DriversRecommendedOutdated drivers can make a good PC feel brokenScan driver issues before chasing fixes manually.Scan NowOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsPC HealthRecommendedCrashes, freezes, slowdowns? Check your PC nowSpot repairable issues before they interrupt work.Check PC×
Skip to content
VGSources
Blog

How to Kill Deathclaws in Fallout 4: Tactics for Concord and Beyond

Use distance, cover, and situational V.A.T.S. targeting to fight deathclaws in Fallout 4, from the first Concord encounter to stronger variants.
WorldFallout 4: Tactics for Concord and Beyond Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Keep your distance, use cover or obstacles to disrupt a deathclaw’s approach, and choose your target based on your goal: aim for the legs to try to slow it and make room, or target the torso or head when damage is the priority. In Concord, first equip the T-45 power armor and minigun from the Museum of Freedom, then avoid standing in the open to trade hits. If a fight is still too difficult, Bethesda’s official fallback is to lower the game difficulty in Settings > Gameplay > Difficulty.

How to survive the first deathclaw in Concord

The Concord encounter can punish a stationary approach. Before leaving the Museum of Freedom, collect and equip the available T-45 power armor and minigun. They give you defensive equipment and a ranged option, but they do not make you invulnerable or guarantee an easy fight.

  1. Prepare inside the museum. Equip the power armor and minigun before heading out to face the deathclaw.
  2. Keep moving toward cover. Avoid standing in the open and trading melee hits. Use the museum area and streetside obstacles to interfere with a direct approach, while keeping as much distance as you can.
  3. Use extra damage options when they fit. The guide suggests explosives or nearby cars as possible ways to add damage. Treat them as situational options, not a guaranteed shortcut.

These are recommendations from a secondary gaming guide, not official Bethesda tactics or a guaranteed strategy. Your equipment, build, difficulty setting, and the exact situation affect how the encounter plays out.

What is the safest weapon to use against a deathclaw?

There is no universally safest weapon established by the available guidance. A strong ranged weapon can help you deal damage without choosing a close-range exchange, but the right choice depends on your build, upgrades, ammunition, and surroundings. For stronger encounters, the guide recommends upgraded high-damage weapons such as rifles and explosives; it does not provide controlled damage comparisons or a definitive ranking.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Fallout 4 Game of The Year Edition - PlayStation 4
  • Freedom and Liberty Do whatever you want in a massive open world with hundreds of locations, characters, and quests. Join multiple factions vying for power or go it alone, the choices are all yours
  • Be whoever you want with the special character system. From a power Armored soldier to the charismatic smooth talker, you can choose from hundreds of perks and develop your own playstyle
  • New next generation graphics and lighting engine brings to life the world of fallout. From the blasted forests of the common wealth to the ruins of Boston, every location is packed with dynamic detail
  • Intense first or third person combat can also be slowed down with the new dynamic Vault Tec Assisted Targeting System (V.A.T.S) that lets you choose your attacks and enjoy cinematic carnage
  • Prioritize space: Choose a ranged weapon you can use while moving between cover or obstacles.
  • Prioritize damage: Use your strongest suitable ranged weapon when you have a clear opportunity to attack.
  • Prepare for the fight: Bring ammunition and healing, and use the defensive equipment available to you.

Cover and positioning matter alongside weapon choice. A powerful weapon does not remove the danger of letting a deathclaw close the distance.

Where should you aim in V.A.T.S.?

V.A.T.S. is listed as a default control in the Fallout 4 help manual. The Guardian’s general Fallout 4 tips guide describes V.A.T.S. as slowing time and allowing you to target specific body parts; it is not deathclaw-specific confirmation.

Rank #2
Fallout 4 Game of The Year Edition - PlayStation 4
  • Freedom and Liberty Do whatever you want in a massive open world with hundreds of locations, characters, and quests. Join multiple factions vying for power or go it alone, the choices are all yours
  • Be whoever you want with the special character system. From a power Armored soldier to the charismatic smooth talker, you can choose from hundreds of perks and develop your own playstyle
  • New next generation graphics and lighting engine brings to life the world of fallout. From the blasted forests of the common wealth to the ruins of Boston, every location is packed with dynamic detail
  • Intense first or third person combat can also be slowed down with the new dynamic Vault Tec Assisted Targeting System (V.A.T.S) that lets you choose your attacks and enjoy cinematic carnage
  • Legs for control: The deathclaw guide recommends targeting the legs when your immediate goal is to slow the creature and create space. Treat this as a tactic to try, not a guaranteed result.
  • Torso or head for damage: The guide also discusses these targets when you have a clear opening or a particularly strong weapon.

