Skip to content
StrainBorn
r/StrainBorn Join the beta
StrainBorn Wiki

Mutations

Strains

56 strains a generation can be born with: 20 boons (6 of them elite), 13 mixed, 19 curses that pay bigger rewards, and 4 virus jumps. A strain lasts for that generation's run; inheriting it again amplifies it. Values below are at ×1, ×2 and ×3.

Lineage & Hosts56 entriesSummary on the main site
On this page56
  1. Hyperinfectious
  2. Robust Capsid
  3. Streamlined
  4. Rapid Assembly
  5. Vampiric Uptake
  6. Nutrient-Rich Host
  7. Steady Replication
  8. Envelope Shield
  9. Silent Spread
  10. Evasive Proteins
  11. Barbed Spikes
  12. Magnetic Capsid
  13. Long Reach
  14. Ambush Predator
  15. Twin Genome
  16. Lysis Cascade
  17. Ancient Memory
  18. Overcharged
  19. Fortunate Strain
  20. Mutagenic
  21. Glass Cannon
  22. Berserker Strain
  23. Juggernaut
  24. Frenzy
  25. Shotgun Genome
  26. Chain Reaction
  27. Bloodlust
  28. Loud and Proud
  29. Ghost Strain
  30. Cramped Host
  31. Gambler's Genome
  32. Overclocked Ultimate
  33. Lean Genome
  34. Fragile Envelope
  35. Sluggish
  36. Hyperimmune Host
  37. Swarming Response
  38. Agile Defenders
  39. Sharpened Antibodies
  40. Paranoid Host
  41. Hypoxic Tissue
  42. Hunted
  43. No Respite
  44. Volatile Hosts
  45. Inflamed
  46. High-Affinity Antibodies
  47. Unstable Tissue
  48. Vigilant Cells
  49. Long Infection
  50. Titan Guardians
  51. Stiff Envelope
  52. Weak Replication
  53. Segment Reassortment
  54. Reverse Transcriptase Capture
  55. Spike Recombination
  56. Filovirus Spillover

Robust Capsid

Boon

+40% max HP.

  • ×2: +60% · ×3: +80%
  • Legacy: max HP
From the Codex

Stabilizing mutations in capsid proteins help virions survive heat, drying and stomach acid.

Robust Capsid in the Codex

Streamlined

Boon

+20% move speed.

  • ×2: +30% · ×3: +40%
  • Legacy: move speed
From the Codex

Some viruses shed non-essential genes, letting them copy themselves faster and spread sooner.

Streamlined in the Codex

Rapid Assembly

Boon

Fire 25% faster.

  • ×2: 38% faster · ×3: 50% faster
  • Legacy: fire rate
From the Codex

Faster polymerases and assembly let some strains release new virions hours earlier.

Rapid Assembly in the Codex

Vampiric Uptake

Boon

Auto-attacks heal 1.5% of their damage.

  • ×2: 2.3% · ×3: 3%
  • Legacy: regeneration
From the Codex

Viruses reprogram cell metabolism to siphon off nutrients and building blocks for themselves.

Vampiric Uptake in the Codex

Envelope Shield

Boon

Block the first hit in every room.

  • ×2: the first 2 hits · ×3: the first 3 hits · up to 4
  • Legacy: armor
From the Codex

Dense glycan coats on envelope proteins physically shield viruses from antibodies.

Envelope Shield in the Codex

Silent Spread

Boon

Detection rises 40% slower.

  • ×2: 60% slower · ×3: 80% slower
  • Legacy: stealth
From the Codex

Many viruses spread before symptoms appear, staying under the immune system's radar.

Silent Spread in the Codex

Evasive Proteins

Boon

Immune cells see 35% less far.

  • ×2: 52% · ×3: 70%
  • Legacy: stealth
From the Codex

Antigenic variation changes the parts of a virus antibodies recognize, letting it slip past immunity.

Evasive Proteins in the Codex

Barbed Spikes

Boon

Cells that touch you take 15 damage.

  • ×2: 22.5 · ×3: 30
  • Legacy: armor
From the Codex

Some viral proteins damage the membranes of immune cells that try to grab them.

Barbed Spikes in the Codex

Magnetic Capsid

Boon

2.5x pickup range and +20% nucleotides.

  • ×2: 3.3x and +30% · ×3: 4x and +40%
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

High-affinity attachment proteins help virions stick to and gather around target cells.

