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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.
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.
This variant is the standard giant mantis encountered later in the game around Spring Mt. Ranch State Park or on the way to Jacobstown. They can be found in groups or scattered around these areas when you encounter them. This variant also comprises the majority of mantises encountered in Vault 22.
The giant mantis female is larger and more powerful than the normal giant mantis, 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 stomping on them. They are usually found early in the game at the Goodsprings schoolhouse and the Nevada Highway Patrol Station but they can also be found in Vault 11, Vault 22 and other areas,
The Zion mantis is a variety of giant mantis found in Zion Canyon. 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.
By observing one, the player can watch it cleaning its mouth. On occasion, it will flutter it wings the same way it would when attacking the player.
Edit
The Mantis EXP glitch still remains with Zion mantises. A transfer of legs could lead to 200XP gained at a time, dependent on level. [verified]
