Enclave (Fallout)

Last updated
The Enclave
Enclave symbol.svg
Seal of the Enclave
Series Fallout
First appearance
Most recent appearance Fallout  (2024)
Created by Tim Cain
In-universe information
Type Authoritarian military dictatorship
Defunct
  • 2241 (Western branch)
  • 2277 (Eastern branch)
Leader
  • Pres. Dick Richardson
    (Western, 2241)
  • Pres. John Henry Eden
    (Eastern, 2277)
Key people
PurposeA restoration of the pre-war structure of the United States.
Enemies

The Enclave is an authoritarian quasi-state from the post-apocalyptic Fallout franchise. With branches in the American southwest and greater Washington, they serve as a paramilitary organization founded by high-ranking US government officials attempting to restore said government, which has become a military dictatorship in the Fallout universe.

Contents

Their debut appearance in Fallout 2 (1998) and return in Fallout 3 (2008) depict them attempting to restore their power via eugenics and genocide through military force, a practice that continues to be a staple of the faction in their appearances since.

Concept and creation

Series creator Tim Cain says that although he does not remember who thought of the Enclave, they were explicitly inspired by The X Files (1993), which was running during the creation of Fallout 2. He originally envisioned them as neither good nor bad, with the player ultimately deciding themselves whether they thought the group should continue to exist.

The members of the Enclave are influential figures, such as presidents, politicians, military officers, scientists, and others, who were already active before the war. After the war, they believe they are the rightful heirs to the United States government. [1] For them, only "pure" people should live in the Wasteland, those who have not been affected by radiation or mutated in the Wasteland. Their ultimate goal is to restore the old pre-war order under their command. [2]

Other factions frequently describe the Enclave as a fascist organization. [1]

Technology and identity

In the television adaptation, a customized Pip-Boy from the Encave is revealed. [3]

The Deathclaws were created by the Enclave together with the US government, with also having the technology to transmit radio messages over long distances. It is believed that they created the Super Mutants with the Forced Evolutionary Virus (FEV). [4] [1]

Despite hating all beings mutated or exposed to radiation, the Enclave kept USSS agent Frank Horrigan among its ranks. Horrigan mutated after being exposed to FEV. The Enclave used him for experimentation for decades until they deployed him as an operative, providing him with an armor and weapons. He is considered the strongest Super Mutant. [5]

Appearances

Their first appearance in the franchise was in Fallout 2 , in which the group is attempting to "purify" the wasteland by introducing a modified form of the FEV into the water supply, effectively enacting a genocide against all people with traces of radiation exposure, including human wastelanders as well as ghouls and Super Mutants. [6]

Following ZeniMax Media's acquisition of the Fallout IP, the Enclave reappeared in Fallout 3 , portrayed as a separate branch operating out of Washington, D.C. This branch has a similar goal, to inject an in-progress water purifier with a modified form of FEV to kill all wastelanders with traces of radiation exposure. [7]

Fallout: New Vegas (2010), developed by a team at Obsidian that overlapped with the staff of Fallout 2, featured the Enclave as a minor faction called the remnants, a group of six former members of the western branch featured in Fallout 2. They can be recruited to fight at the final stage of the game, the Battle of Hoover Dam, for either the New California Republic (NCR) or Caesar's Legion. [8] [9] They were also added as a playable faction. [10]

As part of Fallout 4 (2015)'s next-gen update released in 2024, a free Creation Club addon featuring the east coast Enclave was released. This features a small questline with Enclave members as enemies, described in-game as remnants. These enemies are unrelated to Fallout: New Vegas' Enclave remnants, instead originating from Fallout 3's Enclave. [11]

They later appeared in Fallout 76 (2018), taking place 59 years before the original Fallout (1997). [12] They appear as a defunct branch operating out of the Appalachian wasteland entirely by robots, including its leader, the computer MODUS. They are in an inoperable state until the player first encounters them, where they are tasked to complete MODUS' mission. [13]

TV series

In Amazon MGM Studios' Fallout (2024), a live action series taking place in the Fallout universe, features the Enclave. In the first season, an Enclave scientist, Dr. Siggi Wilzig (Michael Emerson), escapes from an Enclave facility of unknown allegiance. Wilzig carries with him the cold fusion technology, which he intends to give to Lee Moldaver (Sarita Choudhury) of the New California Republic (RNC). In Filly, Wilzig encounters Lucy Maclean (Ella Purnell), and they flee together after a battle. Severely wounded, Wilzig tells Lucy to cut off his head, which she does. [14]

