Deathclaw (Fallout 4)

Deathclaws are extremely dangerous creatures found in the Commonwealth. They are a large, agile and strong species of mutant Jackson's Chameleon created through genetic engineering, with the addition of DNA from various other species. However, due to mutation, most have lost their color-changing ability.

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 humanoids, by grappling their victim by the neck and shoving its claws through their torso. 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 itself is too thick for its 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. A deathclaw will also toss sand into the air to provide a brief distraction. On the rare occasion - and if one is nearby, a deathclaw may actually flip a car over in hopes of crushing their prey.

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 while charging whoever's shooting them, making them even harder to hit and their limbs are particularly difficult to cripple without the use of explosives or high powered weaponry with crippling boosting abilities such as certain legendary weapons (but should enough limbs actually be successfully crippled they will be unable to move or attack). Deathclaw limbs that have been crippled will often have visibly exposed shards of bone sticking out of them and in some cases can also be destroyed in a manner similar to ghouls (at least savage deathclaws in the glowing sea can have their legs blown off leaving them to try to crawl towards their enemies).

Variants
The variants that can be encountered are based on level. Different variations become increasingly more common with higher levels. For example, where one might expect to encounter a normal deathclaw, they might encounter an alpha deathclaw at a high enough level.

Deathclaw
Normal deathclaws, defaulted to level 22. They are highly dangerous for those poorly leveled and still present a challenge at higher levels. Deathclaws will charge the target while defending their weak belly with their head making it difficult to land a shot to the weak spot even in [[Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System|V.A.T.S.]

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

Albino deathclaw
The albino deathclaw is a rare pale version of the deathclaw, with more health. Any deathclaw can be albino if the player character's level is high enough. Even with a high level - albino deathclaws are very rare.

Chameleon deathclaw
The chameleon deathclaw can blend in with its environment and is much tougher to kill than a normal deathclaw. It is one of the most dangerous types of deathclaw.

Glowing deathclaw
The glowing deathclaw is a highly irradiated 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 (two may spawn on the roof). Another location for the alpha deathclaw is the Glowing Sea.

Deathclaw matriarch
Matriarchs have less health than an Alpha, but more than a normal deathclaw. 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.

Mythic deathclaw
Mythic deathclaws are the highest tier of the Deathclaw. They can be found at around level 85.

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 random encounters, including attacks on any and all settlements.
 * 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.
 * A level-dependent Deathclaw variant always spawns outside of the Rocky cave, usually asleep in a small bedded area.
 * A leveled deathclaw will spawn in the lower parts of the parking garage.

Appearances
Deathclaws appear in Fallout 4.

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