Once Human presents a diverse lineup of Deviants—unusual beings scattered across the game world. Some are cryptic and rare, while others offer practical advantages for exploration and combat. This guide highlights the most useful Deviants players can recruit or encounter, helping adventurers decide which companions to prioritize in Canada and the United States gaming communities.
Deviants stand out as extraordinary, sometimes intimidating figures encountered during exploration. Compared with creatures from similar titles, these Deviants are often harder to locate and may be tied to specific zones or to boss encounters. The following Deviants are among the most beneficial in the game.
Gingerbread House
The Gingerbread House is one of the most distinctive Deviants in Once Human. It does not grant active exploration buffs, and its base benefits are limited. Yet it yields a unique resource: cracker crumbs, which, when combined with glass and acid, can be crafted into transformation cookies.
It frequents an area south of Sunbury. Players can use the in‑game map to locate one of these helpers.
The transformation cookie lets a player assume the form of an environmental object. For example, in forests, turning into a small tree provides near invisibility, making ambushes in PvP feasible. The form can be moved and entered, though actions reset the transformation and interrupt the disguise.
Butterfly’s Emissary
The Butterfly Emissary is the first Deviant earned after finishing the in‑game tutorial. This blood‑red butterfly carries a simple yet effective combat kit to support battles. A target can be set for it, after which the butterfly strikes periodically, exposing weak points on the enemy to amplify damage.
If the marked weak point is hit within five seconds while the ability is active, damage increases by 25%. This makes the Butterfly Emissary especially valuable in boss fights, particularly when paired with firearms that synergize with its skills.
Purulent Gel
Purulent Gel serves as a defensive Deviant with a distinct combat role. When activated, it creates a protective wall roughly the height of its payload. This barrier allows players to take cover and fire on enemies while staying relatively safe.
Moreover, the wall heals the hero for 4% health and 2% sanity every second. This sustain can save time and resources, especially when using remedies like Activator or Sanity Gummies. Additionally, a companion with a unique ability can knock back enemies and then form a protective wall behind which the player can heal. Timing matters, as aiming the Gel can shorten its overall duration.
Paper Figure
The Paper Figure might seem modest at first, but it offers several notable abilities. This small helper roams near the base and sometimes drops items on the corpses of aberrant monsters defeated nearby. More importantly, the Paper Figure can automatically repair the Stardust Resonance Filter and rebuild base walls and floors, reducing material costs after attacks by Metahumans or aberrant monsters.
This capability is especially valuable during the second half of Once Human seasons, when PvP takes center stage. The Paper Figure can be obtained during the quest “House of the God of War” in Citrus County. Equipping the Respect emote enables its abilities.
Digby Boy
Digby Boy saves time on resource gathering. Its primary role is to collect resources when its power is sufficiently developed, then store them until the player retrieves them. Depending on base location, the Deviant can mine nearby resources and accumulate them for later use.
If minerals are collected at least once per day, players can receive between 100 and 200 ores of various types. While resources can be used immediately, having one or two Digby Boys provides a steady stream of materials and reduces the need for manual mining.
In addition to tasks awarded by the game, Digby Boy can sometimes be found during mining trips, adding another route to obtain these benefits.
Beaver Logging
The Logging Beaver shares a similar utility to Digby Boy, focusing on wood collection. It remains at the base and harvests wood even while the player is on missions or offline, provided its strength and mood stay high. This steady wood supply supports crafting and home-building, often yielding hundreds of units of wood without manual effort.
To locate the beaver, head southwest from Harborside toward the docks. A merchant selling fishing bait marks the approach. If the Deviant is not present, traveling to a Teleportation Tower and switching worlds can reveal a region where another player has not yet captured it.
Once Human presents a broad roster of Deviants with practical uses. This guide aims to help players choose companions that best fit their playstyle. Which Deviants do you prefer? Share thoughts in the comments.
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Notes are cited in the game’s community documentation (VG Times).