Mutations. What am I missing?

[pRaX]

Can somebody explain to me why all these OneGameAndy, 10K hours, Level 10k, out of touch, F76 Youtubers recommend beginners to run with mutations?
There is no way a new (sane) player is gonna blow the caps they don't have on serums, let alone the plans.

So my only conclusion, with giving the benefit of the doubt, is that it's me who's missing something.
They also barely or never explain their supposed beginner target audience how to obtain the mutations at all.

[Hefutoxin]

Players sell each serum for 200-400 caps. Not too expensive.

But really, most "Veterans" have been min/max for so long that they don't really understand much outside of that very narrow "Meta" range.

You can skip the overwhelming majority of "Advice" and just learn as you go. The game is EZPZ, so if you are having a difficult time, you missed something.

[pRaX]

Originally posted by Squirrely Wrath:

dont bother with mutations, do your story quests and gain some levels, mutations are imo pretty meh and turn the game more into borderlands than fallout, not to mention all the perk cards you need

I already did my story quests. Started last week and I'm lvl153. So yes, I'm not the sanest individual myself but even I have limits and would try to be reasonable.
I just find it ridiculous that this part of the game is getting recommended to beginners.
Even I don't even have remotely enough caps to blow them on serums and especially not the plans.

Originally posted by Hefutoxin:

Players sell each serum for 200-400 caps. Not too expensive.

But really, most "Veterans" have been min/max for so long that they don't really understand much outside of that very narrow "Meta" range.

You can skip the overwhelming majority of "Advice" and just learn as you go. The game is EZPZ, so if you are having a difficult time, you missed something.

Never seen it and I'm trader hopping alot. Because I'm still looking for that allegedly absolutely terrible AA/E Minigun.

[Martha_Pfahl]

You don't need caps for the mutations! You can get all but one for free. Now I don't want to spoil the fun for you. If you can't figure it out on your own, use Google and YouTube.

The path to get there is a bit tricky, but doable.

[Simalf]

Well you could always gamble and take a bath hoping you dont get the bad ones.

And if you do, just start over.

Though yeah just dont. Dont even bother until after you have your desired build with perks.

You will need perks entirely for the mutations. Go for these, like i have said AFTER you got your desired build with perks.



Not everyone should make beginner tips. Those "pros" forgot how it was when starting from 1 in this game. Not to mention they can be a bit out of touch.

[Eriskumma]

Serums aren't that expensive if you get them from player vendors, I think the average price is around 100 caps. I sell them for 50 when I happen to get them, some players craft them for sale. Playing low level mutant isn't that hard, that's what I've done with 5 of my 6 toons. Even before you get the Starched Genes perk maxed it's pretty easy to keep whatever mutations you have, it's much harder to avoid accidental unwanted ones so I recommend getting hazmat suit and using it everywhere that has rads, helps a bit. Just remember that without maxed Starched Genes Radaway and radiation arch remove mutations so get Nuka-Grapes from Whitespring, Nuka-World etc and use those instead to lower your rads until you get the perk.

[pRaX]

Originally posted by Martha_Pfahl:

You don't need caps for the mutations! You can get all but one for free. Now I don't want to spoil the fun for you. If you can't figure it out on your own, use Google and YouTube.

The path to get there is a bit tricky, but doable.

Sure. But tricky isn't exactly the word I'd be using. More like pain in the ass. I doubt many beginners would bother with that hassle.
And like many already said, they shouldn't.

[Hefutoxin]

Originally posted by pRaX:

Never seen it and I'm trader hopping alot. Because I'm still looking for that allegedly absolutely terrible AA/E Minigun.

Fallout TV show happens.
Ton of newbies start Fallout 76.
Same newbies search Youtube for tips and tricks.

Any "Tips and Tricks" or "Guides" you find are going to have you following 100,000 other newbies trying to do the same thing. Yeah, Serums will be sold out because everyone and their mommy is following the same guide.

