Yao Guai (Fallout 3)



The Yao Guai are a species of mutant bears. In Chinese, Yao Guai (妖怪) simply means monsters. In mythology, they are physical incarnations of the spirits of mistreated animals, or fallen divine animals. During gameplay, there is evidence that there were Chinese soldiers who actually made it to the American mainland during the Great War (for example, the different Chinese weapons available in the game, the remains of Chinese soldiers, and the Chengs living in Tenpenny Tower), so it is possible that its Chinese name comes from this influence. It may just be coincidence, but it is also possible that the name stems from the fact that it might be mispronounced as "Yogi," as in Yogi Bear, the famous cartoon character.

If Encountered
If the Yao Guai does not attack you immediately, you are very unlikely to see it. The best way to find one would be to encounter one when already in battle, with a mole rat or perhaps an eyebot. Often times, the Yao Guai defeats an eyebot but is then killed by the explosion from it as it dies. This would be a good opporotunity to examine the Yao Guai and study it more closely. If the Yao Guai does attack immediately, a good strategy would be to first cripple its legs, stopping it from using speed to its advantage, and then aiming for critical points on its body like its head.

Appearances
Yao Guai appear only in Fallout 3.

Strategy
Yao Guai are some of the strongest, fastest, deadliest creatures in Fallout 3, outclassed by only the Deathclaw They have really high Perception, so don't be surprised if they see you from far away. They are also surprisingly sneaky, so you might be walking the Capital Wasteland and suddenly get jumped from behind by one. They attack by slashing and biting you, and they can also do pounce attacks. During V.A.T.S, it's a good idea to target their legs from afar, as this will severely hamper their mobility and ability to pounce. You should use strong long-range weapons to take down Guai. If you manage to secure a sniper rifle, it's a very good idea to snipe them from a crouching position from afar, so that you can get a sneak critical bonus. A sniper rifle in decent condition and a good Small Guns skill can kill a Guai with one shot. Luckily, Guai are solitary creatures, so it's pretty rare to face more than one at a time.

If you are ambushed by a Guai and must fight it in close combat, aim for the Guai's head with a combat shotgun in VATS mode.

After obtaining the Animal Friend perk, they will no longer attack unless provoked. They can even fight for you after you get the second rank, which can be very helpful due to their strength. Even without obtaining the second rank of the perk, the Yao Guai are hostile towards a number of other troublesome enemies.