Giant mantises are mutated praying mantises created by the horticultural experiments at Vault 22. They have escaped from the vault and have spread into the Mojave Wasteland. Compared to other mutant creatures, they are genetically more similar to the original specimen, albeit much larger. Mantises are significantly smaller than humans, but have an incredibly powerful attack. They almost always attack in swarms. Mantis eggs and mantis forelegs may be taken from their bodies.
Gameplay attributes
Giant mantises are small compared to most other creatures and they will jump towards the player, slicing with their forelegs. If a mantis antenna becomes crippled, it will become frenzied and the mantis will begin to attack anything within reach. There are quite a few mantises on the way to Jacobstown and around Spring Mt. Ranch State Park.
Variants
Giant mantis
Regular giant mantis with the abilities mentioned above. Descended from smaller mantises from before the war, due to radiation and possibly experimented upon within Vault 22 these insects have grown much larger.
Average: Will avoid/flee from threats stronger than itself.
Helps nobody: Will not help anyone.
Melee (40 )
Poison resistance 100%
none
Giant mantis female
Female giant mantis. More powerful than the normal giant mantis, and larger too. They may have mantis eggs in their inventory. One can be found in the caves of Vault 22.
Young giant mantis. They are much smaller and weaker than adult mantis. With a high enough Strength, they can be killed simply by stepping on them. Usually found early in the game at the Goodsprings schoolhouse, Nevada Highway Patrol Station and other areas, but can also be found in Vault 11 and Vault 22.
The Zion mantis is a variety of giant mantis found in Zion National Park during the Honest Heartsadd-on. They are much larger and more dangerous than the other varieties of giant mantis that are found in the Mojave Wasteland.
This variation of the giant mantis can be found in Zion National Park, during the Honest Hearts add-on. They are by far the strongest mantis in the game.
If you take two or more mantis forelegs off of them, the model's forelegs will explode. Strangely, this does not occur for mantis nymphs or giant Zion mantises.
By shooting a mantis ootheca, a dozen giant mantis nymphs will come out and attack the player.
Xbox 360 When a mantis raises its forelegs before attacking and V.A.T.S. is initiated, it will be very hard for the head to be targeted, due to the tendancy of the V.A.T.S. system to skip over the head and go straight to the forearms and body. This also applies to the PC if an Xbox controller is used.
When a mantis raises its forelegs before attacking and V.A.T.S. is initiated, it will be very hard for the head to be targeted, due to the tendancy of the V.A.T.S. system to skip over the head and go straight to the forearms and body. This also applies to the PC if an Xbox controller is used.