Once Human Deviations Guide: Abilities, Locations, and Preferred Environments

Nalcott is packed with strange creatures shaped by Stardust, and in Once Human, some of those threats can become useful allies. Deviations can fight beside you, automate work at your territory, or create special crafting materials.

This guide explains what Deviations are, how capture works, and where to find many of the Combat, Territory, and Crafting Deviations currently listed in the game.

What Deviations Are in Once Human

Deviations are Stardust-altered entities found across Nalcott. Meta-Humans can discover them in the wild, from defeated enemies, or inside containment units.

Capturing one is simple on PC: press F by default when the secure prompt appears. Failed capture attempts increase the chance of success, though that increase is smaller for high-level Deviations. If you fail four times, the Deviation escapes.

Deviations fit three broad roles:

• Combat Deviations: Companions used during fights.
• Territory Deviations: Base helpers that automate or improve territory work, such as Logging Beaver and Electric Eel.
• Crafting Deviations: Producers of special materials or items, including Whims.

Once Human Deviation Abilities and Locations

Pick Deviations based on what you need most: damage support, resource automation, base protection, or crafting utility. Some only appear in certain scenarios, and the full roster may grow over time, especially with the announced Palworld x Once Human event.

Combat Deviations

Butterfly's Emissary

• Abilities: Designated Target marks a target for attack, prioritizing enemies in the direction you face. Auto Attack hits enemies, marks Weakspots, and makes them take (25.2%/25%/30%/35%) extra Weakspot DMG for 5s.
• Locations: Complete the Eve of Evolution Tutorial, GAIA Research Center Ruins, or Securement Silo - Alpha
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Red Light. Place Flowers nearby.

By the Wind

• Abilities: Gravity Lift creates a floating area after the player throws it. Combat Assist creates a floating zone under the player, granting free floating at fixed height, Movement Speed +20%, jump speed +2, and immunity to fall DMG and stagger.
• Locations: Chance to obtain after completing Prime War events.
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Blue Light. Expose to Red Light. Power with 5W of Electricity. Plant flowers nearby.

Dr. Teddy

• Abilities: Remote Healing instantly heals 50% of the target's MaxHP on hit and revives fallen targets. Intime Healing heals 8% max HP per second and revives allies.
• Locations: Chance to obtain from Securement Silo - THETA
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Green Light. Place toys around.

Enchanting Void

• Abilities: Midnight Maul transforms the player into a panther after throwing, automatically attacking hostile targets and increasing melee damage taken by attacked targets by 200 for 20 seconds. Combat Assist follows the player in Black Cat form, giving Movement Speed +10% while holding a Melee Weapon and restoring 10% Max HP when hitting with melee.
• Locations: Chance to obtain from Securement Silo - THETA after defeating the statue puzzle Deviant inside the seepage zone.
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Red Light. Power with 5W of Electricity. Plant flowers nearby. Cool the area with fridges.

Note: The Enchanting Void - Starfall Inversion variant can appear randomly in Star Advent Crates.

Festering Gel

• Abilities: Flawless Fortification knocks back nearby enemies after being thrown and forms a new fortification. Build Fortification creates fixed shelter that blocks attacks and lets allied players nearby recover 6.0% HP and 3.0% Sanity every second.
• Locations: Chance to obtain after defeating the Ravenous Hunter in the Monolith of Greed and Treant at Gaia Cliff Monolith in Broken Delta.
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Red Light. Power with 5W of Electricity.

Grumpy Bulb

• Abilities: Garlicify deals AoE Status DMG on hit and disrupts unit aggro in the area for 10s. Autonomous Attack cannot move but continuously attracts nearby hostile aggro.
• Locations: Chance to appear from a mature Onion Seed at the base.
• Preferred Environment: Plant crops nearby. Plant flowers nearby. Heat the area with furnaces.

Invincible Sun

• Abilities: Autonomous Attack periodically releases blazing energy rays during combat, attacking nearby enemies and inflicting continuous Burn DMG.
• Locations: Chance to obtain from Securement Silo - Delta
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Red Light. Place Toys Around. In a Warm Environment.

