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Wasteland Diaries: Salutations to mutations

Edward Marshall
Updated ·12 min read

The Fallen Earth players that are close to making the jump to Sector 2 have a few things to consider. Of course, the biggest question is always that of faction. Faction choices can be influenced by mutations, since certain mutation lines are only available from certain factions. Some will just prefer to "flip the wheel", and I really can't give a good reason not to, but that's another story. When posed with the choices of mutations and factions, the choice can be overwhelming at first. Mutations are also tied to particular attributes, and mutation lines that will benefit from high intrinsic attribute scores will be most effective.

Factions won't make much of a difference after the mutation line is unlocked, however. Upgrading and using the mutations are independent of your current factional allegiances. You can have someone who is allied with the faction in question purchase mutagenics books or injectors for you. Or you could get them from the Auction House as a last resort. In order to make this decision a bit easier I will attempt to describe the mutations in layman's terms. For the hard numbers, check the TAOWiki. For a more simplified breakdown of the mutations available to you in Fallen Earth, keeping reading below.


Alpha Mutations

These are basic mutations that every clone has. Nothing needs to be done to gain them and they may be upgraded through the use of injectors (instead of reading books, as you'd do to learn other skills) just like the other mutations. Their effectiveness is tied directly to the Willpower attribute and cannot be improved directly using AP.

  • Patch - This mutation is a self-heal that can be cast on the move. While this sounds extremely useful, the long cooldown time makes it less so.

  • Quicken - This mutation improves Dexterity and run speed, devoting a percentage of the user's Gamma while active.

  • Disrupt - This is the only offensive Alpha Mutation. It can be used against a single target within 10 meters. It lowers the target's Coordination and all saves for 15 seconds.

  • Bolster - This mutation improves Coordination and Stamina regeneration and devotes a percentage of the user's Gamma while active.

  • Gird - This mutation improves Endurance and Health regeneration and devotes a percentage of the user's Gamma while active.

Empathy
The Empathy mutation line can only be unlocked in Haven, a Lightbearer town. Talk to Wei Zhu to access this mutation line as well as every other mutation line in Haven. Okay, just do all the quests that Wei offers -- they are all AP quests. This mutation line is based on Endurance and Willpower.

  • Priority - This is a heal for yourself only. Although the Gamma expense per Health point is steep, you will never accidentally heal your enemy during a particularly frenetic fight.

  • Benevolence - This is a targeted heal with a short casting time and a short cooldown.

  • Empower - This mutation is a 20 meter radius effect. All allies within the radius will be healed and gain Stamina immediately. Unlike most heals,this ability may be used while moving.

  • Restoration - This mutation resurrects a single target, for good or ill, and temporarily boosts their Health regeneration.

  • Preservation - This removes negative effects of the specified level from a single target.

  • Sympathy Pains - This mutation causes Psionic damage to anyone who melee attacks the caster. The ability is for self-targeting only and it devotes a percentage of the caster's Gamma while active.

Enhancement

The Enhancement line can be unlocked in two different places. You can either get it from Fung in Fracture (C.H.O.T.A.) or Jericho Dyer in Picus Ridge (Tech). Despite being called Enhancement, this line does include one offensive ability. This mutation line is based on Intelligence and Willpower.

  • Reinforce - This Enhancement improves Endurance and Stamina regeneration. It devotes a percentage of the caster's Gamma while active.

  • Calibration - This Enhancement improves all allies' Primary Resistances within 20 meters. It also devotes a percentage of Gamma while active.

  • Ablate - This Enhancement increases Secondary and Tertiary Resistances. It is self-only and devotes a percentage of Gamma while active.

  • Regenerate - This Enhancement improves Health and Stamina regeneration and Body Save. It is also self only and devotes a percentage of Gamma while active.

  • Resilience - This Enhancement improves Health regeneration and Reflex and Mind Saves. Again it is self only and devotes a percentage of Gamma while active.

  • Dissolve - The offensive Enhancement mutation, Dissolve does damage and lowers Primary Resistances. It is resistable with a Reflex Save, and can be activated while moving.

Nano-Manipulation

The only place to pick up the Nano line is in Picus Ridge. Speak to Doctor Ellen Bonner in the Mutagenics Lab to get the mission. This mutation line is based on Intelligence and Willpower.

