Summary
- Creatures like Deathclaws are iconic in Fallout, but lesser-known beasts like Ghost People offer a unique, chilling experience.
- The lore of Fallout extends beyond just the most famous critters, with strange creatures like Night Stalkers and Spore Carriers adding depth to the wasteland.
- From the mysterious Iguanas to the bizarre Ghoul Whales, the Fallout universe is filled with a wide array of creatures that add to its post-apocalyptic charm.
The Fallout franchise is arguably one of the most iconic post-apocalyptic series out there, and it owes a lot of that success to its unique and bizarre setting. Unlike a more conventional apocalypse, the irradiated wastelands of Fallout play home to some truly distinctive creatures. Monsters like deathclaws, cazadors, and super mutants are some of the most immediately recognizable aspects of the series and a big part of its appeal.
Yet the bestiary of the Fallout series has a lot more entries than just the iconic creatures. As any dedicated fan knows, the lore of this franchise can get extremely strange. To that end, here are some of the most obscure and lesser-known creatures in the Fallout world, and a look at what role they play in the lore of the series.
Updated August 21, 2024 by Peter Morics: The Fallout games have a wide menagerie of strange and sinister creatures. Between the success of the Fallout TV show and the continued updates to Fallout 76, this bestiary is constantly growing. With such a steady influx of new creatures, more obscure monsters are even more likely to slip through the cracks. This list has been updated to include even more of the rare and obscure monsters that make the Wasteland their home.
15 Trog
Hideous & Tragic Mutants
- Appears in: Fallout 3: The Pitt DLC, Fallout 76
The basic origin of the Trog is not dissimilar to that of many creatures in the Wasteland; these hideous mutants were created through the Troglodyte Degeneration Contagion, a hideous physical condition born of the radiation and industrial waste contaminating the ruins of Pittsburgh. This disease slowly turns humans into deformed, violent mutants.
The contagion has wreaked havoc with the population of The Pitt, and in Fallout 3, drastic measures have been taken to cure it. During the game's DLC, The Pitt, players must decide the fate not only of the Trogs, but of the region itself.
14 Marked Men
Survivors Of A Secret Tragedy
- Appears in: Fallout New Vegas: Lonesome Road DLC
Throughout the events of Fallout New Vegas, it's been hinted that the Courier has a grim history with the region. The game's Lonesome Road DLC reveals this history by bringing players to the Divide, a canyon that's been ravaged by nuclear fallout and constant biting winds. This devastation is a direct result of the Courier's actions, as are the Marked Men it created.
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Marked Men are similar to ghouls, in that radiation has turned them into nigh-immortal, decayed humanoids. But the constant storms in the region have also flayed away these creatures' skins, leaving them in a state of constant agony. The Marked Men were once members of Caesar's Legion and the NCR, but their shared burden has erased this military divide and united them into one furious armada.
13 Mole Miner
A Communal Subterranean Force
- Appears in: Fallout 76
Players who've avoided Fallout 76 due to its infamously shaky launch are likely unaware of some of the groundbreaking lore introduced in post-apocalyptic Appalachia. One of the more significant revelations is the existence of a whole new race of mole people, living deep underground.
As the name suggests, mole miners are mutated human miners who are trapped forever in the bulky suits they used to survive deep underground. Most of these creatures are completely hostile, but there's a notable exception in the form of Purveyor Murmrgh, an enterprising mercantile mole miner who's willing to do business with humans.
12 Flatwoods Monster
A Cryptid Come To Life
- Appears in: Fallout 76
Fallout 76's Appalachian setting is rich with history and folklore, and the mysterious Flatwoods Monster is a particularly infamous example. This mysterious cryptid is often identified as an alien visitor, while skeptics are more likely to label it a particularly menacing owl, or just a total fabrication. The version in Fallout 76, however, is all too real.
These sinister hovering monsters appear at random throughout Appalachia. They only come out at night and will frequently teleport around to defend themselves in combat. They can even control the minds of creatures and robots nearby and use this for defense, making them even more menacing foes.
