Grow a Garden has always been about nurturing plants, collecting rare seeds, and raising helpful pets. But with the Pet Mutations update, the game took pet-raising to a thrilling new level. Now, your favorite companions can transform into mutated versions with unique abilities and powerful stat boosts that give you a real edge in your garden.
If you’re curious about how these mutations work — and which ones might be worth chasing — this guide covers every Pet Mutation in Grow a Garden, how to get them, and what each one actually does.
How Pet Mutations Work in Grow a Garden
First things first: not just any pet can be mutated. There are a few requirements you need to meet:
- Pet Level: Your pet must be at least Level 50. Lower-level pets can’t undergo mutation.
- Cost: Mutating a pet costs a hefty 1 billion Sheckles. Make sure you’ve saved up!
- Location: Head to the Pet Mutation station, found to the left of the Gear and Pet Eggs stalls in town.
- Process: Once you submit your pet, a timer starts. When it ends, you’ll be able to pick up your newly mutated pet.
Important: Mutating a pet resets its age to 1. Consider this carefully before mutating older pets you’ve invested significant time in.
See also: All Grow a Garden Dinosaur Egg Pets Guide: Traits, Odds & How to Get Them
All Pet Mutations in Grow a Garden
There are currently 12 Pet Mutations in the game. Each one comes with different benefits and odds of appearing. Here’s the full list and what each mutation actually does for your gameplay:
1. Shiny
- Effect: Grants an additional 15% XP boost, for a total boost of +30% XP gain per second.
- Boost Type: XP
- Chance: 32.15%
If you’re looking to train pets quickly for future mutations, Shiny is one of the best early rolls you can get.
2. Inverted
- Effect: Provides an extra 30% XP boost, totaling +50% XP gain per second.
- Boost Type: XP
- Chance: 16.08%
A powerful mutation for players eager to level pets faster and unlock higher-tier benefits sooner.
3. Windy
- Effect: Every 30 minutes, there’s a 20-30% chance a nearby fruit becomes Windstruck.
- Boost Type: None (affects fruit instead)
- Chance: 9.65%
Windstruck fruits often yield special benefits, making Windy a solid pick for players focused on maximizing harvest value.
4. Frozen
- Effect: Every 30 minutes, there’s a 20-30% chance a nearby fruit becomes Frozen.
- Boost Type: None
- Chance: 9.65%
Frozen fruits can have unique interactions or uses in crafting and events.
5. Golden
- Effect: Boosts the pet’s passive abilities significantly, granting a +10% boost to existing traits.
- Boost Type: Passive
- Chance: 6.43%
If your pet already has a good passive trait, Golden makes it even better.
6. Mega
- Effect: Transforms the pet into a giant size:
- Pet becomes 200% larger.
- Gains XP at 10-40 per second.
- Hunger rate increases by 20%.
- Boost Type: Size / XP
- Chance: 6.43%
An entertaining mutation that makes your pet a towering presence while helping it level faster.
7. Tiny
- Effect: Shrinks the pet dramatically:
- Pet becomes 90% smaller.
- Gains XP at 5-30 per second.
- Hunger rate slows down by 20%.
- Boost Type: Size / XP
- Chance: 6.43%
Great for players who prefer lower upkeep costs, thanks to the slower hunger rate.
8. IronSkin
- Effect: Provides a 35-45% chance to recover fruits stolen by pests or thieves.
- Boost Type: None
- Chance: 3.22%
A highly practical mutation for keeping your garden safe and minimizing crop losses.
9. Shocked
- Effect: During thunderstorms, every 45-60 seconds, there’s a 25-30% chance your pet attracts lightning, which can shock nearby fruits.
- Boost Type: None
- Chance: 3.22%
While it might sound risky, shocking fruits can create unique harvesting opportunities or special effects.
10. Rainbow
- Effect: Massively improves the pet’s passive abilities, offering a +20% boost to passive traits.
- Boost Type: Passive
- Chance: 3.22%
Perfect for pets with already powerful passives you’d like to supercharge.
11. Radiant
- Effect: Every 20-30 minutes, your pet emits sunshine that advances plant growth by 24 hours.
- Boost Type: None
- Chance: 3.22%
One of the most valuable mutations for crop-focused players, as it accelerates harvests dramatically.
12. Ascended
- Effect: Every 300-360 minutes, there’s a 75-90% chance a nearby fruit becomes Dawnbound, multiplying its value by 150x.
- Boost Type: None
- Chance: 0.32%
Ascended’s Dawnbound fruits increase in value by 150x, making this mutation potentially the most profitable.
Which Pet Mutations Are Best?
While every mutation offers unique advantages, a few stand out as game-changers:
- Ascended is undeniably the ultimate jackpot thanks to Dawnbound fruits.
- Radiant is invaluable for players focused on high-volume farming.
- Rainbow and Golden are perfect for boosting strong passives.
- IronSkin is excellent if you’re constantly battling crop thieves.
However, even lower-chance rolls like Windy or Frozen can be surprisingly helpful for generating special fruit effects and bonuses.
Level Up Faster with Pet Toys
Reaching level 50 can be time-consuming, but the update adds new items like Small Toy, Medium Toy, Small Treat, Medium Treat, and Level Up Lollipop. These items help your pets gain XP faster, getting them ready for mutation much sooner.
See also: Grow a Garden Best Crops Tier List: Top Plants for High Profits
New Pets and Primal Egg
Alongside the Pet Mutations update, Grow a Garden introduced the Primal Egg, containing six new dinosaur pets:
- Iguanodon
- Parasaurolophus
- Pachycephalosaurus
- Dilophosaurus
- Ankylosaurus
- Spinosaurus**_
While not directly part of mutations, these new pets are part of the broader update and can be mutated once leveled to 50.
New Seeds
The update also introduced new seeds, expanding your gardening options: Horsetail, Lingonberry, Amber Spine, Grand Volcania, and Giant Pinecone.
Events Connected to the Update
The Pet Mutations update arrived alongside new events like zombie invasions (Brains..), the Pool Party cosmetic event, and a new Obby. While these don’t impact pet mutations directly, they add more reasons to explore Grow a Garden during this exciting patch.
See also: Grow a Garden Crafting Guide: All Bizzy Bear Recipes and Best Rewards
Final Tips for Pet Mutations
- Save up plenty of Sheckles. Each mutation attempt is costly, and rare mutations may take several tries.
- Check mutation odds. Some mutations are extremely rare, so plan your resources accordingly.
- Consider your playstyle. Choose mutations that complement whether you focus on crops, events, or maximizing your pet’s stats.
Whether you’re hoping for a towering Mega pet or aiming for that elusive Ascended mutation, the Pet Mutations system adds an exciting layer of depth to Grow a Garden. Good luck experimenting — and may your pets mutate into legends! Play Now
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