Choose based on the situation: creating room is the priority when the deathclaw is closing in; damage may matter more when you can attack safely. Results can vary with your weapon and build.

How to handle Alpha, Glowing, and Mythic deathclaws

The guide identifies Alpha, Glowing, and Mythic deathclaws as tougher encounters, but the available source does not establish their health, damage, armor, or level thresholds. Plan around the additional danger without relying on unsourced stat comparisons.

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
Sale
Fallout 4 | Anniversary Edition | Nintendo Switch 2 [Code in Box]
  • ANNIVERSARY EDITION — Celebrate ten years of Fallout 4 with the complete post‑nuclear RPG experience, winner of over 200 Best Of awards including DICE and BAFTA Game of the Year.
  • COMPLETE BASE GAME INCLUDED — Experience the full Fallout 4 main campaign as the Sole Survivor of Vault 111, shaping the fate of the Commonwealth through meaningful choices, factions, and exploration.
  • ALL 6 OFFICIAL EXPANSIONS — Includes Automatron, Wasteland Workshop, Far Harbor, Contraptions Workshop, Vault‑Tec Workshop, and Nuka‑World for massive story, settlement, and gameplay additions.
  • 150+ CREATION CLUB ITEMS — Expand your adventure with curated Creation Club content featuring unique weapons, power armor sets, building packs, paint jobs, player homes, and Dogmeat cosmetic variants.
  • OPEN‑WORLD FREEDOM — Explore hundreds of locations, craft weapons and armor, build and manage settlements, and customize your playstyle using the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. system and perk progression.
  • Use cover, obstacles, or elevated terrain where available to manage the approach.
  • Bring an upgraded high-damage ranged weapon and enough ammunition for the encounter.
  • Consider explosives, and try targeting the legs before the creature reaches you if creating space is the priority.
  • Have healing and defensive equipment ready; the appropriate setup depends on your level, build, and available gear.

These are informed recommendations from a secondary guide, not official developer instructions or a guarantee that a particular weapon or tactic will work in every encounter.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Lower the difficulty if the fight remains too hard

Bethesda Support says: “If you are having issues with an encounter in Fallout 4, you can lower the difficulty in game by navigating to Settings, then Gameplay, and finally Difficulty.” Open Settings > Gameplay > Difficulty and choose a lower setting. This is an official support option, not a combat exploit.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 4
Fallout 4 Game of The Year Edition - Xbox One
Fallout 4 Game of The Year Edition - Xbox One
GOTY edition includes original game on disc and all available DLC as download codes.
$33.83
SaleBestseller No. 5
Fallout 4 - PlayStation 4 [ (Renewed)
Fallout 4 - PlayStation 4 [ (Renewed)
Next generation of open-world gaming; Developed by Bethesda Game Studios under the direction of Todd Howard
$17.77
Best Value
Sale
Fallout 4 - PlayStation 4 [ (Renewed)
  • Next generation of open-world gaming
  • Developed by Bethesda Game Studios under the direction of Todd Howard
  • Fallout 4 is the follow up to the 2008 'Game of the Year' Fallout 3
  • First title from the world-renowned studio since the release of Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Rank #4
Fallout 4 Game of The Year Edition - Xbox One
  • GOTY edition includes original game on disc and all available DLC as download codes.
  • Do whatever you want in a massive open world with hundreds of locations, characters, and quests. Join multiple factions vying for power or go it alone, the choices are all yours.
  • Be whoever you want with the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. character system. From a Power Armored soldier to the charismatic smooth talker, you can choose from hundreds of Perks and develop your own playstyle.
  • An all-new next generation graphics and lighting engine brings to life the world of Fallout like never before. From the blasted forests of the Commonwealth to the ruins of Boston, every location is packed with dynamic detail.
  • Intense first or third person combat can also be slowed down with the new dynamic Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System (V.A.T.S) that lets you choose your attacks and enjoy cinematic carnage.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More quests from Patch Notes

  1. How to Turn On Vibrant Visuals in MinecraftMinecraftBlog3min
  2. Best Multiplayer Games for Low-End PCsBlog4min
  3. Minecraft: How To Use And Install OptiFineBlog5min
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.