Fallout 4 was met with mediocre reception. Following the game changing Fallout 3 and subsequent cult hit Fallout: New Vegas, the bar was set pretty high for Fallout 4 and a lot of gamers would say that Bethesda missed. Although the game featured extremely refined shooting mechanics, an inspired wasteland to explore, and, even in this day and age, an amazing amount of interaction and interactivity with between the player and the game world, players and critics were generally unimpressed. The spark that seemed to make Fallout 3 such an engrossing experience didn't seem to be present in the latest iteration of the Fallout franchise and the games reputation suffers to this day.

Despite the lack of enthusiasm for Fallout 4, one thing cannot be denied: the enemy design in the game is magnificent. Super Mutants sporting armor made from pieces of debris and relicts of the world before the Great War. Deathclaws confidently stalking any foolhardy adventurer brainless enough to wander into their territory. Nightmarish mutated animals and insects that haunt the stagnant wilds of the wasteland. Say what you will, but the enemies in Fallout 4 are undoubtedly the best designed in the entire franchise. With that merit comes the fact that it also includes some of the most powerful and dangerous enemies to grace the nuclear-scarred wastes. This list is just a few of the most gruesome, brutal, and downright deadly creatures that you'll encounter in your post-apocalyptic adventures. With that, pop open a Nuka-Cola and let's begin the countdown!

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Updated on July 6th, 2021 by Anastasia Maillot: After almost six years since its release, it's safe to say that much of Fallout 4's magic has already been experienced by most players. If anything, it's the game's dedicated fans and talented modding community that still manages to keep Fallout 4 alive. That, and of course, its toughest and most daunting enemies.

Most players will have by now reached fairly high levels of gameplay, with some of the wasteland's most dangerous enemies stalking their versions of the Commonwealth. Part of the fun is finding these monsters and testing your skill against them, which is why each beast on this list now has a general spawning guide as well to help you locate them.

20 Vampiric Bloodbug

Fallout 4 Vampiric Bloodbug
  • Spawning: All around the wilderness of the Commonwealth, usually close to swamps and water with other Bloodbugs

One of the peskiest enemies in the game, Bloodbugs can be a real nuisance to any player traversing Fallout 4’s wasteland. Essentially giant mutated mosquitos, Bloodbugs gradually evolve over the game from buzzing bother to seriously deadly threat. No other variant of the Bloodbug is as powerful as the Vampiric Bloodbug, the highest tier of the species. They have extremely high tolerance for damage—for a Bloodbug at least—and are able to suck the player dry in a matter of seconds with their long, piercing proboscis.

In addition, Bloodbugs are rarely confronted alone; where there is one mutated giant mosquito, there are guaranteed to be more in toe. Due to their tendency to travel in groups and the fact that they are incredibly difficult to hit outside of VATS, Vampiric Bloodbugs are an enemy that require more than a simple flyswatter to defeat. Make sure you’re carrying a surplus of ammo if you plan to take on a swarm of Vampiric Bloodbugs; not because they’re especially tough but because they’re hard to hit.

19 Gangrenous Feral Ghoul

Fallout 4 Gangrenous Feral Ghoul
  • Spawning: Croup Manor, O'Neill Family Manufacturing, locations at high level that are infested with ghouls

This rare variant of ghouls isn't well known by most players, because of how seldom it makes an appearance. What makes this Gangrenous type of ghoul deadlier than some of the other mid-tier ghoul types is its attack which does a considerable amount of damage, as well as its relatively high health pool.

Going up against this slightly upgraded ghoul type without preparation isn't a good idea, but if you're interesting in testing your strength, there's two guaranteed locations to find one: Croup Manor and O'Neill Family Manufacturing found within the Glowing Sea. Just prepare to fight off a lot of regular ghouls as well.

