Gatorclaws are creatures encountered in the Safari Adventure park in Nuka-World in the Fallout 4 add-on Nuka-World.
Background[]
The gatorclaws were the unwitting creation of Dr. Darren McDermot, a biologist working at a replication facility beneath the welcome center of the Nuka-World's Safari Adventure park.[1] Ghoulified by radiation after the Great War, he sustained himself using the Nuka-Gen replicator to clone tissue samples and grow them for food.[2]
When McDermot noticed scavengers encroaching on his home, he became determined to create a specimen that could protect him and the facility.[3] Even after admitting that he was going against his better judgment, he spliced a few of the more dangerous tissue samples he had left in the refrigeration storage at the facility.[3]
While scavenging for food and supplies, the doctor stumbled across the remains of a super mutant that had been killed in a firefight.[4] Taking a sample that he dubbed Sample Q334, the doctor set to work trying to incorporate the FEV-enhanced genetics into his new guardian despite the sample's admitted instability.[4]
After a few years filled with mathematical and chemical research, Dr. McDermot was able to finalize a sample and finally create something that could protect Safari Adventure and the Nuka-Gen replicator: the gatorclaw, a genetic mishmash of the DNA of the Jackson's chameleon, the American alligator, and the FEV-mutated sample.[5][6] However, as he discovered soon after, the creatures were not only incredibly hostile but uncontrollable, and the first few creations attacked and mauled him.[6]
Mortally wounded by his creations, McDermot was forced to flee before he could shut the replicator down, thus leaving it active and creating hordes of new gatorclaws at "an alarming rate."[6] The doctor managed to record a final message pleading with anybody who found it to correct his mistake by reaching the cloning lab and deactivating the replicator before the gatorclaws could spread beyond the park; the message was ultimately left with the wildman Cito after McDermot fled to the primate house and expired from his wounds there.[6] While he did not know why they were appearing, Cito took up the defense of his "family" of ghoulrillas and began a campaign of slaughter against the gatorclaws, though he eventually found himself in an uphill battle due to the cloning machine's rapid reproduction of the creatures.[7]
Characteristics[]
Biology[]
Identical in posture and general anatomy to the deathclaw, the gatorclaw has minor physiological traits that reflect its namesake genetic donor, the American alligator, including an elongated, sock-like head and lack of a deathclaw's horns. Its back and tail are protected by heavy platelike scutes, lined on either side by dull spikes, and its claws are very short and more robust than its untampered counterparts. A gatorclaw's skin complexion is a dull forest green, contrasting sharply with a pale grayish underbelly. In some places, they can be observed lying flat on their belly in the same manner that alligators do.
Gatorclaws have a glottis like a deathclaw but lack a tongue; despite this, they will still perform the same idle animation as deathclaws wherein they "taste" the air with their tongue, though in the gatorclaw's case, only appears to sniff with their nose.
Gameplay attributes[]
The gatorclaw's overall behavior is the same as that of the deathclaw, including walk cycles, attack animations and idle animations. It will still use its claws to attack despite having an ideal jaw structure for biting attacks, however, it does not appear to have the ability to use grabbing attacks unlike deathclaws.
The 21 gatorclaws encountered in Safari Adventure during the associated quest are the only gatorclaws in the game, and once the quest is over, they will not respawn; instead, if reactivated, the cloning machine will endlessly spawn gazelles with no way to end or change the process. This also renders their unique loot, including their meat, hands, and hides, as finite resources.
Variants[]
Gatorclaw[]
The most common variety of the gatorclaw, a total of 20 can be found all over Safari Adventure.
| Name (Form ID) | Statistics | Behavior | Abilities | Items | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gatorclaw xx00D357 |
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Albino gatorclaw[]
The albino variant is much rarer and stronger than the basic gatorclaw. One can be encountered in the Safari Adventure cloning facility's lower level.
| Name (Form ID) | Statistics | Behavior | Abilities | Items | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albino gatorclaw xx00EFF0 |
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Notes[]
- With the Wasteland Whisperer perk, the Sole Survivor uses the same line as when pacifying deathclaws, referring to the gatorclaws as "girl."[8]
- Commonwealth companions will still refer to gatorclaws as deathclaws in combat.
Appearances[]
Gatorclaws appear in the Fallout 4 add-on Nuka-World and Fallout: Wasteland Warfare.
Gallery[]
See also[]
- Mutant crocodile from the canceled game Fallout Tactics 2.
References[]
- ↑ Welcome Center terminal entries; Dr. McDermot's terminal, Journal Entry XX-32-999 (Date Out of Range)
- ↑ Dr. McDermot's journal 53L
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Dr. McDermot's journal 69H
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Welcome Center terminal entries; Dr. McDermot's terminal, Journal Entry XX-21-999 (Date Out of Range)
- ↑ Welcome Center terminal entries; Dr. McDermot's terminal, Journal Entry XX-32-999 (Date Out of Range)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Dr. McDermot's journal 91W
- ↑ The Sole Survivor: "Well, it can't hurt you anymore, Cito."
Cito: "No. Many more Monster. No stop. Cito kill Monster. New Monster come. Cito kill Monster again. New Monster come again."
(Cito's dialogue) - ↑ The Sole Survivor: "Ho ho, now girl. It's all right."
(Nate's/Nora's dialogue)