Rats were once among the most widespread mammals on Earth, capable of surviving in a variety of conditions. After the war, they maintained this status among the surviving and mutated animals in the western United States.

Rats have changed very little due to radiation, except for their size. The smallest mutant rats are the size of a cat, while the largest, found deeper inland, are larger than a human.

They can be found in large numbers in the sewers of Klamath.

Rats are one of the weakest creatures in the game, posing a threat to beginners only in large numbers.

If killed, you can obtain a Rat Hide if you have the Skinning perk.

Related Quests and Events

In Modoc, the unlucky Enclave spies or tribal hunters can hire you to catch 10 rats using a special whistle. The whistle puts the rats to sleep, after which they can be added to your inventory. However, after some time, the sleeping rats will wake up and attack the player. To avoid this on long journeys, use portable containers like a Bag or a Backpack.

Captured rats can be kept and, with some chemistry work in Fix-Boy, you can create two new types of these creatures: a poisoned but still alive Toxic Rat (rumored to be very effective against Floaters) and a Padishah (a kamikaze rat wrapped in explosives). These rats, like regular ones, can be thrown at enemies, after which they will continue to attack the target, dealing damage.

In the game's starting location, slaves, concerned about the high mortality from wild animals, will ask you to gather a team of at least three people for a "sacred" mission to the rat lair to kill the Rat Queen (although you can simply commit genocide against her minions).