Viewers of Fallout Season 2 have reacted with surprise after the series revealed new details about the origins of the Deathclaw, one of the franchise’s most feared creatures. The moment appeared in Episode 4, marking the first time a Fallout screen adaptation has shown a Deathclaw before the nuclear war.
The scene takes place in a flashback featuring Cooper Howard, later known as The Ghoul. During a confrontation with Chinese soldiers, a Deathclaw suddenly appears and kills them, saving Howard. The setting makes clear that the creature existed before the bombs fell, a detail that surprised many viewers unfamiliar with Fallout lore.
Long-time fans of the games were less shocked. In established Fallout lore, Deathclaws were genetically engineered by the US military before the war. They were designed as living weapons, meant to be deployed in combat zones to clear enemy territory.
After the war, further experiments failed to contain the creatures. Many escaped into the wasteland, where they bred and evolved into the apex predators seen throughout the Fallout games. Some versions encountered in the series are even shown to have limited intelligence and the ability to communicate.
The episode also shows a Deathclaw preparing to attack Lucy and The Ghoul near the ruins of New Vegas. The moment stands out as the first time The Ghoul is visibly afraid, highlighting the creature’s reputation as nearly unstoppable.
Deathclaws are known across the games for being extremely dangerous, often killing players quickly even when wearing powerful armour. Some fans have criticised later games for making them easier to defeat.
With more flashback scenes expected in upcoming episodes, viewers anticipate further exploration of Deathclaw history and their role in the Fallout universe.