Lonewolf's Whisper

• Abilities: Designated Target marks a target, prioritizing the direction you face. Auto Attack attacks enemies, draws nearby aggro, spawns a clone when a target dies, and increases Weapon DMG received by the attacked target by 21.6%.
• Locations: Chance to obtain after defeating the Shadow Hound in the Monolith of Thirst
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Red Light. Power with 5W of Electricity. Cool the area with fridges.

Mini Feaster

• Abilities: Designated Target orders Mini Feaster to attack a target. Touch of the Abyss follows the player and regularly summons tentacles near enemies. Bounce triggers guarantee tentacles near the target and improve the player's weapon DMG.
• Locations: Complete the Lord of the Quest task from Lowe or complete Mist Zone events
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Red Light. Place a Radio nearby and play music. Place toys around.

Note: The Mini Feaster - Starfall Inversion variant can appear randomly in Star Advent Crates.

Mini Wonder

• Abilities: Designated Target buffs an allied target. Bullet Absorption absorbs bullets within a certain radius.
• Locations: Complete the Other World Traveler task from Lowe
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Blue Light. Expose to Red Light.

Note: The Mini Wonder - Starfall Inversion variant can appear randomly in Star Advent Crates.

Mr. Wish

• Abilities: Rapid Fire launches bursts at enemies near the crosshair or nearby hostile targets and marks them with The Bull's Eye. Auto Attack automatically attacks hostile targets.
• Locations: Chance to obtain from Securement Silo - SIGMA
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Red Light. Power with 5W of Electricity. Plant flowers nearby. Place a Radio nearby and play music. Place toys around.

Polar Jelly

• Abilities: Frostlash knocks back enemies near the target and forms a new fortification. Auto Attack deals Frost Status DMG to nearby enemies, forces them toward you, increases Frost DMG received by nearby targets by 36.0%, and creates extra Ice Spikes if Frost Vortexes form inside the radius.
• Locations: Complete Cargo Scramble events.
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Blue Light. Power with 5W of Electricity. Cool the area with fridges.

Note: The Polar Jelly - Starfall Inversion variant can appear randomly in Star Advent Crates.

Pyro Dino

• Abilities: Designated Target marks a target for Pyro Dino. Autonomous Attack attacks enemies, increases target Blaze DMG received by 24.5%, and causes Explosion 1 time when attacking Burn-affected targets.
• Locations: Chance to obtain from Securement Silo - PHI
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Green Light. Heat the area with furnaces. Place toys around.

Radiant One

• Abilities: Combat Assist creates a floating zone beneath the player, allowing fixed-height floating, Movement Speed +20%, jump speed +2, and immunity to fall DMG and stagger.
• Locations: Complete Phase 3 of The Last Stand of Prismverse's Clash Public Crisis Event
• Preferred Environment: N/A

Shattered Maiden

• Abilities: Designated Target orders Shattered Maiden to attack. Auto Attack moves and attacks, inflicting Slowdown and Chained on non-boss enemies in front while increasing their Explosion DMG received by 40%.
• Locations: Complete the Farmside Fright task from Lowe, or it may appear after completing Securement Silo - THETA
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Blue Light. Expose to Red Light. Plant flowers nearby.

Snapshot

• Abilities: Manual Photograph locks onto an enemy before dealing damage, with more hits increasing lock speed. Auto Photograph seeks nearby targets, teleports to them, and takes photos that deal Status DMG and make enemies receive 21.6% additional Weapon DMG.
• Locations: Chance to obtain after defeating the Secret Servitor in the Tundra Monolith
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Red Light. In a Cold Environment. Power with 5W of Electricity.

