Deathclaw

The Deathclaw is a fictional reptilian species from the post-apocalyptic Fallout video game franchise. They were created by humans as biological weapons prior to the series' in-universe nuclear war. Escaping into the wild afterwards, they went on to thrive in the nuclear wasteland, becoming apex predators. Known as one of the Fallout series' most recognizable and iconic elements, Deathclaws were praised by critics for their design and the fear they induce in the player due to their immense power. As a result of their popularity, numerous mods were created for Fallout series games with the Deathclaw as a central theme, either to tame the creatures as a pet or use them in combat, concepts which were later added as an official feature.

Deathclaw
Fallout race
The Deathclaw as seen in Fallout 4.
First appearance	Fallout (1997)
Created by	R. Scott Campbell
Information
Distinctions	American military bioweapon, reptilian physiology

Characteristics

Deathclaws are bipedal, genetically engineered carnivorous reptiles based on the Jackson's chameleon.[1] They are tipically 20 feet long, with rough, scaly skin and a pair of curved horns, and possess several humanoid features. Able to walk on two legs, they also possess five clawed fingers and opposable thumbs. They exhibit a hunched posture, and their feet have a sickle-shaped claw similar to that of a velociraptor. The Deathclaw has a fearsome reputation as they are usually some of the strongest enemies found within the in-game universe.[2]

Appearances

While Deathclaws normally feature as enemies since their debut appearance in the first Fallout, they have also been player companions at various points in the series. Goris, a rare, highly intelligent Deathclaw, is a player companion in Fallout 2.[3] The Wasteland Workshop DLC of Fallout 4 allows the player to capture and tame Deathclaws, as well as the "Wasteland Whisperer" perk in Fallout 76, although it has been noted to suffer from glitches causing the deaths of the tamed animals.[4]

Development

Deathclaws were originally concepted as a mixture of wolverine and brown bear. However, this design was rejected as having "way too much hair".[5] The inspiration for the final design of the Deathclaws came from the Tarrasque, a Dungeons & Dragons monster. A decoration of the creature was located in the offices of Interplay when the developers of Fallout were looking for inspiration for the Deathclaw's design.[2] The design of Deathclaws changed slightly throughout the series. Deathclaws were redesigned in Fallout 4 by art director Jonah Lobe, improving on their depiction in Fallout 3 with "thicker, more armored skin; shorter, strong-looking claws and hands", as well as "a bull-like redesign to the horns [...] and a thicker tail". "Chameleons, alligators, bulls, panthers, serpents & lizards" were integrated into the final design.[6]

Cultural impact

Critical reception

Official Xbox Magazine stated that Deathclaws "are one of Fallout's deadliest enemies," calling them "gigantic, ferocious beasts with skin like a tank, no weak points and even less mercy," and noting that the player's gun "whittles off mere atoms of health bar".[7] Nathan Grayson of Kotaku, in response to the idea of a Deathclaw companion, stated, "why settle for dumb old Dogmeat or sadly unromanceable Codsworth when you can roam the wasteland with a loyal Deathclaw?"[8]

Fandom

Prior to the release of the Wasteland Workshop DLC in April 2016, fans have introduced the functionality of recruiting a Deathclaw follower or companion in Fallout 4 through unofficial modding of the game.[8][9]

A notable Fallout 76 fan mod, the Deathclaw Maze, is patterned after the Labyrinth from Greek mythology with the Deathclaw filling in the role of the Minotaur. The mod received substantial coverage.[10][11][12][13]

Players of Fallout 76 were noted to have started an "adoption agency" to provide players with tamed animal pets, with the Deathclaw being one of the most requested and popular.[14]

References

1. Wong, Steven (June 4, 2015). "The Ultimate Fallout 4 Primer". Shacknews. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
2. Peel, Jeremy (2017-10-16). "The silly stories behind Fallout's biggest icons". PCGamesN. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
3. "Goris". GameBanshee. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
4. Gach, Ethan (2019-05-31). "The Sad Story Of Steve, The Pet Deathclaw Whose Life Was Cut Short By Fallout 76 Bugs". Kotaku. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
5. Campbell, R. Scott (2013-01-04). "The Origins of Fallout". archive.is. p. 7. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
6. Lobe, Jonah (2017). "The Deathclaw". ArtStation. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
7. "1 Day in the Wasteland". Xbox Official Magazine (132): 44. December 2015.
8. Grayson, Nathan (2015-11-17). "Fallout 4 Mod Lets You Have A Deathclaw Follower". Kotaku. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
9. Morris, Tatiana (2015-11-17). "Fallout 4 mod lets you have an adorable Deathclaw companion". GameZone. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
10. Kent, Emma (March 18, 2019). "Meet the Fallout 76 player behind the Deathclaw maze, player oven and murder church". Eurogamer. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
11. Sheridan, Connor (March 11, 2019). "This Fallout 76 player created an actual Labyrinth with a Deathclaw instead of a Minotaur". GamesRadar. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
12. Aitken, Lauren (March 11, 2019). "Fallout 76 player creates deadly Deathclaw maze". VG247. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
13. Livingston, Christopher (March 12, 2019). "Fallout 76 player traps people in a murder maze filled with false doors and a Deathclaw". PC Gamer. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
14. Hernandez, Patricia (2020-01-08). "Fallout 76 players start Deathclaw adoption agency". Polygon. Retrieved 2020-10-29.