How To Unlock Every Mutation In Grounded

Updated Sep 19, 2026, 4:30 PM EDT Kaitlyn Peterson is a writer, gamer, & creative based in Orlando, FL. Driven by a deep passion for storytelling, she enjoys exploring narratives through a variety of mediums, including writing, digital art, and photography. Kaitlyn aspires to one day write and illustrate her own books, merging her artistic and literary talents to craft original, immersive stories. In her downtime, Kaitlyn enjoys unwinding with her favorite horror films, despite being a major scaredy-cat. Sign in to your ScreenRant account There are currently 40 different Mutations for players to unlock and equip in Obsidian's survival base-building game, Grounded. These perks help players achieve their goals and allow them to create a customized in-game build for a personalized experience. Also, since many Mutations are unlocked by doing routine tasks, obtaining the ones you want shouldn't require any grinding. Of the 40 mutations, five of them must be purchased from BURG.L, while the other 35 will need to be unlocked. Players can equip two at the start of the game and then increase that total to five later with Milk Molars. Note that many mutations will have phased unlocks, meaning you will only unlock their full potential once the mutation is unlocked. How To Unlock All Mutations in Grounded Unlock Final Phases For Each Mutation As stated, most Mutations have three phases of unlocking, meaning that the effects will improve with each phase until they are maxed out. The task for reaching each phase will typically be the same as initially unlocking the Mutation, with the only difference being the quantity required. For example, while phase one may ask you to kill 100 Antlions in Grounded, phase 2 may ask you to kill 200 Antlions. Once you have reached phase 3, the Mutation will not increase its effectiveness anymore. The totals for reaching phases 2 and 3 of a mutation are not an additional amount required, but instead, is an overall total that the player must meet. Therefore, if you have killed 100 enemies but need 200 for phase 2, you only need to kill 100 more, not 200. All Purchasable Mutations Name Description How to Unlock Meat Shield Increases your max Health by 50. BURG.L for 3000 Raw Science Buff Lungs Increases your max Stamina by 50. BURG.L for 3000 Raw Science (Requires Red Anthill BURG.L Chip) Daredevil Reduces your Fall Damage by 50%. BURG.L for 3000 Raw Science (Requires Hedge BURG.L Chip) Battle Buddies Decreases player-to-player damage by 75% and thus increases resistance to damage from others by 75% BURG.L for 3000 Raw Science (Requires Pond BURG.L Chip) Dissection Expert Increases the drop-chance of loot from Creatures by 10% BURG.L for 3000 Raw Science (Requires Forgotten BURG.L Chip) Unlockable Mutations Via Enemy Kills & Attacks Name Description How To Unlock Lil Fist Damage Buff to unarmed attacks with fists, which stacks until capping out at 100. At Phase 3, every punch that lands will guarantee a second hit, dealing 6 damage and 5 stun. Phase 1: 1% Buff Phase 2: 1.5% Buff Phase 3: 2% Buff Phase 1: 40 Kills with Fists Phase 2: 100 Kills with Fists Phase 3: 200 Kills with Fists Chopper Axe attacks lower an enemy's resistance by a specific amount for 2 seconds. At Phase 3, players will receive a 5-second buff that removes the stamina regeneration delay when not exhausted. Phase 1: 10% Lowered Resistance Phase 2: 15% Lowered Resistance Phase 3: 20% Lowered Resistance Phase 1: 40 Kills with Axe Phase 2: 100 Kills with Axe Phase 3: 200 Kills with Axe Smasher Activated when using a Hammer, Smasher slows your enemy's attack speed by a specific amount for 10 seconds. At Phase 3, Hammer Attacks will deal 50% more stun damage. Phase 1: Slowed by 10% Phase 2: