Restricted Perks for Ghouls in Fallout 76: A Guide for Wasteland Survivors
When Bethesda introduced the idea of playing as a Ghoul in Fallout 76, it immediately drew the attention of roleplayers and min-maxers alike. While the concept of embracing life as one of the Wasteland’s most iconic mutated survivors has its appeal, it also comes with some serious limitations. Among these are Restricted Perks—cards you simply can’t use if you’re living the post-nuclear life with decayed skin and advanced radiation tolerance.
Below, I’ll go through the list of these Restricted Perks and share some insight for anyone considering the switch or planning their build around the restrictions.
Why Are Perks Restricted for Ghouls?
Bethesda wants playing as a Ghoul in Fallout 76 to feel distinct. That means unique strengths, but also trade-offs. Ghouls are highly resistant to radiation and can even heal from it, but certain perks either make no sense thematically or would become unbalanced in combination with Ghoul traits.
As a result, these Restricted Perks are locked out to preserve gameplay balance and immersion.
Current List of Fallout 76 Restricted Perks for Ghouls
Below is a snapshot of the Restricted Perks list for Ghouls in Fallout 76 as of the latest updates. Keep in mind Bethesda has been known to tweak these over time:
Rad Resistant – This one is obvious. Ghouls are already adapted to radiation, so gaining extra resistance doesn’t fit.
Radicool – Ghouls don’t benefit from extra Strength from rads—they already live with them.
Rejuvenated – This perk grants bonuses for being fully fed and hydrated, but Ghouls have unique metabolic needs that conflict with its design.
Strange in Numbers (partially restricted) – Some mutations interact weirdly with Ghoul traits, and Bethesda has limited certain combinations.
Healing Factor – Conflicts with Ghoul radiation healing and balance.
Herbivore/Carnivore – Ghouls have a special diet system, making these mutation perks inconsistent.
These are the most consistently blocked or limited perks, but there can be smaller edge cases if the developers patch in new cards or mutations that clash with the Ghoul system.
Building Around Ghoul Restrictions
If you’re serious about playing as a Ghoul in Fallout 76, you’ll want to plan ahead. Here are a few tips I’ve found useful:
Embrace Radiation Healing – Instead of Radaway and Rad-X, plan for rads as a healing mechanic. Stock up on irradiated food and water.
Focus on Weapon Perks – Your offensive perks remain unchanged, so investing in Rifleman, Shotgunner, or Heavy Gunner lines is as effective as ever.
Lean Into Tankiness – With natural rad resistance, you can afford to invest in Damage Resistance and Power Armor perks.
Choose Mutations Carefully – While many mutations still work, be aware of any that might conflict with your Ghoul bonuses.
Final Thoughts
Playing as a Ghoul in Fallout 76 isn’t just a cosmetic choice—it changes the way you approach survival, combat, and perks. The list of Restricted Perks is a critical planning consideration, but with the right build, you can turn these limitations into strengths and truly own your role as one of Appalachia’s most fearsome (and radioactive) survivors.
If you're looking for a different way to experience Fallout 76, embracing Ghoulhood—restrictions and all—remains one of the game’s most interesting challenges.