11 Tunneler
An Existential Threat To The Mojave
- Appears in: Fallout New Vegas: Lonesome Road DLC
The origins of these strange reptilian creatures are largely unknown. They're likely subterranean lizards who were mutated by the excessive radiation and destruction of the Great War. Whatever the case, they were awakened during the Courier's disastrous first visit to the Divide, and are now beginning to move on the surface.
These hardy beasts travel in swarms and are difficult to bring down. Ulysses theorizes that within years these creatures will have spread enough to pose a major threat to the Mojave and the burgeoning civilizations vying for control there. This makes the player's victory at Hoover Dam a somewhat hollow one, regardless of which force they side with.
10 Horned Kangaroo
An Enigmatic Skeletal Beast
- Appears in: Fallout, Fallout 2
Mutated animals are a common sight in the world of Fallout, but some are much rarer than others. The elusive Horned Kangaroo is one example. Skeletal remains of this strange creature can be found in the first two games, but they're never so much as mentioned again.
The presence of these strange creatures raises a lot of questions. Kangaroos are hardly a common sight in the pre-apocalyptic United States, after all. The fact that these creatures developed strange horns is, in the end, just about the least surprising thing about them.
9 Ghost People
Tragic Silent Killers
- Appears in: Fallout New Vegas: Dead Money
These terrifying creatures only appear in Dead Money, one of the DLC campaigns for Fallout: New Vegas. Their frightful appearance as they lurch toward the player, eyes glowing behind the lenses of their gas masks, means that few Fallout fans are likely to forget them. What makes them even worse is how difficult they are to kill, as they only stay dead if their limbs are chopped off.
Of course, the Ghost People aren't just faceless monsters. They're the mutated employees of the casino where the DLC is set. The unique circumstances of their origin means it's unlikely that Ghost People will show up elsewhere in the Fallout wasteland. Consequently, most people in the world of Fallout are blissfully unaware of the existence of these haunting killers.
8 Rad-Rat
Frightful Mutated Vermin
- Appears in: Fallout 4: Nuka-World
Mutated rats are common throughout the Fallout series. Rad-rats, however, are unique, as they only appear in the Nuka-World expansion for Fallout 4. These rats appear to be almost totally hairless, like their relatives, the mole rats. These creatures are much tougher than mole rats, though, and the legendary versions explode after death.
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Rad-rats are some of the more menacing rat creatures players can encounter in the Fallout series, and their rarity is just about their only saving grace. These nasty vermin are a prime example of the fact that even relatively mundane creatures can pack a nasty punch if they aren't taken seriously.
7 Lakelurk
An Unexpected Aquatic Menace
- Appears in: Fallout: New Vegas
Mirelurks are decently well-known creatures in the Fallout world. These giant crustaceans are a menace to any wastelander who strays too close to shore. One might expect to be safe from these monsters in the Mojave Desert setting of Fallout: New Vegas, but Lakelurks are waiting to prove that theory wrong.
As the name suggests, these grotesque fish men lurk near lakes and similar bodies of water throughout the game. They look and act similarly to the Mirelurk Kings that prowl around Mirelurk colonies in other Fallout games, but they're much rarer due to the relative lack of suitable environments for them. They're very uncommon, and it's not impossible to get through an entire playthrough without meeting one. This makes it all the more surprising when one rears its ugly head.
6 Night Stalker
A Deadly Desert Crossbreed
- Appears in: Fallout: New Vegas
The Night Stalker is a perfect fit for the desert landscape of Fallout: New Vegas, as it's a cross between the desert's two most quintessential carnivores: the rattlesnake and the coyote. These monsters are the result of genetic engineering, and by traveling to the Big MT in the Old World Blues expansion, the Courier can learn about their origins.
While Night Stalkers are far from the most dangerous inhabitants of the Mojave Desert, their sinister background makes them extremely noteworthy creatures, as well as a fundamental part of the landscape of Fallout: New Vegas. Even though they're virtually unknown outside the Mojave, these creatures are still worth keeping an eye out for.