Muttations
Muttations (commonly abbreviated "mutts") are creatures created by the Capitol that are released into the arena by the Gamemakers. These muttations often engage in combat with the tributes, although tributes may elect to hunt down a muttation that is classified as large game to use as a food source.
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54th Games Muttations
Muttations were introduced on Day 3 of the 54th Hunger Games. Only three different muttations were used during these Games, as the concept of eating had not yet been implemented, not necessitating the presence of edible muttations. Poison, however, was introduced along with the 54th Games mutts.
Alarm Owls
A blend of different owl species that, once it sees someone, will give a mournful, haunting hoot every five seconds. It follows the person around and hoots, while more alarm owls flock to the area, and all begin to hoot. They don't actually attack, but they can lead other predators to the area. These were initially developed to find rebel spies, soldiers, and the like and trail them until the owls made enough racket for them to be found. Not poisonous. Not edible. N/A HP.
In-Game Activity
- Assailed Jared Strahan on Day 3.
Mountain Hounds
A hybrid of cougar and bloodhound ‘ancestors’ that was originally used to track and kill rebels over mountainous areas (remember that the Capitol is just over the Rockies from the districts.) These are enhanced with a powerful sense of smell and are quite ferocious. Hunting solo or in pairs, Mountain Hounds will track prey for hours upon hours after catching scent. Not poisonous. Not edible. 35 HP.
In-Game Activity
- Attacked Team AIR on Day 3, killing Ismene Clemet.
Pitfall Lizards
Parts lizard, snake, and some trapdoor spider, this grotesque beast was originally designed to take out supply roads and other paths frequented by rebels. They were designed to dig networks of tunnels and caves under the specified area so it would collapse when enough weight was placed on it and perhaps kill the rebels involved with its lethal venom. However, these Lizards were deemed inefficient, given that their "traps" so to speak — nearly 25 feet deep, wide holes about two feet from the surface of the ground — did not always collapse, were not always dug in the right place, and were not always inhabited by a Pitfall Lizard to finish off any unfortunate being trapped. Like many of the muttations, the project was abandoned — however, few of the Lizards were actually found by the retrieval squads. These are completely inedible — even their bright orange eggs are poisonous. If you manage to get bitten, you have about three hours to live. Poisonous. Not edible. 30 HP.
Since their introduction, Pitfall Lizards have become one of the most widely used muttations, appearing in practically every Games to date. Along with introducing poison, Pitfall Lizards brought the tradition of naming mutts to the Games with the unofficial moniker of "Tarzan" given to the Pitfall Lizard that appeared on Day 5.
In-Game Activity
- Attacked Windy Mathers on Day 5, but was quickly dispatched by a blow to the head.
55th Games Muttations
Demo Deer
The term "Demo Deer" — short for Demolition Deer — is actually a misnomer in the fact that these 'Deer' are not actually deer at all. Instead, this large species is actually a blend of moose and rhino DNA. These were developed to clear forests, fences, buildings, and the etcetera. They have giant antlers by their ears, as well as a large pointed horn in the center of their face. These 'Deer' have leathery gray skin, though have slender legs and a thin face. Not poisonous. Edible (Large Game). 35 HP.
In-Game Activity
- Hunted by Shanks Kensington and Carex Julian.
Gobble Gulls
A hybrid of magpie, seagull, homing pigeon, and pelican, Gobble Gulls, with their insatiable curiosity were initially developed to steal small objects from the rebels to give the Capitol a general idea of what technology the rebels had in their possession. However, their voracious appetites often led them to abandon the hunt for foreign objects in lieu of food. These Gulls have a tendency to flock, and, though they act brave when picking up objects, they will often flee after their first injury. Their magpie's nature may lead them to steal items from tributes, or possibly be carrying some small treasure. Not poisonous. Not edible. 8 HP.
= In-Game Activity
- A small flock of Gobble Gulls attacked Mel Clark for her token, nearly killing her.
Latch Crabs
Roughly a foot in diameter, this blend of king crab and spider has nearly indestructible armour and nearly indestructible silk. The thick, cord-like thread woven by Latch Crabs is like human hair in that virtually the only way to truly destroy it is by fire. This durable, flexible thread cannot be cut by any tool found in the arena, and actually acts as something of a fuse to the inevitable bomb that the Latch Crab is, given the high potassium nitrate content of its shell. The Latch Crabs are quite good at their designed job: latching on to a person and not letting go. Latch Crabs will exercise their iron grip on a person, gripping tightly so they can't be removed, and spinning an amount of silk--usually 30 to 50 yards--before they stop, trapping the person to the circumference of the circle that originates at a stationary object--typically a large rock. Latch Crabs cannot be fought nor pulled off. A favorite target of theirs is around the Achilles' tendon. Not poisonous. Not edible. N/A HP.
