All Mutations and Best Mutations - Grounded Guide - IGN (2024)

In Grounded mutations can be used to boost your teen's stats and adjust your gameplay. Mutations offer buffs to everything from your health to your swimming abilities. On this page, we've got a list of all the mutations available in the game, as well as a rundown of which ones are the best.

This page is currently in progress, so check back later for more information!

Jump to the sections below, if you're looking for particular information:

• Mutation List
• Best Mutations in Grounded
• Best Mutations for Beginners
• Best Mutations for Later in the Game

Unlocking and Equipping Mutations

There are 33 mutations available to use in Grounded. A few of these can be purchased but the majority of them will be unlocked through various criteria being met (including defeating mini-bosses). When you unlock (or purchase) a mutation, it will appear in the Status tab of your menu.

Some perks cannot be unlocked until late in the game as they require bosses and mini-bosses that appear towards the end of the story to be defeated.

In the beginning, you can have 2 mutations equipped at one time. With the use of Milk Molars, however, you can level up your teenager and increase the number of mutations you can have active to a maximum of 5.

List of Mutations

Below is a list of all the mutations available in the game, in alphabetical order, including information on what buffs they provide and general guidance on how to unlock them. Some mutations will have up to 3 phases that can be unlocked, increasing the buff provided at each level. We've hidden the names of bosses and mini-bosses in the table below, to avoid spoilers.

It's a good idea to swap out mutations regularly, and think about the situation you're going into. If you're playing multiplayer, try and have different mutations equipped to be the most efficient team you can be!

Best Mutations in Grounded

All of the mutations in Grounded are viable buffs and will largely depend on your gameplay or situations. For example, if you're going to be around lots of spiders, Mirthridatism is one to equip. If you're swimming, be sure to have Merteen on to increase your swim speed and how long you can breathe underwater.

Best Mutations for Early in the Game and General Gameplay

For this list, we've considered what are the best mutations generally, particularly for beginners and early gameplay rather than the mostly situational perks.

Meat Shield

Meat Shield can prove invaluable at times, particularly towards the early parts of the game or if you can only have 2 mutations equipped. You'll be able to unlock this one after you've found The Oak Lab and met BURG.L.

Having your max health increased so early on will often save you from dying in situations where enemies only need a few more hits to be taken down, and your standard HP wouldn't suffice. It also only has one phase and can be purchased, so it doesn't require repetitive actions to max out the buff.

Cardio Fan

This one can also get you out of some tricky situations, where previously your stamina would've been depleted, leaving you vulnerable to attacks. Exhaust your teen over and over again to unlock Cardio Fan, then benefit from quicker exhaustion recovery and hyperstamina.

A combination of Cardio Fan and Meat Shield is good for a beginner setup until you unlock a few more mutations. If you've already found the Red Ant Hill Chip before unlocking Cardio Fan, then Buff Lungs is another alternative that helps with Stamina.

Juicy

With the rate at which you become Thirsty decreased, you can worry less about keeping your teen hydrated and more about your objectives. This perk is ideal early on, particularly if you haven't already crafted a Canteen or a way to collect Dew.

You'll have to find the locations of Juice Boxes to unlock this one, so be sure to visit the All Juice Box Locations page.

Chopper & Smasher

Both of these perks are great for early on in the game, to improve combat. Chopper will give you the chance to stagger enemies, which can stop them in their tracks and give you enough time to land a few more blows.

Smasher has similar benefits, in that it allows you to daze enemies and also slow their attack speed. The Pebblet Axe and Pebblet Hammer should be the first weapons you unlock as you begin analyazing resources, so you can start unlocking these mutations early on.

Best Mutations for Later Gameplay

Once you've discovered enough Milk Molars, you can begin to unlock additional mutation perks. This will allow you to equip more mutations, which will prove beneficial later on in the game. At this stage, you might leave perks like Meat Shield constantly active to give you a health increase, but start to consider where you're heading, in order to swap other mutations in and out that would prove more useful.

Assassin, Blademaster and Parry Master

A sword or dagger and shield combination can be great for dealing with enemies that are slightly tougher to take on but not impossible to defeat. Being able to block their attacks is essential to beat them, and using a dagger or sword will deplete your stamina less than other weapons.

Combining Parry Master with either Assassin or Blademaster can be a winning combination, as blocking becomes more efficient and you can either make enemies bleed with Assassin or reduce stamina costs further with sword combos by using Blademaster.

Spicy Safety

When you've found your way to the upper yard, you'll be able to break down Hot Chachas and get hold of Spicy Shards. Eat these to unlock Spicy Safety and you'll be able to equip the perk that will increase resistance to smashing and stabbing attacks.

Coup de Grass

Being able to take down creatures with Critical Hits will make all the difference to combat later on in the game. Both Coup de Grass and Tapper PEEP.R affect critical hits, but it's much easier to get hold of Coup de Grass.

You'll need to find the 4-Leaf Clover in the southeast of the yard and then visit the Picnic Table to go to the Minotaur's Maze and roll a 20 with the giant dice in the area.