Snowsprite

• Abilities: Designated Target prioritizes enemies in the direction you face or nearby enemies if none are ahead. Auto Attack creates Ice Crystals near the target every 3 seconds. Shooting crystals shatters them, dealing 37.5%/50%/62.5%/75%/87.5% Frost DMG and causing targets to take +18%/24%/30%/36%/42% Frost DMG.
• Locations: Complete the Deviation: Snowsprite task from Lowe
• Preferred Environment: N/A

Voodoo Doll

• Abilities: Designated Target shares damage effects with allies or enemies depending on the target. Doppelganger focuses on the player and shares half of the DMG the player receives.
• Locations: Can be secured from various locations, including Evergreen Vineyard at Chalk Peak, Fort Erie at Red Sands, and different hospitals
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Blue Light. Expose to Red Light. Place a Radio nearby and play music. Place toys around.

Zeno-Purifier

• Abilities: Designated Target orders Zeno Purifier to attack, prioritizing the direction you face. Auto Attack lets the player teleport to the target with melee attacks.
• Locations: Complete the seasonal goal Defeat 200 enemies with a melee weapon, or find it in various chests throughout Nalcott.
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Red Light. Place a Radio nearby and play music.

Territory Deviations

Berserkosaurus Rex

• Abilities: Culinary Genius increases cooking proficiency. Higher Deviant Energy gives a larger proficiency increase.
• Locations: Complete Phase 2 of the Clash at Blackfell Public Crisis Event.
• Preferred Environment: N/A

Buzzy Bee

• Abilities: Deviated Gardening increases the mutation chance of planted crops. Higher Deviant Energy raises the mutation chance.
• Locations: Can be secured from various locations, including Sunbury Farm, Evergreen Vineyard, and Brewery Estate
• Preferred Environment: Plant crops nearby. Plant flowers nearby. Place a Radio nearby and play music.

Chefosaurus Rex

• Abilities: Culinary Genius improves cooking proficiency, scaling with Deviant Energy.
• Locations: Complete the There's a Dragon There task from Lowe, or get a chance to spawn after completing Securement Silo - PHI
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Red Light. Heat the area with furnaces. Place toys around.

Electric Eel

• Abilities: Electricity Fluctuations increases the power limit of Generators based on Electric Eel Energy level.
• Locations: Chance to obtain through fishing
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Blue Light. Heat the area with furnaces. Place a Radio nearby and play music.

Extradimensional Cat

• Abilities: Velvet Cushion accompanies its owner during sleep so they are fully energetic the next day.
• Locations: Spawns near Teleportation Towers of almost every Union Stronghold.
• Preferred Environment: Place toys around.

Fetch-a-Lot Bunny

• Abilities: Collect from bushes automatically gathers shrubs when activated. Higher Deviant Energy improves gathering efficiency.
• Locations: Can be secured from various locations, including Dracaena at Red Sands and Bald Cypress at Iron River
• Preferred Environment: Plant crops nearby. Plant flowers nearby. Place toys around.

Flame Essence

• Abilities: Molten Heat increases Furnace and Electric Furnace production efficiency.
• Locations: Spawns inside a container in Hearst Industries at Broken Delta or can appear after completing The Empty House in Securement Silo - PSI
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Red Light. Power with 5W of Electricity. Place toys around.

Gazocchio

• Abilities: Territory Guard patrols the territory and attacks suspicious targets. It sometimes splits to create small Gazocchio units that shine light to dispel shadows.
• Locations: Complete the Part of the Deviant task from Lowe
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Blue Light. Place Toys Around. Plant Flowers Nearby. Power with 5W of Electricity.

Growshroom

• Abilities: Thriving Growth automatically plants seeds and speeds crop growth. Higher Deviant Energy increases growth speed.
• Locations: May spawn after harvesting wild Mushrooms.
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Green Light. Power with 5W of Electricity. Heat the area with furnaces.

H37

• Abilities: Explorer loots chests in different areas when activated. Higher Deviant Energy improves the rewards it brings back.
• Locations: Complete the Fragments of Memory task or obtain it by chance after completing Securement Silo - ALPHA
• Preferred Environment: Power with 5W of Electricity. Place a Radio nearby and play music. Place toys around.

Hydronaut Fish

• Abilities: Rapid Purification gathers seawater from outside your territory when activated and can occasionally yield special catches. Using the Water Filter or Brewing Barrel improves conversion efficiency.
• Locations: Complete the Deviation: Hydronaut Fish task from Lowe
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Blue Light. Place Toys Around. Plant Flowers Nearby.

