Assaultron (Fallout 4)

Assaultrons are a type of robot encountered in the Commonwealth in Fallout 4.

Background
The Assaultron was constructed by RobCo Industries and sold to the United States military as a frontline wartime combatant as early as 2072. It is fast and deadly at close range and employs a devastating laser at a distance. Some units can even employ stealth technology. It also has the ability to utilize EMP shielding to protect itself from electromagnetic disturbances. They are quick, nimble and customizable, with a variety of weaponry such as lasers and razor-sharp claws. An Assaultron will not stop until its core is damaged: even after losing limbs and pieces of machinery, it continues to fight on. Some Assaultrons are equipped with bombs set to detonate if they are destroyed.

In terms of design, the Assaultron is intended for melee combat and survivability. To that end, it was designed using proven, reliable technologies, with actuators, chain-powered limbs and other simple, rugged solutions, covered in thick armor plating. Modular arms allow for swapping out its loadout depending on the mission profile, with the most typical one being a combination of claws and blades. Once in range, it grabs onto targets with its claws, then twists to tear armor, flesh and bone alike. Long, slender legs powered by a combination of hydraulic actuators and springs allow it to close distance with high speed. The crown jewel is the head laser, mounted in its center and capable of devastating the opposition when fully charged. For protection, its red lens is surrounded by thick armor plates and distracts from the optical receptors hidden at the top of the head. The end result is a lightweight, fast and highly durable combat robot that excels in close quarters combat. Its disadvantage is that it's a pure combat design: It has a decent carrying capacity, but well below that of the other designs.

Heavily modified Assaultrons are know to traverse the Commonwealth, ranging from those with Protectron heads to better make use of laser weapons to those that replace their legs with a Mr. Handy thruster for even more speed and wield dual Shishkababs in place of claws. There are also secondhand makeshift armor designs that give the Assaultron a fearsome visage. Furthermore, raiders are known to adapt robot armor for their own use, including Assaultron head armor, from which they create Assaultron helmets. As for the heads themselves, some non-functioning units still contain a functioning laser, which those desperate enough to endure the subsequent radiation poisoning can use as a handheld weapon.

Characteristics
The assaultron's body bears some striking resemblance to a female figure, coincidental or not, with prominent hips and chest, the latter appearing to house additional servos for the robot's arms, hinting at their strength in melee combat. They are highly aggressive, fast and most will attack the Sole Survivor on sight, usually using their claw-like hands in melee. An assaultron's head houses an incredibly powerful laser that requires charging up before being fired. The assaultron's face will become surrounded by red electric energy when it is charging its laser beam attack, after which a great laser burst will be unleashed, doing serious damage to anyone who is caught in it. The dominator variant of the assaultron is also equipped with a stealth field.

An assaultron's laser can be halted or avoided by using Jet and stepping out of the way, killing it or doing enough damage to its head. If it is allowed to charge its laser all the way, and if not blocked by an object, it will inflict devastating amounts of damage on its hapless target, often killing even high-level characters or NPCs in seconds. The fact that assaultrons take reduced damage from headshots only serves to compound their main weapon's threat potential; however, one can cripple the head, thus removing its ability to use its head laser.

Assaultrons' weak points are their legs. However, when these are destroyed, the assaultrons will continue to pursue the target by crawling on the ground. After taking sufficient damage, they will charge a potentially deadly explosion as a last desperate attempt to eliminate the target. Killing them before they can activate it will result in a normal death.

Legendary assaultrons will invariably detonate violently, similar to a mini nuke blast, approximately two seconds after they are destroyed.

On lower levels, they can be very difficult to face head-on, due to their fast speed and powerful attacks. A low-level player character may have difficulties killing or crippling the assaultron before it can get into melee range or charge its lethal laser attack, especially if the assaultron is backed up by additional enemies. One ability they have is being able to sidestep, making them difficult to hit, especially with semi-automatic weapons. While their laser is fully charged they are also capable of grabbing an opponent at close range and firing their laser directly into the victim's head, which is a virtually assured death sentence.

Assaultrons' Perception seems to be significantly higher than other enemies', making them difficult to sneak up on and hack without maxed-out Sneak skills, corresponding armor and/or using a Stealth Boy.

Assaultron
Deadly, especially for the unprepared, the assaultron is among the most fearsome robotic enemies in the game. While their usual unarmed attacks are already a challenge for some, the real danger from these enemies comes from their charged laser weapons. The laser cannon that doubles as its head can usually disintegrate victims on contact. Making matters worse, dodging the weapon can prove difficult since the size of the laser engulfs anything in front of it. Luckily the charge up for this weapon is long and given away by a large emission of light coming off the assaultron's face, along with a constant charging sound. A fast fighter may be able to kill it quickly or even get behind it while its firing animation is going.

