Mutations are unique effects that your character can have inCaves of Qud. These mutations can be simple, such as the addition of a beak, but some come in the form of impairments, such as amnesia or narcolepsy. There is even a mutation that causes your evil twin to follow and attempt to kill you!

Looking for all there is to know about mutations in Caves of Qud? You’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we are going to take a look at all mutations in the game, as well as how you’ll typically acquire them.

A player looking at their mutation in Caves of Qud.

How To Choose Mutations In Character Creation

When creating a character from scratch, you’ll be able tochoose between a Mutated Human or True Kin.When you choose Mutated Human, you’ll be able tospend 12 mutation points in order to get yourself a set of mutations.

You can’t use more than the 12 allotted points, but it’s important to note thatdefect mutations (such as being albino or allergic to tonics) are displayed as negative.If you have all 12 points and then select Brittle Bones, which has a [-4] next to it,then you’ll now have 16 points.

A player not having enough points to get a mutation in Caves of Qud.

As the name implies, defects typicallyinvolve some sort of downside when it comes to exploration and combat.Brittle Bones, for example, causes you to take 50 percent more damage from bludgeoning, falling, or other concussive damage.

How To Gain New Mutations While Playing

In addition to choosing your mutations at the start of the game, you’ll also have thechance to pick from new ones as you level up.Each time you level up, you’ll gain one mutation point. When you have at least four, you’ll be able to buy a new mutation. This can be done bypressing ‘M’ in the character info menu.

You’ll only have a few mutations to choose from(just three!), but you’re able to also use mutation points to level up a mutation that you already have.

A player looking at the adrenal control mutation in Caves of Qud.

Mutation Types

There arefive types of mutations,which you can find listed below, along with a brief description.

What Is It?

Morphotypes

These are three types of mutations that affect how your other mutations manifest.

Physical Mutations

These are mutations that physically affect you (such as gaining wings or better hearing).

Physical Defects

These are negative mutations that physically affect you (such as having brittle bones or hooks for feet).

Mental Mutations

These are mutations that affect your mind (such as the ability to cause confusion or start a fire with your mind).

Mental Defects

These are negative mutations that affect your mind (such as amnesia or being weird in social situations).

Every Mutation In Caves Of Qud

Now, let’s look at every mutation in Caves of Qud. We’veseparated these by typein order to help you navigate a bit better.

Only manifest physical mutations

Only manifest mental mutations

Unstable Genome

When you invest in this, you get another mutation, but it doesn’t manifest right away

When you level up, there is a 33% chance that your genome destabilizes, letting you choose from 3 other mutations

Adrenal Control

Regulate your body’s release of adrenaline

For 20 rounds, you can increase your adrenaline flow, gaining quickness and increasing the rank of other mutations by 1

You now have a beak

Peck your opponents

+200 with Birds

Burrowing Claws

You now have spade-like claws

These claws can dig through walls, as well as be used as weapons

Carapace

You now have a carapace which will increase your AV, lower your DV, and increase heat resistance, cold resistance, and reputation with tortoises

You can release corrosive gas around you

Double-Muscled

You have increased strength based on your level

You can daze your opponent with melee attacks, with the chance being based on your level

You can store and discharge electricity to deal damage

This can be used to charge devices

You’ll also be able to drink the charge from energy cells and capacitors

You generate an electromagnetic pulse that disables machines and artifacts

you may emit flames around you, which deals damage

You can emit frost from you, which deals damage

You now have an acute sense of hearing

With this, you may hear, detect, and identify nearby creatures

You have increased speed based on your level

Horns

You now have horns

These horns can gore your opponent (when doing a melee attack), which causes bleeding

+100 Reputation with Antelopes and Goatfolk

Metamorphosis

You turn into any creature that you touch (only if they are lower level than you)

Multiple Arms

You have another set of arms, which can perform melee attacks

Multiple Legs

You have an extra set of legs, which increase move speed and carrying capacity

you’re able to see in the dark without a torch

You can phase through solid objects

Photosynthetic Skin

You can bask in the sun instead of eating

​​​​​​​In the sun, you’re able to gather starch and lignin to be used as an ingredient

​​​​​​​Increased DV while in foliage

​​​​​​​+200 Reputation with Roots, Trees, Vines, and the Consortium of Phyta

You have quills now, which deal damage

​​​​​​​You’re now immune to other quills

Regeneration

Heal quicker!