Lethal Rabbit

• Abilities: Hunter Instincts sends it exploring and hunting, with a chance to bring back animal resources. Higher Deviant Energy improves returns.
• Locations: Can be secured from various locations, including outside Deadsville, Heart Island, and Evergreen
• Preferred Environment: Use Red Light. Connect to a power source. Cool the area with fridges.

Logging Beaver

• Abilities: Log Trees sends it logging when activated. Higher Deviant Energy improves efficiency, and it will use a Logging Operation Platform first if available.
• Locations: Can be secured from various locations, including Meyer's Market, Iron River, and Broken Delta
• Preferred Environment: Plant crops nearby. Power with 5W of Electricity. Place a Radio nearby and play music.

Nutcracker

• Abilities: Mobile Turret patrols your territory and attacks suspicious intruders. Higher Deviant Energy makes attacks more effective.
• Locations: Chance to obtain after defeating the Forsaken Giant Mensdevoran in the Forsaken Monolith.
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Green Light. Power with 5W of Electricity. Place toys around.

Paper Doll

• Abilities: Safe Haven Barrier automatically restores Durability when the Stardust Resonant Filter, walls, or floors take damage. Higher Deviant Energy improves recovery speed. It can also find unexpected rewards when you kill Deviants invading your Territory.
• Locations: Chance to obtain from various locations across Nalcott.
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Red Light. Plant flowers nearby. Place toys around.

Rain Man

• Abilities: Hoping for a downpour boosts crop vitality and supplies irrigation water. Higher Deviant Energy increases the vitality boost.
• Locations: Chance to obtain from locations including Harborside at Broken Delta, Greywater Industrial Zone at Iron River, and Unmarked Settlement at Chalk Peak
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Blue Light. Cool the area with fridges.

Rebecca

• Abilities: Energy Recover summons Mitsuko to the territory to play piano and improve Deviant Energy recovery efficiency.
• Locations: Chance to obtain after completing the final boss of the LEA Research Lab.
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Green Light. Plant flowers nearby. Place toys around.

Tar Pudding

• Abilities: Oil Gathering gathers fuel around the territory and accelerates fuel conversion efficiency while working at the refinery facility.
• Locations: Chance to obtain after completing the Avalanche Monolith in Vena Fjord
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Blue Light. In a Cold Environment.

The Digby Boy

• Abilities: Mine Ore sends it mining when activated. Higher Deviant Energy improves mining efficiency, and it will use a Mining Operation Platform first if available.
• Locations: Complete the Deviation Expert task from Lowe, or get a chance to spawn from mining Silver Ore
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Red Light. Power with 5W of Electricity. Place a Radio nearby and play music.

Wish Box

• Abilities: Unfair Trade transforms items placed inside the Wish Box into random new items.
• Locations: Chance to obtain after defeating Morphic Crates or purchase from Severin VII-S2401
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Green Light. Plant flowers nearby.

Crafting Deviations

Artisan's Touch

• Abilities: Formula: All-Purpose Hand repairs the least durable gear you have equipped. It disappears after use and only works on gear you crafted.
• Locations: Chance to obtain after defeating a Scorcher elite enemy
• Preferred Environment: Power with 5W of Electricity. Heat the area with furnaces.

Atomic Lighter

• Abilities: Tactical Item: Uncontrollable Fusion Lighter randomly deals varying damage instances and grants extra loot after killing monsters.
• Locations: Chance to obtain after completing Securement Silo - EX1
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Red Light. Power with 5W of Electricity. Place a Radio nearby and play music.

Atomic Snail

• Abilities: Whim: Fluid Type lets you sprint a short distance in the air after use.
• Locations: Chance to obtain from Stardust Advent III crates earned by completing Prime Wars
• Preferred Environment: Plant crops nearby. Power with 5W of Electricity. Plant flowers nearby.

