Vault 87 super mutant Vault 87 super mutants or East Coast super mutants are the variant of super mutant found throughout the Capital Wasteland in 2277 . In " Fallout 3 " , there are four variations of the super mutant , with an additional variation being introduced with the Broken Steel add - on . Background . These super mutants were created in the " Evolutionary Experimentation Program " , the experiment assigned to Vault 87 . The modified strain of FEV used to create these super mutants resulted in a new strain of super mutants which , in addition to becoming sterile , grew larger and stronger as they aged . The first super mutants of this variety were created in 2078 , becoming a permanent feature of the Capital Wasteland . Too dumb to overrun it , but too strong to die off . Characteristics . Biology . Like all super mutants , the Vault 87 variant appear to be powerfully - built , hairless humanoids standing seven to eight feet tall and clad in heavy armor made from car parts and scrap metal . They differ from their Western counterparts in that they possess a yellow - green skin color as opposed to the green or blue colors of their western cousins , as well as thick , bulging veins . They are also generally less intelligent and more aggressive . They also appear more healthy and genetically stable , as they are never seen with any cybernetic implants or organic disorders . However , unlike their distant cousins , they retain less of their humanity after transformation , and no distinguishing features from their former lives can be found . Every super mutant speaks in a deep , guttural voice that emphasizes each syllable due to their mouths being permanently stuck in a tight , angry sneer . Also , as Fawkes demonstrates when retrieving the GECK in Vault 87 , they are highly resistant to radiation . During exploration of Vault 87 , information from terminal entries reveals more about the process that humans go through to become super mutants . When exposed to the specific strain of FEV found there , muscular and skeletal systems develop rapidly while mental faculties diminish . Like other super mutants , despite having a build similar to a muscular human male , they completely lack functioning genitals , relying on FEV vats to create more super mutants . Another unique trait of the Vault 87 super mutants is that they grow larger as they grow older , and can range from eight to at least twenty or thirty feet in height ; the largest are known as " behemoths . " These behemoths seem to be even less intelligent than their smaller brethren , talking only in echoing roars and blindly destroying everything in their path , acting more like an unfettered beast than a soldier . Despite their apparent lack of intelligence , the mutants are somehow able to organize themselves into a coordinated army ( as evident from numerous raids ) . It seems likely that " might makes right " and those older and larger mutants who can still think somewhat coherently are in charge . They have also procured large amounts of advanced weapons , ammunition , equipment and maintain the FEV infrastructure necessary to transform humans to increase their numbers . How they are able to achieve these things is never explained , as the player character never meets a mutant leader or governing body in the game , unlike in west coast " Fallout " games . In the ruins of D . C . , the super mutants are primarily looking for human captives in order to expand their army , as well as a new source of FEV ; as a conversation between two super mutants in Vault 87 reveals that they are running out of " green stuff . " They also appear to eat humans , as evidenced by the gore bag s often found in their camps , as well as their threats of eating the Lone Wanderer ' s corpse often shouted during combat . Gameplay attributes . Despite their seemingly low intelligence , super mutants can sometimes employ effective military tactics . Melee - armed mutants will move in to engage their victims while those behind them take pot - shots with ranged weapons . Super mutants armed with grenades will often use them without regard for any fellow mutants that might be caught in the blast radius . When encountered at lower levels , super mutants are usually in groups of two or three , accompanied by one or two centaurs , often employed as a sort of a rudimentary attack dog . At higher levels they can be found in groups of three to five , with a few centaurs acting as their watch dogs . Variants . Super mutant . These are the youngest and weakest of the Capital Wasteland super mutants . They are usually encountered in groups of two or three , led by a stronger super mutant . Regular super mutants have almost twice as much health as most standard human non - player characters , but this is somewhat offset by their lack of body armor thus they are fairly easy opponent for mid - level player characters . Some of their prime locations are the GNR building plaza , the National mall , the Capitol building , the Statesman Hotel , the National Archives and Falls Church . They can also be found aboard Mothership Zeta in stasis chambers . Freeing them will prompt their hostility . Super mutant brute . Super mutant brutes are stronger and tougher opponents than regular super mutants , as they are better armed and armored . They are most commonly seen once the player character reaches a higher level . Brutes are easily distinguished by their metal helmets and crudely stylized metal armor . Super mutant master . Until " Broken Steel " is installed , super mutant masters are considered to be the group leaders of the mutant bands which plague the Capital Wasteland . They have more Hit Points than most " common " super mutants . They are discernible by their armor , which appears to consist of what resembles black tubing that wraps around their lower and upper body and something like a fighter pilot helmet . A gas mask is strapped to their left shoulder , possibly acting as a makeshift . They are generally never alone and are usually accompanied by one or two brutes . Super mutant overlord ( " Broken Steel " ) . The super mutant overlords are variants added to the game in " Broken Steel " . They are aged , even more powerful than super mutant masters , and much harder to bring down . Super mutant overlords appear to be evolving into behemoths , and are about half - way between the normal super mutants and behemoths in size . Their intelligence ( in comparison with other types of super mutants ) is questionable , but they are smart enough to wield Energy Weapons with some degree of skill . Sometimes , they are seen leading groups of other super mutants , although they are more frequently seen in pairs , if not completely alone . Overlords also have a 40 unblockable damage bonus when attacking with a tri - beam laser rifle and a + 25 damage bonus when attacking with a special version of a super sledge . When carrying an assault rifle or a Chinese assault rifle , they use a one - handed pistol animation . They have a good chance of dropping above - average loot such as stimpaks , mini nukes and purified water . Super mutant behemoth . Towering above any player character , at about 20 feet tall , the behemoths are the greatest threat to humanity found among the super mutant s . There are only five behemoths to be found in the game , although reports of their sightings continue through dialogue amongst the Brotherhood of Steel . These super mutants are the oldest and strongest of their kind . As well as being many times larger than any other humanoid creature , they are no longer capable of intelligent speech , due to brain degradation ; they make monstrous roars instead . They are usually armed with an oversized fire hydrant , still mounted on a large water pipe . Other than that , they also use their enormous fists in fight . Either way , both weapons are heavy - hitters , and will cause major damage against any enemy smaller than them . They carry a cage made from shopping carts on their backs , used to carry off captured humans to be mutated or devoured later . Killing all five behemoths will unlock the achievement / trophy , The Bigger They Are . . . The Evergreen Mills behemoth model remains in the game files of " " , minus the texture . Territory . Super mutant territory tends to be marked with spiked scrap metal structures and spires , along with mutilated human corpses and the bagged - up remains of their limbs and organs . The super mutants have almost entirely conquered the entire downtown region , and hold small pockets of territory in the midwest and northwest areas of the Capital Wasteland . They also hold a small amount of locations dotted throughout the other regions of the wasteland . Appearances . Vault 87 super mutants appear in " Fallout 3 " and its add - ons " " , " Broken Steel " and " Mothership Zeta " , but only in its cryo lab . They are mentioned in " The Pitt " during a conversation with Midea .