Fallout 76 is full of strange (and slightly terrifying) mutated creatures who’d happily munch on you for breakfast. Since its rocky launch, Bethesda has even added some new enemies that you’ll have to learn to beat in order to survive. The thing is, there are plenty of hard-to-defeat enemies in the game, creatures that won’t easily perish using even the best weapons in Fallout 76.
So, why not kill Super Mutants as a Mutant yourself? Fallout 76 Mutations can have both favorable and unfavorable consequences. Sure, they have positive effects, but you’ll have to watch out for the negative ones, too.
In this Fallout 76 Mutations guide, we will be listing every single Mutation in Fallout 76. Alongside each Mutation, you’ll find their positive and negative effects so that you can determine which is best for you. Additionally, we will be discussing how to get Mutations as well as how to remove them.
Fallout 76 Mutations List
Mutations are a type of condition you can get when you’re exposed to radiation in Fallout 76. Below, we have listed all of the Mutations found in Fallout 76 thus far.
| Mutation | Positive Effect(s) | Negative Effect(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Adrenal Reaction | Increased weapon damage (output) at low health | -50 max hit points |
| Bird Bones | +4 Agility, falling speed is slower and much safer | -4 Strength |
| Carnivore | Eat meat without risk of diseases and 2x Food bonus from eating meat | No benefits from eating vegetables and fruits |
| Chameleon | Invisible in combat when unarmed and still | Must be unarmed, still and not attacking |
| Eagle Eyes | +4 Perception, +25 Critical Damage | -4 Strength |
| Egg Head | +6 Intelligence | -3 Endurance, -3 Strength |
| Electrically Charged | Chance to shock nearby melee attackers | Small amount of damage to player |
| Empath | Your teammates take 25% less damage | -33% Damage to yourself |
| Grounded | +100 Energy Resistance | -50% Energy Damage |
| Healing Factor | +300% Health Regeneration when not in combat | -55% Chem Effects |
| Herbivore | x2 benefits and no disease from vegetables | Meat doesn't satisfy your hunger |
| Herd Mentality | +2 to all SPECIALs when grouped | -2 to all SPECIALs when solo |
| Marsupial | +20 Carry weight, increased jump height | -4 Intelligence |
| Plague Walker | Poison aura scales with your diseases | Diseases |
| Scaly Skin | +50 Energy Resistance and Damage | -50 Action Points |
| Speed Demon | +20% Movement speed, +20% faster reload | +50% drain on thirst and hunger when moving |
| Talons | 25% more damage + bleed damage from punching attacks | 4 Agility |
| Twisted Muscles | +25% Melee damage, increased chance to cripple enemy limbs | -50% Gun accuracy |
| Unstable Isotope | 10% (medium) chance to release a radiation blast when hit with melee weapon | Radiation blast harms player (minor damage) |
How to Get a Mutation in Fallout 76
As we have mentioned, Mutations can occur when exposed to too much background radiation in Fallout 76. But since Fallout is full of radiation, is it really that simple? Well, not exactly. Every time you lose 5 HP to radiation, you have a 5% chance of gaining a new Mutation.
The best ways to get a Mutation is by swimming in contaminated water, standing by radioactive waste or corpses, and drinking unpurified water. Essentially, you want to soak up as much of that sweet radiation as possible. If everything fails, have RadAway at hand ready to cure yourself.
How Do I Make Mutations in Fallout 76?
If you don’t fancy bathing in toxic waste, you can pick up Mutations by purchasing a consumable Mutation Serum. The best part about it? You won’t have to face the abysmal side effects of Rads. The downside? They cost around 5,000 caps each. Sometimes they are less, sometimes they are much more.
These Mutation Serums and their recipes can be found at random at the Whitespring Bunker Science Wing terminal. Although, if you wish to craft Mutations at a chemistry bench, recipes will cost you 20,000 each—so you better start selling piles of junk fast.
Can You Have Multiple Mutations Fallout 76?
The great thing about Fallout 76 is that you can have multiple Mutations at once. This way, as long as you are exposed to enough radiation, you can benefit from a bunch of positive effects simultaneously. Albeit, since Herbivore and Carnivore contradict each other, you can’t stack them. Other than that, go have fun bathing in toxic waste to gain more than one Mutation.
Are Mutations Permanent Fallout 76?
Fallout 76 Mutations are only semi-permanent and therefore they will eventually go away as you lose Rads. However, if you want to run around with +50 Energy Resistance and Damage like a boss, there is a way to keep Mutations by using the Starched Genes Perk.
Using this Perk at level 2 will give you the ability to keep your Mutations as you play. Although, you won’t be able to gain more Mutations through Rads or lose Mutations using RadAway.
How Do I Cure Mutations in Fallout 76?
If you want to cure Mutations, you’ll have to use a Decontamination Shower or RadAway. These handy Decontamination Showers can be built at a C.A.M.P. using a recipe or found at multiple locations, such as Blackwater mine. Personally, I find the easiest way to remove radiation and cure Mutations is by using RadAway. If you have multiple Mutations, using RadAway gives you a chance to cure one random mutation at a time.
Furthermore, Radiation protection gear, such as a gas mask or hazmat suit, will reduce the chance of a Mutation. Power Armor can also provide around 1,000 Rad resistance. Therefore, if you ever get tired of Mutations, you may like our handy Fallout 76 Power Armor location guide. Trust me when I say you’ll feel much safer walking through the Appalachian Wasteland using some badass Power Armor.
Conclusion
Even though they are a double-edged sword, using Mutations in Fallout 76 has some fantastic positive effects. Effects that will definitely help you in combat against mutated creatures that want to eat your face. Gaining them is also a simple process that essentially requires you to bathe in sweet sweet radiation.
And if you ever get tired of Mutations, step right into a Decontamination Shower or consume RadAway. If you (understandably) prefer Fallout 4, we think you’ll enjoy our Fallout 4 console commands guide.