I don't own the Fallout franchise.

AN: You all knew this was coming, don't deny it.

Deathclaws

Yessir, Deathclaws. There's hardly a Wastelander out there who hasn't at least heard of these nightmares. Deathclaw are huge bipedal lizards with massive hands tipped with the titular claws and are almost always horned. These reptilian abominations have been the boogeymen of the Wastes since the early years after The Great War. Descended from the harmless Jackson Chameleon - (Triceros Jacksonii) - the Deathclaw is the apex predator in nearly any environment it finds itself in, with only one exception, (See 'Other Abominations' page for more info). How will knowing what animal these monsters used to be from back when help you survive? It won't, but odds are you wouldn't survive even if you didn't know.

As I stated earlier, Deathclaws are almost always the apex predator in their ecosystem. Carnivores, Deathclaws will eat any animal they come across. You name it: Brahmin, Yao Guai, Radstags, Bighorners, all are fair game to the Deathclaw. Excellent trackers with a keen sense of smell, the Deathclaw will hunt prey for miles, especially if that prey was stupid enough to come near the Deathclaw's nest. Deathclaws are extremely paternal and will protect their eggs with an unrivaled ferocity, you'd either have to be a complete moron or have balls made from solid brass to even think about looking sideways at a Deathclaw's eggs.

Deathclaws are extremely fast; you will NOT, I repeat NOT, outrun a Deathclaw. If you encounter a Deathclaw in the wild, your best chance of survival is to hide in an area to small for it to fit its bulky body and wait for it to get bored and leave. Despite being 8ft and 2,000 pounds of scaly muscle and sinew, the Deathclaw is surprisingly agile. They're able to climb rock faces and ruined super highways with ease. They have the strength to flip over entire cars, lift a grown man off his feet and knock a person in full Power Armor to the ground with barely any effort.

Variants

West Coast/Capital Wasteland Deathclaws

This strain of Deathclaw is only found out west (and oddly enough in the Capital Wastes, weird). They have burnt orange skin with tan underbellies and their heads and horns are smaller than those of their Eastern brethren. Social creatures, West Coast Deathclaws live in large family groups of up to twenty members, usually a breeding pair and their adolescent or adult children. They make their nests in open areas with good coverage; caves, rock quarries, even abandoned train yards. The nest is guarded and tended to by a Matriarch, if you kill enough of her offspring, she will frenzy and attack anything in sight.

East Coast Deathclaws

Found on the East Coast, (again, except for DC hellhole and surrounding area), the East Coast Deathclaws have dark brown scales with a light tan underbelly and their heads and horns are larger than those of their Western counterparts. Another distinguishing feature of the East Coast Deathclaw is an enlarged toe-claw on their hind-feet, though I have absolutely no idea what purpose it serves. More solitary than their Western brethren; East Coast Deathclaws live nomadic and isolated lives. They wander away from large settlements, mostly keeping to irradiated areas, such as the Commonwealth's Glowing Sea. They mate for life and raise a nest of up to 6 eggs. While tending to their eggs, the female will go out and hunt while the male stays to guard the nest, sustaining himself on left-over carcasses and anything unfortunate enough to wander near them.

Deathclaw Trivia

While Deathclaws were created using FEV, I thought it more appropriate that they receive their own page.

Some Deathclaws still retain their ancestor's pigment changing abilities. These are (rather uncreatively) referred to as 'Chameleon Deathclaws'.

Deathclaws possess a mild healing factor. For example, they are able to re-grow their tails. This was used by their ancestors to escape predators. Now though, their tail is used to balance their large upper bodies and if it is damaged, the Deathclaw will be thrown off balance.

While Deathclaws are usually bipedal, they will occasionally run on all fours.

You can tell which Deathclaw is the alpha and which is the matriarch by the shape of their horns.

The popular and delicious 'Wasteland Omelet' is made using Deathclaw eggs.

The eyes of a Deathclaw are highly sensitive in bright burst of light; a flash grenade or flare gun can be used to startle them long enough to attempt to flee.

Deathclaws take grooming very seriously, with Western Deathclaws sharpening their claws against each other and Eastern Deathclaws sharpening them against rocks.

Eastern Deathclaws keep their eggs lightly covered in dirt, for some reason.

Eastern Deathclaws also will drag up dirt at their opponents before charging.

You can occasionally encounter two male Deathclaws fighting for a females attention, however these fights are rarely to the death.

At one time rumors persisted of a race of intelligent talking Deathclaws living out of an abandoned Vault in New California, however, these are likely just rumors…

AN: Honestly, I thought I'd have more to say about Deathclaws than this.