18 Charred Feral Ghoul

Fallout 4 Charred Feral Ghoul
  • Spawning: Most often found in the Glowing Sea

Ghouls are a common sight within the Commonwealth of Fallout 4, and there are many variations of them depending on where you find yourself adventuring. The Glowing Sea is best-known for its rare and dangerous ghoul enemy, the Charred Feral Ghoul. These ghouls look bulkier than regular ones, and they're also extremely resistant due to having spent most of their existence under immense amounts of radiation. They're considered the most dangerous non-glowing ghoul type.

Charred Feral Ghouls are also daunting enemies due to the fact that they'll always mirror the player's level and present a serious threat. Special perks like the Wasteland Whisperer are wasted on them, making them incredibly resilient and tough enemies in Fallout 4. To face off against one, simply head to the Glowing Sea at higher levels and you should find one in areas infested by ghouls.

17 Annihilator Sentry Bot Mk. II

Fallout 4 Annihilator Sentry Bot Mk 2
  • Spawning: All around the Commonwealth

One of the wastelands deadly robot adversaries, The Annihilator Sentry Bot Mk.II is an enemy that is worth avoiding, if possible. A heavily armored, fast moving, humanoid battle platform, they are relentless in their deadly purpose if they acquire the player. They are heavily armored and able to deal an insane amount of damage thanks to their multiple weapons systems. The Annihilator Sentry Bot Mk.II is equipped with a flamethrower, mini gun, rocket launcher, and a shoulder mounted mortar capable of sending cluster bomb death to any sniper’s perch.

Luckily, these hulking brutes are usually presented to the player in an inactive state before you lock pick a door or access a certain area, giving you time to prepare for the inevitable conflict ahead. Once they are activated, you’d do best to stay on your toes; The Annihilator Sentry Bot Mk.II will not stop until either you, or it, are defeated.

16 Nukatron Sentinel

Fallout 4 Nukatron Sentinel
  • Spawning: Galactic Zone of Nuka-World

An additional robot included as part of the Nuka-World expansion, Nukatron Sentinels are only encountered in the Galactic Zone of Nuka-World. Although they share identical physical traits with their other Sentinel models—save for their bright red paint job—Nukatron Sentinels are extremely deadly. As opposed to the regular arm based laser attack that most Sentinels utilize in combat, the Nukatron Sentinel fires weaponized bursts of Nuka-Cola Cherry and Nuka-Quantum in order down their foes with great efficiency.

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Although they ineffectively shuffle around the Galactic Zone bumbling loudly, making them hard to miss and easy to land a sneak attack on, their clumsy nature should not be taken as an indication of their combat effectiveness. They have a massive pool of hit points and are able to absorb a baffling amount of damage and ammunition before finally going down. If at all possible, players are advised to do their best to avoid combat and leave Nukatron Sentinels to their lonely patrol routes.

15 Ancient Behemoth

Fallout 4 Ancient Behemoth
  • Spawning: All around the Commonwealth

Super Mutants are pretty common enemy fodder for the Fallout series, making forts and strongholds in the ruined skyscrapers and structures of the wasteland. There are a variety of Super Mutant types from lowly foot soldiers to fearsome Super Mutant Warlords, but none are as feared or as powerful at the Ancient Behemoth. Some of the first experiments conducted by The Institute in Fallout 4, Ancient Behemoths tower over the player at approximately 20 feet tall, wielding a massive club, advancing at an alarming pace, and shaking the ground with their every step.

In addition to dealing massive damage with their bludgeons, Behemoth’s are also capable of stomping the ground, stunning the player, and throwing projectiles should you try to flee from combat. You’ll likely stumble on an Ancient Behemoth laying waste to some of Fallout 4’s other dangerous creatures before setting its sights on you.

14 Quantum Tankbot

Fallout 4 Quantum Tankbot
  • Spawning: All around the Commonwealth, provided Automatron DLC is installed

An additional type of robot packaged with the Automatron expansion, Tankbots are hulking powerhouses. Rolling around on treads with a humanoid upper body; Tankbots are best left undisturbed. There are multiple variants, as is typical of Fallout 4 enemies, but none are as resilient as the Quantum Tankbot. Sporting a gatling laser for a right arm and a tesla rifle for its left, they’re able to turn any high level player into a pile of goo within a moments notice.