In the second season, in 2077, Wilzig reminds Barb Cooper (Frances Turner) that she cannot back down on the bomb launcher or she will be replaced, as the nuclear war is inevitable. [15] Cooper Howard (Walton Goggins), hoping to avert nuclear war, hands over cold fusion to the President of the United States (Clancy Brown), secretly part of the Enclave. [16] In 2296, Howard, seriously wounded, is saved by a Super Mutant (Ron Perlman) who proposes that he join the war that his race will wage against the Enclave, but Howard declines his offer and the Super Mutant leaves him elsewhere. [17] Hank MacLean (Kyle MacLachlan) confesses to his daughter Lucy that he has been working for the Enclave all this time and that the Wasteland is the true experiment. At Vault-Tec's Vault 32, Overseer Stephanie Harper (Annabel O'Hagan), contacts the Enclave to initiate Phase 2. [18]

Reception

The Enclave was considered by Screen Rant as the most evil faction in the Fallout universe. [19]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Harris, Peter (February 5, 2026). "Who are the Enclave in Fallout?". Daily Mirror . Archived from the original on February 15, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  2. Marshall, Cass (April 11, 2024). "Fallout's glimpse of the Enclave is just the beginning". Polygon . Archived from the original on February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  3. Walsh, Michael (6 February 2026). "The 13 Biggest Takeaways From FALLOUT's Season 2 Finale". Nerdist . Archived from the original on February 4, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  4. Nelson, Samantha (February 4, 2026). "Everything you need to know about the Enclave, the villains for Fallout season 3". Polygon . Archived from the original on February 10, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  5. Natividad, Sid (April 24, 2024). "Who Is Frank Horrigan in Fallout? Fallout's Strongest Man, Explained". The Nerd Stash. Archived from the original on February 14, 2026. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  6. Harshbarger, Jess (January 20, 2026). "What Is FALLOUT's Forced Evolutionary Virus? The FEV, Explained". Nerdist . Archived from the original on February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  7. Zhou, Andrew (March 16, 2024). "Fallout 3 Ending Explained (In Detail)". Screen Rant . Archived from the original on May 4, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  8. Spalding, Tallis (17 June 2024). "The Best Factions In Fallout: New Vegas". TheGamer . Archived from the original on February 15, 2026. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  9. Lucas, James (2 May 2024). "Fallout: New Vegas Wasn't Allowed To Mention The Enclave". TheGamer . Archived from the original on February 15, 2026. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  10. Farokhmanesh, Megan (16 March 2024). "Fallout: New Vegas mod adds the Enclave as a playable faction". Polygon . Archived from the original on February 15, 2026. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  11. Luke, Cole (24 April 2024). "Where is the Enclave in Fallout 4? Future government explained". Radio Times . Archived from the original on February 15, 2026. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  12. Kent, Emma (22 October 2018). "Fallout 76 sees return of The Enclave and some brand new factions". Eurogamer . Retrieved 11 February 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. Morgans, Matt (16 November 2018). "How to Find and Join the Fallout 76 Enclave Faction". VGR . Archived from the original on February 15, 2026. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  14. King, Jack (11 April 2024). "'Fallout' Recap: Ain't That a Kick in the Head". Vulture . Archived from the original on 15 February 2026. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  15. Walsh, Michael (21 January 2026). "FALLOUT's Surprise 'Return' Teases Enclave Connection to the Series' True Villain". Nerdist . Archived from the original on 8 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  16. Francisco, Eric (January 28, 2026). "'Fallout' Just Revealed the Games' Most Important (and Mysterious) Character". Esquire . Archived from the original on February 8, 2026. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  17. Francisco, Eric (January 21, 2026). "This Unexpected 'Fallout' Cameo Has Deep Roots in the Games". Esquire . Archived from the original on February 14, 2026. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  18. Zalben, Alex (5 February 2026). "Fallout Season 2 Ending Explained: Your Biggest Burning Questions Answered". IGN . Archived from the original on 8 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  19. Garrard, Steven (26 February 2025). "10 Most Irredeemably Evil Factions From The Entire Fallout Series". Screen Rant . Archived from the original on 11 February 2026. Retrieved 11 February 2026.