Magnetic Capsid in the Codex

Long Reach

Boon

Shots fly 35% faster and pierce +1 cell.

  • ×2: 53% faster, pierce +2 · ×3: 70% faster, pierce +2
  • Legacy: move speed
From the Codex

Some viruses spread through the air in tiny aerosols that travel much further than droplets.

Long Reach in the Codex

Twin Genome

Elite boon

+1 projectile on every shot (40% damage).

  • ×2: +2 · ×3: +3 (the most it grows)
  • Unlocks at Level 10 · Gen 5
  • Legacy: damage
From the Codex

Gene duplication gives a virus a spare copy of a gene that can take on a new job.

Twin Genome in the Codex

Lysis Cascade

Elite boon

Dying cells burst, dealing 18 damage to their neighbours.

  • ×2: 27 damage · ×3: 36 damage
  • Unlocks at Level 10 · Gen 5
  • Legacy: armor
From the Codex

Lytic viruses burst their host cells, releasing virions and inflammatory debris all at once.

Lysis Cascade in the Codex

Ancient Memory

Elite boon

Start with your ultimate charged; it charges 30% faster.

  • ×2: 45% faster · ×3: 60% faster
  • Unlocks at Level 10 · Gen 5
  • Legacy: ultimate charge
From the Codex

Some viral genes are ancient, conserved across lineages for millions of years because they work.

Ancient Memory in the Codex

Overcharged

Elite boon

Shift/Latency charges 60% faster and starts ready.

  • ×2: 90% faster · ×3: 120% faster
  • Unlocks at Level 10 · Gen 5
  • Legacy: ultimate charge
From the Codex

Strong promoters can switch a virus's genes on faster and louder than usual.

Overcharged in the Codex

Fortunate Strain

Elite boon

RNA strands drop 3x as often.

  • ×2: 4x · ×3: 5x
  • RNA itself only drops in Pandemic Game Mode; in Infect Game Mode each RNA drop breaks down into nucleotides
  • Unlocks at Level 10 · Gen 5
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

Recombination between strains can create rare, successful new genomes.

Fortunate Strain in the Codex

Mutagenic

Elite boon

Cleared rooms leave mutation orbs 2x as often.

  • ×2: 2.5x · ×3: 3x
  • Unlocks at Level 10 · Gen 5
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

Error-prone copying makes RNA viruses mutate fast, exploring new variants constantly.

Mutagenic in the Codex

Glass Cannon

Mixed

+60% damage, −40% max HP.

  • ×2: +90% damage, −60% HP · ×3: +120% damage, −60% HP
  • Unlocks at Level 6 · Gen 2
  • Legacy: damage
From the Codex

Highly virulent strains often burn out fast, damaging their host before they can spread.

Glass Cannon in the Codex

Berserker Strain

Mixed

Fire 40% faster, but clearing rooms doesn't heal.

  • ×2: 60% faster · ×3: 65% faster
  • Unlocks at Level 6 · Gen 2
  • Legacy: fire rate
From the Codex

Some viruses replicate so aggressively they exhaust their host cell's resources.

Berserker Strain in the Codex

Juggernaut

Mixed

+60% max HP, −20% move speed.

  • ×2: +90% HP, −30% speed · ×3: +120% HP, −40% speed
  • Unlocks at Level 6 · Gen 2
  • Legacy: max HP
From the Codex

Large, sturdy viruses like poxviruses carry many genes but spread more slowly.

Juggernaut in the Codex

Frenzy

Mixed

You move 25% faster and every cell moves 25% faster.

  • ×2: both 38% faster · ×3: both 50% faster
  • Unlocks at Level 6 · Gen 2
  • Legacy: move speed
From the Codex

A fever speeds up both viral replication and the immune response.

Frenzy in the Codex

Shotgun Genome

Mixed

+2 projectiles, −30% damage, shots 15% slower.

  • ×2: +3 projectiles, −45% damage, 23% slower · ×3: +4, −60%, 30% slower
  • Unlocks at Level 6 · Gen 2
  • Legacy: damage
From the Codex

Viruses that release huge numbers of weak virions rely on sheer numbers to succeed.

Shotgun Genome in the Codex

Chain Reaction

Mixed

Dying cells burst for 18 damage: it hurts them and you.

