Deathclaw, the most feared creature in the Fallout games, finally got its origin story in the second season of the Amazon Prime Video series, released in early January 2026. The fourth episode, titled ‘The Demon in the Snow’, which premiered on the 7th, features a crucial flashback during the Great War in Alaska, revealing how Cooper Howard, played by Walton Goggins, had his first encounter with the genetically modified beast. This revelation is a milestone for fans, as it answers one of the big questions in the franchise’s lore, showing that the creature was a U.S. military project created to replace human soldiers in high-risk missions.
The scene occurs when Cooper’s power armor fails, leaving him immobile and at the mercy of Chinese troops. However, an unknown predator emerges and eliminates all the soldiers, sparing only the protagonist. In this way, the series not only introduces the monster but also contextualizes its initial programming and the reason why it did not attack Cooper. The appearance, far from being a quick cameo, carries narrative weight and explores the U.S. government’s secret genetic experiments in the post-apocalyptic universe, directly connecting to the canon established by the games.
From military project to wasteland plague
Deathclaws, therefore, are the result of scientific experiments that mixed DNA from various species, focusing on the Jackson’s chameleon. The goal was to create a cheap and effective substitute for heavy combat, capable of surviving in any environment. However, as a result of escapes during the Great War, the creatures proliferated uncontrollably and became the top predators in the post-nuclear desert. For this reason, they have spread to all major wastelands in the games, from the Capital Wasteland of Washington to the Commonwealth of Boston, operating in packs led by an alpha pair.
Found in all main games in the series, Deathclaws are fast, cause enormous damage with their claws, and are rarely seen alone. Although they do not deliberately invade human settlements, they represent a deadly threat when their territory is invaded. The series production team confessed that they had already considered including them in the first season but preferred to wait for a moment with greater narrative significance. Thus, the choice of an emotional flashback during the war proved to be correct, adding layers to the mythology.
The appearance also opens doors for future developments, as Deathclaws have an enigmatic connection with the Enclave faction, which has not yet appeared in the series. With more seasons planned, fans can expect this connection to be explored. Meanwhile, the second season of Fallout is now available in full on Amazon Prime Video, offering more answers and, certainly, new questions about the radiation-devastated universe.
