Mirelurk ( Fallout 4 ) Mirelurks are creatures encountered in the Commonwealth and are present on the Island and in Nuka - World in 2287 . Background . Although the games do not specifically state the origins of mirelurks , it can be discerned from their appearances that they are the descendants of crustaceans which have been living and breeding in irradiated waters for over 200 years following the Great War . Given this level of diversity , it can be assumed that the term " mirelurk " is more than just the common name for one species , but rather a colloquial term for any of several typically - chitinous , marsh - dwelling creatures living together in symbiotic relationships . Before the war , the mutation was predicted by researchers at Nahant Oceanological Society , who theorized that the dumping of radioactive waste would lead to greater size and toxicity . Biology . Most adult mirelurk variants have shells and pincers resembling those of horseshoe crabs , while their offspring resemble mole crabs . The queen , on the other hand , has a shell that resembles that of a giant isopod or spider crab . The hunter variant appears to be a lobster . Finally , the mirelurk king is unique in that it bears no resemblance to any sort of crustacean , and may instead be a heavily mutated frog or fish . All mirelurks ( excluding mirelurk kings and softshell mirelurks ) are protected by a thick shell which is difficult to penetrate , even with powerful ballistic weapons . The face is unarmored but a small target , and when charging a mirelurk will often lower its head to protect this area . However , the face will inevitably be exposed once the creature commences close combat . Extremities are also more vulnerable than the rest of the body , though not as much as the face . Typical specimens in particular resemble mirelurk hunters from the Capital Wasteland , but also differ in several aspects , such as is seen with their legs . This specimen also walks in a mixed crab / spider - like motion , which is atypical of mirelurk variants documented so far ; in general they have more " realistic " qualities correlating to appearance . Gameplay attributes . Mirelurks will bury themselves in dirt or mud , with the only visual indication that they are present being the rounded backs of their shells , which resemble large , smooth rocks from a distance . V . A . T . S . will be able to detect them from a distance when used . It is not uncommon to see mirelurks with netting and seaweed caught on their carapaces or have barnacles latched on to them . Typical mirelurks and their variants can occasionally be found feeding on sea creature s . Mirelurks are mostly found in groups and thus often appreciate strength in numbers , and glowing mirelurks also deal radiation damage when in close quarters . Combine this with their generally high resilience they can easily prove a challenge for low - level player characters . Because of their thick shells , they can be quite hard to defeat in a melee fight , as they tend to hide their weak points when the player character is about to strike , or when they charge before revealing their body parts in order to attack . Because of their unique fighting style , melee weapons with the legendary modifiers " Penetrating " ( attacks ignore 30 % of enemy ' s damage resistance ) and " Exterminator ' s " ( specific bonus damage to mirelurks ) are very useful against them . As some companions mention , mirelurks have no way to protect themselves against mines , or any attack from below . Even being on a lower platform that can be shot through give the player an advantage . All mirelurk variants have a chance to be pacified through the Wasteland Whisperer perk . Variants . Mirelurk hatchling . When nearing a mirelurk nest , typically about half of its eggs will shake briefly and then hatch , revealing these small , aggressive crab - like creatures . The mirelurk queen can spawn several hatchlings to attack the player character . Their overall combat strength is practically identical to radroaches . Mirelurk spawn . Mirelurk spawn are identical in statistics to mirelurk hatchlings but this variant is bigger . A few can be found at the bottom floor of the Massachusetts State House . Nukalurk spawn . A Nuka - Cola imbued mirelurk hatchling , which can emerge from eggs littering the World of Refreshment attraction , or can be born from the Nukalurk queen . It shares the same looks as the mirelurk spawn , with the exception of its blue glow . Softshell mirelurk . Weak , green mirelurks encountered at low levels and can be seen mixed in with stronger mirelurks at higher levels . Their meat provides more health when cooked than normal mirelurk meat . Mirelurk . The standard variant of mirelurk . Darker in appearance than softshell mirelurks , it is also more resilient and deals more damage per hit . It ' s stronger than the first variant , and probably older . Mirelurk razorclaw . A more powerful variant of the mirelurk that may be encountered commonly as the player character levels up . It has double the health of a softshell mirelurk and deals significantly more damage per hit , making them potentially challenging opponents for those that are poorly - equipped . Mirelurk killclaw . A powerful type of mirelurk that can be encountered in any mirelurk - infested area , such as Salem , if the player character ' s level is high enough . It is much more resilient than the razorclaw , and is more powerful in combat . Glowing mirelurk . An irradiated variant of the mirelurk which is increasingly encountered as the player character levels up . Due to steady absorption of large quantities of radiation these mirelurks glow with its superabundance ; their undersides are positively luminescent and a notable build up of radiation in its eyestalks gives them a distinct feature even among " glowing " creatures . Glowing mirelurks inflict radiation damage on top of the ballistic damage . This variant has a considerable amount of health ( half of that of a super mutant behemoth ) , and deals considerable amount of damage in combat , making them challenging