I've been having a hard time killing deathclaws. I understand that they are meant to be tough but this is just ridiculous. I'm level 30 and I have an anti material rifle. I've tried every type of ammo but the only thing that can drop them quickly is a sneak attack critical. Please tell me there is a way to kill these guys in a timely fashion before they tear me a new one.

Sneak Attack Criticals. AP rounds or .50 Match Hand Load.

You might want to use the Sniper Rifle instead, though. With .308 AP or Hand Loads. You can get a faster firing rate.

Your best bet is a BB Gun :wink_smile:

I suppose you could try to go toe-to-toe with one but the only way I've been able to take one down is from a distance with AP ammo.

First, what difficulty are you on? Second, do you have a companion (or companions)?

I had the toughest time with Deathclaws, even with the AMR, but it's become easier. I'm currently traveling with Boone and ED-E, and that gives me a great opportunity with regard to sniping. And if the Claws get really close, you'll have help in fighting them.

Next, if you're using VATS to snipe, don't. I've been pretty much limited to one shot on VATS with the AMR from a distance. Sometimes I don't even get that. Lately, if I can see them in the distance (and I'm talking a good distance), I kneel down and get stable, and go to town. From that distance, I can land enough hits to get the kill. Don't remember what my guns or strength is, but both are pretty high up there. Before that, I did notice reduced efficiency from the AMR.

I'm not sure which ammo works best, with regard to hollow point or armor piercing. You'll have to experiment with that.

Currently, I'm actually not even using the AMR. I'm using the Gobi Sniper rifle that you can find in the Sniper Nest location. I engage from a pretty long distance, and even with .308 AP ammo, I was able to take out all but two of the Deathclaws at the Gypsum train yard (at least 7 or 8 kills). The other two I couldn't see till I got closer to the area, and even then, I was able to take them out easily. For those guys, I used VATS a few times.

Finally, if all else fails and they get close, backpedal while firing your weapon. Probably won't save you, but worth a try. Also probably will want to load up on chems, food and stimpaks and the sort. As you get low on health, just try and fill up during combat.

Oh, and try to do it stealthily. If you can kill them one at a time, from a distance, and while hidden, you'll greatly improve your shot at survival. Engaging multiple deathclaws at a close distance is suicide. Not sure anybody's making it out of that alive.

playing on normal/hardcoe with no companions

Definitely makes it tougher, though not impossible. I suppose if that's the case, you'll want your perception up as much as possible. That way you can try and find a strategy to find a good spot to snipe from (if your goal is to snipe them).

Also, like somebody else said, you might actually be better off with using a sniper rifle, rather than the AMR. The AMR is high powered, but has a slower rate of fire, and like I mentioned earlier, seems to refill AP slower (for me at least). The sniper rifles aren't as high powered, but have a faster rate of fire. In the long run, two well placed .308 AP shots will probably be as effective as one .50 shot.

In a gunfight, sniping is really the way to go. They move too fast to kite them and they ignore armor, so if you can't block (which of course is only for melee weapons), it's going to be tough, even if you get them one-on-one. First off, I'm assuming your STR and Gun skill are high enough to handle the AMR, because otherwise the sway is going to make it really difficult. Sneak Attack headshots do wonders, especially with AP ammo; in fact, even if it's not a headshot you may have a good chance at killing it with the first shot. If it doesn't die, it's really just a matter of how good your aim is and how steady your hand is. One more shot will usually be enough to take it down once it's noticed you, at least if you're using AP ammo. If it gets too close, there's always VATS.

100 guns, 100sneak, modded sniper rifle and .308 JSP equals one shot sneak crits without the others noticing. Two shots for the Legendary. The AMR is a waste of time. I cleared Deathwind Cave (I think that's what it's called) and the Quarry with ease this way. No companions. All head shots outside of VATS.

C4. Drop 2 or 3 in a small area they'll have to run through to get at you, piss one of them off (headshots that don't crit will work), wait for them to just about get into your trap and light it up!

Both great tactics. If your guns/sneak/strength isn't that great, then perhaps the explosives route isn't a bad one. I'm actually tempted to try out the second method for Deathclaws or maybe even Cazadores.

