Great American cockroaches, colloquially called radroaches or giant cockroaches,[1] are giant versions of the pre-War species that have been mutated by atomic radiation.
Gameplay
Radroaches are commonly seen in the dark, damp or irradiated parts of the wasteland.[1] They are generally little more than a nuisance to Armageddon survivors and less than likely to pose a challenge. Anyone can kill them with their bare hands, and will only attack when they feel threatened. Although they are winged, radroaches are not capable of flight. Radroach innards are used in the treatment of radiation poisoning.
Variants
Radroach
Radroaches are mutated to the point that they are now as large as house cats.[1] On one of the childhood quests in Vault 101, the Lone Wanderer, on their 10th birthday, is tasked with killing one with a BB gun given to them by Jonas Palmer as a birthday present.
Giant cockroach
Mutant cockroaches are a common sight in the Wasteland. As in the Capital Wasteland, they can be encountered nearly everywhere, from old buildings to plains.
Roachor
Roachor is a unique giant cockroach encountered by the Warrior of the Brotherhood of Steel. It is an "advanced" version of a large cockroach, which lived in the Peoria facility. It appears Roachor was affected by the high amount of radiation coming from a strange production device that was used in manufacturing fusion batteries.
 | The following is based on Fallout: New Vegas unused content. |
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Irradiated radroach
The irradiated radroach is identical to the standard radroach, with the exception of a radioactive aura, similar to that of a Feral Ghoul Reaver. In addition to this, they hold the ability to heal themselves with a radiation blast similar to a Glowing One. On death, it drops irradiated radroach meat, which gives extra radiation when consumed.
Appearances
Radroaches appear in Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4, Fallout 76, Fallout Tactics and Fallout Shelter, and were to appear in Van Buren. They were also mentioned in Fallout Bible 1.
Behind the scenes
Regarding creating radroaches for Fallout Tactics, Tony Oakden stated in an IGN interview, "We also have giant cockroaches cos we understand that in the event of a nuclear was they will be the most likely to survive and as every one who watches 50s sci-fi knows they will mutate to enormous size (we took the liberty of introducing a venomous spit)."[Ext 1]
Gallery
More radroach concept art from Fallout 3
Radroach meat
Giant cockroach
Roachor concept art
Radroach from Fallout 4
Glowing radroach from Fallout 4
Radroach from Fallout Shelter
