Playable Ghoul characters will be coming to Fallout 76 sometime in 2025, though the exact release date is currently unknown. As it grows closer to this feature coming to the game, more details will become available, with Fallout 76’s playable Ghoul character potentially arriving in a future Public Test Server as well.
Ghouls will provide a new experience in Fallout 76 with unique world interactions and exclusive buildcrafting tools. Notably, Ghouls will have access to a completely new set of Perk Cards in Fallout 76, the ability to harness power from Radiation, and access to new Feral and Glow mechanics. Early leaks have revealed some of the Perk Cards that Ghouls will be able to use, and the recent Fallout Day livestream also revealed some of the additional mechanics that Ghouls will have access to, the effects of these perk cards currently remain uncertain.
Perk Card | SPECIAL | Description |
---|---|---|
Arms of Steel | Strength | Reduced recoil and improved accuracy for ranged weapons. |
Boneshatter | Strength | Melee attacks have an increased chance of crippling enemy limbs. |
Brick Wall | Strength | Grants immunity to staggers. |
Breathe It In | Perception | Reduces player’s radiation resistance. |
Glowing Gut | Endurance | Increased radiation from consuming food and drinks. |
Radiation Power! | Endurance | Attacks expend Glow per hit to deal increased damage. |
Thick Skin | Endurance | Reduces incoming damage from ballistic attacks. |
Glowing One | Charisma | Having high radiation will provide Glow to nearby teammates. |
United Ordeal | Charisma | Gain bonus SPECIAL for every teammate who is also a Ghoul. |
Battle Genes | Luck | Provides passive healing while in combat. |
Players who transform into a Ghoul will be able to double-dip and still use the original Perk Cards in Fallout 76 . Although, it’s unclear if players will be able to use Ghoul Perk Cards as humans, and whether this will be practical.
The playable Ghoul character will be immune to radiation in the way that it affects humans. Instead, Ghouls will be able to draw strength from radiation. Based on what’s been revealed, Glow will be a state that activates when players accumulate a lot of radiation in a short time while playing as a Ghoul in Fallout 76. Once achieved, certain Ghoul Perk Cards can provide additional buffs while players have Glow, likely providing increased damage and damage resistance, among other, more unique buffs depending on the player’s equipped Perk Cards.
Since Ghouls draw strength from Radiation, it’s recommended for players to avoid using Power Armor while playing as a Ghoul, since Power Armor in Fallout 76 typically provides high resistance to Radiation.
Additionally, Ghouls won’t have to worry about hunger or thirst, but they will have to manage their Feral meter. This Feral state is said to provide significantly improved unarmed melee damage at the cost of severely decreased weapon accuracy and reduced AP. Other than the unique roleplaying opportunities, it seems like Ghouls will be especially ideal for players who want to play as an unarmed melee build in Fallout 76. Considering that melee builds are by no means weak, some of these new Ghoul perks and mechanics will take these builds to the next level, potentially rivaling the current Bloodied Unyielding met, at least in terms of damage output.