Slowed by 20% Phase 3: Slowed by 30% Phase 1: 40 Kills with Hammer Phase 2: 100 Kills with Hammer Phase 3: 200 Kills with Hammer Javelineer Spear Attacks receive a buff that reflects a specific amount of damage received back at the enemy while also increasing your Spear-Throwing damage by a specified amount. Phase 1: Reflects 100% of damage received Phase 1: Increases Spear-Throwing damage by 10%. Phase 2: Reflects 150% of damage received Phase 2: Increases Spear-Throwing damage by 20%. Phase 3: Reflects 200% of damage received Phase 3: Increases Spear-Throwing damage by 30%. Phase 1: 40 Kills with Spear Phase 2: 100 Kills with Spear Phase 3: 200 Kills with Spear Assassin Dagger attacks inflict a specific amount of bleed damage on enemies over 5 seconds. At Phase 3, enemy resistance to Bleed Damage is also lowered by 25%. Phase 1: 30 Bleed Damage Phase 2: 50 Bleed Damage Phase 3: 75 Bleed Damage Phase 1: 40 Kills with Dagger Phase 2: 100 Kills with Dagger Phase 3: 200 Kills with Dagger Sharpshooter Landing bow/crossbow attacks will increase your critical hit chance by a specified amount. At Phase 3, Crit and Candy arrows may gain special effects. Phase 1: 10% chance increase of Crit Phase 2: 15% chance increase of Crit Phase 3: 20% chance Crit and Candy arrows gain special effect Mint - Slow enemy movements by 30% for 5 seconds, Sour - Deals 10 additional Stun Spicy - Inflicts Burn for 50 damage over 5 seconds Phase 1: 40 Kills with Bow Phase 2: 100 Kills with Bow Phase 3: 200 Kills with Bow Barbarian Club attacks force you to enter Rage for 10 seconds, which increases your club damage by a specific amount and reduces perfect block timing. At Phase 3, Rage regenerates 1 health per second too. Phase 1: Club damage increases by 15% Phase 2: Club damage increases by 20% Phase 3: Club damage increases by 25% Phase 1: 40 Kills with Club Phase 2: 100 Kills with Club Phase 3: 200 Kills with Club Blademaster Sword attacks lower the damage of your enemy's attacks by a specific amount. At Phase 3, Sword attacks receive a buff that reduces exhaustion time by 90%. Phase 1: Enemy attacks are lowered by 10% Phase 2: Enemy attacks are lowered by 20% Phase 3: Enemy attacks are lowered by 30% Phase 1: 40 Kills with Sword Phase 2: 100 Kills with Sword Phase 3: 200 Kills with Sword Whittle Wizard Staff Attacks receive varying abilities depending on their type. Phase 3 for all Staff Types will also apply a buff that reduces the cost of stamina by 50%. Mint Staff — Reduces enemy movement speed. Sour Staff — Deals extra stun damage. Spicy Staff — Attacks burn targets. Phase 1: 40 Kills with Candy Stave Phase 2: 100 Kills with Candy Stave Phase 3: 200 Kills with Candy Stave Ant-nihilator Increases damage dealt to Black Ants, Fire Ants, and Red Ants by a specific amount. At Phase 3, increases resistance to all ants by 10%. Phase 1: Increases damage by 5% Phase 2: Increases damage by 15% Phase 3: Increases damage by 25% Phase 1: Kill 40 Ants (Fire, Black, or Red) Phase 2: Kill 100 Ants (Fire, Black, or Red) Phase 3: Kill 200 Ants (Fire, Black, or Red) Truffle Tussle Unarmed attacks have a 10% chance of creating a fungal explosion, doing 75 damage to everything in the explosion radius. Kill the Infected Ladybug in the lab in the Haze Biome, introduced in Grounded's Hot and Hazy Update Mithridatism Increases Resistance to Poison by a specific percentage. Phase 1: Increases resistance by 25% Phase 2: Increases resistance by 50% Phase 3: Increases resistance by 75% Phase 1: Kill 1 Wolf Spider Phase 2: Kill 5 Wolf Spiders Phase 3: Kill 10 Wolf Spiders Unlockable Mutations Via Boss Fights Name Description How To Unlock Shocking Dismissal Blocked attacks have a 20% chance of triggering an effect that will cause the next melee attack to deal an