In addition, they sport an electrified force field that deals damage to any player hoping to charge in and deliver a barrage of melee attacks. Quantum Tankbots are also able to absorb a high level of damage as well, meaning that battles with these lumbering death machines are usually drawn out longer than you’d like. Thankfully, the Quantum Tankbot is a rare occurrence and can usually be shutdown from a nearby computer terminal.

13 Putrid Glowing One

Fallout 4 Putrid Glowing One
  • Spawning: Any location at high levels that ghouls have infested

Lower level Feral Ghouls can be tough enough when experienced in a pack, but the experience becomes particularly harrowing when you notice the green iridescent hue of a Glowing One. Glowing Ones are basically over radiated feral ghouls that are nothing but bad news. Not only do they possess the usual speed and ferocity of a normal Feral Ghoul, they deal a lot more damage and tend to be quicker on their feet. Glowing Ones deal radiation damage just from being in their proximity, which is hard to escape as they constantly pursue you once they draw a bead on the player.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, they use a radioactive shockwave attack that can damage you at a distance and heal other nearby Feral Ghouls. Given an opportunity, Glowing Ones will also resurrect slain Feral Ghouls, making their termination in the wasteland a top priority. The Putrid variation is known for being the strongest of its kind, but with a little less health than the Bloated glowing one. However, due to its superior damage, it still tops the Bloated one in terms of danger despite inferior radiation damage.

12 Dusky Yao Guai

Fallout 4 Dusky Yao Guai
  • Spawning: Anywhere in the wilderness of the Commonwealth

Yao Guais have been a pain in the butt in the Fallout franchise since Fallout 3. Mutated black bears that stalk the wasteland, Yao Guais often appear in the wilds seemingly out of nowhere. No matter your level, they are a constant threat due to their savage speed and attack damage. Players traversing the ruined wastes should always keep their eyes peeled for the infamous Dusky Yao Guai; darker in color and usually with a more scarred hide, these beasts are a real threat, even to higher-level players.

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Fast moving damage sponges, Dusky Yao Guais can absorb and put out massive amounts of pain, maiming players with a few swipes. To make matters worse, they are immune to the Animal Friend perk, meaning that they can’t be tamed or avoided. If you see a Dusky Yao Guai cresting the wasteland’s horizon, it’s best to hightail it the other way.

11 Mirelurk Queen

Fallout 4 Mirelurk Queen
  • Spawning: The Castle, Murkwater Construction Site, Spectacle Island, Nahant Chapel, Northpoint Reservoir, Coastal Cottage, Massachusetts State House, near Poseidon Energy, Revere Beach Station, around Salem, Recon Bunker Theta, near Vault 88 and near the Grandchester Mystery Mansion.

These crustaceous terrors from the deep are luckily only encountered in a few key areas of the game and can prove to be a real pain, especially when part of a group. Larger, more heavily armored, and able to punish players for challenging them in combat, Mirelurk Queens are not an enemy to be trifled with in Fallout 4. In addition to her armored shell and debilitating melee attacks, Mirelurk Queens are also able to spit acid projectiles from a distance.

Mirelurk Queens will also eject a spray of eggs in the heat of combat, spawning a wave of lesser Mirelurk Hatchlings to juggle. Because Mirelurk Queens are usually found in nests abundant with other Mirelurks—including Mirelurk Kings, which lack a shell but can deal massive amounts of damage quickly—the player will usually find themselves surrounded by Mirelurk Killclaws and Glowing Mirelurks before their mighty queen makes herself known.

10 Enraged Fog Crawler

Fallout 4 Enraged Fog Crawler Next To Trees
  • Spawning: The wilderness of Far Harbor island

An additional creature class only available in the Far Harbor expansion, Fog Crawlers are basically giant land shrimp from hell. Usually found along the Island’s beaches and coastline, Enraged Fog Crawlers are the toughest of the bunch. Sporting a ridiculous amount of HP, it’ll take more than a few well-placed gauss rifle shots in VATS to down these suckers. Immune to the Wasteland Whisperer perk, an easy way to tell when you’re up against an Enraged Fog Crawler is by making note of the torn pieces of netting and discarded ship parts that will usually accommodate their protective outer-shell.

