Last updated on August 24th, 2025 at 05:05 pm
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.
How to Unlock the Mycology Badge
As its name suggests, the Mycology Badge is directly related to mushrooms. You’ll find them abundantly in the game’s first two areas: the Shore and the Tropics, with the Shore being the best place to begin your search. To earn the Mycology Badge in PEAK, you need to eat four different non-poisonous mushrooms in a single expedition.
See also: PEAK Scorpions Guide: How to Avoid Poison and Cook Them for Food
Even if you accidentally consume one or two poisonous mushrooms along the way, you can still earn the badge as long as you manage to find and eat four distinct edible mushrooms. Since hunting down the correct mushrooms takes time, it’s best to attempt this challenge on Tenderfoot difficulty. This mode removes the time limit and slows down hunger and stamina loss, giving you more freedom to explore. Many players recommend dedicating an entire run to this badge rather than trying to complete it alongside other challenges.
Once you eat your fourth safe mushroom, the Mycology Badge unlocks immediately—you don’t need to finish the expedition. The reward for this achievement is a stylish Mushroom Hat.
Where Mushrooms Spawn
Mushrooms primarily appear in the Shore and Tropics biomes. Spawn points are consistent across each map seed, but the specific mushrooms that appear are random. Because of this, some runs will yield fewer safe mushrooms than others, and restarting can help. The Shore biome offers the highest spawn rate, so always start there for the best chances.
How Poison Works
Eating a poisonous mushroom inflicts damage over time, ticking up to 10 times per mushroom consumed. The effect can stack if you eat more than one, and multiple poison effects can knock you out before reaching a campfire. While this doesn’t cancel your badge progress, it can make survival more difficult, which is why it’s smart to carry an antidote option.
See also: How to Use the Scout Cannon Glitch in Peak for Quick Speedruns
Useful Extra Mushrooms
Not every mushroom in PEAK is edible, but some still provide valuable utility:
- Shelf Mushroom – Can be thrown to create platforms, useful for climbing or crossing gaps.
- Remedy Fungus – Clears poison and other status effects, making it a lifesaver if you misidentify a mushroom.
These don’t count toward the badge but can greatly improve your odds of success.
How to Distinguish Mushrooms in PEAK
There are four edible mushroom types in PEAK. Each one has a poisonous counterpart, except for the Chubby Shroom. While hovering over mushrooms will display their names, identifying the safe versions requires close observation:
| Mushrooms | Non-Poisonous | Poisonous |
|---|---|---|
| Chubby Shroom | Always non-poisonous | Rare reports of variants |
| Cluster Shroom | Smooth stem | Stem with additional growths |
| Bugle Shroom | Smooth stem | Stem with webbing |
| Button Shroom | Cap with X-shaped mark | Cap without a mark |
The Chubby Shroom is generally considered always safe, but some players report rare poisonous versions, so it’s still wise to inspect before eating.
See also: How to Get and Use the Parasol in PEAK – Location, Uses & Tips
Pro Tips to Secure Mycology Badge
Here are a few strategies to make earning the Mycology Badge easier:
- Begin your run in the Shore biome—it has the most mushroom spawns.
- Inspect mushrooms closely by zooming in and rotating them; don’t rely solely on their names.
- Carry a Remedy Fungus to cure poison in case of mistakes.
- Collect all four mushroom types before eating them to avoid confusion.
- If you don’t find enough mushroom types early, restart the run or wait for the daily map reset.
Achievement Rarity
Only about 2.6% of Steam players have earned the Mycology Badge, making it one of the rarer achievements in PEAK. Its difficulty lies not in combat or climbing but in patience, careful observation, and understanding spawn randomness.
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- 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)
The Mycology Badge is a unique challenge in PEAK. Unlike most achievements that focus on climbing or survival endurance, this one tests your ability to pay attention to nature’s details. By starting in the Shore biome, inspecting mushrooms carefully, and preparing with tools like Remedy Fungus, you’ll be able to secure the Mushroom Hat and prove your foraging skills. Play Now!
