Super mutant brute

Super Mutant Brutes are the second hardest Super Mutants opponents in Fallout 3.

They are either equipped with an Assault Rifle or a melee weapon and a Frag Grenade.

They have more hit points that the regular Super mutants and they do wear a makeshift armor, this, along with their superior armaments makes them a tougher opponent.These are a few good tactics that you can use in order to dispatch them:

An other tactic is to close in range with a Chinese Assault Rifle or a Combat Shotgun and cripple their hands with Vats hits, this will cause them to drop their weapon and the will either attempt to pick it up or they will attack you with their bare hands, both scenarios offer a few seconds of a clear shot.

You will notice that after a certain level that Brutes will form the mainstay of all your Super mutant encounters.

You can stay at a safe distance and shoot them with a Sniper Rifle or a Scoped .44 Magnum, one or two hits at the head will be enough to kill them, provided that the weapon you use is at a good condition.

Draw them into a minefield, lay down a couple of mines and lure the muties into them, this will cripple will most probably cripple their legs thus making them an easier target.

At some pre-determined locations you will encounter some brutes that are carrying a Minigun or a Missile Launcher.