Enraged Fog Crawlers focus on melee attacks, ripping players limb from limb with giant praying mantis scythe like claws, as well as skewering them with a spear-like nasal appendage. And if you’re planning on bombarding one of these terrors from a distance with a mini-nuke, you’re out of luck; Enraged Fog Crawlers are immune to radiation and poison damage.

9 Deathskull Radscorpion

Fallout 4 Deathskull Radscorpion
  • Spawning: The wilderness of the Commonwealth, most often in the Glowing Sea

Another Fallout franchise staple, Radscorpions is a serious pain for any player traveling the wasteland. A heavily armored carapace, cutting pincers, and a long, stinging tail that can poison are all part of this creature's arsenal. When you start hitting the higher levels, you can expect to run into a few Deathskull Radscorpions. They level with the player, meaning that when encountered they’ll always have a tendency to cut your life short if you’re not prepared.

Extremely high damage tolerance and particularly deadly poison in their stingers makes the Deathskull Radscorpion a formidable foe; one strike from their tail is enough to cripple limbs or kill higher level players. If you hear the familiar sound of a Radscorpion surfacing and happen to catch a glimpse of the Deathskull Radscorpion’s noticeably red body, do yourself a favor and hightail it out of there.

8 Gulper Devourer

Fallout 4 Gulper Devourer
  • Spawning: The wilderness of Far Harbor island

Next time you’re playing Fallout 4’s DLC expansion Far Harbor, do yourself a favor and keep your eyes on the trees. You may notice a slick looking blob up amongst the branches; take a shot at it or walk too close and it will drop to the ground, resulting in one of your worst nightmares. Gulpers are giant, bipedal salamanders that are fast and deadly. They will charge the player, making use of their melee attacks and fierce speed. Similar to Deathclaws, a player can always try and target their soft underbelly to deal some real damage, but this can prove difficult when trying to survive a giant salamander’s relentless onslaught.

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Gulper Devourers are massive compared to the rest of their species; making their physical appearance on par with the damage they’re easily able to deal to the player. Don’t try and make your way around them either, like most of the creatures on this list, they’re immune to the Wasteland Whisperer perk.

7 Synth Eradicator

Fallout 4 Synth Eradicator
  • Spawning: Any area at high levels that synths have infested

Synths are the “main” enemies in Fallout 4, a constant synthetic humanoid menace that must be dealt with on the battlefield and, sometimes, in town. Part of the Institute’s android army, Synth Eradicators are some of the most difficult enemies in the game to compete with. You’ll usually find them leading a larger pack of earlier model Synths, taking potshots with some of the highest-level weaponry, safely behind the lines while their expandable brethren keep your attention and ammunition on them.

After the dust has cleared from battling a squad of Synths, expect the Synth Eradicator to come in for the kill. Able to absorb heinous amounts of damage and sporting the Institute’s most advanced weaponry, Synth Eradicators are some of the most dangerous threats to roam the wasteland. Due to their intelligent maneuvers and deadly weapons, your survival chances against a Synth Eradicator—to borrow a line from the Synth themselves—is highly improbable.

6 Nukalurk King

Fallout 4 Nukalurk King
  • Spawning: The World of Refreshment, Nuka-World

Mirelurks and all their variants aren't that impressive, other than the Mirelurk Queen herself. However, there's nothing more irritating than being swamped by the Nukalurk version of the Mirelurk King, an already difficult and high damage mid-tier enemy to deal with in the first place. In Nuka-World, a tougher version of it powered by the Quantum Cola flowing down the attraction's river can be found stalking the ruins.

