Alright, let's get this show on the road! We're diving headfirst into the fungal apocalypse in Plague Inc. on Brutal. Fungus can be a real pain in the neck, but with the right strategy, you can absolutely take over the world. Think of me as your go-to disease-spreading guru – let's break it down, shall we?
Conquering the World with Fungus in Plague Inc.: A Brutal Guide
The Fungus plague in Plague Inc. can seem daunting at first, but with a strategic approach, you can dominate the globe. This guide offers a comprehensive breakdown, incorporating practical advice, local context, and actionable steps to help you achieve global domination.
1. Choosing Your Fungal Toolkit: Selecting Your Genes
The success of your fungal outbreak hinges on the genes you select. These genes act as the foundation for your disease's capabilities. While experimentation is key, here's a recommended setup to get you started:
- DNA Gene:
- Metabolic Hijack: A lifesaver for automatically collecting DNA bubbles, especially the crucial orange and red ones.
- Cytochrome Surge: Provides a DNA boost from the orange bubbles, which can speed up your evolution significantly.
- Travel Gene:
- Suppression: Essential for keeping your spores undetected as they cross borders. Avoid early plane or ship upgrades; the fungus favors stealth.
- Evolution Gene:
- Patho-Stasis: Prevents DNA cost increases, especially crucial during the late game.
- Mutation Gene:
- Genetic Mimic or Creationist: Slows cure research down.
- Environment Gene:
- Extremophile: Provides a bonus in all environments, particularly valuable in landlocked regions. If unavailable, choose a gene beneficial to your starting country.
2. Setting Up Shop: Choosing Your Starting Country
Your starting country sets the pace for your fungal domination. While various choices work, consider these factors:
- Population Density: High density means quicker spread.
- Port Access: Allows easier access to island nations.
Here are some popular and effective starting locations:
- China: Offers high population density and access to ports.
- India: Similar benefits to China.
- Norway: Provides easier access to Greenland.
- Saudi Arabia: An underrated choice for its strategic location.
- South Africa: Another strategically advantageous starting point.
3. The Art of Damage Control: Keeping Symptoms Under Wraps
The core principle of the Fungus strategy is devolve, devolve, devolve! Avoid early detection by keeping your symptoms hidden. The cure research will accelerate if people catch on too quickly.
- Constant Monitoring: Regularly check the symptoms tab.
- Devolve Strategically: Devolve symptoms to slow cure research.
- Consider Translesion + Gene: If devolving becomes too expensive, this gene can help.
4. Building Your Disease Empire: Transmission and Resistance First!
Prioritize transmission and resistance during the early game. Don’t worry about casualties; focus on expanding your reach.
- Transmission:
- Air Transmission 1.
- Water Transmission 1.
- Consider Bird 1.
- Resistance:
- Drug Resistance 1.
- Heat Resistance 1.
- Cold Resistance 1.
Once these are established, start exploring Spore Burst.
5. Unleashing the Spore Burst Barrage
Spore Burst is your greatest asset for global spread. Each Spore Burst infects a new country, so use them strategically:
- Strategic Deployment: Utilize Spore Bursts to reach challenging, hard-to-access areas.
- Save for Later: Reserve some Spore Bursts for the endgame.
6. Fortifying Your Fungus: Improving Resistances
Once you have your transmission and spore abilities sorted, it's time to enhance your resistances. Your focus will be waiting for the fungus to spread, so invest in these:
- Drug Resistance 2.
- Heat Resistance 2.
- Cold Resistance 2.
- Environmental Hardening.
7. Spreading the Love: Amplifying Your Contagion (Increasing Transmission - Part Two)
Now that your fungus is resilient, expand your reach. Evolve the following:
- Air Transmission 2.
- Water Transmission 2.
- Extreme Bioaerosol: Critical for bypassing air and water filters.
8. Double Down on Devolving: More Symptom Suppression
Devolve, devolve, devolve! Continue suppressing symptoms until the entire world is infected.
9. The Grand Finale: Spore Burst and Spore Eruption
Seal the deal after your fungus is globally present.
- Strategic Targeting: Use remaining Spore Bursts and Spore Eruption on challenging countries like Greenland, Iceland, and Madagascar.
- Timing: Don’t waste them early.
10. The Waiting Game: Global Infection Countdown
Patience is vital. Don't evolve lethal symptoms before complete infection.
- Monitor Infection Levels: Wait until the world is almost entirely red and you receive the "No one is healthy" message.
- Account for Natural Disasters: Natural disasters can temporarily reduce the infected count.
11. The Death-Dealing Symphony: Evolving Lethal Symptoms
Once you achieve 100% infection, unleash the devastating symptoms:
- Prioritize Killing Symptoms:
- Coughing.
- Pneumonia.
- Pulmonary Edema.
- Pulmonary Fibrosis.
- Total Organ Failure.
- Coma.
- Insanity.
12. Slowing Down the Cavalry: Impeding the Cure
While mortality increases, impede cure progress:
- Genetic ReShuffle 1, 2, and 3.
- Genetic Hardening 1 and 2.