Latch Crabs are considered a trap muttation, as their primary inclusion is in random events and they have no combat capabilities; instead, they use a special non-combat dice roll.
Pitfall Lizards
Parts lizard, snake, and some trapdoor spider, this grotesque beast was originally designed to take out supply roads and other paths frequented by rebels. They were designed to dig networks of tunnels and caves under the specified area so it would collapse when enough weight was placed on it and perhaps kill the rebels involved with its lethal venom. However, these Lizards were deemed inefficient, given that their "traps" so to speak — nearly 25 feet deep, wide holes about two feet from the surface of the ground — did not always collapse, were not always dug in the right place, and were not always inhabited by a Pitfall Lizard to finish off any unfortunate being trapped. Like many of the muttations, the project was abandoned — however, few of the Lizards were actually found by the retrieval squads. These are completely inedible — even their bright orange eggs are poisonous. If you manage to get bitten, you have about three hours to live. Poisonous. Not edible. 30 HP.
Since their introduction, Pitfall Lizards have become one of the most widely used muttations, appearing in practically every Games to date. Along with introducing poison, Pitfall Lizards brought the tradition of naming mutts to the Games with the unofficial moniker of "Tarzan" given to the Pitfall Lizard that appeared on Day 5.
In-Game Activity
- Two Pitfall Lizards, Jane and Bartholomew, attacked Shameless Euthanasia on Day 2, poisoning Aranica Petros and Dru Charlesburg.
Dart Jaguars
Like many Capitol experiments, these beautiful mixes of jaguar and poison dart frog didn’t turn out the way they were supposed to. The idea was to create huge cats that could not only rip rebels to pieces, but also poison anyone who attempted to fight back. Unfortunately, no way could be found to make the cats excrete poison; the meat is inedible, and you’d better stay away from their bodily fluids, but their skin is safe to touch. They also lost the advantage of the jaguar’s camouflage; though their base coat is still tan, their spots have taken on the brilliant jewel-like colors of the frogs, making them gorgeous but easy to spot. Simple external contact with their poison is enough to paralyze any tribute for several hours; if it gets into your body, a painful death will follow within half an hour. (You probably won't make it that long, though, because most victims get torn apart and eaten long before that.) Poisonous. Not edible. 30 HP.
In-Game Activity
- Two Dart Jaguars, Neil and Brad, attacked the Prevailers, poisoning Sul Tervish and Kale Forrest before being defeated.
Cave Rats
Many people will tell you that bats are nothing more than rats with wings. These mutts give truth to that statement. Originally developed to light the way underground so Capitol operatives didn’t have to carry lights with them, these rodents combine the hardiness and dexterity of rats with bats’ wings, and their tail is bioluminescent (courtesy of firefly genes). They are exceedingly stupid, however, and could not be trained, so the Capitol gave up on them and left them to the caves. They were actually meant to be cleared out of the Arena, but they’re a pain to dig out of their crevices when they don’t want to be found, so the Gamemakers threw up their hands and said to leave them. It’s not like they’re very useful anyway. Not poisonous. Not edible. 5 HP.
Tree Rabbits
Surprises of surprises, here we actually have a mutt that did what it was supposed to. These critters were bred as convenient food sources, and have done a phenomenal job of living up to their expectations. Mostly rabbit, but with wings and hollow bones from the blended DNA of several birds, they live in or under trees. They are completely docile, allowing their breeders to kill them without fuss. However, their breeders must all but hand-raise them, as it takes some time for them to become accustomed enough to someone to allow close approach. When faced with strangers, especially loud ones, they are easily scared and will run or take flight, whichever gets them away faster. Not poisonous. Edible (Small Game). 2 HP.
Balloon Jellies
These jellyfish are massive easily the size of a beanbag chair, and resembling a clear balloon filled with pale green jelly. For the most part, these giant jellyfish are mostly harmless--they feed off of zooplankton and do not actively engage in combat. If attacked, drifted in to, or otherwise provoked, however, these jellyfish can become deadly, and fast, by allowing some of their green inner fluid to seep out into the surrounding water. The core of the fish, the pale green goo, is the reason why these Balloon Jellies exist: the Capitol distills them for medicine--curing prostate cancer, to be precise. However, unrefined, the ooze is highly toxic, afflicting those that come in contact with a severe, if acute, poisoning. Balloon Jelly Toxin Syndrome causes excessive vomiting, which, in turn causes rapid dehydration, resetting the tribute's food and water counts to zero. Poisonous (special effect: see above). Not edible. 8 HP.
