For the raiders that appear in Fallout 3, see Raiders (Fallout 3). For the raiders that appear in Fallout 4, see Raiders (Fallout 4). |
Raiders, sometimes referred to as bandits, are any group of wastelanders who pillage, plunder, murder, or otherwise ruin the day of anyone unfortunate enough to not be one of them. Raiders tend to organize into loose confederations of gangs in the post-apocalyptic wasteland and are a constant problem. Raiders typically prey upon travelers and very small towns, leaving more populous or larger areas alone.
Raider groups can be found nearly everywhere in the wasteland. Most are short-lived and loosely-organized gangs barely scraping out a living, typically without any real driving purpose beyond thrills and survival; though some, such as the Khans and the 80s, last long enough to form tribal connections and a unique culture based on raiding.[1]
Core Region
2160s
Besides a great number of raider gangs encountered throughout New California, there are three distinct raider groups referenced by the first Fallout: Jackals, Vipers, and Khans, although only the last one appears in the actual game. All three groups originated from Vault 15.
- The Jackals: The first clan, the Jackals, are a typical group of crazies. They have no morals, and only one goal: survival. They use group tactics to overpower their enemies. They band together in their hideaway and fight over the spoils.
- The Vipers: The second clan, the Vipers, are mysterious followers of ancient religion. They usually only come out at night to hunt for food or to conduct raids. They are ruthless in combat and prefer stealth to strength. They usually carry bone knives dipped in Pit Viper venom, which, when in the bloodstream, paralyzes the victim. Most victims captured in this way are taken back to their hideout.
- The Khans: The last clan, the Khans, are probably the most dangerous and resourceful of the three Raider clans. They live the lifestyles of Mongol warriors, raiding towns, burning what they cannot take and capturing the survivors for use as slaves. They usually travel in small scouting bands, but sometimes they roam as full war parties. The Khans above all else respect strength. They are eager in combat to prove their worthiness to the clan by engaging in hand-to-hand combat with fists or clubs. The Khans carry very few firearms. Anyone showing superior strength is worthy of their respect.
2240s
There are numerous different groups of raiders in Fallout 2, which are still a common sight in the wasteland, but only a few groups played quite a major role.
- Bishop's mercenaries: Operating out of a cave north of Broken Hills, protected by raised plates, falling traps and barbed wire-walls with locked and trapped doors. They were not true raiders, but mercenaries hired by the Bishop family of New Reno with arms supplied by the New California Republic. They merely posed as raiders to pressure Vault City to accept annexation by the NCR. They reside in the mercenaries' cave.
- The New Khans: Reappearing in the second game, they are led by the only survivor of the original group. They are hiding out inside the secretive corridors of the ruined Vault 15, protected by squatters. Their leader Darion is paranoid and ridden with survivor's guilt about being the sole survivor of the original Khans who were wiped out by the Vault Dweller. As a result, they carry out many attacks on caravans and towns and, under Darion's orders, are extra fierce against the NCR.
- Yakuza: Japanese-style raider gangs could be encountered during travels, armed with traditional swords.
2281
By the events of Fallout: New Vegas there is little information on raider life in New California. It is mentioned by many characters, such as Cass and Dale Barton that it is much more dangerous when traveling in California than territories controlled by Caesar, indicating that raiders may still have a presence on the west coast.
Midwest
The following is based on information from Fallout Tactics. |
There are many raider gangs throughout the territory of Chicago. The majority of these raiders are well organized, because of a need to become one faction: the presence of Brotherhood of Steel, super mutants and Calculator's robots. They are cruel, sadistic people who are usually found near the eastern part of the region, far from super mutants and robots. There are several notable groups present.
- The Main Faction: The faction was formed after four major raider leaders of the region (Luke Daniels, Bo Duffy, Daisy-May Gomer, and Jesse Gomer) forged an alliance to become stronger in order to fight their overpowering enemies. Their main base where the leaders hold their meetings is Rock Falls.