Disco Ball

• Abilities: Whim: Utter Delight extends the duration of other Whims.
• Locations: Complete the Hale's Moving House event or obtain it by chance from Where Does Disco Go? Public Crisis events
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Blue Light. Expose to Green Light. Expose to Red Light.

Dreamcatcher

• Abilities: Whim: Web of Silk spits a spider web to restrain enemies when you are in danger.
• Locations: Chance to obtain after defeating Arachsiam at the Mirage Monolith
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Blue Light. Plant flowers nearby. Place a Radio nearby and play music.

Frog the Leaper

• Abilities: Whim: Spring Legs greatly increases jump height but consumes stamina.
• Locations: Chance to appear on top of stacked cars, including those in Riverhart Harbor, Fastened Mini Reflex Sight, and Rotten Manor
• Preferred Environment: Power with 5W of Electricity. Place toys around.

Gingerbread House

• Abilities: Tactical Item: Transformation Cookie turns you into an object from the scene after use.
• Locations: Chance to obtain from Morphic Crates throughout Nalcott, or complete the Morphic Decoy task from Lowe
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Red Light. Plant crops nearby. Heat the area with furnaces.

Harveseed

• Abilities: Whim: Chloro-armor releases new vitality when life is fading away.
• Locations: Chance to obtain after defeating Treant at the Gaia Cliff Monolith
• Preferred Environment: Plant crops nearby. Plant flowers nearby. Heat the area with furnaces.

Hug-in-a-Bowl

• Abilities: Food: Homemade Noodles restores Sanity to full when consumed.
• Locations: Chance to obtain after crafting the Hug-in-a-Bowl food item
• Preferred Environment: Plant crops nearby. Plant flowers nearby.

Ice Pot

• Abilities: Sticky Ice Crystal produces a magical adhesive ice block.
• Locations: Complete the Deviation: Ice Pot task from Lowe
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Blue Light. In a Cold Environment.

Masonic Pyramid

• Abilities: Whim: Predator makes the first hit after leaving combat and entering a dive a guaranteed Crit.
• Locations: Chance to obtain after completing Stronghold Conquests in Iron River
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Blue Light. Power with 5W of Electricity. Heat the area with furnaces. Place a Radio nearby and play music.

Orb Lightning

• Abilities: Tactical Item: Lightning Bottle improves nearby Turrets when used.
• Locations: Chance to obtain in various locations, including Rosetta Research Institutes and Military Bases
• Preferred Environment: Power with 5W of Electricity.

Party Monkey

• Abilities: Formula: Party Monkey builds a facility that draws monster aggro nearby.
• Locations: Complete Production Facility Public Events at the Refinery Pollution Point and Eastern Railway Junction
• Preferred Environment: Place a Radio nearby and play music. Heat the area with Furnaces.

Pup Buddy

• Abilities: Whim: Featherweight increases Max Load.
• Locations: Purchase from Jonathan in Greywater Camp or obtain by chance in locations including Blackfell Fallen Zone, Blackfell Oil Fields, and Evergreen
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Green Light. Place a Radio nearby and play music. Place toys around.

Snow Globe

• Abilities: Formula: Snowball inflicts Slowdown on targets and can Freeze them after multiple hits.
• Locations: Chance to obtain after completing Securement Silo - PSI
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Blue Light. Cool the area with fridges.

Space Turner

• Abilities: Tactical Item: Space Twister creates a Teleport Door and summons teammates to you.
• Locations: Chance to obtain from looting Mystical Crates
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Blue Light. Place toys around.

Strange Door

• Abilities: Formula: Portal allows teleportation between two doors once built.
• Locations: Chance to obtain in Blackheart Region, complete the In The Tall Grass task, or open Mystical Crates
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Blue Light. Expose to Red Light. Plant flowers nearby.

Upper World Spawn

• Abilities: Formula: Upper World Protection gives immunity from some damage, but you cannot take actions.
• Locations: Chance to obtain after completing Securement Silo - PSI
• Preferred Environment: Expose to Red Light. Power with 5W of Electricity. Cool the area with fridges. Place toys around.