Mutants (Blood Omen enemies)

"Such strange creatures that had been spawned by this dark magic; things half insect and half mammal – human torsos grafted onto abominations of the flesh. Sick as it was, I could not help but admire its creator's ingenuity."

―Kain — Listen (file info)^[src]

Mutants, also known as Mutations, were a class of enemies introduced and appearing in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain. They were mutated creatures which originated in Dark Eden and were found mostly in the surrounding areas. Typically the creatures bore a resemblance to human or animal lifeforms but were twisted to repulsive extremes. Most were associated with toxic attacks and Green blood, making them particularly dangerous foes.

Profile[]

Mutants were an enemy classification appearing in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain covering a range of unusual creatures, often associated with those that appearing to have deviated from natural forms of Animals and Humans.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen/7]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}

The majority of the Mutants were intentional perversions of nature created in Dark Eden by the Dark Eden triad of Nature Guardian Bane, Guardian of Energy DeJoule and Guardian of States Anarcrothe. Typically the consisted of Animals, Humans and other creatures that were enlarged, grafted onto others or otherwise mutated from their natural state, either deliberately by the guardians or by the expanding dome of mutating energy issued by the Dark Eden Castle.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen/7]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}

Most mutants had distinctive Green blood which was toxic to Vampires, but they also known to strike using poisoned attacks as well. This made them incredibly hazardous encounters and Kain had to be wary around them to avoid being poisoned.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen/7]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}^[1]

Classes[]

Several mutant enemies were seen in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain they were generally quite distinct but were united by association with Dark Eden, their being "perversions of nature" and the toxic attributes.

char0006 (Mutated Slugs)[]

Mutated Slugs were a class of mutant encountered in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain. They were usually found in cave locations and could first be encountered in the chapter Find the Oracle as cave explored the Oracle's Cave. They could also be encountered later in the Dark Eden Castle in the chapter Threaten the Circle.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen/4]}^{[Blood Omen/7]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}

Visually the appeared somewhat slug-like in appearance with humanoid traits with grey skin covered in patches of dirt. Instead of legs they bore 4 'probe'-like appendages which allowed them to stand upright. They had long bony arms and their head tapered to a point.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen/7]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}^[1]

When threatened they would attack with long strikes or by throwing dirt at a distance, causing minor damage. They had fairly low health (12 points) and attack power (5), and bore Green blood like their other mutated brethren.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen/7]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}^[1]

char0023 (Bone Monsters)[]

Bone Monsters, also known as Lycanthropes, were a class of mutant encountered in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain. They were creatures that were first encountered in the Oracle's Cave in the chapter Find the Oracle but could subsequently be found in the Dark Eden Castle and around the 'Long and Winding Road' leading from Dark Eden to Avernus.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen/4]}^{[Blood Omen/7]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}^[1]

Their appearance was insectoid, lizard-like or even Demon-like with spikes on their shoulder and orange-red skin with black stripes. They had elongated limbs and a stretched face and would often run on all fours before striking in wide arcs with their arms. While their attacks were not too damaging they were able to strike in a 2 hit combo which cause 10 points of damage each hit and the striking distance was something to be wary of. They were not terribly resilient with 20 points of health.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}^[1]

Like the rest of their mutant brethren they bore poisonous Green blood.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}^[1]

char0065 (Human Slugs)[]

Human Slugs were a class of Mutant encountered in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain. They were present in the chapter Threaten the Circle and were particularly found along the 'Ruined Land' area nearby Dark Eden and inside the Dark Eden Castle.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen/7]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}

Visibly the class resembled a cross between a human and a slug with a humanoid top half resembling an heavy-set human with a bald head and glowing green eyes, wearing a small red shirt with grey shoulder pads. The lower half however resembled an amorphous blob, trailing off into a mass of flesh dragging behind them with blotches of green across their skin. They appeared to slither on their tails in a similar way to slugs.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen/7]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}^[1]

They were among the most formidable of the mutant enemy classes with a relatively high endurance (40 points) and a decent attack damage (15 points). They attacked by spitting toxic goo at Kain and to make matter worse they had poisonous Green blood - meaning there was a high chance that the use of Anti-Toxin would be needed.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen/7]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}^[1]

char0071 (Tooth Noses)[]

Tooth Noses, also known as Rhino Ticks, were a class of Mutant encountered in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain. They were mostly found around Dark Eden and the preceding 'Ruined Land' and were thus most likely to be encountered in the chapter Threaten the Circle. However they could be found in other secret locations, including in a cave nearby Nachtholm.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen/7]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}

The class appeared to be a cross between a canine and a mole, with a row of serrated teeth along its snout - and it appearances in underground locations hinted at an origin in the latter with the teeth being used for digging. When approached they would attack by swinging their head to catch prey with the teeth.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}^[1]

The attacks of the tooth noses were not particularly damaging with attack damage of 10 points, but they were fairly resilient and persistent with 40 health points. Unlike other mutant classes the tooth noses bore Red blood. Meaning they were a useful food source in the trip to Dark Eden.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen/7]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}^[1]

char0076 (Cave Wolves)[]

Cave Wolves, also known as Sloths, were a class of enemies encountered in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain. They were one of the few mutant classes not specifically tied to the mutations of Dark Eden but nevertheless appeared to be mutated in some form, bearing elongated limbs and appearance the seemed to be akin to a cross between a wolf and a sloth or wildebeest - and with a 'sister class' that was more closely linked to the area. Otherwise they behaved like canines, running on all fours.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}

