Summary
Deathclaws are simultaneously one ofFallout’s best mysteries and one of its deadliest creatures. TheFalloutfranchise has made significant changes to these iconic creatures throughout the games, with some developments having a lasting impression and severe implications.
Even though the originalFalloutisn’t the first game in thetimeline of theFalloutfranchise, the progression of deathclaws in the franchise generally follows the games in release order. Despite still retaining their devastating potential, these creatures are seemingly in decline in theFalloutfranchise, although future titles could change that.
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The History of Deathclaws in the Fallout Franchise
The originalFalloutset an extremely high bar for deathclaws in the franchise, making them giant, extremely deadly creatures that hunt in packs and are pure nightmare fuel. Many characters in the originalFalloutconsider deathclaws a myth, as those who have actually encountered these creatures rarely live to tell the tale.
By the time the events ofFallout 2take place, the Enclave faction from theFalloutgames has gotten their hands on Deathclaws and begun experimenting on them. It is even said that the Enclave is responsible for the initialcreation of deathclaws in theFalloutfranchise. Most deathclaws haven’t changed much since the previous game except for those that were experimented on. Deathclaws were already a powerful physical force, but now equipped with intelligence from the Enclave’s experimentation, they have adopted speech and cunning to their skill sets.
The deathclaws fromFallout Tacticsare essentially still the same apex predator known throughout the franchise, though this game drastically changes the appearance of the creature, almost beyond recognition. The deathclaws in this game are hairy and look much more humanoid in proportions, also some of these creatures even developed the ability to speak among humans naturally. It is unclear whether the features ofFallout Tactics’ deathclaws are the result of scientific experimentation or evolution influenced by the game’s unique Midwest setting.
Fallout Brotherhood of Steelchanged deathclaws in many ways through deliberate experimentation, although it’s worth noting that this game isn’t considered canon in theFalloutfranchise, and its deathclaws eventually get wiped out anyway. The deathclaws from this game are exclusive to a secretVault-Tec vaultwhere the FEV has created deathclaws that are twice as large, have gorilla-like posture, and are blind, though their horned-reptilian appearance from their Jackson’s Chameleon DNA is still retained.
Fallout 3continues the original appearance and features of deathclaws fromFallout 1andFallout 2. Taking place in Washington, D.C., far away from the West Coast, there aren’t any natural varieties of deathclaws inFallout 3besides standard adults. The Enclave’s experimentation on deathclaws persists as portable domestication units instead of genetic engineering, except the involved deathclaws come to a tragic end. It’s believed that all the intelligent and domesticated deathclaws produced by the Enclave have been exterminated by the hand ofthe Brotherhood of Steel, and only wild deathclaws remain in theFalloutfranchise for the time being.
Taking place much closer to the home of the older games, the deathclaws inFallout: New Vegasreturn to their roots from the originalFalloutgame as wild, matriarchal pack animals.Fallout: New Vegashas the most variety of deathclaws variety of anyFalloutgame so far, but deathclaws are otherwise unaltered for this entry in the franchise.
While there are also many varieties of deathclaws inFallout 4, it seems as though their population is declining since they are no longer pack animals. However, the minimal presence of deathclaws inFallout 4’s Commonwealth wastelandcan also be explained by its distance from the West Coast, which is where deathclaws are widely believed to originate.Fallout 76’s deathclaws are essentially the same as those fromFallout 4and continue to be extremely sparse, making a case for a comeback in the nextFalloutgame.
