Summary
Bethesda has launched the major “Ghoul Within” update forFallout 76, which includes playable Ghoul characters, several new features, content additions, and bug fixes. The release of theFallout 76update also marks the beginning of Season 20: Glow of the Ghoul, giving players access to Ghoul-themed abilities and content.
One ofFallout 76’smost anticipated featuresis the ability to turn into a Ghoul, and many fans were excited when Bethesda confirmed that the highly requested feature was heading to the game. Players were also given access to the Ghoulification feature inFallout 76’sPublic Test Server in December 2024, allowing them to playtest the feature and provide feedback. However, the feedback wasn’t all positive, since players will need to pay 1,000 Atoms, or $10, to become a Ghoul again if they decide to revert to being a human. Three months later,Fallout 76players are able to become Ghouls after installing the latest update and discover what the Ghoul life is all about.
The Ghoul Within update (version 1.7.18.22) is now available on all platforms to kick offFallout 76Season 20: Glow of the Ghoul. The Ghoulification feature is available after obtaining and completing the “Leap of Faith” questline, which takes players to a new section of the Savage Divide. Characters in the questline will help players complete their Ghoul transformation, which unlocks new Ghoul-exclusive abilities Glow and Feral and grants access to 30 new exclusive Perks. Glow gives Ghoul players health stat boosts and enables certain Perks, while Feral grants stat boosts and penalties depending on how much of the Feral meter is full. For example, Ghouls gain +15 Max HP for having a Feral Meter filled above the 60% mark. The Feral meter drains over time, but it can be refilled by consuming Chems.
Fallout 76players have the opportunity to turn back into a human after becoming a Ghoul, but the aforementioned 1,000 Atoms fee for “Ghoul Retransformation” must be paid to turn back into a Ghoul at a later date. It’s worth noting that the Leap of Faith questline can only be completed once, and being a Ghoul can lock players out of certain content, since certain factions are hostile to Ghouls. If players want to remain a Ghoul and access content that’s normally available to human players, they must wear disguises made by Jaye, one of the new NPCs introduced with the update.
Aside from the Ghoul transformation and questline,Fallout 76update 1.7.18.22 introduces new Ghoul-themed rewards as part of Season 20, including a Mini Nuke Stein, a “Goo-tub,” and much more. Players may earn rewards from various events taking place throughout the course of Season 20, which ends sometime in June. Moreover, a new Level 50 Character Boost is now available in Fallout 76 for 1500 Atoms, or roughly $15. The Character Boost fast tracks players to level 50 and unlocks weapons, map markers, and other useful items that will allow them to immediately play and catch up with some ofFallout 76’smost recent content.
Lastly,the latestFallout 76updatefixes numerous technical bugs and glitches and introduces a slew of weapon balance and perk balance changes. Among the most notable changes are major base damage buffs to pistols and new effects to existing perks like Spiritual Healer and Gunslinger.
Fallout 76 Ghoul Within Update 1.7.18.22 Patch Notes
Ghoulification
To begin your path to the Ghoul life, you’ll have to pick up the questline “Leap of Faith,” which will take you into a new section of the Savage Divide. There, you will meet characters who will aid in your transformation.
Completing this questline will complete your transformation, unlocking new Ghoul-exclusive abilities Glow and Feral, as well as giving you access to 30 new Ghoul-exclusive Perks.
Ghoulities (Abilities)
Feral
Becoming a Ghoul sheds the need to sate your hunger and thirst. Instead, you battle against a gnawing desire to slip back into your base nature, abandoning all sanity you might have had.
The new Feral meter drains over time and can only be filled back up by consuming Chems. You may not want to keep that meter 100% filled though. Your Feral status provides different bonuses and penalties depending on how full the meter is.
Glow
As you might expect when living life as a Ghoul, radiation doesn’t have the same effect on you as it does on the smooth-skinned. You’re immune to diseases and cannot be mutated by nearby radiation. As a Ghoul, radiation makes you Glow!
This new Glow system increases your maximum health (and heals damage you’ve taken) based on the amount of radiation that you’ve accumulated. Your Glow can be tracked by the green-striped pattern on your HP bar.