  • Self-Repair - Like Priority, this is another heal for yourself only.

  • Revitalize - This ability improves Health and Stamina regeneration for 30 seconds and can be used on any single target within 20 meters.

  • Vital Osmosis - This is another healing mutation, but it is a targetable heal. It can affect any single target within 20 meters.

  • Reconstruction - This ability will resurrect all allies within 10 meters of the user. It restores some Health and Stamina and improves regeneration rates for a short time. Think of it as the opposite of a grenade.

  • Filtration - This Nano ability removes a negative effect of the specified level. It can be used on any single target within 10 meters.

  • Cannibalize - This offensive Nano-Manipulation ability lowers all regeneration rates of the target and increases the Gamma level of the user.

Patho-Transmission

This line of mutations is only available from the C.H.O.T.A. in Fracture. Talk to Teeka to get the mission line that unlocks it. This mutation line is based on Endurance and Willpower.

  • Sapping Sickness - This ability reduces all regeneration rates to a target within 10 meters for 30 seconds. It can be resisted with a Body Save.

  • Patient Zero - This disease causes per second disease damage to all targets within eight meters.

  • Wracking Pains - This disease causes per second disease damage and reduces all Saves. Affects a single target within 10 meters.

  • Shaking Plague - This disease reduces Coordination and movement speed for 30 seconds. It affects a single target within 10 meters and can be partially resisted with a successful Body Save.

  • Debilitating Weakness - This pathological effect lowers Strength and Dexterity for 30 seconds to a single target within 10 meters and can be partially resisted with a successful Body Save.

  • Antibody - This ability can be used on yourself only and it increases Disease, Poison, Acid and Radiation Resistances.

Primal

This line of mutations can be learned from the Vistas in Thorne's Bluff or from their neighbors to the north in Fracture. Consult Softclaw in Fracture or Constance Silsmore in Thorne's Bluff to unlock this line that consists of mostly self-buffs. This mutation line is based on Strength and Willpower.

  • Missing Link - This mutation improves Coordination and Perception considerably. It is a self targeted ability only.

  • Primal Vigor - This mutation improves Endurance and Health regeneration for 15 seconds. It is activated after the next melee attack is made by the user.

  • Beast Might - This mutation improves Strength and Stamina regeneration for 15 seconds. It is activated after the next melee attack is made by the user.

  • Tough Hide - This mutation improves the user's Primary Resistances and devotes a percentage of the user's Gamma while active.

  • Feral Grip - This offensive mutation is activated by a melee attack and lowers the target's Coordination and movement speed for 9 seconds.

  • Tireless - This mutation increases Stamina and Stamina regeneration and devotes a percentage of the user's Gamma while active.


Sonic Influence

The Sonic Influence line can be unlocked by visiting the Vistas in Thorne's Bluff or the travelers in Credit Bend. Talk to Ariel Screed in Credit Bend to get the mission line that unlocks it or Constance Stilsmore in Thorne's Bluff. This mutation line is based on Perception and Willpower.

  • Rending Vibration - This offensive mutation does Sonic damage per second and reduces Health regeneration for 15 seconds to a single target.

  • Catastrophic Dissonance - This area of effect mutation lowers all regeneration rates and saves in a 10 meter radius around the caster.

  • Equilibrium Shock - This single-target offensive mutation lowers the target's Perception and movement speed. It can be partially resisted by a successful Reflex Save.

  • Sonic Lance - This mutation does Sonic damage and lowers Primary Resistances of a single target for 15 seconds out to 20 meters.

  • Devastating Shockwave - Reduces the Primary Resistances of all within 10 meters of the caster for 30 seconds unless they make a successful Reflex Save.

  • Insulation - This self-targeting mutation improves Primary Resistances while active. It also devotes a percentage of Gamma while active.

Suppression

This Enforcer-only mutation line is only available at Post 23. You can gain access to it by talking to Tripline in the Ballistics Workshop. This mutation line is based on Perception and Willpower.

  • Siphon Energy - This mutation drains Gamma from a target while increasing the Gamma regeneration of the user. It is a targeted ability with arrange of 10 meters and lasts 30 seconds. It can be resisted with a successful Mind Save.