electric shock that does 75 damage and 40 stun to surrounding enemies. Kill the Assistant Manager Apex Predator Increased strength, new effects, and extra abilities for weapons made from bosses, including the following tools: Club of the Mother Demon The Scythe of Blossoms Weapon Bard's Bow Weapon Blaster of the Moldy Matriarch Kill Grounded's Orchid Mantis Boss Mom Genes Attacks and Perfect Blocks will have a 10% chance to spawn a friendly Spiderling with 25 Health and increase damage dealt with Poison by 50%. Warning: Spiderlings may accidentally damage you as well as enemies. Kill Grounded's Hedge Broodmother Boss Corporate Kickback Blocked attacks have a 5% chance to trigger an effect that causes melee attacks to replenish your life equal to the amount of damage you deal for 5 seconds. Kill Director Schmector Bardic Inspiration Gives all bow/crossbow attacks a 25% chance to play a bardic song. Song has a chance to apply one of the following buffs for 10 seconds: Attack Aria: Increasing Crit chance by 10% Critical Concerto: Increases damage by 20% Obstinate Overtune: Reduces damage taken by 25% Soothing Sonata: 25% chance to heal 5 HP every 2 seconds Soothing Sonata lasts for 10 seconds, but requires the Bard's Tudor and can be active simultaneously with one of the other three effects. Kill the Wasp Queen Spore Lord Dealing explosive damage will have the chance to apply buffs that remain throughout combat. 10% chance to have a 1% resistance to explosive damage (can stack) 5% chance to have a 1% increase in movement speed (can stack) 5% chance to have a passive regen of 0.5 HP every 3 seconds (can stack) 5% chance to have a 1% increase in explosive damage (can stack) Kill the Infected Broodmother Mantsterious Stranger Attacks have a 2% chance of spawning a friendly Mant to fight beside them. Mant Attacks include: Punch (120 damage & 10 stun) Combo Punch (100 damage & 10 stun) Overhead Smash (80 damage & 50 stun) Kill the Mant Unlock Mutations Via Discovery Tasks Name Description How To Unlock Parry Master Gives Perfect Blocks a 100% chance to refund a specific amount of stamina. Phase 1: Refunds 25 stamina. Phase 2: Refunds 50 Stamina. Phase 3: Refunds 100 Stamina. Phase 1: 20 Perfect Blocks Phase 2: 40 Perfect Blocks Phase 3: 60 Perfect Blocks Grass Master Increases Chopping Efficiency by a specific amount, and Harvesting Grass has a 100% chance of returning a specific amount of stamina. Phase 1: 50% increase in chopping efficiency Phase 1: 5 Stamina returned Phase 2: 75% increase in chopping efficiency Phase 2: 10 Stamina returned Phase 3: 100% increase in chopping efficiency Phase 3: 15 Stamina returned Phase 1: 50 Blades of Grass Chopped Phase 2: 200 Blades of Grass Chopped Phase 3: 500 Blades of Grass Chopped Rock Cracker Increases Busting Efficiency by a specific amount. Phase 1: Increased by 50% Phase 2: Increased by 75% Phase 3: Increased by 100% Phase 1: Bust 25 Rocks Phase 2: Bust 75 Rocks Phase 3: Bust 100 Rocks Hauling Hero Increases Hauling Strength by a specific amount. Phase 1: Increases strength by +5 Phase 2: Increases strength by +10 Phase 3: Increases strength by +15 Phase 1: Reach Coziness Level 2 Phase 2: Reach Coziness Level 3 Phase 3: Reach Coziness Level 4 Trapper PEEP.R Increases damage dealt by a specific amount when inflicting a Crit. Phase 1: Increases damage by 20% Phase 2: Increases damage by 40% Phase 3: Increases damage by 60% Phase 1: Obtain 20 Gold Cards Phase 2: Obtain 40 Gold Cards Phase 3: Obtain 60 Gold Cards Rascal Rogue When landing a melee hit, players have a chance to instantly obtain an extra item from their loot table. This will only work once per creature and per source of stealing. Phase 1: 2% Chance Phase 2: 5% Chance Phase 3: 10% Chance Phase 1: Find 1 Statue Figurine