Deathclaw (Fallout Tactics)

Deathclaws are mutated creatures in Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel. They are large, agile, and strong species of mutant horned Jackson's Chameleon.

Background
The Matriarch of one deathclaw pack was captured by the psychic tribe known as the Beastlords. While the tribals were able to use their psychic powers to control lesser animals, the deathclaws were intelligent enough to resist them. However, they cooperated with the Beastlords in order to protect their Mother. After the Matriarch was freed by the Brotherhood of Steel, she led her pack to join the Brotherhood, and the Elders surprisingly agreed. She herself is recruitable as Mother.

Biology
A deathclaw subspecies living in the area of the former states of Illinois, Missouri and Kansas developed patches of fur to better cope with the colder climate. (One might assume that because the deathclaw is a reptile and produces little body heat, having fur would cause it to freeze to death. However, the deathclaw is not a real world reptile and mutations are abundant in the wasteland. It is possible that this particular strain of deathclaw is warm-blooded.) Furthermore, some of them were noted to be capable of speech as early as in 2197, which means that they probably developed speech through spontaneous mutation, or were experimented on by someone other than the Enclave. Another possibility that they were designed to have an intellect and ability to speak before the Great War.

The hairy deathclaws are more matriarchal than their Core Region, Capital Wasteland and Mojave Desert counterparts, with packs being led by Matriarch. While infant, these deathclaws are less hairy and seems to be absolutely unintelligent, behaving like an animal or simply following the adults. They presumably become self-aware when they grow up.

Gameplay attributes
In Fallout Tactics patched to 1.27, deathclaws are deadly. They are highly resistant to regular ammunition. The non-player character's in each bunker often say "I have some AP ammo for those deathclaws." but they will not trade it. Even an Anti-Vehicle mine does only medium damage.

In Quincy, a player is confronted with seven deathclaws and around five baby deathclaws. However, they can be seen in a random encounter before that mission.

Appearances
Hairy deathclaws appear only in Fallout Tactics.

Behind the scenes
The hairy deathclaws were inspired by early deathclaw concept art where the deathclaws were hairy mammals.