  • ×2: 27 damage · ×3: 36 damage
  • Unlocks at Level 6 · Gen 2
  • Legacy: armor
From the Codex

Cytokine storms harm the virus and the host at the same time.

Chain Reaction in the Codex

Bloodlust

Mixed

Auto-attacks heal 2% of their damage, but rooms don't heal.

  • ×2: 3% · ×3: 4%
  • Unlocks at Level 6 · Gen 2
  • Legacy: regeneration
From the Codex

Some viruses grow by consuming host resources, at the cost of host recovery.

Bloodlust in the Codex

Loud and Proud

Mixed

+35% damage, detection rises 100% faster.

  • ×2: +53% damage, 150% faster · ×3: +70% damage, 200% faster
  • Unlocks at Level 6 · Gen 2
  • Legacy: damage
From the Codex

Highly symptomatic infections spread readily but also trigger strong immune responses.

Loud and Proud in the Codex

Ghost Strain

Mixed

Cells see 50% less far, but −30% max HP.

  • ×2: 75% less far, −45% HP · ×3: 80% less far, −60% HP
  • Unlocks at Level 6 · Gen 2
  • Legacy: stealth
From the Codex

Viruses that hide well often carry fewer genes and are more fragile.

Ghost Strain in the Codex

Cramped Host

Mixed

2 fewer rooms per organ, 30% more cells in each.

  • ×2: 3 fewer rooms, 45% more cells · ×3: 4 fewer rooms, 60% more cells
  • Unlocks at Level 6 · Gen 2
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

In small, dense tissues infections are shorter but more intense.

Cramped Host in the Codex

Gambler's Genome

Mixed

+100% nucleotides, cells hit 50% harder.

  • ×2: +150%, cells 75% harder · ×3: +200%, cells 100% harder
  • Unlocks at Level 6 · Gen 2
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

High-risk strategies like extremely fast replication can pay off or backfire.

Gambler's Genome in the Codex

Overclocked Ultimate

Mixed

Ultimate charges 100% faster, Shift/Latency 50% slower.

  • ×2: ultimate 150% faster, Shift 75% slower · ×3: 200% faster, Shift 75% slower
  • Unlocks at Level 6 · Gen 2
  • Legacy: ultimate charge
From the Codex

Prioritizing some genes over others lets a virus excel at one task at the expense of another.

Overclocked Ultimate in the Codex

Lean Genome

Mixed

+30% speed and fire 20% faster, −25% max HP.

  • ×2: +45% speed, fire 30% faster, −38% HP · ×3: +60%, 40% faster, −50% HP
  • Unlocks at Level 6 · Gen 2
  • Legacy: fire rate
From the Codex

Small genomes copy faster but offer less protection.

Lean Genome in the Codex

Fragile Envelope

Curse

−40% max HP · +60% nucleotides.

  • ×2: −60% HP, +90% · ×3: −60% HP, +120%
  • Unlocks at Level 9 · Gen 3
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

Destabilizing mutations make a virion fall apart easily outside the cell.

Fragile Envelope in the Codex

Sluggish

Curse

−20% move speed · +40% nucleotides.

  • ×2: −30%, +60% · ×3: −40%, +80%
  • Unlocks at Level 9 · Gen 3
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

Defective polymerases slow a virus's replication, a trick used to make live-attenuated vaccines.

Sluggish in the Codex

Hyperimmune Host

Curse

Cells have +40% HP · +50% nucleotides, 1.5x RNA.

  • ×2: +60% HP, +75%, 1.8x RNA · ×3: +80% HP, +100%, 2x RNA
  • Unlocks at Level 9 · Gen 3
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

A host with strong prior immunity (from vaccination or past infection) fights the virus off faster.

Hyperimmune Host in the Codex

Swarming Response

Curse

+40% more cells per room · +50% nucleotides.

  • ×2: +60% cells, +75% · ×3: +80% cells, +100%
  • Unlocks at Level 9 · Gen 3
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

Inflammation recruits waves of immune cells to the site of infection.

Swarming Response in the Codex

Agile Defenders

Curse

Cells move 25% faster · +40% nucleotides.

  • ×2: 38% faster, +60% · ×3: 50% faster, +80%
  • Unlocks at Level 9 · Gen 3
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

Activated immune cells move faster, following chemical trails to the infection.