- Gang of Devil's Graveyard: Powerful gang of raiders led by a man known as Gargantua. Their base is a place called Devil's Graveyard.
- Gang of Macomb: A gang which was formed to assault strangers around Macomb, a town suffering because of famine. These raiders are looking for food and use roofs as cover.
- Ghoul-haters: This group is actually an extremist party, dedicated to the extermination of ghouls. They took over Springfield because the mayor claimed that ghouls are equal to normal, smoothskin people.
End of information based on information from Fallout Tactics |
Texas
The following is based on information from Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel. |
In Texas, only one known gang of raiders exists, but it is very large and powerful, being de facto rulers of the land. However, they have become but puppets to Attis, who use them to capture slaves for him. Their base is an old mill located in the town of Carbon, which is completely under their control aided by the Mayor who keeps them happy. The gang is unique because of its matriarchal rule, with female lieutenants and the main leader is known as Jane, Raider Matron. The gang wears a yellow emblem on their clothes to differentiate themselves from outsiders. Aside from normal weapons, the Carbon Raiders are well known for using killer dogs and special flamethrower weaponry. They have the ability to brew alcohol on radioactive subsistences.
End of information based on information from Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel |
Capital Wasteland
The raiders of Capital Wasteland are mostly hostile, lawless, chem-addled ruffians who roam the wastes of the Washington, D.C. area. They have little in common with the raider clans of the West Coast, except for the Fiends of the Mojave Wasteland. They are encountered in smaller groups and are armed with a fairly wide range of weaponry. They can occasionally be found hunting with guard dogs as well. All raiders wear some form of raider armor (though not at raider brothels in places like Evergreen Mills) and have dirty skin. The raiders of the Capital Wasteland have no central leader, leaders being at the level of individual gangs. However, in The Pitt, Ashur rules over a whole army of raiders.
Raiders have no alliances with other factions and will attack everyone but other raiders or slavers. They appear to be quite cruel, as places they inhabit are usually filled with the mutilated bodies of other raiders and wastelanders, implying that they torture captured enemies and occasionally their own.
The largest known band of raiders has set up a crude city in Evergreen Mills. This well-defended canyon gives them a base of operations. Rumor has it that they trade with slavers, selling their captives for cash.[1]
Mojave Wasteland
The mountains provide a surprising amount of cover, especially the rock-strewn washes that run east-west just south of Nelson. This is the perfect location for packs of anarchic hunters, grifters and psychotics to wait for an opportunity to steal, kidnap or kill. These loosely-knit raider gangs revel in chaos and anarchy. The Jackals are no more than a handful of scarred and tattooed reprobates, scraping out a living by preying on anything weaker than them. The slightly more organized Viper gang consist of a more skilled collection of ne'er-do-wells, dug in close to major roads to rob and plunder travelers and merchant caravans. Further north are two much more pitiful gangs, who have lost their brethren (both in violence, or by recruitment) to the Fiends; the Greaser gang who terrorize the North Vegas sewers, and the Scorpions, who fight intermittent skirmishes with Westside residents. There are also two other major raider groups: the Fiends and the drug-making and trafficking Great Khans. All these raiders have little driving purpose or goal, other than to live to see tomorrow and raise as much hell as possible in the present.[2]
The Commonwealth
In the Commonwealth, raiders are more organized than seen previously. Raiders are now more technologically advanced and can utilize machine gun turrets and automatic spotlights - some raider leaders have even re-purposed power armor for themselves. However, raiders in the Commonwealth do not have a centralized organization and are split into several groups. According to terminals and dialogue, some of these groups antagonize each other, while some stay out of each other's way. For example, Red Tourette's group has constant skirmishes against Tower Tom's crew.
These raiding groups rarely have set names and are mostly referred to by their leaders, with some exceptions like the Forged and the L&L Gang, a loose alliance of raider gangs. Raiders seem to follow an unspoken chain of command, though not as structured as the Gunners.
