Deathclaw (Fallout 4)

Deathclaws are extremely dangerous creatures found in the Commonwealth.

Characteristics
Deathclaws are tough and formidable melee combatants. Their appearance is also more detailed compared to their Fallout 3 and New Vegas predecessors, they have darker, scaled skin and longer horns and claws. Close inspection of their feet will reveal what appears to be a single enlarged toe claw on each foot, similar to prehistoric raptors. The Massachusetts deathclaws are more physically dynamic, showing abilities such as running on all fours when in combat, or climbing obstacles, behaviors never seen in the deathclaws of previous titles. Deathclaws can be found anywhere in the Commonwealth, but appear more frequently in the Glowing Sea.

Biology
Deathclaws are the result of a pre-War experiment that involved creating a mutation of the Jackson's Chameleon, along with several other species, to use as weapons on the battlefield. They are strong, agile predators that will attack the player character on sight. Their long and sharp claws are capable of inflicting great amounts of damage on the player character, sometimes deadly (hence their name).

Gameplay attributes
Deathclaws have a very high amount of health for creatures of their level and even the weakest variants can absorb hundreds of 5mm Minigun rounds before dying and potentially even survive a direct hit from a Fat Man mini nuke (without any damage boosting perks).

Deathclaws have the ability to instantly kill the Sole Survivor or other humanoid creatures, by grappling the player character by the neck and shoving its claws into their chest. This maneuver sometimes fails and results in the player character being dropped instead.

The instant kill can also be nullified by wearing any type of power armor (but will still inflict substantial damage to both the armor and the wearer's HP). Instead the deathclaw will grab the Sole Survivor and simply scratch, pummel or throw them as the armor in itself is too thick for the claws to penetrate. In addition; as with virtually all forms of damage sources; Deathclaws deal heavily reduced damage to the Sole Survivor with the power armor but can damage the armor plate segments at an alarming rate.

The Deathclaws have a substantial level of natural armor and are resistant to damage (particularly so to energy weapons) on their dark, scaled parts, leaving the belly as a weak spot which takes increased damage. However; it is not easy to actually hit this weak spot due to the fact that deathclaws usually charge at the Sole Survivor on four legs, leaving the belly well hidden. They can dodge gunshots and zigzag when charging an enemy shooting them, making them even harder to hit and their limbs are particularly difficult to cripple without the use of explosives (but should enough limbs actually be successfully crippled they will be unable to move or attack).

Variants
The variant that you encounter is based on your level. Different variations become increasingly more common the higher your level is. For example, where you might expect to encounter a normal Deathclaw, you might encounter an Alpha Deathclaw if your level is high enough.

Deathclaw
Normal Deathclaw, defaulted to level 22 they are highly dangerous for low level players and still present a challenge to higher level players. Deathclaws will charge the player while defending their weak belly with their head making it difficult to land a shot to the weak spot even in V.A.T.S.. It is advised to use V.A.T.S. when the Deathclaw exposes his chest, for example when he swings or when he is staggered.

Savage deathclaw
A Savage Deathclaw may be found in Museum of Witchcraft. The event is scripted and part of a side mission. The player can choose to fight but can also run away or sneak through it.

Albino deathclaw
The Albino Deathclaw is a rare version of the Deathclaw, his skin is pale and he is tougher to kill. Any deathclaw can be albino if the player level is high enough. Even with a high level - albino deathclaws are very rare.

Chameleon deathclaw
The Chameleon Deathclaw can turn invisible and is much tougher to kill than a normal Deathclaw. It seems to be one of the most dangerous types of Deathclaw.

Glowing deathclaw
The Glowing Deathclaw is a highly radiated version of a Deathclaw, a green light emits from inside of their body and they inflict radiation damage on top of the massive ballistic damage. A Glowing Deathclaw can be found on top of the Haymarket Mall and Robotics Pioneer Park, they can be found low as Level 25.

Alpha deathclaw
An Alpha Deathclaw can be encountered by flipping the breaker at the top of the tower in Lynn Woods and the roof of Haymarket Mall (2 may spawn on the roof).

Another location for the Alpha Deathclaw is the Glowing Sea.

Deathclaw matriarch
Matriarchs can be assumed to be the female version of the Alpha, but don't have any gameplay differences. Their horns curve out and down, compared to the Alpha's forward and up. A Deathclaw Matriarch can be found on top of the Haymarket Mall.

Legendary deathclaw
Any Deathclaw in the game has a chance to be a Legendary Deathclaw. This includes the variants of Deathclaw such as Alpha, Matriach or Savage.

Locations
Deathclaws can be encountered anywhere in The Commonwealth, but some locations are more frequent deathclaw hunting grounds than others. Down below is a list of possible deathclaw locations.
 * A scripted deathclaw can be encountered in Concord after obtaining the T-45 power armor
 * All over The Commonwealth (as a random encounter)
 * As a common enemy in The Glowing Sea.
 * On the top roof of Haymarket Mall
 * Two random encounters can be triggered by throwing the switch on top of the tower in Lynn Woods
 * One can be found guarding the entrance to Old Gullet sinkhole.
 * A scripted deathclaw can be encountered in the Museum of Witchcraft
 * A matriarch deathclaw can be encountered just south of Capsized factory on the top of a hill
 * A scripted deathclaw can be found in a tunnel off the gym area in the Boston mayoral shelter.
 * A scripted deathclaw can be encountered in Kendall Hospital (note: this location is likely to be reached during low level, making the fight rather difficult)
 * A group of deathclaws fighting a behemoth can be found west of Natick Banks, along with several more in and around the area.
 * One can be found in the Robotics Pioneer Park, inside the first house from the fast travel point.
 * When walking onto roof in Garden Terrace.

Appearances
Deathclaws appear in Fallout 4.

Behind the scenes
The deathclaw model was made by Jonah Lobe.