Pygmy Cattle
One crazy Capitol scientist was working on a project attempting to develop cows that produced lactose-free milk, frustrated by his own lactose intolerance. On the front of it, his work seemed like a complete failure: the resulting cows produced no milk whatsoever, and, to top it off, were roughly the size of a house cat. However, the meat they produced was not only delicious, but the Pygmy Cattle were easier to keep in smaller spaces and produced much less in terms of byproducts. Unlike their giant counterparts, the miniature cows, however, are very skittish and actually burrow, much like rabbits. Not poisonous. Edible (Small Game). 12 HP.
Maneaters
Maneaters are precisely what their name implies: man eaters. This twenty-foot hybrid of sea turtle and shark produced very curious results: a marine nightmare with razor-sharp teeth and plated armor, designed to attack smaller rebel ships--and then the rebels manning them. However, the Maneaters are all brawn and no brains. They are very easy to confuse, and their armor makes their swimming considerably slower than a shark of such size typically would be, making escape an option for clever tributes who can distract the vicious man eater. Not poisonous. Not edible. 45 HP.
In-Game Activity
- Attacked the alliance MADASS on Day 2, resulting in the deaths of Mark Kane and Garrett Vanderbilt.
Nibblefish
Inspired by an old amazonian beastie, the nibblefish are quite voracious eaters — their sharp teeth are quite handy at ripping out flesh, and their aim when leaping out of the water is second to none. Unlike the piranhas that inspired them, however, Nibblefish were designed to have a small stomach and a very quick metabolism, giving them an insatiable appetite--so much so they may even turn to cannibalism when the food supply runs short. Despite this, they are a rather plump, if chewy fish, as long as they are caught unaware. Going into hunting mode (which is somehow different than self-defense mode) causes them to release a hormone that floods their cells with a toxin. (Must have completed Trapping station to capture.) Not poisonous. Edible (Small Game). 10 HP
In-Game Activity
- Shameless Euthanasia attempted to capture nibblefish for food on Day 3, but were unsuccessful.
Bufflebara
It's hard to believe that anyone would take the time and trouble to genetically engineer a species just for the mildly amusing name, but this [i]is[/i] the Capitol we’re talking about, and they’ll do almost anything. Though some speciemens look a little more rodent-like, Bufflebaras usually take after the buffalo side of their heritage, making them very large and stocky and giving them painful-looking horns. All of them have the general facial construction of a capybara, however; their eyes, ears, and nostrils are on the top of their heads, allowing them to wade through deep water and keep an eye on their surroundings. Those horns are a force to be reckoned with, so watch out. Not poisonous. Edible (Large Game). 30 HP
Tent-Making Anteater
Despite their name, these mutations actually owe more to bats’ DNA than giant anteaters’. With bodies that are four to five feet long and wingspans to match, they look formidable. However, since their only real use was to build shelter for Capitol forces, they were specifically designed to be as neutral as possible. This is the primary reason for using anteater material; the bats’ upper and lower jaw are fused into an anteater’s long, thin tube, restricting them to a diet of ants, termites, and the like. Their introduction to the Arena has little to do with fighting, and much more to do with the fact that they are fascinated by makeshift shelters and have a tendency to get so enthusiastic in examining tributes’ housing that they collapse it on the tribute. That said, they will attack if they deem it necessary, and those large claws pack a nasty punch. Not poisonous. Not edible. 20 HP.
Night Harpies
During the early days of the Capitol's war with the rebels, when money and resources were comparitively tight but new weapons were always needed, it was much easier to blend similar species than completely seperate ones. This could be seen as hampering creativity, but one look at the Night Harpy shows that the designers did just as well within these limitations as outside. Comprised of several species of rainforest bird — namely the harpy eagle, quetzal, hoatzin, and pygmy owl — they are designed from inside out to attack and kill. The green feathers of quetzals and the brown and grey of eagles and owls provide them with excellent camouflage; like young hoatzins, they have a pair of claws in the bend of each wing; and like any proper raptor, they have nasty claws and a vicious, curved beak. The hoatzin genetics make them somewhat heavy and awkward flyers, however, so they're most dangerous when diving or flying one way; turns and getting back up high are more difficult for them. The name is slightly misleading, as they are really more crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) than nocturnal. Not poisonous. Not edible. 15 HP.
Muttation Contest Winners
The first Muttation Contest was launched in the weeks leading up to the 55th Hunger Games. Users created and submitted mutts to be used in the 55th Hunger Games.
Pathfinder Bugs
Created by Jimmylost.