[Martha_Pfahl]

Ultimately it's up to each individual. In my opinion, it's worth it because the negative effects either cancel each other out or can be offset by perks.

[Martha_Pfahl]

Originally posted by Hefutoxin:

Originally posted by pRaX:

Never seen it and I'm trader hopping alot. Because I'm still looking for that allegedly absolutely terrible AA/E Minigun.

Fallout TV show happens.
Ton of newbies start Fallout 76.
Same newbies search Youtube for tips and tricks.

Any "Tips and Tricks" or "Guides" you find are going to have you following 100,000 other newbies trying to do the same thing. Yeah, Serums will be sold out because everyone and their mommy is following the same guide.

That's it!

[lucg]

There's benefits from "mutations", no doubt about it in the gameplay.

Now, to learn how to and what fit you, it' a learning process.

Me, around level 35, I begin to pick the perk cards I need, "Starched Genes" and "Class Freak"and max-up them. Later, I pick "Strange in Numbers" for 1 level.

Meanwhile, I travel to player vendors and buy the serums/mutations I want:

-Marsupial
-Speed Demon
-Eagle eyes
-Egg Head
-Herd Mentality

Once I have max-up my perk cards, I take the serums and that's it ... !

[Phantom]

mutations aren't really worth it unless you are uber careful until you have starched genes level 2

[4mysou1just1]

Hmmm/
5000+hrs...
Tried not to get mutations till level 180 on first toon...
Discovered level 30 you can get perk card starched genes.
Discovered level 42 you can get perk card strange in numbers.
Discovered level 46 you can get perk card class freak.
I acquired every mutation.
But carnivore was canceled out by herbivore.
All 3 of my toons are the same.
Tried different mutations...
But ended up where I first started.

[IceMan PJN]

The economies on PC must be a bit different from Xbox. I don't actively look for serums at player vendors but the ones I recall noticing were quite a bit more expensive than the prices listed here. I rarely see a player not jacking prices up. They want four figures for used toilet paper.

[PotatoBasket]

Originally posted by IceMan PJN:

.

going rate is 250-500. Result of our friendliness that I will absolutely not apologize for. You player merchants can make your money off rare drops and stuff that won't gate enjoyable play.

Originally posted by pRaX:

Sure. But tricky isn't exactly the word I'd be using. More like pain in the ass. I doubt many beginners would bother with that hassle.
And like many already said, they shouldn't.

The power curve is a steep one. Those seniors are directing you how to jump on and coast on up asap. A lot of us also make so many extra just so noobs can try them - knowing the serums will run out without the proper perks - to encourage those new players to rocket on up that power scale on their own. There's no end game to 76 so most of us don't want to see you struggling only to get to the "good" parts of the game .... only to feel as though you wasted your time and hate the game world. Better to give you the proper nudges to get you there right quick rather than wasting your time and possibly money.

Most seniors start alts; I'm of the minority that still plays but has tired of such, I have characters at each point in the game - completed nearly everything, mid completion, and completed almost nothing (still stuck in Rose's questline for that last one technically). I level so damn slowly I'll never need a new character - trust me on that.

I agree a beginner build is NOT bloodied, mutations, or tanking. There is no low level build. That's the point. Mutations are fun. Power armor is fun. One-hit splattering mobs is fun. There's no way you're gonna get that before level 100 or without a pre-scaled alternate character.

OP if you want some mutation serums to goof off with I got you next time I craft em. Just don't expect to go making an early build or trying to maintain mutations pre-level 50... that's crazy.

Up to level 50 is the tutorial. They should really mention that.

[Mooman]

Ah, I remember a time I was glad to get the rad scrubber arch so I could remove mutations without using radaway... How times have changed.

I have one character without mutations and he is fine. The others have just a few for QoL such as speed demon. They aren't necessary at all and may even be against a roleplay ideal (Brotherhood for example).