Radscorpion ( Fallout : New Vegas ) Radscorpions are found in the Mojave Wasteland in 2281 . Background . Radscorpions are mutated , via radiation and exposure to the Forced Evolutionary Virus , from the North American Emperor scorpion , which were prolific in many pet stores at the time of the Great War . Contrary to many expectations , their venom grew more potent when they mutated rather than becoming diluted . Though considered nocturnal and sensitive to light , radscorpions can be found active during the daytime in the areas they inhabit . Samples of their venom can be used to make antivenom . Apart from their size , they appear visually identical to normal scorpions , with mottled , dark blueish - gray carapaces . Characteristics . Biology . Radscorpions are very large ; around the size of a bighorner calf and have a thick carapace covering their entire body with no definitive weak spot . Common places to find radscorpions are scorpion gulch , the scorpion burrow , the scorpion valley near Goodsprings Cemetery and the Yangtze Memorial . The area around Nipton Road reststop and Mesquite Mountains camp site is also inhabited by a large number of radscorpions . Unlike Capital Wasteland or Commonwealth radscorpions , Mojave radscorpions are not seen physically burrowing or leaving temporarily , but nonetheless do burrow as evidenced by the scorpion burrow . Gameplay attributes . As radscorpions almost always move in groups of two to five individuals , they can be very dangerous to low level players . Also the addition of Damage Threshold makes them harder to kill for an unprepared Courier . They tend to charge the player character directly , and will use their powerful claws and poisoned tails for quick and relentless attacks . Radscorpions take normal damage when shot in the torso , stinger , or claws , and reduced damage when shot in the legs . Unlike other creatures , radscorpions lack a " weak point " that can be targeted for extra damage ( they have no " head , " for example ) , which makes V . A . T . S . combat and firearms somewhat less effective against them . Additionally , all radscorpions are armored to some extent , making them even more difficult to kill . Their claws are less - armored than the rest of the carapace ; successfully crippling these will stun the radscorpion . Using the Guns skill , the creatures are vulnerable to armor - piercing weaponry . Variants . Radscorpion . These are the most common variety of radscorpion . These poisonous predators seem to possess different speeds , some taking their time and others bolting at top speed . Their size ranges from that of a large dog to that of small livestock . Small radscorpion . The smaller and less common variant of radscorpion , these creatures are likely juveniles or a smaller strain of radscorpion , as they are encountered both in the company of larger varieties as well as by themselves . Giant radscorpion . A larger and much more dangerous variant of radscorpion that is faster , as well as rarer than the usual radscorpion . It does a lot more damage and has a higher Damage Threshold ( on par with that of a ) , making them particularly difficult to kill for low level or otherwise poorly equipped players . Giant radscorpions can be found anywhere that radscorpions will gather or sometimes can be found alone . The player can encounter them very , very early on , since some of them are just outside Goodsprings and Goodsprings Cemetery . Radscorpion queen . An exceedingly rare and special kind of radscorpion , the queen is the strongest and largest variant of radscorpion , in fact , she is larger than a Corvega . Only two are known to exist in the Mojave Wasteland : Appearances . Radscorpions appear in " " .