I went hands on with Fallout 76's Ghoul update and it's exactly as fun as you'd expect

As a seasoned gamer and long-time resident of the post-apocalyptic wasteland that is Fallout 76, I can confidently say that the upcoming Ghoul update has me absolutely buzzing with excitement! Having played through numerous updates and expansions over the years, I’ve grown accustomed to the usual fare: new weapons, questlines, and the occasional power armor skin. But this Ghoul business? This is a whole new ball game, my friends!

Fallout 76 players are currently delving into and relishing the depths illuminated by Gleaming. This raid, specifically tailored for top-tier and seasoned wasteland explorers, presents an MMO-style dungeon challenge where teams of up to 4 players confront challenging encounters within the Enclave Research Lab.

So, without further ado, let’s dig into everything I learned about how to be cool as a Ghoul.

Start the Ghoulification journey at level 50

In Fallout 76, the storyline and voice acting are quite impressive, and the quest to transform into a Ghoul is no exception. As you progress, you’ll encounter numerous fresh characters, and indeed, a whole Ghoul colony. Some of these Ghouls are eager for your company, while others are less than welcoming to the arrival of an outsider.

Your adventure kicks off by meeting Leamon Price, a character struggling with the early stages of turning into a Ghoul. His predicament involves finding a radiation specialist, leading you to explore an unexplored region on the map. In this new subterranean location, you’ll meet a variety of eccentric characters, each offering their unique perspectives on radiation, Ghouls, and the broader wasteland.

Choosing to transform into a Ghoul in Fallout 76 isn’t just for cool powers or a unique appearance. It’s a decision with intriguing storyline repercussions, some of which may be positive and others negative. While certain NPCs and factions might accept your transformation, others will show clear disapproval. This contrast adds depth to the gameplay, making it more than just a cosmetic or gameplay adjustment.

Ghouls are 100% resistant to radiation, in fact radiation heals them.
If you continue to radiate yourself as a Ghoul, you store up excess radiation called ‘Glow.’
Glow is a Ghoul specific power you can use a number of ways depending on how you spec with your perk cards.
There are 32 new Ghoul specific spec cards in total, you can use these with the existing pool of non-Ghoul cards to make all new builds.
You also no longer suffer from hunger and thirst, hurrah! Though the meter for this is now replaced with a ‘Feral meter’.
Feral status can be managed with chems, and has some negative drawbacks like reduced accuracy with weapons and lower HP. However going completely feral can have benefits such as boosting your Ghoul into a Berserker.

The variety of builds will be dependent on your combination of Ghoul to normal Perk cards. Here are the new cards I saw in my playthrough.

Ghoul Perk cards

The Ghoul is as overpowered as you would expect, but I was using some pretty rad weapons

The combination of fresh Ghoul-oriented talent cards with the current assortment of non-Ghoul ones creates an opportunity for incredibly potent character builds. Spending time as a Ghoul made me feel remarkably unbeatable, as I dashed through Appalachia, decimating adversaries during communal events and basking in my newfound toughness.

A significant portion of my invincibility stemmed from the gear I possessed – loot directly from the Gleaming Depths raid, such as the 4-star legendary weapon, ‘Vaporizing Napalmer Boiling Point’. Witnessing enemies disintegrate into radioactive dust was amusing, and it complemented the Ghoul’s radiation-based abilities flawlessly. The time I spent experimenting with being a Ghoul seemed to flash by in a frenzy of destruction.

When can I become a Ghoul in Fallout 76?

Although Bethesda hasn’t specified an exact release date yet for the Ghoul questline, they seem to be aiming for a launch in early 2025. Based on their recently published community calendar for Season 19, it appears likely that the update will coincide with the beginning of Season 20, which is scheduled for March 2025.

If you’re excited to try it out early, mark your calendars! Bethesda has confirmed that official playtests will kick off on December 20, 2024, as per the game’s official Discord channel. This opportunity allows players to explore the mechanics, tinker with builds, and share their thoughts before the complete launch.

With its overpowered perks, innovative weapons, and captivating questline, the Ghoul update seems like one of Fallout 76’s most enticing upgrades yet. One thing’s certain: living as a Ghoul could make you yearn for the days when you were a smoothskin.

2024-12-19 18:09

I went hands on with Fallout 76’s Ghoul update and it’s exactly as fun as you’d expect

Start the Ghoulification journey at level 50

Ghoul Perk cards

The Ghoul is as overpowered as you would expect, but I was using some pretty rad weapons

When can I become a Ghoul in Fallout 76?

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