Grafton Monsters are creatures encountered in Appalachia in Fallout 76.
Background[]
Until the late 21st century, the "Grafton monster" was largely a figure of myth and an attractive quality of tourism for cryptid hunters traveling to the namesake Grafton, West Virginia. Around that time, however, myth was made flesh in the bowels of West-Tek's research center near Huntersville. Using the FEVS-006458 strain of the Forced Evolutionary Virus in experiments taking place on October 23, 2077, the scientists created a stable, if horrifying, mutation. Derived from the strain that created the mutant beasts known as the snallygasters, some engineered tweaks to the genome produced a violent, hulking giant of a mutant that shattered the containment unit, but was otherwise a stable case of FEV transformation (excepting the absence of a discernible head).[1] Once initial studies were over, the newborn "monster" was sedated and loaded up to be transported off-site discreetly. Mid-transport, the outbreak of the Great War caused the convoy to run off the road after the blinding flash of the bombs disoriented the truck driver, crashing the vehicle and allowing the creature to escape into the wild.[2]
Characteristics[]
Another horrid creation of West-Tek's research into genetic manipulation, the Grafton monster is headless, hairless and has a grayish color skin with a leathery texture. It stands around 7.5 feet (2.3 meters) tall and has an oversized chest. The mutations that turned it into a powerhouse have also turned its skin and led to the development of glands that can eject globs of corrosive, oily substance in a wide area around it.[3] A large, hulking monster, its size limits its ability to maneuver into tight spaces. It will generally be hostile towards nearby creatures as well as the player character.
Biology[]
The Grafton Monster is a gigantic, hairless gray creature with a disproportionately large upper torso and arms, stumpy legs and enormous three-fingered fists. Its head is non-distinct, seemingly tucked beneath the bulk of its shoulder muscles, which makes it rather difficult to make successful headshots on the creature. It was once human before it was horribly mutated by an experimental FEV strain.
Gameplay attributes[]
A creature that can be quick for its size, it will use its arms as well as its legs to hurl itself towards a target. It can stun the player character for a few seconds. Also, it will launch projectiles (a black liquid) or throw giant rocks similar to super mutant behemoths. The huge blowholes on the shoulders of the Grafton Monster are its weakest point.
| Body parts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part | Dmg Mult | Health | Hit chance | ||
| Blowholes | 2.0 | 60 | 40% | ||
| Torso | 1.0 | 80 | 60% | ||
| Left arm | 1.0 | 75 | 40% | ||
| Right arm | 1.0 | 75 | 40% | ||
| Left leg | 1.0 | 80 | 50% | ||
| Right leg | 1.0 | 80 | 50% | ||
Variants[]
Grafton Monster[]
The most common variant of the monster.
| Name (Form ID) | Base Statistics | Behavior | Abilities | Items | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grafton Monster 001199E6 |
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| Enraged Grafton Monster 0000E8D6 |
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Prime Grafton Monster Primal Cuts (Toxic Valley)005536FF |
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Parasitic Grafton Monster[]
This Grafton Monster is infected with parasites and suffering from deep, seeping lesions. It is wrapped in green and orange vines. It is often called in as a reinforcement for the strangler heart during Heart of the Swamp or as the alpha predator in Project Paradise.
| Name (Form ID) | Base Statistics | Behavior | Abilities | Items | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parasitic Grafton Monster 004EC624 |
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| Strangler Grafton Monster Heart of the Swamp 004EC624 |
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| Alpha Grafton Monster Project Paradise 004EC624 |
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Scorched Grafton Monster[]
A Grafton Monster under the effects of the Scorched Plague. This variant was only encountered on the Nuclear Winter Morgantown map.
| Name (Form ID) | Base Statistics | Behavior | Abilities | Items | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scorched Grafton Monster  004EC624 |
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Cut variants[]
NPC_ - [004EC625] <EncGraftonScorched> "Scorched Grafton Monster"- NPC_ - [005C4F26] <zzz_LvlGrafton_Prime> "Prime Grafton Monster"
- NPC_ - [00128905] <TestGraftonScorched> "Grafton Monster"
Locations[]
- One will always appear near the Charleston Trainyard.
- One will always appear east of the Charleston Capitol Building by the dam.
- South of Hemlock Holes.
- Can sometimes appear in the garden area between the Whitespring Resort and the Whitespring Golf Club.
- One has a chance to appear in the toxic dried lakebed.
- During the Grafton Day event in Grafton.
- An alpha variant can appear as a boss at the end of the event Project Paradise.
- A prime variant will appear as the final boss of the event Primal Cuts in the Toxic Valley.
- Has a one in six chance of spawning as the cryptid in the daily event Queen of the Hunt.
- During The Ol' Weston Shuffle.
Notes[]
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An Atomic Shop image for a Grafton Monster poster depicts it between two art deco faces above a player performing the Mothman Found! photomode pose. - In Nuclear Winter mode, a Grafton Monster would often appear in the final minutes of the match to create chaos between the survivors.
Appearances[]
Grafton Monsters appear only in Fallout 76.
Behind the scenes[]
- One of many cryptids that appear in real-world West Virginia folklore, the Grafton Monster is a popular myth that started in the namesake Grafton, West Virginia, when it was allegedly spotted in 1964 by a man driving his car.
- The design of the Grafton monster in Fallout 76 strongly resembles a Gehenna, a creature that would have appeared in Van Buren, the canceled Fallout 3 by Black Isle Studios.
- The late Ferret Baudoin was a developer on both games, though any input he had in the creation of the Grafton monster's appearance in the released game is unknown.
Gallery[]
Video[]
References[]
- ↑ West Tek research center terminal entries: "Report: Test Subject AM53"
- ↑ John Bunton's holotape
- ↑ Grafton Monster characteristics.