Yao Guai (Fallout 3)

The Yao Guai are a species of mutant bears and are some of the strongest, fastest, deadliest creatures you can expect to come across in Fallout 3.

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.

Three Dog's advice on Yao Guai is simply: "Don't feed them."

Strategy
A Yao Guai encounter is very dangerous, they are very strong and very fast, and are probably outclassed by only the infamous Deathclaw. They have really high Perception, so don't be surprised if they sense you from far away, even if you aren't in their line of sight. 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.

Using 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 Yao 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 Yao Guai with one shot. Luckily, Yao Guai are solitary creatures, so it's pretty rare to face more than one at a time.

If you are ambushed by a Yao Guai and must fight it in close combat, aim for the creature's head with a combat shotgun in V.A.T.S. mode.

After obtaining the Animal Friend perk, they will no longer attack you or your party 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.

Appearances
Yao Guai appear only in Fallout 3.