Are the Enclave All Gone? The Lingering Shadow of Pre-War America
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The short answer is: no, the Enclave are likely not entirely gone, but their power and influence have been drastically diminished to the point of being virtually nonexistent in any organized capacity. While repeatedly dealt devastating blows throughout the Fallout series, the nature of their decentralized structure and fanatical ideology suggests that scattered remnants may still exist, lurking in the shadows, perhaps plotting a resurgence that may never come. The real question becomes: can these isolated pockets of Enclave members ever pose a significant threat again?
The Rise and Fall of a Nation’s Ghost
The Enclave represents the remnants of the pre-War United States government. Composed of high-ranking officials, military personnel, and their families, they secured their survival by retreating to secure locations like oil rigs before the Great War. They saw themselves as the rightful inheritors of America, tasked with rebuilding the nation in their image, often with ruthless disregard for the wasteland inhabitants.
Their story is one of consistent defeat. The Chosen One dismantled their operations at the **Poseidon Oil Rig in *Fallout 2, a crushing blow to their leadership and infrastructure. The Lone Wanderer, aided by the Brotherhood of Steel and Liberty Prime, further crippled their presence in the **Capital Wasteland in *Fallout 3, destroying Raven Rock and, ultimately, the Enclave’s mobile base, Adams Air Force Base.
However, the narrative doesn’t end there. In Fallout: New Vegas, we encounter Enclave Remnants. These are veteran soldiers and scientists, disillusioned or simply surviving, who have abandoned the Enclave’s overarching goals. They offer their skills and experience to the player, a testament to the fracturing of their organization.
The lack of any significant Enclave presence in Fallout 4 implies that the Eastern branch was thoroughly annihilated. The game focuses on the Institute as the technological powerhouse of the region, leaving little room for any significant Enclave activity. It’s likely any stragglers went into hiding, assimilated into other groups, or simply perished in the harsh wasteland. It’s important to note that the Enclave’s goal of wiping out the “mutated” population of the wasteland made them many enemies, so hiding and assimilating would not be easy.
The final word in Fallout 76, shows the game takes place 25 years after the Great War. This game is the earliest game in the Fallout timeline. In this game, you can join the Enclave. After doing that, you find out that you can launch nukes. This leads to the beginning of the scorched plague.
Ultimately, while the Enclave as a unified force is gone, the possibility of isolated cells or individuals surviving remains a chilling thought. The ideology, the technology, and the ingrained sense of superiority might endure, waiting for an opportunity to resurface – or perhaps, more realistically, fade away into the wasteland’s history. GamesLearningSociety.org offer insight into how narratives can shift and evolve player perceptions of different factions in games like Fallout.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions providing more information regarding the Enclave:
1. Why is there no Enclave in Fallout 4?
The most plausible explanation is that the Enclave forces on the East Coast were decimated during the events of Fallout 3. Liberty Prime’s destruction of Adams Air Force Base was a major blow. The Brotherhood of Steel’s continued presence in the region likely kept any survivors from reorganizing. And the Enclave were busy with the scorched plague.
2. What happened to the Enclave after Fallout 2?
After the destruction of the Poseidon Oil Rig, the Enclave’s command structure collapsed. The New California Republic (NCR) destroyed their base at Navarro, hunting down surviving members. Many Enclave personnel fled eastward, attempting to regroup in the Capital Wasteland.
3. Are the Enclave the bad guys?
From the perspective of most wastelanders, yes, the Enclave are definitively the “bad guys”. Their ideology centers around purifying America by eliminating anyone who isn’t of “pure” pre-War blood, which includes most of the wasteland population. This makes them inherently hostile and antagonistic.
4. Is the Enclave completely destroyed in the Fallout universe?
While severely weakened and scattered, a complete destruction is unlikely. The Enclave Remnants in Fallout: New Vegas prove that some members survived and retained their knowledge and skills, but ultimately, the Enclave is dead.
5. Did the Enclave create Deathclaws?
No, the Deathclaws were originally a pre-War military project, designed to replace human soldiers in combat. However, the Enclave did experiment with Deathclaws, attempting to create more intelligent and controllable versions for their own purposes.
6. Is it possible to join the Enclave in any Fallout game?
Yes, you can join the Enclave in Fallout 76. You must find the Whitespring Access Card in the Abandoned Waste Dump and talk to MODUS, the AI that runs the Enclave facility.
7. Would the Enclave ever side with Yes Man in Fallout: New Vegas?
No, the Enclave Remnants in New Vegas cannot be recruited to help Yes Man. Their loyalty lies with the NCR, even if they harbor reservations. The Games Learning Society studies these nuanced relationships to understand how players interact with factions.
8. Why is the Enclave considered evil in Fallout: New Vegas?
The Enclave’s history of violence, their elitist ideology, and their goal of eliminating “mutated” wastelanders firmly establish them as an evil faction. Their actions and beliefs are inherently opposed to the well-being of the majority of the wasteland population.
9. Why was Frank Horrigan allowed to join the Enclave?
Frank Horrigan wasn’t just allowed to join; he was a top-tier Enclave operative. Horrigan was a unique individual who was highly valued by the Enclave despite his mutations. He underwent extensive genetic modifications and cybernetic enhancements, making him a formidable weapon. This illustrates the Enclave’s willingness to bend their own rules when it suited their needs.
10. Why did the Enclave attack Vault 13?
Officially, the Enclave claimed that Vault 13 was “resisting capture.” However, it’s likely that the attack served as a demonstration of force, intended to intimidate other vault dwellers and assert the Enclave’s authority.
11. Why didn’t the Enclave nuke the Citadel (Brotherhood of Steel Headquarters) in Fallout 3?
The Enclave may have wanted to capture the Citadel intact, viewing it as a valuable strategic asset and a symbol of the pre-War government. Nuking it would be a last resort. They also needed the Enclave.
12. Why do people hate the Enclave in the Fallout universe?
The Enclave’s plan to release a modified version of the Forced Evolutionary Virus (FEV) into the atmosphere, effectively wiping out most of the wasteland population, is the primary reason for their widespread hatred. Their genocidal intentions make them irredeemable in the eyes of most players.
13. Is the Brotherhood of Steel the same as the Enclave?
No, the Brotherhood of Steel and the Enclave are fundamentally different. While both are militaristic organizations with advanced technology, their origins, ideologies, and goals are distinct. The Brotherhood seeks to preserve technology and protect humanity, while the Enclave seeks to rebuild America according to their pre-War ideals, often at the expense of others.
14. Why can’t you play as the Enclave in most Fallout games?
The Fallout games typically cast the player as an outsider, challenging established powers. The Enclave, with their rigid hierarchy and genocidal agenda, are inherently antagonistic, making them unsuitable as a player faction in most installments.
15. What was a Deathclaw before the bombs fell?
Before the Great War, Deathclaws were genetically engineered creatures created by the U.S. military. They were derived from Jackson’s Chameleons and modified with the DNA of various other species to create formidable and fearsome combatants.