Assaultron invader
Invaders have a larger health pool and electrified hands that stun and do energy damage in addition to their regular melee damage. A blue glow can be seen around their hands even after death.

Assaultron dominator
The dominator variant has a powerful attack that consists of stabbing the target's torso with two swords simultaneously and spreading its arms outwards, typically resulting in a one-hit kill against low leveled or low armored player characters. The blades on its arms give its unarmed attacks considerably more power while its head laser will still be aimed at its target. The dominator's true danger is its unique stealth capability, making it difficult to target, especially in V.A.T.S., before it gets into melee range.

Gunner assaultron
The Gunner assaultron is the same as the basic assaultron, except it has the Gunners symbol painted on its chest, in place of the star and USA markings. They are frequently found at Gunner bases and outposts.

Gunner assaultron invader
The Gunner assaultron invader is the same as the assaultron invader, except it has the Gunners symbol painted on its chest, in place of the star and USA markings. It is frequently found in Gunners bases and outposts.

Gunner assaultron dominator
The Gunner assaultron dominator is the same as the assaultron dominator, except it has the Gunners symbol painted on its chest, in place of the star and USA markings. One replaces Tessa after she is killed in the Quincy ruins.

Assaultron devil
Assaultron devils are a modified variant of the assaultron created by the Rust Devils. It is weaker than the normal variant. Their hands are replaced with construction claws and they are covered in scrap armor.

Assaultron demon
Assaultron demons are a modified variant of the Assaultron created by the Rust Devils.

Assaultron succubus
Assaultron succubi are a modified variant of the Assaultron created by the Rust Devils. A powerful opponent that usually has a skull mask.

Assaultron hag
Assaultron hags are a modified variant of the Assaultron created by the Rust Devils. They are equipped with a shishkebab and gamma gun.

Assaultron gorgon
Assaultron gorgons are a modified variant of the Assaultron and are created by the Rust Devils. Wielding two shishkebabs, they are the most powerful Assaultron variants of all.

One can be found with Ivey in Fort Hagen hangar and others can sometimes be seen with Rust Devil patrols.

Novatron
Novatrons are the base Nuka World variation of an assaultron. They can be found in the Galactic Zone in Nuka-World, and more specifically in the RobCo Battlezone. Additionally, two can be found on pillars guarding the entrance outside. Instead of a claw, a space laser replaces one of the hands.

Novatron invader
The Novatron Invader is an upgraded version of the Novatron. They can be found in the Galactic Zone in Nuka-World, in the RobCo Battlezone.

Novatron dominator
The Novatron dominator is an upgraded version of the Novatron, the Nuka-World variation of the assaultron. They can be found in the Galactic Zone in Nuka-World, in the RobCo Battlezone.

Novatron initiator
The Novatron initiator is an upgraded version of the Novatron, the Nuka-World variation of the assaultron. They can be found in the Galactic Zone in Nuka-World, in the RobCo Battlezone.

Novatron eliminator
The Novatron eliminator is an upgraded version of the Novatron, the Nuka-World variation of the assaultron. The Novatron eliminator is the strongest variation of the Novatron and assaultron and can be found in the RobCo Battlezone, in the Galactic Zone of Nuka-World.

Locations

 * One leveled Assaultron always spawns in the FEV-Labs in the Institute.
 * They often spawn near military installations and tend to move around a lot because of their high attack range. When left alone they can often be seen engaging wasteland creatures.
 * One Assaultron (along with a Mister Gutsy and sometimes a sentry bot) is found on the road leading to Nahant, wandering around the small pile of shipping containers.
 * They often spawn as a part of a Gunner patrol, providing frontline offense while the Gunners attack from a distance. One can almost always be found at the Mass Pike Interchange atop the freeway.
 * An assaultron will attack the Sole Survivor alongside a sentry bot atop of the 35 Court building after they approach the central locked chamber, which contains leveled power armor.
 * One can be found with the Gunners at the Quincy ruins, and will usually replace Tessa if the ruins have been cleared out already.
 * Two are found in front of Vault 95, and another is located inside.
 * One can be found in the Hesters Consumer Robotics workshop, along with two protectrons.
 * Two Assaultrons will attack the Sole Survivor along with a sentry bot and two protectrons after getting the Beryllium Agitator during Mass Fusion/Spoils of War.
 * One Assaultron (and a Mister Gutsy) guards a wrecked military convoy on the road between Breakheart Banks and the Slog.
 * One Assaultron is used as an activatable trap in the cellar of the Electrical Hobbyist's Club.
 * One Novatron can be found inside Vault-Tec: Among the Stars, in a master-locked room next to the living quarters.
 * Two Novatrons can be found outside the RobCo Battlezone. Ther are more inside the Battlezone.

Appearances
Assaultrons appear in Fallout 4 and its add-ons Automatron and ''Nuka-World.