A Complete Guide to All Fallout 76 Serums and Their Effects
By a Wasteland Veteran
Fallout 76 offers a variety of ways to mutate your character, granting powerful buffs—and sometimes drawbacks—to enhance your gameplay. Among the most sought-after mutation items are Serums, consumables that grant specific mutations instantly. Whether you're a seasoned player or new to Appalachia, this guide covers every Fallout 76 Serum, their effects, and how to use them effectively.
What Are Fallout 76 Serums?
Serums are special injectable items that grant permanent mutations without the randomness of radiation exposure. Unlike naturally acquired mutations, Serums allow players to pick exactly which mutations they want, making them essential for optimized builds.
To maintain mutations, players should equip the Starched Genes perk (Luck tree) to prevent losing them when using RadAway. Additionally, Class Freak (Luck tree) reduces negative mutation effects.
List of All Fallout 76 Serums
Here’s a breakdown of every available Serum, along with their benefits and downsides:
1. Adrenal Reaction
Effect: Increases damage output at low Health but reduces max HP.
Best For: Bloodied builds.
2. Bird Bones
Effect: Boosts Agility and fall speed reduction but weakens Strength.
Best For: Stealth and mobility-focused players.
3. Carnivore
Effect: Doubles meat benefits but removes plant-based bonuses.
Best For: Melee builds relying on meat buffs.
4. Chameleon
Effect: Grants invisibility while stationary and unarmored, but reduces Energy Resistance.
Best For: Snipers and stealth players.
5. Eagle Eyes
Effect: Increases Critical Damage and Perception but lowers Strength.
Best For: VATS and sniper builds.
6. Egg Head
Effect: Greatly boosts Intelligence but reduces Strength and Endurance.
Best For: Crafters and XP grinders.
7. Electrically Charged
Effect: Chance to shock melee attackers but drains Health.
Best For: Tanky melee builds.
8. Empath
Effect: Reduces damage taken by teammates but increases damage taken when solo.
Best For: Dedicated team players.
9. Grounded
Effect: Increases Energy Resistance but reduces Energy Weapon damage.
Best For: Non-energy weapon builds.
10. Healing Factor
Effect: Boosts Health regeneration outside combat but reduces Chem effects.
Best For: Players who avoid constant stimpak use.
11. Herbivore
Effect: Doubles plant-based food benefits but removes meat bonuses.
Best For: Crafters and XP farmers using vegetable buffs.
12. Herd Mentality
Effect: Boosts SPECIAL stats in a team but lowers them when solo.
Best For: Always-team players.
13. Marsupial
Effect: Grants high jumps and extra carry weight but reduces Intelligence.
Best For: Nearly every build (a fan favorite).
14. Plague Walker
Effect: Deals damage based on diseases but can spread illness.
Best For: Roleplay or niche builds.
15. Scaly Skin
Effect: Increases Damage and Energy Resistance but reduces AP.
Best For: Tank builds.
16. Speed Demon
Effect: Increases movement and reload speed but raises hunger/thirst drain.
Best For: Fast-paced combatants.
17. Talons
Effect: Boosts unarmed damage but reduces Agility.
Best For: Unarmed melee fighters.
18. Twisted Muscles
Effect: Increases melee damage but lowers gun accuracy.
Best For: Pure melee builds.
19. Unstable Isotope
Effect: Chance to irradiate melee attackers but drains Health.
Best For: Radiation-heavy builds.
How to Get Fallout 76 Serums
Vendor Purchases: Sold by the Science faction vendors in WhiteSprings Bunker (MODUS) for around 4,000 Caps each (price varies with Charisma).
Player Trading: Many sell Serums for cheaper—check trading forums or in-game markets.
Crafting: Requires high Intelligence, the Recipe, and Flux (learned from Scorchbeast Queen drops or vendors).
Final Tips for Using Serums Effectively
Stack Mutations Wisely: Some Serums synergize well (e.g., Marsupial + Speed Demon), while others conflict.
Use Class Freak: Minimizes negative effects.
Avoid Rad Removal: Keep Starched Genes equipped to lock in mutations.
Whether you're optimizing your build or experimenting with mutations, Fallout 76 Serums offer a game-changing advantage.