Although one might normally assume that exposure to radiation would be a bad thing when it comes to getting by in a post-apocalyptic survival game, Fallout 76 practically encourages players to go and bathe in the stuff. Doing so (or buying the relevant serum if one is swimming in bottlecaps) will occasionally yield "mutations," which are status effects that offer a mixture of both benefits and penalties.
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Some of them offer benefits that outweigh the consequences by an extremely wide margin, even before any penalty reductions are taken into consideration. If players are wondering which particular mutations offer the most bang for their buck, then they're in luck. Keep scrolling to check out the best mutations players should keep an eye out for while soaking up all of that delicious and healthy radiation-blanketing Appalachia.
Updated on August 8, 2024, by Benjamin Joe: Fallout 76's popularity is steadily increasing. As new players take to the ruins of Appalachia for the first time, they'll need all the help they can get to survive. Mutations can really benefit a player. There are mutations to suit all playstyles and build types. From the heavy gunner to the melee attacker, there are mutations that slot in with all types of players. While this article contains all of the most important information, there are a couple of bits that can be added to help those who are new to Fallout 76.
16 Perks That Effect Mutations
Enjoy Greater Bonuses
- Starched Genes: Reduce/Remove The Chance To Recover From Mutations
- Class Freak: Reduce Negative Mutations Effects By Up To 75%
- Strange In Numbers: Increase Positive Mutation Effects By 25% While On A Team
Before getting into the list of mutations, there are a couple of perks that players should know about. These perks help to mitigate some of the negative effects that come with having mutations and boost the positive effects that the serums give the player.
The first perk is called Strange in Numbers. This perk is located in the charisma category. There's only one rank on the perk card, and it can be unlocked after the player reaches level 42. When equipped, it will increase the positive effects of mutations if the player's teammates are also mutated. Since most players, especially high-level players, have several mutations on their character, this perk card can come in very handy. Just be sure to play on a team for it to work.
One other great perk to use alongside mutations is the Class Freak perk. This has three ranks and is unlocked after the player hits level 46. This perk reduces the negative effects caused by mutations by 75% when the perk card is maxed out. This perk card doesn't require the player to be on a team, so it's perfect for those who prefer venturing out alone.
The final perk that directly impacts mutations is called Starched Genes. This perk card becomes available after the player reaches level 30. There are two ranks to this card. The first one will reduce the chances of the player recovering from a mutation when using Radaway. The second rank will prevent the player from ever recovering from a mutation (provided the perk remains active). This is great because mutations are not cheap to make. Being able to keep a mutation indefinitely is something that most players will want.
15 Chameleon
Grants The Player Invisibility While Unarmored
- Base Positive Effect: Grants The Player Invisibility
- Base Negative Effect: The Player Has To Be Unarmored And Standing Still For It To Work
The Chameleon mutation isn't a very useful mutation to have. In fact, it is the most pointless mutation in the game. While it may be a fun effect to have, it serves little purpose. If a player wants to activate the Chameleon effect, then they will need to be unarmored and not move. This means that the player would not be able to fight enemies and would also be very vulnerable should they be spotted.
The one good side of this mutation is that it doesn't come with any negative effects. So, it doesn't cause any harm to the player, but then again, it doesn't actually do anything particularly useful, either. As a whole, it's a rather pointless mutation.
14 Electrically Charged
Randomly Inflict Energy Damage To Melee Attackers
- Base Positive Effect: Causes Random Electrical Damage To Melee Attackers
- Base Negative Effect: The Electrical Charge Also Hurts The Player
Dealing passive damage to attacking enemies is always a good thing, especially against melee assailants who charge at the player relentlessly. Like moths to a flame, the Electrically Charged mutation can punish foes who get too close with a chance to zap them upon making contact.
Adversaries foolish enough to assault players who have this mutation will take energy damage from the reactive shocks. However, the player will also suffer a bit of energy damage. For this reason, Electrically Charged is something best left to melee builds that can soak up damage.
While the player will take some damage from the electrical effect, if they have perks and armor pieces that reduce the amount of electrical damage the player takes, then the negative impact of this mutation won't have much of an effect on the player.
13 Unstable Isotope
Randomly Blast Enemies With Nuclear Radiation
- Base Positive Effect: 10% Chance Of Releasing A Radiation Blast When Hit By A Melee Attacker
- Base Negative Effect: The Player Gets Irradiated During The Blast
The Unstable Isotope mutation grants players a 10% chance to unleash a blast of radiation when struck by a melee attack. Potentially, this means free damage and radiation poisoning to melee-oriented foes, a boon in any battle.