Phase 2: Find 4 Statue Figurines Phase 3: Find 7 Statue Figurines Juicy Thirst decreases 50% slower. Discover all 5 Juice Boxes Natural Explorer Increase your movement speed by a specific amount (except during combat) Phase 1: Increase of 20% Phase 2: Increase of 35% Phase 3: Increase of 50% Phase 1: Discover 5 Landmarks Phase 2: Discover 20 Landmarks Phase 3: Discover 50 Landmarks Merteen Increases underwater oxygen time by 10% and increases swimming speed by 15% Discover 5 Landmarks in the Koi Pond. Cardio Fan Increases Stamina regeneration by a specific amount and decreases exhaustion time by a specific amount. Phase 1: Stamina Regen increases by 15% Phase 1: Exhaustion time decreases by 10% Phase 2: Stamina Regen increases by 20% Phase 2: Exhaustion time decreases by 20% Phase 3: Stamina Regen increases by 30% Phase 3: Exhaustion time decreases by 30% Phase 1: Get exhausted 100 times Phase 2: Get exhausted 250 times Phase 3: Get exhausted 500 times Reliable Friend Increases player revival speed by a specific amount. Phase 1: Increases speed by 25% Phase 2: Increases speed by 50% Phase 3: Increases speed by 75% Phase 1: Revive someone 5 times Phase 2: Revive someone 15 times Phase 3: Revive someone 30 times Fresh Defense It increases the resistance to gas and burning damage by a specific amount and decreases the Sizzle rate, increasing your Sizzle protection in Grounded by a specific amount. Phase 1: 25% increase in resistance Phase 1: 25% reduction in Sizzle rate Phase 2: 50% increase in resistance Phase 2: 50% reduction in Sizzle rate. Phase 3: 75% increase in resistance Phase 3: 75% reduction in Sizzle rate. Phase 1: Eat 1 Mint Shard Phase 2: Eat 5 Mint Shards Phase 3: Eat 10 Mint Shards Spicy Safety Reduces damage taken from smashing and stabbing by a specific amount. Phase 1: Decreases damage taken by 25% Phase 2: Decreases damage taken by 50% Phase 1: Eat 1 Spicy Shard Phase 2: Eat 4 Spicy Shards Sour Sensation Damage taken will be reflected at enemies by a specific amount. Phase 1: Reflects 50% of damage Phase 2: Reflects 100% of damage Phase 3: Reflects 150% of damage Phase 1: Eat 1 Sour Lump Phase 2: Eat 5 Sour Lumps Phase 3: Eat 10 Sour Lumps Guard Dog Extra attack damage during MIX.Rs, Factional Raids, and the Spicy Coaltana or JavaMatic events. Phase 1: 10% extra damage Phase 2: 25% extra damage Phase 3: 50% extra damage Phase 1: Complete 1 MIX.R Phase 2: Complete 4 MIX.Rs Phase 3: Complete 6 MIX.Rs Coup de Grass Increases Critical Hit Chance by a specific amount. Phase 1: Increases chance by 2.5% Phase 2: Increases chance by 5% Discover Grounded's 4 Leaf Clover in the Clover Cave, then roll the Minotaur Maze's 20-sided die and get a Nat 20 for both Phase 1 and 2 of the Mutation. Antbassador Ants become less hostile to you, with extra Phases making stronger ants more passive towards your behavior. Phase 1: Red Soldier Ants become neutral. Phase 2: Black Soldier Ants become neutral. Phase 2: Black Worker Ants become neutral. Phase 3: Fire Worker/Soldier Ants become neutral. Phase 1: Befriend 1 Ant Queen. Phase 2: Befriend 2 Ant Queens. Phase 3: Befriend all 3 Ant Queens. The sheer number of buffs and variations to the Mutations in this survival experience are worth getting every time, especially if you're playing with friends. Many of these achievements and Mutations apply to everyone once they complete the unlock tasks, making everyone stronger as a result. Since it takes teamwork to gain Mutations in Grounded, it's only natural that they are shared after the fact. Grounded Systems Released September 27, 2022 ESRB Teen // Blood, Mild Language, Violence Developer(s) Obsidian Entertainment Publisher(s) Xbox Game Studios Platform(s) PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC Genre(s) Survival