Assaultron

Assaultrons are a type of robot in Fallout 4 and Fallout 76.

Background
The Assaultron was constructed by RobCo Industries and sold to the United States military as a frontline wartime combatant. It is fast and deadly at close range, and employs a devastating laser at a distance. Some units can even employ stealth technology. It also has the ability to utilize EMP shielding to protect itself from electromagnetic disturbances. They are quick, nimble, and customizable, with a variety of weaponry such as lasers and razor-sharp claws. An Assaultron will not stop until its core is damaged: even after losing limbs and pieces of machinery, it continues to fight on. Some Assaultrons are equipped with bombs set to detonate if they are destroyed.

In terms of design, the Assaultron is intended for melee combat and survivability. To that end it was designed using proven, reliable technologies, with actuators, chain-powered limbs and other simple, rugged solutions, covered in thick armored plating. Modular arms allow for swapping out its loadout depending on the mission profile, with the most typical one being a combination of claws and blades. Once in range, it grabs onto targets with its claws, then twists to tear armor, flesh, and bone alike. Long, slender legs powered by a combination of hydraulic actuators and springs allow it to close distance with frightening speed. The crown jewel is the head laser, mounted in its center and capable of devastating the opposition when fully charged. For protection, its red lens is surrounded by thick armor plates and distracts from the optical receptors hidden at the top of the head. The end result is a lightweight, fast, and highly durable combat robot that excels in close quarters combat. Its disadvantage is that it's a pure combat design: It has a decent carrying capacity, but well below that of the other designs.

Heavily modified Assaultrons are know to traverse the Commonwealth, ranging from those with Protectron heads to better make use of laser weapons to those that replace their legs with a Mr. Handy thruster for even more speed and wield dual Shishkababs in place of claws. There are also bizarre armor designs that give the Assaultron a fearsome visage, and definitely not authorized by RobCo Industries. Furthermore, raiders are known to adapt robot armor for their own use, including Assaultron head armor, from which they create Assaultron helmets. As for the heads themselves, some non-functioning units still contain a functioning laser, which those desperate enough to endure the subsequent radiation poisoning can use as a hand-held weapon.

Characteristics
A bipedal, close combat robot intended for use on the frontlines, the Assaultron is a vicious enemy who just doesn't let up. Assaultrons focus primarily on close combat using their arms, with the head laser relegated to engaging enemies while closing distance. Some advanced models will also employ stealth, making them much harder to locate and dispose of. The best course of action is to force the Assaultron to navigate through obstacles and maintain distance. The focus on melee also makes it possible to engage them with mines, especially pulse mines.

The most important piece of advice, however, is to destroy its head or take shelter before its head-mounted laser can charge up and be brought to bear. It is positively devastating if caught out in the open.

Unique Assaultrons

 * Ada
 * Atom's Wrath
 * Iron Maiden
 * KL-E-0
 * Lady Lovelace
 * P.A.M.
 * Impostor Sheepsquatch

Appearances
Assaultrons appear in Fallout 4 and its add-ons Automatron, Far Harbor, and Nuka-World and Fallout 76.