They were first encountered in the Oracle's Cave in the chapter Find the Oracle but could later be found along the shores of the Lake of the Dead. They were moderately resilient (15 health points) and attacked with wide arching claw strikes from their elongated 'arms' which were moderately powerful (25 points). Unlike other mutants, the Cave Wolves bore Red blood.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen/4]}^{[Blood Omen/6]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}^[1]

char0077 (Shooting Terrors)[]

Shooting Terrors were a class of mutants encountered in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain. They were primarily encountered in the chapter Threaten the Circle and could be found in many of the areas visited there - including around the 'Ruined Land' and its nearby caves, around Dark Eden and in the Dark Eden Castle.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen/7]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}

Visually they were humanoid with a fleshy appearance with red blotches, protrusions and spikes extending from their skin which pulsated and extended to strike enemies. When moving they had an awkward zombie-like shuffling gait and tended to move quite slowly. Close ups showed they had glowing green eyes.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen/7]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}^[1]^[2]

When attacking they would briefly stand still and before their spikes would pulse - sending spiked projectiles outward in 8 directions. These were difficult to avoid but not too damaging (15 points), and the class itself was not too resilient (20 health points). Like other mutants they had poisonous Green blood.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}^[1]

char0171 (Purple Cave Wolves)[]

Purple Cave Wolves were a class of enemies encountered in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain. They were first encountered in the Oracle's Cave in the chapter Find the Oracle but could later be found around the 'Ruined Land' leading to Dark Eden and the northern 'Long and Winding Road' leading from Dark Eden to Avernus as well as around the Northern Lake of Lost Souls (in both the present and the new present).^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen/4]}^{[Blood Omen/7]}^{[Blood Omen/9]}^{[Blood Omen/11]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}

Essentially an upgrade of the regular Cave Wolves, they visually appeared to be canine and similar to the regular wolves. They ran on all fours but nevertheless appeared to be mutated in some form, bearing elongated limbs and an appearance that seemed to be akin to a cross between a wolf and a sloth or wildebeest. They were fairly resilient (30 health points) and attacked with wide arching claw strikes from their elongated 'arms' which were quite powerful (35 points). Unlike other mutants, the Cave Wolves bore Red blood.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}^[1]

Notes[]

Mutant-SR2 — A *Soul Reaver 2* 'mutant' - unrelated mutated enemies which evolved in the years after the Pillars collapse

Mutants are referred as such in the in the BO1 FAQ and as "Mutations" in the official strategy guide^[3]^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}. They are also called "Freaks" in developer assisted magazine previews.^[2] The individual classes are also referred to as such in the official strategy guide where "mutated slugs", "bone monsters", "tooth noses", "human slugs" and "shooting terrors" are referenced - with "spitting terrors" offered as an alternative to the latter.^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]} The terms "Abomination" and "Spike Man" were previously attested in developer assisted magazine previews to refer to human slugs and spitting terrors respectively.^[2] Other internal classifications refer to "fat mutant" (human slugs), "rhino tick" (tooth noses), "sloth" (cave wolf), "spiny mutant" (shooting terror), "lycanthrop"(bone monsters) and "succubus" (mutated slugs). The latter are particularly interesting as they potentially link the classes to others: with "lycanthrope" usually being an alternative term for werewolves and another apparently distinct Succubus class seeming to have been cut.
- Fan guides have given the classes other alternative titles but tend to settle on similar themes, such as: "Abomination"/"Cave Vile"/"Cave Mutant"/"Cave Abomination" for the Mutated Slugs, "Insect Beast"/"Insect Monster"/"Mutant Insect"'/"Demon Insect" for the Bone Monsters, "Sawtooth"/"Saw Beast" for the Tooth Noses, "Human Slug"/"Man Slug"/"Slug Beast" for the Human Slugs, "Cave Wolves"/"Wilderbeast" for the Cave Wolves and "Spike Men"/"Pulsating Monster"/"Pulse Beast" for the Shooting Terrors.^[1]^[4]^[5].
- In game files the classes are numbered as "char0006"" (Mutated Slugs), "char0023" (Bone Monsters), "char0065" (Human Slugs), "char0071" (Tooth Noses), "char0076" (Cave Wolves), "char0077" (Shooting Terrors) and "char0171" (Purple Cave Wolves). Other internal classifications referred to the humans slugs as "fatty" and the bone monsters as "lycan".^{[Blood Omen]}
The initial designs of the Shooting Terrors are shown in publicly available concept art and detailed renders of the Bone Monsters, Human Slugs and Shooting Terrors were published in magazines as promotion for Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain.^[2]
Although Mutants from Dark Eden were only specifically seen in Blood Omen, another class was seen in Soul Reaver 2 that was also named as Mutants. These mutants were apparently unrelated to the Blood Omen version aside from being a similar 'perversion of nature'. They were given little formal explanation, but it was detailed that they evolved in the Era following Blood Omen, appearing to be some kind of mutated humanoid. They resided exclusively in the swamp and bore Red blood.^{[Soul Reaver 2]}^{[Soul Reaver 2 manual]}^{[Soul Reaver 2 strategy guide (Prima)]}^[6]