Pathfinder Bugs exist in swarms of hundreds. They are no bigger then a speck of dust and in daylight look almost identical to a swarm of gnats. The main difference is the sticky slime covering there entire bodies that gets left behind on anything they touch. The slime isn't toxic, but glows bright violet in the dark. Pathfinder Bugs are very attracted to the smell of sweat and will follow around a large mammal around for days feeding off it. Not only do Pathfinder Bugs cause any human they're attached to to glow brightly in the dark, they also leave traces of their slime behind on anything around them they happen to touch. This creates a clear path to any human target. Not poisonous. Not edible. N/A HP.
Avian Swine
Created by Cinder.
Avian Swine, or just Air Pigs, are large wild boar that have been given huge wings. They have nests in trees of which they are extremely territorial. Climb the wrong tree and prepare to be kicked out of it. Usually they do not bother anybody unless they are bothered first, but Air Pigs have large appetites and tend to eat everything around them--and they aren't strictly herbivores, so when food starts to run out you may be their next meal. They also have red eyes. Initially designed to hunt down the rebels who disturbed their nests and follow them to the grave, Air Pigs were decommissioned after a short time, as the rebels found them to be very stupid, and ended up hunting them instead, using the meat as food. Air Pigs were replaced by swarms of Tracker Jackers, which were more effective than the dumb individual swine. Not poisonous. Edible (Large Game). 25 HP.
Scorpion Mites
Created by Cel.
Large (drones average 6 inches, but the queens are up to a foot long), brown and ugly, Scorpion Mites have a typical scorpion body other than the claws, which are mysteriously absent. It's tail is also flattened to the ground. The venom from stings is somewhat toxic and hallucinogenic; however, it can only sting once, much like a bee. It's mouth structure is similar to a termite's, but much longer and at least a hundred times stronger, enabling scorpion mites to eat through most biological substances, most types of rocks, and some of the weaker metals. While under Capitol control, the Mites worked in colonies that often numbered in the hundreds, although these groups splintered off for unknown reasons, and now more commonly form smaller packs of five to ten. They are a hive mind of some intelligence, but not comparable to human level. During the rebellion the Capitol would drop colonies of Scorpion Mites on rebel structures. They would usually consume the structure in a matter of hours, usually killing more than a few rebels in the process. Not poisonous. Not edible. 5 HP.
Sheepish
Created by Cameron.
A dastardly blend of fox and sheep DNA, the Sheepish are as sly, quiet, and elusive as a fox. They have a very thick, fluffy orange coat, with the tail, snout and ears of a fox protruding from the woolly mass. Their teeth are incredibly sharp, although the cunning animals conceal them quite well, looking innocent and cuddly. The Sheepish were attempted to be bred as a food source; however the far too little meat that they produced was far too gamey for the Capitol people. The Sheepish continued to be bred for their bright orange wool, which is prized by Capitol fashion designers. Not poisonous. Not edible. 20 HP.
Trapper Zapper
Created by Jasik.
Virtually everything about the Trapper Zapper — a three-foot-long hybrid of spider, electric eel, and shark — is electric. Its skin, its teeth; even the ends of its cord-like silk acts as a wire to will electrocute its victim. It has the general appearance of a shark, but it has the tail of an electric eel. Its teeth are dulled, meant for defending themselves rather than hunting prey, though still are powerful enough to tear out a sizable chunk of flesh. From its eel tail, it can shoot out thick spider silk, which is not adhesive, though can entangle and possibly stun its target. Fortunately, the Zappers were bred to immobilize water-based humans for later interrogation, rather than eliminate — there are plenty of other water-dwelling Mutts for that. Though the Zappers do not deliver enough volts to kill their victims, one dose of electricity is enough to paralyze a tribute for about two hours. Not poisonous. Not edible. 20 HP.
Crocaconda
Created by Innocent.
The Crocaconda is a very large snake with the head of a crocodile. Its coloration is that of murky water, allowing it to blend in to its natural habitat. Its sleek muscular body is great for swimming and quick movement in the water, although it is cumbersome on land. The Crocaconda was used for attacking and harassing small boats close to the coast or in rivers. It is able to get close to the boat unnoticed and go right over the side to pull people into the water. The large mouth and stomach of the Crocaconda, coupled with their exceedingly slow metabolism, in theory, made it a good way for the Captiol to transport secret goods from point A to point B; however, the reptiles were not very good at getting to where the Capitol wanted them, often picking fights with other Crocacondas or getting sidetracked to snack. It is possible that some Crocacondas still have useful items stored in their digestive tract, but to find out would require them to be killed — no easy feat, considering their sharp teeth and tough skin. Not poisonous. Not edible. 35 HP.