Earned, not found
Mutations unlock by doing. Block often to earn a block mutation; explore to earn a stamina one. Your playstyle chooses them.
Equip a few
You can equip a few at once, up to a point. Mix one combat, one survival and one utility mutation for a rounded build.
Respec freely
Mutations can be swapped at a chair, so experiment. A bad pick is a few minutes, not a reset of your whole run.
Stack a theme
Build around one theme. A pure melee set of mutations hits harder than a scattered mix of half-useful perks.
Mutations and gear
Pair mutations with your resist set. The two systems compound, and a themed build feels stronger than the numbers suggest.
How to unlock and prioritize
Mutations unlock by hitting a threshold — eat enough of a food type, deal enough of a damage type, or bounce enough times — then spend a mutation point at a break to slot one. Early on, grab the ones that pay back every fight: Corpulent, Cardio Fan, and Toughness cover health, stamina, and damage taken. Don’t spread points thin across flavor mutations you will never trigger.
Which to skip first
Save the niche ones (parry-specific, explode-on-kill) until the build actually uses them. A point spent on a mutation you never trigger is a point wasted. Re-spec at the break when your weapon or armor changes, because the best mutation shifts with your loadout.