Deathclaws are formidable adversaries in the game world and demand caution regardless of the player character's level, due to their high resistance to damage, health, and excellent damage. Deathclaws typically spawn alone (unless encountered in combat wave events, like at the Emmett Mountain disposal site), sparing players from the challenge of facing them in larger numbers. When fighting them:
Deathclaw combat behavior depends on what the attacker is equipped with. It will aim to close distance, and will dodge left and right on approach to avoid ranged attacks (which doesn't affect VATS hit chances). If the target is not reachable, they will instead retreat and hide.
When attacking, deathclaw attacks can stagger their enemies, making it impossible for them to attack. As their attacks are fast, it's possible to experience stunlock. Getting staggered will also interrupt reloading, healing, and other animated actions. Power armor cannot be staggered, under any circumstances.
The chameleon deathclaw is unique among other deathclaws, changing colors. When killed, its body remains the last color it was displaying. It will only spawn if the player is between levels 71 and 81, meaning if a person is a higher level than that, the only feasible way to encounter and tame one is to have a friend within that level range.
Scorched deathclaws have been affected by the Scorched Plague. Each regular deathclaw variant has a corresponding Scorched variant with the same stats, abilities and items.
Deathclaws are a potential candidate for taming. If found alone in a random encounter, the player character can send the tamed beast to their C.A.M.P. for defense.
Liebowitz tasks the player to find a deathclaw egg, in hopes to raise a deathclaw from the time it hatches.[1]
↑Liebowitz: "Well, hello. That is a beauty. When you're hatched, you're gonna call me Poppa. Here. Those are my end of the bargain. Make the most of them." (Liebowitz's dialogue)