Consuming tainted foods, drinks and exploring irradiated environments all contribute to your Glow. If you hear that Pip-Boy ticking, the radiation is hitting. While you’re in Power Armor, your radiation intake can be seen on the “Rads” dial next to your health.
Outside of the max health increase Glow provides, it also contributes to Perks like the Science Monster and Jaguar Speed Perks mentioned below!
Gherks (Perks)
One of the immediate benefits of living life as a Ghoul is that you’ll have access to a new suite of Perk cards,which you can use in addition to the normal human cards. There are 28 Perks to choose from and 2 new Legendary perks for Ghouls.
The new Perk cards can be attained through Perk card packs or by selecting your level-up Perk. These cards will open new build opportunities and enhance the way you play.
Do note that Perk cards that revolve around Hunger, Thirst and the Chem Resistant perk will be locked as Ghouls don’t require the benefits that those cards provide.
Let’s look at one Perk from each S.P.E.C.I.A.L. category (all Perk descriptions are at their max value):
A Ghoul’s Day Out
With all these new benefits that help you explore the wasteland, we would forgive you for thinking that life as a Ghoul was easy. No matter how well dressed you are, there are still some factions (like the Brotherhood of Steel) who won’t want to interact with you.
Playing as a Ghoul will make some factions hostile to you which will lock you out of some quest lines. Luckily wearing disguises made by Jaye, a new NPC you’ll meet along the new questline, will allow you to interact with any blocked content that you may find when living life as a Ghoul. Jaye will also allow you remove the disguise if you so wish.
Back to Humanity
If after a short while you realize that being a Ghoul isn’t for you, you can become human again through your Character Screen.
Please note: this is a one-way ticket back. You won’t be able to complete the questline to become a Ghoul again.
If you want a character that has already completed the “Leap of Faith” questline to become a Ghoul again, you can purchase a Ghoul Retransformation which will be available on the character screen for 1000 Atoms.
Season 20 – Glow of the Ghoul
Bask in the “Glow of the Ghoul” and earn new Ghoulish rewards throughout your journey.
For a complete look at what awaits you this season,check out our Season 20 article here!
The Big Bloom – Starting April 29
Spring is on the way which means the new themed event begins on April 29!
We hope you look forward to helping Black-eyed Susan save her favorite meadow from the Overgrown.
Level 50 Character Boost
For new and veteran Wastelanders alike, the new Level 50 Character Boost is a great way to get a new character ready to participate in Daily Ops, Public Events, and explore Appalachia!
Combat
Combat Balancing
Most pistols have been modified to incorporate the damage that they would deal via Perks into their base damage since those perks no-longer offer a pistol-specific increase to damage. In addition to this, a few pistols have received a further increase to their base damage.
The following weapons can be converted to Rifles via mods and thus will have their base damage further increased in the future:
Weapon Damage Changes
The base damage values listed here represent the weapon at its max level (45 or 50). Lower levels have been adjusted proportionally.
Weapon AP Cost Changes
Weapon VATS Critical Damage Multiplier Changes
These are the base VATS critical damage multipliers for each weapon. Mods, perks, and other buffs can further increase these values.
Weapon Sneak Damage Multiplier Changes
These are the base VATS critical damage multipliers for each weapon. Mods and perks can further increase these values.
Known Issues
Bulk Scrapping Legendary Mods
When attempting to scrap a stack of Legendary mods the check to see if the mod was “learned” will only trigger once. The team is currently investigating a fix and we’ll let you know as soon as we have more information to share.
For now, please scrap your Legendary mods one at a time and not in bulk.
Inconsistent Legendary Perk Behavior
After transforming into a Ghoul, players may notice inconsistent behavior with the “What Rads”, “Action Diet”, and “Feral Rage” perks. Namely the Human Legendary Perk “What Rads” won’t appear as locked away for the transformed character and the Ghoul Exclusive Perks “Action Diet” and “Feral Rage” may still appear locked and enequippable.
Logging out or relaunching the game should address the inconsistent behavior of the Perk cards.
