Overview of the Fallout 76 Ghoul Update
- The highly anticipated ghoul update for Fallout 76 is now live on the Public Test Server (PTS).
- This update not only introduces the option to play as a ghoul but also includes numerous balance adjustments, a streamlined Perk management system, and buffs to various weapon damage.
- The update is set to officially launch with the beginning of Fallout 76’s Season 20, expected in early March 2025.
Released in late December 2024, the ghoul update on the Public Test Server (PTS) ushers in exciting new features for Fallout 76. Players can look forward to not only embodying a ghoul but also engaging in a new event, refined combat balance, and a reworked Perk management interface.
Earlier in June 2024, Bethesda announced the introduction of ghoul characters, responding to player demand. The full rollout of this update is anticipated towards the end of the first quarter of 2025.
Exploring the Ghoul Update
A key component of this update is the new questline titled Leap of Faith, which enables players to transform their characters into ghouls. The quest is accessible once players reach level 50, necessitating some experience farming if they have not progressed far enough in the PTS. Players aiming to expedite their leveling can achieve higher experience by participating in events like Radiation Rumble while utilizing experience-boosting items such as Lunchboxes and Leader Bobbleheads.
This questline leads players to a new area in the Savage Divide—a central region of the Fallout 76 map. Here, they will interact with new NPCs who assist in the ghoul transformation process. The update replaces conventional hunger and thirst meters with a Feral dynamic, compelling players to manage their sanity through Chems consumption. As characters delve deeper into the Feral state, they can gain new strength and resilience.
Contrasting the human experience, ghouls embrace radiation, boosting their maximum health. This new gameplay feature is tracked via a Glow meter, visually represented on the health bar. Notably, Bethesda has promised that playing as a ghoul will enhance interactions with NPCs and provide distinct quest outcomes, although these features won’t retroactively apply to existing content. Players can revert to their human form, inviting a new layer of experimentation in gameplay.
According to the Fallout 76 content roadmap shared in November 2024, the ghoul update will debut with Season 20, likely around March 6, concurrent with new events and promotional activities.
Patch Notes Insights – December 20, 2024
Ghoulification Features
The ghoul update introduces the pivotal questline “Leap of Faith,”unlocking ghoul-specific features such as Glow and Feral along with unique Perks tailored for ghoul gameplay.
Unique Abilities: Ghoulities
Feral Mechanic:
As a ghoul, the traditional needs for hunger and thirst are replaced by the challenge of managing the Feral meter. This meter influences gameplay, decaying over time and requiring Chems to replenish. However, players should balance the meter’s fullness as it provides varying bonuses:
- Above 80%: +3 Strength, +3 Endurance, +30 Max HP
- Above 60%: +15 Max HP
- Above 40%: -1 Endurance and -5 Max HP
- Above 20%: -3 Endurance, -15 Max HP, -10 Max AP
- At 0%: +200% Melee Damage, while suffering penalties to Max HP and accuracy (known informally as “Ghoulzerker”mode)
Glow Feature:
Ghouls gain a unique immunity to radiation effects, utilizing it to their advantage. The Glow mechanic increases maximum health based on accumulated radiation, tracked by a green-striped health bar. Consuming irradiated food and exploring contaminated environments will enhance this Glow while also influencing specific Perks.
New Perks: Gherks
Playing as a ghoul comes with access to a fresh collection of 28 new Perk cards, including two Legendary perks. These cards can be acquired through Perk packs or as level-up selections. Players will find limitations around Perks related to Hunger and Thirst since ghouls are inherently unaffected by these mechanics.
Examples include:
- Strength: Bone Shatterer – melee attacks have a 45% chance to cripple limbs.
- Intelligence: Science Monster – gain 15% bonus damage when affected by Glow after receiving damage.
- Agility: Jaguar Speed – sprint 20% faster when Glow levels are high.
Challenges: A Ghoul’s Day Out
While ghouls have unique advantages, they also face challenges. Certain factions, such as the Brotherhood of Steel, may regard them with hostility, blocking access to some quests. Fortunately, players can use disguises crafted by a new NPC named Jaye to bypass these restrictions. However, being a ghoul comes with trade-offs like additional AP costs for sprinting and decreased movement speed. If players decide ghoul life is not for them, reverting back to human form is possible but irreversible.
Seasonal Event: The Big Bloom
To celebrate the advent of spring, a new event called Black-Eyed Susan features a grandmotherly NPC seeking assistance in restoring her flower meadow, now overrun by hostile Overgrown beasts. Players are tasked with clearing out the area while navigating hazardous reminders of past conflicts, such as mines.
Perks Catalog Enhancements
Fallout 76 will now feature an intuitive Perks Catalog, offering filters, sortation options, and tagging capabilities to enhance how players manage their Perk cards.
Combat and Weapon Adjustments
A significant number of pistols have undergone base damage adjustments, incorporating previously perk-dependent bonuses directly into their core values. The following weapons have seen modified damage:
- 10mm: 29 to 45
- 44 Revolver: 72 to 132
- Alien Blaster: 37 to 59
Additionally, players can expect tweaks to weapon Action Points (AP) cost and critical damage multipliers across various weapons to improve balance and combat dynamics.
Join the Fallout 76 PTS
Players who own Fallout 76 on Steam can easily join the PTS. However, noted that any progress made during testing will not transfer to the live game, and the Atomic Shop will be disabled.
For more details or to install the PTS, navigate to the Steam library and locate “Fallout 76 Public Test Server.”
Known Issues
Some current issues include:
- Fire effects from certain weapons not contributing towards the event objectives.
- Inconsistencies in the appearance and interaction of crafted items.
- Debug text appearing in the Pip-Boy for Feral status.
For ongoing updates and comprehensive details regarding these developments, check the source link provided.
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