‘Fallout’ Season 2 Makes This Enemy Even Scarier Than They Are in the Games

Editor's note: The below contains spoilers for Fallout Season 2 Episode 4.

The latest episode of Fallout Season 2, aptly titled "The Demon in the Snow," reveals the games' most dangerous and toughest creature, and it looks even better than anticipated. Episode 4 is bookended by scenes where the deathclaw takes center stage in two very different contexts, leaving an indelible impression in both. They are the only creatures so far who have made the Ghoul (Walton Goggins) feel out of his element, and for good reason, as they are considered the apex predator of the Fallout universe. So, what are they, exactly, and why do they look so terrifyingly good in Prime Video's adaptation?

Deathclaws Are the Most Dangerous Creatures in the ‘Fallout’ Universe

"The Demon in the Snow" is a great introduction to Deathclaws, as they show up in both scenes like something that crawled straight out of hell itself. Although they look like demons, Deathclaws are actually animals, just not naturally evolved or mutated ones. Instead, they were bioengineered by the U.S. military to be ferocious, intelligent killing machines who can thrive in any environment, from the snowy cold of Alaska to the dry heat of the Mojave.

The original idea behind the Deathclaws' creation was for them to be a more cost-effective alternative to human soldiers in certain missions. Many species were used when engineering the genetic matrix of Deathclaws, although Jackson's chameleons were the primary ones. That's why they look like hulking bipedal reptilian creatures with horns, giant claws, super strength, and high intelligence. They are not invulnerable, but their thick leather hide means beating them takes good strategizing and a lot of firepower.

Deathclaws were created before the Sino-American War, and the one that shows up in Alaska is canonically the first time one was ever deployed by the U.S. military. Soon after, they somehow break out and multiply in the wake of the nuclear holocaust that followed the Great War. As dangerous as they are, Deathclaws usually keep to themselves and don't normally target humans as prey. If you don't seek them out to mess with them, they tend not to mess with you, but it seems that the Ghoul and Lucy MacLean (Ella Purnell) may have inadvertently stumbled upon one of their nests without realizing it.

‘Fallout’s Deathclaws Are a Mix of Practical and Digital Effects

The Deathclaws in Prime Video's Fallout really do look like demons, and, while the setting of the Gomorrah Casino certainly contributes, their terrifying nature is mostly achieved through the choice of how to bring them to the screen. Speaking with The Wrap, executive producer Jonathan Nolan revealed that the Deathclaws are actually a product of combining practical puppets with digital visual effects: “Our goal is always to get to as much reality in front of the camera as possible so that the audience not just sees it, but feels it.”

The Deathclaws' Season 2 design does look way more complex than the skull that first teased them in the first season finale. Facial features are all mechanical and controlled remotely, with puppeteered arms giving a more realistic feeling, as described by Purnell: "Being able to act opposite something that is moving and breathing and looking around, [...] that is enough to freak you the hell out." Showrunner Geneva Robertson-Dworet emphasized this approach, adding, "If we always use just pure CG, we could do more of the creatures, but we would do them, I think, less well."

The wait to see the perfect Deathclaw clearly paid off, according to Bethesda director Todd Howard. Speaking to PC Gamer, he revealed that they were never part of the plan for Season 1, as the priority was to "get them right and really focus on them as a story element, not just another creature." This explains Cooper Howard's backstory with the Deathclaw, considering how he first encountered one in Alaska, but it feels like Deathclaws may have had something to do with the present-day state of Las Vegas, too.

A Deathclaw Infestation May Be What Destroyed New Vegas in 'Fallout'

One of the biggest mysteries in Fallout Season 2 so far is what's going on in New Vegas. When Lucy and the Ghoul arrive, the city is deserted and destroyed, giving the impression that it has been that way for some time. In Fallout: New Vegas, all four possible endings see the city inhabited by a different faction but still standing. Regardless of which ending the series embraces as canon, the Deathclaws at the end of Episode 4 are a very likely answer to this mystery. An infestation of those creatures would be enough to drive anyone out.

This theory makes sense considering that Lucy finds Deathclaw eggs in front of the Gomorrah Casino, leading to her first direct encounter with the creature. The Gomorrah is likely where the Deathclaws have made their nest, and New Vegas is now their territory. If the games have taught us anything about Deathclaw nests, it's that they're very difficult to deal with, so our heroes are going to need help and way more firepower than they have now. Good thing Lucy is feeling lucky.