In PEAK, not every badge is earned by climbing higher or running faster. Some challenges ask you to slow down and pay close attention—like the Mycology Badge, which rewards you for identifying and eating the right mushrooms. If you’ve been struggling to tell safe mushrooms from dangerous ones, or you just want that Mushroom Hat, here’s everything you need to know.
What Is the Mycology Badge?
The Mycology Badge unlocks when you eat four different safe mushrooms in a single run. These mushrooms spawn mostly in the Shore and sometimes in the Tropics. It’s a simple-sounding task, but there’s a catch: many mushrooms have poisonous lookalikes, and if you eat the wrong one, you’ll take damage—and possibly ruin your run.
Eating one or two poisonous mushrooms doesn’t cancel the badge. You just need to make sure that you eat all four different safe types during the same expedition.
Best Settings and Route for This Challenge
If you’re aiming for this badge, play on Tenderfoot difficulty. It removes the time limit and slows down hunger and stamina loss, which gives you more breathing room to explore.
Also, don’t hesitate to restart your run. Mushroom locations are fixed, but spawns are random. If you’re not seeing all the types you need, wait for the daily map reset or try again the next day.
Tip: Always start in the Shore biome. It has the most mushroom spawns and the best chances of finding what you need.
How Mushroom Poison Works
Some mushrooms look nearly identical whether they’re safe or poisonous. If you eat a toxic one, you’ll start taking poison damage over time, up to 10 ticks per mushroom. This can stack if you eat more than one and may knock you out before you reach the next campfire.
While poison doesn’t immediately ruin your badge progress, it’s a big risk. That’s why you need to know how to spot the difference—and when to carry a Remedy Fungus, just in case.
Mushroom Types: What’s Edible and What’s Not
There are four edible mushrooms that count toward the badge. Each has a poisonous version, except for one. There are also two mushrooms you can’t eat at all, but they still serve a purpose.
Edible Mushrooms (Safe vs. Poisonous)
Bugle Shroom
- Safe: Smooth stem
- Poisonous: Has webbing or frills near the base
- Look for: A clean, flower-like top and no fuzzy textures.
Button Shroom
- Safe: Has a clear X shape on top
- Poisonous: No X, sometimes has spots
- Look for: Top texture—don’t just rely on the name.
Cluster Shroom
- Safe: Smooth, clean stalk
- Poisonous: Frilly or textured base
- Look for: Avoid anything with stalk growths or lumpy parts.
Chubby Shroom
- Safe: Always safe (as far as anyone knows)
- Poisonous: No confirmed variant, but inspect anyway
- Look for: Thick stem, cartoonish cap—still be careful just in case.
Some community reports mention rare poisonous Chubby Shrooms, but they’re very uncommon. It’s still smart to inspect before eating.
Not Edible But Still Useful
Shelf Mushroom
- What it does: Creates a platform when thrown
- Use it for: Climbing gaps or reaching high ledges.
Remedy Fungus
- What it does: Clears all status effects like poison
- Use it for: Emergencies after a bad bite.
These don’t count toward the badge, but they can save your run.
How to Complete the Badge Step-by-Step
To unlock the badge:
- Start a run in the Shore biome on Tenderfoot difficulty.
- Look for all four edible mushrooms, making sure each one is safe before eating.
- Zoom in and inspect each mushroom closely to avoid mistakes.
- Eat all four safe types during the same run—order doesn’t matter.
- As soon as you eat the last one, the Mycology Badge will unlock immediately.
- You’ll also receive the Mushroom Hat cosmetic to show off your foraging skills.
You don’t have to finish the expedition to earn this badge—it unlocks as soon as you complete the mushroom set.
Pro Tips to Avoid Poison
- Don’t rely on the mushroom’s name. Visually inspect it before eating.
- Zoom and rotate the mushroom in your hand. Look at the stem, cap, and underside for signs of poison.
- Carry a Remedy Fungus to cure poison if you make a mistake.
- Grab and hold mushrooms until you’ve collected all four types, then eat them in one go.
- Don’t rush the badge. If you’re not finding what you need, restart the run or wait for a map reset.
The Mycology Badge is a unique challenge in PEAK—it rewards players who take their time and learn the details. While many badges are about climbing skill or combat, this one’s about patience, observation, and knowing nature’s tricks. If the mushrooms aren’t spawning in your favor, take a break and come back later. The mountain isn’t going anywhere.
And once you’ve got your Mushroom Hat, you’ll know you earned it the hard way—by surviving with your eyes open.
Read More:
PEAK All Achievements Guide: How to Unlock Every Badge and Challenge
Cursed Skull in PEAK Explained: What It Does and When to Use It
How to Find the Scoutmaster in PEAK Game and Unlock Rewards
How to Remove Ticks in Peak: Solo and Co-op Guide for Poison Removal
How to Play PEAK With More Than 4 Players Using Mods (Easy Setup Guide)