Unfortunately, while not damaging the player in the regular way, it does irradiate them, which can be bad in most cases. Thankfully, there are lots of ways of dealing with radiation poisoning in Fallout 76. That said, this isn't an effect that a lot of players tend to go for unless they have a tank build (high damage resistance build). Provided the player is equipped to take blast damage, they shouldn't have any issues using this mutation.
12 Talons
More Unarmed Damage
- Base Positive Effects: Cause 15% More Unarmed Damage and Bleeding Attacks
- Base Negative Effect: -4 To Agility
Another mutation that is handy for melee builds is Talons, which increases the damage dealt by unarmed attacks by a notable 25%. Clearly, this is quite situational, though it is highly sought-after for those seeking to pummel enemies into dust the old-fashioned way.
The downside is that this mutation comes with a -4 to ability. Most players would want to ignore this mutation, but it can be useful for the few players that use an unarmed build. It is a rather niche mutation, but it does have its uses. If the player is willing to invest some time doing some research about unarmed builds, then they can use the Talons mutation to inflict a surprising amount of damage to enemies.
11 Empath
Take One For The Team
- Base Positive Effect: Teammates Take 25% Less Damage From Enemies
- Base Negative Effect: The Player Takes 33% More Damage From Enemies
This mutation definitely has its place in Fallout 76. However, it needs to be used correctly. A 33% increase in damage received is a very high price to pay for helping out teammates. If the player regularly plays with friends, then this is a great mutation to use.
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However, if the player joins a team of random players, then this mutation isn't worth it. That's because players don't often play together when on a team. So, while the teammates do get a nice reduction in damage taken, the player who has the mutation active will just die a lot more often without the help of their team to keep them alive.
10 Twisted Muscles
Do More Melee And Unarmed Damage
- Base Positive Effects: +25% To Melee And Unarmed Damage. +20% Chance To Cripple Enemy Limbs
- Base Negative Effects: -50% Gun Accuracy
Twisted Muscles is essentially a bread-and-butter mutation when it comes to melee builds. I f melee damage is the focus, then players should go entirely out of their way to get this mutation, period. It doesn't matter how many nuclear blast zones one needs to go sunbathing in.
The benefit that makes this an essential component of any melee build is a juicy 25% increase in melee damage. However, that is if one utilizes melee weapons exclusively. Using guns becomes entirely impractical because this mutation's penalty is a brutal 50% decrease in projectile weapon accuracy.
9 Bird Bones
Fall Slower And Take Less Fall Damage
- Base Positive Effects: +4 Agility, -45% Fall Speed, -90% Fall Damage
- Base Negative Effects: -4 Strength, +20% Limb Damage To The Player
The Bird Bones mutation is a great mutation for those who use a low-health build. It works well alongside the Marsupial mutation, but more on that mutation further down the list.
While the negative effects are fairly bad, they aren't the worst. This mutation also stacks with things like Acrobat's armor and the Goat Leg perk. When used in combination with other fall damage reduction boosts, fall damage can be almost completely eliminated.
8 Eagle Eyes
Do More Critical Damage
- Base Positive Effects: +50% Critical Damage And +4 To Perception
- Base Negative Effects: -4 Strength
Lots of high-level players build their character around VATS. VATS plays a crucial part in Fallout 76. It allows players to see the chance they have at making a certain shot. VATS also allows players to perform critical hits. These do considerably more damage to enemies. There are also some food and perk buffs that can increase critical damage. Combine those with the Eagle Eyes mutation, and the player can do crazy amounts of damage.
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While the -4 to strength isn't ideal, it can be lessened with the Class Freak perk. But, for those who have VATS builds, this is a must-have mutation.
7 Scaly Skin
Enjoy A Higher Damage Resistance
- Base Positive Effects: +50 To Energy Resistance And Damage Resistance
- Base Negative Effect: AP Reduced By 50
If players are running a build that doesn't rely heavily on VATS for its damage-dealing potential, then it's an absolute must-have. Depending on how much AP one has to spare, it might still be worth it in that instance.
Getting this mutation provides the player with a flat +50 bonus to both ballistic and energy damage resistance. As for the downside, it's a -50 to AP. It's a bonus that anyone without a pressing need for AP should be glad to have, especially if they're already a tank (high damage resistance build).