  • Equalizer - This mutation reduces the Strength and Dexterity of a target and lowers all regeneration rates. It is a targeted ability with a range of 10 meters. It can be resisted with a successful Mind Save.

  • Sap Stamina - This mutation drains Stamina from a single target within 10 meters while increasing the Stamina regeneration rate of the user. The stamina drain can be resisted by a successful Body Save.

  • Denial - This mutation blocks the target's benefits from their Primary and Secondary mutation and reduces their Gamma regeneration to zero. It affects a single target within 10 meters for 30 seconds.

  • Energy Blitz - This offensive mutation causes Psionic damage per second to a all within 10 meters. It can be resisted by a successful Mind Save.

  • Convert Energy - This mutation drains stamina from a single target and improves the Health regeneration of the user. It has a range of 10 meters and a 15 second duration.

Telekenesis

This mutation line can be gained in Haven. Again, speak to Wei Zhu to get the mission. This mutation line is based on Intelligence and Willpower.

  • Kinetic Shield - This defensive mutation increases Primary and Tertiary armor. It devotes a percentage of Gamma while active.

  • Repel - This offensive mutation inflicts crushing damage and knocks down everyone but the caster within 5 meters. It can be resisted with a Reflex Save.

  • Momentum Theft - This mutation decreases the target's movement speed while increasing the user's movement speed. It can be used on a single target within 5 meters and last for 15 seconds.

  • Kinetic Backlash - This mutation causes Crushing damage to anyone who melee attacks the caster. The ability is for self-targeting only and it devotes a percentage of the caster's Gamma while active.

  • Ambient Absorption - This mutation improves Gamma regeneration and Secondary Resistances. It is a self-target only mutation and it devotes a percentage of Gamma while active.

  • Kinetic Conservation - This mutation grants immunity to any Snare effects and increases Dexterity and Coordination. It is a self-target only mutation and it devotes a percentage of Gamma while active.

Telepathy

This line can be unlocked in Credit Bend or Haven. In Credit Bend speak to Adrian Lazar. In Haven speak to (you guessed it) Wei Zhu. This mutation line is based on Charisma and Willpower.

  • Accelerated Recovery - This mutation improves Health regeneration and all Saves. It can be applied to a single target within 20 meters and lasts 30 seconds.

  • Mind over Matter - This aura increases Health regeneration and all Saves to all team mates within 20 meters.

  • Ignore Pain - This mutation increases total Health and improves the Health regeneration of a single target within 10 meters for an hour.

  • One Mind, One Affliction - This healing mutation removes negative effects from a single target within 10 meters.

  • Renew Consciousness - Resurrects a single target within 10 meters and improves that target's Health regeneration for 30 seconds.

  • Psionic Shock - This offensive mutation causes crushing damage and stuns a target within 10 meters for 2 seconds. A successful Mind Save will resist the damage.



Thermal Control

This mutation line can be learned from the C.H.O.T.A. in Fracture or the Techs at Picus Ridge. Speak to The Claw of Redhand in Fracture or Parker Tayback in Picus Ridge. Parker Tayback is the guy that is just outside the town by the crashed helicopter. This mutation line is based on Perception and Willpower.

  • Hypothermia - This offensive mutation causes cold damage per second to a single target within 10 meters. It also lowers the target's Health and Stamina regeneration.

  • Molotov - This offensive mutation causes Fire damage per second and explodes for more damage at the end of its 6 second duration. It can be used on a single target within 10 meters and can be resisted with a successful Reflex Save.

  • Scorching Rebuke - This mutation causes Fire damage to anyone who melee attacks the caster. The ability is for self-targeting only and it devotes a percentage of the caster's Gamma while active.

  • Napalm - This offensive mutation causes Fire damage per second and lowers Secondary Resistances for 15 seconds. It can be used on a single target within 10 meters and can be resisted with a successful Reflex Save.

  • Cold Snap - This mutation reduces Coordination considerably and reduces movement speed for nine seconds. It can be used on a single target within10 meters provided they fail their Body Save.

  • Regenerative Fever - This is a healing mutation that removes negative effects and increases the Health regeneration of a single target within 10 meters. It lasts 30 seconds.