Radstag

Creatures & Mutants · Source: Fallout 4, Fallout 76

Radstags are mutated descendants of the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) that roam the Commonwealth and surrounding regions. Named for the distinctive glowing radiation pustules that grow along their flanks and antlers, radstags represent one of the more visually striking — and biologically improbable — post-war mutations. Their antlers, in particular, often exhibit a branched, tumorous growth pattern with glowing nodes that emit a faint radiological signature detectable with a Geiger counter.

Unlike many wasteland creatures that have become hyper-aggressive, radstags are generally skittish and defensive, retaining their pre-war flight instinct. They will flee from human contact but will attack if cornered or during the rutting season when males become territorial. Their primary weapons are their mutated antlers and hooves, which can deliver serious blunt-force trauma.

Radstag meat is one of the better sources of animal protein in the Commonwealth, with a flavor that surviving culinary texts describe as 'gamey but acceptable' when properly prepared. Their hides are serviceable for leatherworking, and their antlers — if harvested carefully from the glowing nodes — have minor alchemical applications. A particularly fearsome variant, the Albino Radstag, exhibits albino coloration and dramatically enhanced size and aggression. Rabid radstags, infected with a mutated strain of the rabies virus, are aggressive beyond normal territorial behavior and should be dispatched at range.

Tags: Mammal, Mutated, Herbivore, Radiation, Commonwealth, Food Source, Deer