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 are incredibly resistant to most damage types, particularly ballistic. Their versatile combat style makes them a hefty opponent even if they are lower level. When aggravated, they will initiate combat by roaring and stomping the ground, causing a shockwave.

While they predominantly use their namesake claws for dealing damage, they may also headbutt their foes to stagger them. Their power attack comes in the form of a wide-swinging claw slash which deals significant damage.

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 only occurs when the Sole Survivor has low enough health, although this is relative - higher percentages of health at low level can still result in the instant-kill attack, but at higher levels it may not occur until the player has very low health. Other times, the deathclaw may pick up the player and slam them into the ground forcibly, causing moderate damage. The instant kill can also be nullified by wearing any type of power armor. Instead the deathclaw will grab the Sole Survivor and stagger them, as the frame is too heavy for them to lift or stab through. While power armor reduces the amount of damage received by its regular attacks, it will wear down and destroy armor condition incredibly rapidly. 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 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 the shooter, making them even harder to hit. Due to the majority of their limbs being heavily scaled, they are difficult to cripple compared to the body or head. Deathclaw limbs that have been crippled will often have visibly exposed shards of bone and in some cases can also be destroyed in a manner similar to ghouls (For example, Deathclaws in the Glowing Sea will still attempt to crawl and attack if their legs are destroyed).

Their model size makes them ungainly in uneven ground, which can be used against them. Their inability to climb or jump (aside from scripted events such as in Concord) renders their close-combat style useless, and if they are unable to travel certain terrain such as jumping up on a rock, they will flee until their target is on level ground again. Many of their attacks can also be avoided by keeping a constant pace, which allows the player to simply outrun their claw strikes.

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 V.A.T.S.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. Note this deathclaw type's high health can make it a worthy adversary and it will only lose 1/4 of it's health from a shot from the mysterious stranger.

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.

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 Garden Terrace on the 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.