opponents for low - level player characters . Nukalurk . Nukalurks make a return in add - on " Nuka - World " , they apparently mutated from regular mirelurks living in the river of Nuka - Cola Quantum that is part of the World of Refreshment attraction . Bloodrage mirelurk . The most powerful type of the base mirelurk genus in terms of both resistances and damage potential , Bloodrage mirelurks were added to the game with the " Far Harbor " add - on . They have very dark carapaces , glowing red eyes and also emit a baleful reddish glow from their underside . Despite their power and threat potential , killing a Bloodrage mirelurk awards significantly less experience than most of its lower - ranking variants . Mirelurk queen . The mirelurk queen is a rarely seen mirelurk variant . A mirelurk queen will announce its arrival with a great roar . The queen is considerably larger and more dangerous than her offspring and inflicts significantly more physical and radiation damage on the player character . Her acidic spittle rapidly damages anyone caught in it , but crippling her spouts will prevent her from using it . Once combat is initiated , the queen will occasionally eject a barrage of eggs that spawn a wave of hatchlings , an ability that is considered a grenade attack and therefore comes with the respective warning icons on the screen . She benefits from the same resistance as the regular mirelurks : an incredibly thick shell but a very soft skin . Subsequent respawns may have her either already emerged and idling in her area , or else submerged if her first spawning - in is triggered by killing nearby mirelurks . Players can note her presence ( as well as that of hidden Kings and Hunters ) by sneaking to triangulate her location , and then trigger her appearance with an AOE attack , such as an explosive or a ground slam from power armor . One occupies the Castle and is fought when the Minutemen retake it . Destroying its eggs prior to acquiring Taking Independence also causes it become enraged and fight . Another occupies the Murkwater construction site . Other spawn locations are Nahant Chapel , southeast of Coastal Cottage , Spectacle Island , Massachusetts State House , Recon bunker Theta , west of Salem , the beach southeast of the Revere Beach station , and at a beached fishing boat southeast of Poseidon Energy . The Island is home to several mirelurk queens as well . One has its nest at the bottom of Northwood Ridge Quarry , another one plays a role in the Rite of Passage quest . A mirelurk queen may also occupy the east dig site of Vault 88 when finding the Vault - Tec water pump in the " Vault - Tec Workshop " DLC . One can also be found at " Nuka - World " ' s Northpoint Reservoir ( killing all the mirelurks here will spawn a mirelurk queen ) and southeast of Grandchester Mystery Mansion . Mirelurk queens are considered giant creatures in - game , therefore , killing them counts towards the achievement . . . The Harder They Fall . Nukalurk queen . The Nukalurk queen is created by the Nuka - Cola bottling plant at Nuka - World as the result of a Mirelurk queen consuming too much Nuka - Cola Quantum , causing it to glow blue . It has more health and strength as a result of this , making it a fair challenge for even a high level opponent . She will emerge from the lake when all Nukalurks occupying the factory are defeated . Hunters . Mirelurk hunter . This type of mirelurk has mutated from the local lobster population . They are significantly more resilient than regular mirelurks and gain the ability to spit acid at its enemies , as well as more powerful attacks . A few can be found at Spectacle Island , and others may spawn in the tunnels during The Big Dig . Glowing mirelurk hunter . An extremely irradiated variation of the mirelurk hunter that glows . Glowing mirelurk hunters deal additional radiation damage when attacking the player character . Albino mirelurk hunter . Mirelurk hunters that have been born afflicted with albinism , giving them a distinguishable pinkish - white skin color signature to albino creatures . While their attacks are indifferent from that of a regular mirelurk hunter , they are protected by higher resistances . They , as with most albino creatures , are very rare and appear only by chance . Nukalurk hunter . A mirelurk hunter that has absorbed great amounts of Nuka - Cola Quantum , making their shells glow blue . They behave identically to a normal mirelurk hunter . Kings . Mirelurk king . Mirelurk kings do not resemble the crab - like mirelurks , instead appearing to be heavily mutated frogs based on sounds they make and the webbing between their fingers and toes . They are very fast and can easily kill a low level player character in seconds . Unlike the other mirelurks , they have a ranged sonic projectile attack that is particularly effective at crippling the target ' s head . Mirelurk kings have less health than glowing mirelurks , mirelurk hunters or mirelurk queens , although they are much more agile and efficient at range . One can be found in a room alongside power armor , a few tunnels into the The Big Dig . Another one can be located behind Rook family house on the shore . Up to four can be found at Cutler Bend , and a few may be encountered at Spectacle Island . Another can be found inside a crypt to the north of Electrical Hobbyist ' s Club underneath the skybridge . He will appear and attack after taking the lone mirelurk egg . Mirelurk deep king . A stronger variant of the mirelurk king with blue and yellow scales . It has more health and overall defense than the average king , but with identical attack patterns . Glowing mirelurk king . A variant of the mirelurk king glowing with the excesses of inordinate radiation absorption . It inflicts radiation damage when executing a melee attack . Nukalurk king . A Mirelurk king imbued with high amounts of Nuka - Cola , causing it to glow blue . It has greater health than other mirelurk kings as a result of this , and has stronger attacks as well . Appearances . Mirelurks appear in " Fallout 4 " and its add - ons " Far Harbor " and " Nuka - World " .