The Nuka-World raiders are a completely different story from the Commonwealth raider gangs, as they are far more organized and better equipped. This loose triumvirate consists of the Operators, a mob-style gang driven by monetary gain; the Disciples, a highly sadistic and bloodthirsty gang that revel in murdering and torturing victims for sport; and the Pack, which, as the name suggests, follow an animal pack-based system and have an affinity for brightly colored armor and clothes. All three gangs follow an overall leader or "overboss." The current overboss is Colter.
In Fallout 4, raiders can be heard conversing with each other, sometimes telling stories or joking with each other. The members also seem to have close bonds with one another as they often get enraged when some of their comrades are killed. Notes and terminals also show that raiders care more about each other (e.g. Intervention note) though they still possess the same bloodthirstiness that raiders have in Fallout 3.
Raiders, like many factions, do not treat synths and the Railroad favorably. Most notable is the L&L gang, who have a reputation to be violent towards synths. This is evidenced by the mass-graves of Railroad operatives in Kendall Hospital, an ex-Railroad safehouse now controlled by raiders.
Raiders earn protection money from Bunker Hill caravans and spend money in places like Combat Zone, a raider-only bar, showhouse and wrestling ring.
Appalachia
Notable members
Fallout 3
- Junders Plunkett
- Lug-Nut
- Lag-Bolt (Talon Company)
- Madame
- Rocksalt
- Ryan Brigg
- Sam Warrick
- Smiling Jack
- Split Jack
- Torcher
- The Wanderer
- Bethesda ruins raider boss
- Springvale school raider leader
- Springvale school raider miniboss
- Northern shack raider
- Northern shack raider's partner
- Southern shack raider
- The Pitt
- Lord Ishmael Ashur
- Sandra Kundanika
- Everett
- Bingo
- Bone
- Duke
- Faydra
- Friday
- Gruber
- Hammer
- Harris
- Jackson
- Krenshaw
- Lulu
- Mex
- Mona
- O-Dog
- Phantom
- Reddup
- Spook
- Squill
- Trouble Man
- Vikia
Fallout: New Vegas
- Motor-Runner
- Cook-Cook
- Daniel
- Duke
- Driver Nephi
- Violet
- Vault 3 fiend boss
- Vault 3 fiend guard
- Violetta (Fiend dog)
- BoneGnash (Fiend dog)
- GhashBone (Fiend dog)
- Yvette
- Roller
- Greasy Johnny
- Viper leaders
- Jackal gang leaders
- NHPS Jackal gang leader
- Prospector's Den Jackal gang leader
- Nipton Road pit stop Jackal gang leader
- Papa Khan
- Regis
- Jessup
- McMurphy
- Anders
- Diane
- Jack
- Jerry the Punk
- Melissa Lewis
- Oscar Velasco
- Great Khan armorer
Fallout 4
- Ack-Ack
- Avery
- Bear
- Bedlam
- Big Maude
- Boomer
- Bosco
- Bull
- Chancer
- Cinder
- Clutch
- Cutty
- Demo
- Eager Ernie (Triggermen)
- Gabriel
- Gaff
- Gouger
- Gristle
- Gruel
- Helter Skelter
- James Wire
- Jared
- Johnny T. Walters
- Kendra
- Lefty
- Lucky Tatum
- Northy
- Rags
- Red Tourette
- Regi Blattaria
- Captain Sally
- Scutter
- Simon
- Simone
- Sinjin
- Skrap Rat
- Slab
- Slag
- Slough
- Smiling Kate
- Sparta
- Stevie Buchanan
- Sully Mathis
- Tammy Mac
- The Bruiser
- Tower Tom
- Tweez
- Walter
- Wayne Delancy
- Whiplash
- Wolfgang
- Judge Zeller
- Ivey
- Ahab (Rust Devils sentry bot)
- Trappers
- Nuka-World
- Sabine
- Sinner
- Wretch
- Overboss Colter
- Porter Gage
- Shank
- Mags Black
- William Black