Known for its quintessential blue glow that's a reference to all the Quantum Cola it has ingested, the Nukalurk King is exactly like the original Mirelurk King, only stronger. Quick to move around, they can dish out damage with a sonic projectile attack which can easily crippe you in a blink of an eye. Don't challenge one without proper power armor.

5 Assaultron Dominator

Fallout 4 Assaultron Dominator
  • Spawning: Anywhere in the Commonwealth, Quincy Ruins

Frighteningly fast and deadly at both close and long range, the Assaultron Dominator is a real nightmare to deal with. The first time you'll most likely encounter one is when you enter the Quincy Ruins, and you'll be no doubt staggered by how quickly these robots can demolish you within seconds.

The Assaultron Dominator is particular scary at close range due to an ability to stun lock you and one-shot you with melee if you're not careful. They can easily catch up to you in combat, so you want to preferably keep your distance and have a tanky companion take in some of the incoming damage if you're not wearing the best armor. Even at longer ranges their stealth ability and laser beam is devastating.

4 Albino Gatorclaw

Fallout 4 Albino Gatorclaw
  • Spawning: The cloning facility inside Safari Adventure, Nuka-World

Safari Adventure is the area Nuka-World completely infested by Gatorclaws. While they're quite simple by design and resemble classic Deathclaws in just about every possible way, their Albino variant is a scary one to encounter, mainly because he has much more health than any of the other Gatorclaws located in the park.

There's only one Albino Gatorclaw that can be found in the game, and he's located in the depths of the cloning facility that first created the Gatorclaws in the first place. A quest during The Grand Tour will inevitably bring you here, and when you do arrive, get ready for a tough fight in extremely close quarters.

3 Novatron Eliminator

Fallout 4 Novatron Eliminator
  • Spawning: The Galactic Zone, Nuka-World

Forget about the Assaultrons, as Nuka-World has a new horror to introduce to you: the Novatrons. More specifically, the Novatron Eliminator first encountered inside the RobCo combat zone, where you'll be forced to face off multiple tough robotic enemies to death.

The Novatron Eliminator is frightening to say the least. It has the highest health pool of its kind, and incredibly powerful attacks, which are classic Assaultron type melee attacks. No other Assaultron type comes close to its health pool, making it by far the hardest to kill Assaultron type. However, due to its lack of stealth mode and laser beam, it's not as deadly in combat, despite taking a while to kill.

2 Mythic Deathclaw

Fallout 4 Mythic Deathclaw
  • Spawning: Commonwealth wilderness after level 91, or earlier around Starlight Drive-In

Deathclaws are the reoccurring enemy that the Fallout franchise is known for and Fallout 4 is no exception. Deathclaws are abundant in all corners of the wasteland this time around, and come in a variety of flavors; from your plain, deadly Deathclaw to the more exotic Chameleon Deathclaw, that changes its scales to blend in with its background before releasing a barrage of attacks on the player. There is one that is more deadly than the rest however: the Mythic Deathclaw.

Mythic Deathclaws level with the player, meaning that they will always have that lovely red skull next to their name in combat. These radioactive, reptilian hell beasts are never to be taken lightly, even at higher player levels in the game. When facing a Mythic Deathclaw be sure to come with a fully stocked arsenal and maybe even lob a mini-nuke or two its way.

1 Assaultron Gorgon

Fallout 4 Assaultron Gorgon
  • Spawning: Fort Hagen hangar, or among Rust Devil patrols, provided Automatron is installed

If you have the Automatron DLC installed, there's something even deadlier patrolling the wasteland than an Assaultron Dominator, and it's the Assaultron Gorgon. These modified, and terrifying looking variations of a regular Assaultron robot are the definition of deadly. They have two large flaming blades, shishkebabs, as their main melee weapons. On top of that they also have the highest health pool of almost all Assaultrons, with only the Nuka-World Novatron Eliminator type topping it.

Due to their speed and the powerful laser beam attack as well, Assaultron Gorgons are the worst kind of enemy: versatile. They can demolish enemies at both close and long range, so when you find yourself in combat with one, no matter what approach you take you're likely to struggle.

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