Agile Defenders in the Codex

Sharpened Antibodies

Curse

Cells hit 35% harder · +50% nucleotides.

  • ×2: 53% harder, +75% · ×3: 70% harder, +100%
  • Unlocks at Level 9 · Gen 3
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

Affinity maturation sharpens antibodies over an infection so they bind ever more tightly.

Sharpened Antibodies in the Codex

Paranoid Host

Curse

Detection rises 60% faster and starts at 30 · +40% nucleotides.

  • ×2: 90% faster, starts at 45, +60% · ×3: 120% faster, starts at 60, +80%
  • Unlocks at Level 9 · Gen 3
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

Some people's innate immunity reacts strongly and early, catching infections fast.

Paranoid Host in the Codex

Hypoxic Tissue

Curse

You can only see a small circle · +50% nucleotides, 2x RNA.

  • ×2: +75%, 2.5x RNA · ×3: +100%, 3x RNA
  • Unlocks at Level 9 · Gen 3
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

Low-oxygen tissue changes how cells behave and can slow both virus and immune response.

Hypoxic Tissue in the Codex

Hunted

Curse

A Killer T cell is hunting you from the start · +60% nucleotides, 2x RNA.

  • ×2: +90%, 2.5x RNA · ×3: +120%, 3x RNA
  • Unlocks at Level 9 · Gen 3, once Killer T Cells have been introduced
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

Memory T cells from a past infection can hunt a returning virus from day one.

Hunted in the Codex

No Respite

Curse

Clearing rooms no longer heals · +40% nucleotides.

  • ×2: +60% · ×3: +80%
  • Unlocks at Level 9 · Gen 3
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

Some infections damage tissue faster than the body can repair it.

No Respite in the Codex

Volatile Hosts

Curse

Dying cells burst and can hurt you · +40% nucleotides.

  • ×2: +60% · ×3: +80%
  • Unlocks at Level 9 · Gen 3
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

Infected cells can die explosively, releasing debris that harms nearby tissue.

Volatile Hosts in the Codex

Inflamed

Curse

Wounded cells slowly regenerate · +40% nucleotides.

  • ×2: +60% · ×3: +80%
  • Unlocks at Level 9 · Gen 3
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

Inflammation speeds tissue repair, helping the host recover from damage.

Inflamed in the Codex

Unstable Tissue

Curse

2.6x as many pits · +40% nucleotides.

  • ×2: 3.4x pits, +60% · ×3: 4.2x pits, +80%
  • Unlocks at Level 9 · Gen 3
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

Severe infections can destroy tissue, leaving damaged, unstable areas.

Unstable Tissue in the Codex

Vigilant Cells

Curse

Every cell is already alert · +50% nucleotides.

  • ×2: +75% · ×3: +100%
  • Unlocks at Level 9 · Gen 3
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

Interferons put nearby cells on high alert before the virus even reaches them.

Vigilant Cells in the Codex

Long Infection

Curse

+3 rooms in every organ · +30% nucleotides.

  • ×2: +5 rooms, +45% · ×3: +6 rooms, +60%
  • Unlocks at Level 9 · Gen 3
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

Some infections spread further through the body before they peak.

Long Infection in the Codex

Titan Guardians

Curse

Bosses have +60% HP · +40% nucleotides, 2x RNA.

  • ×2: +90% boss HP, +60%, 2.5x RNA · ×3: +120%, +80%, 3x RNA
  • Unlocks at Level 9 · Gen 3
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

Some immune cells grow larger and more active when strongly stimulated.

Titan Guardians in the Codex

Stiff Envelope

Curse

Dash takes 2x as long to recharge · +35% nucleotides.

  • ×2: 2.5x, +53% · ×3: 3x, +70%
  • Unlocks at Level 9 · Gen 3
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

Stiffer viral membranes can make entering cells slower.

Stiff Envelope in the Codex

Weak Replication

Curse

−25% damage · +50% nucleotides.

  • ×2: −38%, +75% · ×3: −50%, +100%
  • Unlocks at Level 9 · Gen 3
  • Legacy: nucleotides
From the Codex

Defective genomes can interfere with a virus's own replication.

Weak Replication in the Codex

See also

Lineage & GenerationsLineage & HostsVirus JumpsVirusesPlayable VirusesVirusesMenus & MetaGame ModesInfect Game ModeGame ModesStarting a RunIn a Run