: "Well, let's see... Deathclaws appear to be mutated Jackson's Chameleons, the horned variety. There are a lot of similar characteristics still present, but an even greater number of differences. The mutation factor is quite high. This species is highly intelligent, about the equivalent of an eight-year-old, with some individuals reaching human normal level. Their learning capacity is very high and they are capable of abstract thought and reasoning."
(Joseph's dialogue) - ↑ Lone Wanderer: "Dying? How awful! What happened to you?"
Branchtender Linden: "I was a Brotherhood of Steel Outcast. We had a deep patrol out here, looking for some tech and then got jumped by some Deathclaws. They shredded everyone else and left me bleeding to death. If it wasn't for Oasis and Bloomseer Poplar, I'd be dead right now. Honestly, I've never seen anything like this place... it's beautiful. It's a shame only a few people will ever get to see it."
(Branchtender Linden's dialogue) - ↑ Raven Rock terminal entries; delivery terminal, Note Regarding Recent Delivery
