Mirelurk King

Mirelurk Kings appear to be the brood leaders of the Mirelurks.

Physical characteristics
Mirelurk Kings, humanoid creatures standing a foot taller than the average man, are faster and more powerful than their Mirelurk Hunter brethren. Unlike the cancriform Mirelurks, Mirelurk Kings are mutated from snapping turtles native to local rivers.

While they possess great health - slightly more than a Super Mutant Master - Mirelurk Kings lack the damage resistance of standard Mirelurks. Their heads are much easier to target, making them easier to defeat than Mirelurk Hunters, and they are typically only a threat when encountered with groups of Mirelurks or Mirelurk Hunters.

Although Mirelurk Kings possess a unique "sonic" ranged attack similar to that of the Robobrains, it cannot be used if the Mirelurk King's head is crippled. If successful, the "sonic" attack - which is easily avoided - causes a moderate amount of damage and can cause the player's head to become instantly crippled. On the Pip-boy in the stats menu, under the effects tab, the Mirelurk King's sonic attack is listed as: "Mirelurk Scream: -10 Perception"

Statistics
† Torso shots only do 2/3rds of the normal damage.

‡ Instantly cripples target head. Cannot be used if their head is crippled.

Loot
Mirelurk Kings contain Mirelurk Meat as well as the considerably more potent Softshell Mirelurk Meat.

Locations
Mirelurk Kings can be found in water environments such as the following:
 * The entry to Rivet City's Broken Bow, near the snapped-off part of the aircraft carrier
 * Rock Creek Caverns
 * Mirelurk Nesting Hole
 * In the water by the Abandoned Car Fort
 * Around a pond directly west of the Republic of Dave
 * The Reactor Room area of Vault 92
 * The Sunken Chambers of Oasis
 * The submerged area underneath the Anchorage War Memorial.
 * An upgraded and reskinned version capable of spitting acid - the Swamplurk Queen - appears in Point Lookout (add-on).

They can also emerge at random from a river, typically with other Mirelurks. Mirelurk Kings typically only appear at such locations at high player levels. The only possible exception is the Mirelurk King(s) encountered in the Oasis Sunken Chambers.

Behind the scenes

 * Mirelurk Kings resemble the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Bugs
You can reverse-pickpocket a grenade into a Mirelurk King for a stealth kill (which results in negative karma).