Let’s be real for a second: when I first heard about “Meme Points” in Once Human, I thought the game was rewarding me for posting spicy memes in the global chat. I was ready to flood the feed with Shrekposting and disaster girl pics. Turns out, Meme Points (or Memetic Points, or Ciphers — the game can’t make up its mind) are the lifeblood of your survival journey. They unlock crafting recipes, base upgrades, and basically everything that stops you from living in a dirt hut eating raw glowing mushrooms. 😱

Since the game’s explosive debut back in 2024, the grind has evolved, but Meme Points remain the golden goose. By 2026, the meta for farming them is sharper than a freshly crafted blade, and I’ve gone from starving nobody to literal meme point millionaire. So grab your backpack, crack open a can of deviated cola, and let me walk you through the perfectly legal, totally not-cheating ways to drown in Meme Points.

Level Up Like a Giga-Brained Survivor

Leveling up is the bread and butter of Meme Point income. Every time you hear that sweet ding and see a new number pop up, you get a fat stack of them — especially in the early game. It’s like the game is lovebombing you with currency to get you hooked, and honestly? It works.

i-became-a-meme-point-mogul-in-once-human-heres-how-image-0

XP doesn’t farm itself, though. Here’s what I do to grind out levels without grinding my own soul into dust:

  • Slay Everything That Moves: Deviants, zombies, overly aggressive deer — if it has a health bar, it’s an XP piñata. Bonus points if you do it with style and a modded shotgun.

  • Journey Tasks Are Your Best Frenemy: These missions guide you through the world like a tutorial you can’t skip, and they shower you in XP. Sure, some ask you to craft 27 stone axes, but hey, that’s the price of fame.

  • Gather ’til Your Fingers Bleed: Chopping trees, mining ore, and picking flowers all drip-feed XP. It’s not glamorous, but after a few thousand logs, I ascended to a plane of existence where numbers go brrrr. 🔢

In the early access years, some folks thought the XP well would run dry, but by 2026 the game still rewards consistent play. Don’t sleep on side activities — they’re the secret sauce that turns a casual stroll into a level-up fiesta.

Seasonal Shenanigans: The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Seasons aren’t just about fresh weather and new haircuts. Each season is split into phases, and completing specific tasks earns you Mitsuko’s Marks — a kind of brownie point system that unlocks treasure troves of bonus Meme Points at certain thresholds (usually 70, 190, and 380 Marks). It’s like a battle pass, but without the guilt of selling your kidney for premium currency.

Here’s the ridiculous part: the tasks are things you’d do anyway. Cook a meal? That’s a Mark. Catch some Z’s in a lumpy bed? That’s a Mark. I once earned 50 Meme Points just because I decided to have a virtual nap. 😴 Best power nap of my life.

My seasonal rhythm:

  • Start Every Phase Day One: The early bird gets the worm, and by worm I mean easy Marks. Check the season menu religiously.

  • Stack Passive Actions: I combine multiple lifestyle chores in one session — cook 10 meals, rest three times, and harvest 200 corn — all while listening to a death metal playlist for peak immersion.

  • Seasonal Challenges = Jackpot: These rotate and range from “kill a world boss” to “emote in a thunderstorm.” They often reward big chunks of Marks, pushing you over those sweet, sweet threshold bonuses.

By 2026, the season structure has matured into a well-oiled meme-generosity machine. If you aren’t milking it, you’re leaving free points on the table. And nobody likes leaving a table full of points. That’s just rude.

Deviation Hunting: Catch ‘Em All, Get Paid

When you first capture a new Deviation — those adorable/horrifying anomaly creatures — the game throws confetti at you in the form of rewards: materials, gear, and a delightful pile of Meme Points. It’s basically Pokémon, except Pikachu might be a floating eyeball with an attitude problem.

i-became-a-meme-point-mogul-in-once-human-heres-how-image-1

I treat securing Deviations like a treasure hunt with a side of horror. The first time I bagged a rare one, I got enough Meme Points to unlock an entire crafting branch. Here’s how to optimize the spooky safari:

  • Track Down Uniques: Use community maps and scanner upgrades to find Deviations you haven’t collected. First-time captures are where the magic happens.

  • Breed for More: Some Deviations can be bred, and while subsequent generations may give smaller rewards, they still contribute to your Meme Point economy — and you get to play digital eugenics with demon bunnies. 🐇

  • Event Deviations Count: During seasonal events, limited-time Deviations often offer boosted point rewards. Mark your calendar and dive in.

Even in the current 2026 meta, no one has fully mapped every Deviant’s drop table, so a little mystery remains. Who knows? You might stumble on a glitched-out loaf of bread that makes you a meme point billionaire overnight. A survivor can dream.

Where the Magic Happens: The Memetic Tree

So you’ve amassed a dragon’s hoard of Meme Points. Now what? You spend them in the Memetic Tree — a sprawling skill interface that would make a skill tree from a JRPG blush. This is where you unlock crafting recipes, tool upgrades, building parts, and even fancy furniture so your base can look less like a post-apocalyptic trash pile and more like a post-apocalyptic IKEA showroom. 🛋️

My spending philosophy:

  • Prioritize Crafting Essentials: Advanced workbenches, storage upgrades, and weapon blueprints come first. You can’t fight a world boss with a decorative lamp (trust me, I tried).

  • Quality of Life > Vanity: Sure, that golden toilet is majestic, but unlocking better armor mods keeps your brains inside your skull. Balance is key.

  • Respec When Needed: The game occasionally hands out respec tokens. Use them if you accidentally turn yourself into a master chef with zero combat skills. Been there.

In 2026, the community has even built simulators that map out optimal Meme Point allocation paths. I prefer the chaotic approach of clicking whatever sparks joy, but hey, I’m a Meme Point mogul — I can afford to be eccentric.

Final Tips from a Meme Point Mogul 🎩

  • Don’t Hoard Forever: Points sitting in your wallet are just abstract numbers. Spend them to generate more value — better gear means faster leveling, which means even more points.

  • Keep an Eye on Patch Notes: The devs love to tweak reward rates. I once missed a doubled Meme Point weekend and cried into my ramen for an hour.

  • Join a Warband: Cooperative play often boosts XP gains and seasonal progress. Plus, having friends means someone else can tank while you clean up kills.

Farming Meme Points in 2026 is less about grinding and more about playing smart. Treat every activity as a potential piñata of currency, and soon you’ll be swimming in enough points to make the Memetic Tree look like a Christmas tree. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a golden toilet to craft. Happy farming, survivors! 💎

This discussion is informed by data referenced from SteamDB, where player-activity trends can help you time your Meme Point grind: hopping on during peak concurrent windows often means more public events, busier Warband groups, and faster clears for XP-heavy loops (level-ups, seasonal Marks, and first-time Deviation captures) that feed directly into your Memetic Tree progression.