- Lizzie Wyath
- Nisha
- Dixie
- Savoy
- Mason
- Creation Club
Fallout 76
- Wastelanders
- Meg Groberg
- Ae-Ri
- Aldridge
- Axel
- Batter
- Blackeye
- Bruiser
- Caleb Fisher
- Creed
- Davey
- Deathklaus
- Fishbones
- Gail
- Glenn
- Hal Gleeson
- Jacky
- Johnny Weston
- Lev
- Lucky Lou
- Maximum Maddie
- Molly
- Mortimer
- Munch
- Ra-Ra
- Raf
- Rocksy
- Ronny
- Roper
- Sargento
- Surge
- Weasel
- Wren
- Blood Eagles
Fallout Shelter
- Beef Slam Bednarski
- Big Wes
- Boss McScrooge
- Coach
- Cruddy Bonez
- Frank the Tank
- Hatchet O'Houlihan
- Khan Killian
- Marcus Hammer
- Mastiff Muldoon
- Paula Plumbkin
- Regina Rage
- Road Rash
- Rubarb
- Sally Switchblade
- Slugger
Others
- Mr. Bosley
- Caleb Smith (formerly)
- Carl Everett
- Corin
- David Thorpe (formerly)
- Edie Stevens
- Erris
- Freddie Lang (formerly)
- Hadrian
- Mr. Henrick
- Hugo
- Ian
- Jack
- Jaime Palabras (formerly)
- Jericho (formerly)
- Jim
- Kath
- Ken Standish
- Kerry
- Luke Silverhand
- Margie McClintock
- Mercy (formerly)
- Milo
- Morris Stevens (formerly)
- Ricca
- Rosalynn Jeffries
- Rowdy (formerly)
- Scabby
- Sykes
- Tad
- Tanya Standish
- Tara Fields
- Various Appalachian raiders
- Walter Griswold
- Wernher (formerly)
- Weylan
- Zane
Appearances
Raiders appear in all Fallout games and are mentioned in the Fallout Bible.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p.42: "Raiders
Chaos and anarchy. Or if you prefer, anarchy and chaos. Raiders revel in both. Numerous Raider groups dot the wasteland. Most are no more than a handful of people scraping out a living by preying on anything weaker than them. They have no driving purpose or goal, other than to live to see tomorrow and raise as much hell as possible today.
The largest known band of Raiders has set up a crude city in Evergreen Mills. This well-defended canyon gives them a base of operations. Rumor has it they trade with Slavers, selling their captives for cash."
(Fallout 3 Official Game Guide faction profiles) - ↑ Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p.44: "Raider: Greaser Gang
Raider: Jackal Gang
Raider: Scorpion Gang
Raider: Viper Gang
The Joshua Tree-speckled mountains provide a surprising amount of cover, especially the rock-strewn washes that run east-west just south of Nelson. This is the perfect location for packs of anarchic hunters, grifters, and psychotics to wait for an opportunity to steal, kidnap, or kill. These loosely-knit Raider gangs revel in chaos and anarchy. The Jackals are no more than a handful of scarred and tattooed reprobates, scraping out a living by praying on anything weaker than them. The (slightly) more more organized Viper Gang consists of a slightly more skilled collection of ne'er-do-wells, dug in close to major roads to rob and plunder travellersIcon sic.png and Merchant Caravans. Further north, are two much more pitiful gangs, who have lost their brethren (both in violence, or by recruitment) to the Fiends; the stinking Greaser Gang who terrorize the North Vegas Sewers, and the Scorpion Gang, who fight intermittent skirmishes with Westside residents. All these Raiders have no driving purpose or goal, other than to live to see tomorrow and raise as much hell as possible today."
(Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide faction profiles)