Deathclaw (Fallout 3)

Deathclaws are an enormously large, agile, and strong species of mutant chameleons created through genetic engineering. They are substantially larger than a human, and have large and dangerous claws. However, due to mutation, they have lost their camouflage ability.

Background
The deathclaws were originally created before the Great War by the United States Military in order to replace humans during high-risk close-combat search-and-destroy missions. They were Jackson's Chameleons, genetically modified with the DNA of various other species.

Biology
Deathclaws are humanoid reptiles that stand roughly 10 feet tall on digitigrade legs, with teeth, curved horns, and long, sharp claws that can kill the player and other creatures in only a few swipes, hence their name. Their thick flesh is a pale brown, with sinewy muscles and dark blue veins bulging throughout. They have short, bony tails and three spines jutting from their backs.

Tactics
The Dart gun is possibly one of the best anti-Deathclaw weapons in the game (at least for a first shot). Its ability to cripple the legs makes them far less dangerous, as they are easy to outrun when crippled, as well as easier to hit.

If the player has obtained the Alien blaster or Firelance both of these weapons inflict heavy damage on deathclaws.

Gatling lasers are extremely effective against them as well.

Locations
Deathclaws do not spawn inside the DC Metro area, although the Enclave may bring them in after The Waters of Life.
 * Random encounter locations
 * With Broken Steel installed, random encounters with deathclaws occur far more often. At higher levels, deathclaws can be commonly seen traveling in pairs.
 * The Deathclaw Sanctuary
 * Old Olney
 * The F. Scott Key Trail & Campground
 * West of Canterbury Commons
 * Outside, inside, and near Raven Rock
 * Around the west side of Mason Dixon Salvage
 * Inside a hangar and the mobile base crawler at Adams Air Force Base
 * Outside the Regulator Headquarters (through the use of an accidental glitch.)
 * An Enclave deathclaw spawns near Dukov's Place.

Enclave Deathclaws
Deathclaws make appearances as Enclave camps begin to appear. These camps are likely to house caged mind-controlled Deathclaws, which are just the same as regular ones with the exception that they will not attack Enclave forces. However, as the mind-control devices on their heads can be targeted, the potential to put them into a frenzy remains.

The Deathclaw Gauntlet
Deathclaw corpses contain a Deathclaw hand, a component which can be used in creating a Deathclaw Gauntlet. The Gauntlet is the strongest unarmed weapon in the game, having a (x5) critical multiplier and the unique property of ignoring target armor (damage resistance), which makes it as effective against an adversary in power armor as against an unarmored raider.

Bugs

 * Deathclaws occasionally fly off into the sky in a physics engine glitch.
 * A Deathclaw may spawn inside Regulator HQ and attack everyone. It will continue to spawn in this manner after the first time this happens.
 * Sometimes when using V.A.T.S. on a Deathclaw -especially with Sydney's 10mm "Ultra" SMG - the game may freeze after the first burst of shots. It'll return after a few minutes or not return at all.
 * In the Mothership Zeta, Deathclaws can, very rarely, spawn in the Cryo Lab.