As said before: Sneak attack criticals.

If you want to stand your ground and hunt tyranosaurs by walking them, you'll die. ('Walking' them is a hunting term - basically means on foot, and taking the thing down in full view of it).

This game has been balanced out, and a lot of the 'godliness' has been dropped. Hard to kill deathclaws is one result...


If you take the right sniping approach, you can do it solo in your singlet. You may have to sneak past a few to get in the right spots, and it takes time, but it saves a lot of grief...

And silenced sniper's rifle is the way to go. No need to upset the entire village...one at a time is a lot safer.

I took Boone with me, (left ED-E at home) and cleared out the entire Sloan Quarry area with an AMR loaded with Incenterary round. Took about an hour moving from position to position. It's tough but pretty intense at the same time.

I did that to Caesar and his men recently. Instead of fighting him inside the tent, I planted six C4 charges (or PE4 hehe) and lured him out into the open. When he came outside, I set it off and watched Caesar and six Praetorians fly 100 ft into the air.

I'm level ten with Boone and ED-E. I play normal difficulty.

Got them all in the Quarry too, just using a cowbow repeater and some well placed mines. You have to make a plan, if you can find a position they can't get to then it's easy killin also. If one came at me strait up I was screwed though. (unless it's a baby one)

I'm wondering how i'll do with my melee character though

Just make sure it's a relatively flat area. Deathclaws make some weird pathing choices sometimes.

Get a good shotgun with beam bag ammo, if they do rush you you can knock them out with it and then usually kill it. Also, you can learn an unarmed move from the

that lets you knock down any enemy 100% of the time. It is a bit tricky to pull off, but mid game I was able to use it to kill death claws while using a power fist. Since that is unarmed, I would stun them with the move, wail for a few seconds, stun them again, wail etc... A bit cheap to stun lock them, but it is effective. (You could do the same thing with the beam bag ammo but that ammo isn't exactly common)

You could also try turbo while sniping to get in 4 or 5 shots while they basically stand still

Nice!

Yes, this does take some patience and planning, Definitely save before attempting.

ive noticed just like FO3 that if your standing on the ground when you shoot anything it knows exactly where you are. Ive tested this out extensivly . I would shoot something once from far away while crouching. Then instantly move to a different spot and they always went right to the spot i shot from. And found out if you jump up on a rock or from the side of a cliff and shoot them, they just run around confused not knowing where its comming from. My first play thru after doing everything in the starting town and a little from primm. i said to myself hey lets go check out the big cross and ended up at sloan and cleaned out the whole quarry at lvl 4 (normal no companion). Granted it did take me about an hour and a half and mom was the last one. i snuck around on the cliff , jumped down and quickly ran up one of those conveyer belt things on that tall building the one that has one on each side. got to the top jumped up on that little guard thing at the top then thru a couple long fuse dynomite over the building because she seemed to be stuck or glitching in one spot. it started her moving out of that spot though . so i could start shooting her. and again she diddnt seen to know where i was shooting from . But she did kind of but she decided to climb up the conveyer belt to my right instead of mine. so i just tossed a few more sticks of dynomite at her and that took her health down alot . 2 of her babies knew where i was at and they climbed up the one i was on to get me, but they are easy . i also took alot of them out by climbing on top of that tracter on the other side, i just hopped up on the roof of it. I always shoot while crouched for the crit dmg. i forget what gun i was using actually but it wasnt a sniper rifle or any fancy ammo. But like i said if your standing or crouching on the ground they know exactly where you are . If you have the alian blaster that thing is so OP its not funny

Whenever I come across an area with deathclaws I try to find a secure vantage point and snipe them down.
Its nice I have a top condition ratslayer and gobi scout sniper rifle.
plus high gun stats.

My tactic with Deathclaws has always been to take out the legs. Until they're crippled, there's nothing stopping them from rushing you. Once you've put a good limp on them, though, it's much easier to keep them at a distance and face-shot them at your leisure.

how to cripple the leg ? can help ?

i have been trying to do that. but it seems like its leg make from steel.

what weapon you use ? care to share ?