​​​​​​​You’ll also have a chance to remove minor physical debuffs each round

You release sleep gas around you

You produce slime that can be spat at things

You can spin silk (like a spider)

​​​​​​​ When spinning, you will leave a trail of webs

​​​​​​​+300 Reputation with Arachnids

You have a tail stinger that deals confusion to enemies

You have a tail stinger that deals paralysis to enemies

You have a tail stinger that deals poison to enemies

You have thick fur to protect yourself from the elements

Your joins stretch more than usual

​​​​​​​This increases agility

Two-Headed

You have two heads, which causes mental actions to have a lower action cost

​​​​​​​You have a 50% chance each round to shake of negative mental status effects​​​​​​​

You have two hearts, which increases toughness and sprint duration

You have wings, which can be used to fly

​​​​​​​+400 Reputation with Birds and Winged Mammals

Description

Albino

You’re albino with no pigment, which causes you to regenerate at 1/5 the usual rate in daylight

Amphibious

You now need to keep your skin wet (with water)

​​​​​​​This causes you to pour water on yourself instead of drinking, and you will need more

​​​​​​​+100 Reputation with Frogs

Brittle Bones

You take 50% more damage from bludgeoning, falling, or other concussive damage sources

You only eat meat

​​​​​​​Non-meat foods don’t provide satiation

​​​​​​You can now happily eat raw meat

Your vitality depends on the temperature

​​​​​​​+100 Reputation with Unshelled Reptiles

Electromagnetic Impulse

You will now involuntary release electromagnetic pulses, which deactivate machines and artifacts

Your feet are hooks

​​​​​​​You can’t wear shoes

Irritable Genome

Whenever you spend a mutation point, the next point will be spent randomly

​​​​​​​When you buy a new mutation, you get a random one instead of a choice between 3

You are now nearsighted, with decreased vision range

Nerve Poppy

You don’t have a sense of pain, so HP isn’t exactly known (just a general state is known)

You spontaneously erupt into flames

You are allergic to tonics now

you’re able to essentially charm nearby creatures to serve you

Burgeoning

You cause plants to grow in nearby areas, which hinder enemies

You can briefly gain vision of a nearby area

You can cause confusion

you may chill things with your brain

you may disintegrate nearby things

Domination

you’re able to take over a nearby creatures mind and control its actions

​​​​​​​Your own body will be left dormant

Through your own will, you can perform physical feats

you’re able to generate a force field around yourself

You can generate a force wall

You can start fire with your mind

Light Manipulation

You can manipulate light

​​​​​​​This includes focusing it into a laser beam that deals damage

You can steal power from other espers

​​​​​​​Using this will refresh all mental mutations

You can reflect mental attacks back to the attacker

Precognition

You can peer into the future

​​​​​​​Using this power will cause you to experience events; using it again will reset you back to when you activated it

Psychometry

You can learn the history of artifacts just by touching them

​​​​​​​You can open security doors by touching them

​​​​​​​You are also really good at identifying artifacts

you’re able to heat areas with your mind

you may sense other mental mutants nearby

​​​​​​​This gives you a chance to identify detected enemies

Space-Time Vortex

You can summon a vortex that extinguishes everything in its path

​​​​​​​you’re able to enter the vortex, which teleports you to a random location in Qud

you may stun nearby enemies

Syphon Vim

You can bond with a nearby creature and leech it’s life

You can chat with anyone via a vision

​​​​​​​This makes it easier to order issues to companions

you’re able to teleport other creatures to a nearby location

You can teleport to a nearby location

Temporal Fugue

you’re able to pass back and forth through time, which creates multiple copies of yourself

You can distort time, slowing it down

​​​​​​​This will slow down your enemies

Amnesia

You forget things

​​​​​​​This leads to a chance to forget secrets or layouts of maps

Blinking Tic

You teleport uncontrollably

Sometimes, there is a chance that you will randomly teleport somewhere nearby

You are ‘befuddled’ by technological complexity

​​​​​​​You are also bad at examining artifacts

​​​​​​​Upon failing to examine an artifact, it will explode

Evil Twin

An evil version of yourself is set to destroy you

​​​​​​​When you are somewhere new, there is a chance that your evil twin will be there (ready to kill!)

You fall asleep involuntarily

​​​​​​​This can happen for 20-29 rounds during combat

Psionic Migraines

Your head is now really sensitive, so you can’t wear hats or helmets

Quantum Jitters

Whenever you use an ability, there is a chance that you cause a dent in spacetime, which causes vortices to appear

You are bad at socializing

​​​​​​​-50 Reputation with every faction