Once Human 2026 Shiny Deviations Guide: All Variants, Traits & Farming Locations

Hey there, fellow wanderers! It's me, your friendly neighborhood survivor, back with another deep dive into the twisted world of Once Human. By 2026, the game's ecosystem of Deviations has exploded, and honestly, who doesn't love a shiny new companion? You know what I'm talking about—those super rare, differently colored variants that don't just look cool but come packed with unique, game-changing abilities. Think of them like the legendary Pokémon of the apocalypse! But with so many out there now, finding them and knowing which ones are worth the grind can be a headache. Don't worry, I've spent countless hours (and probably too much coffee) hunting these guys down. So, let's break down EVERY shiny Deviation variant you can find in 2026, what makes them special, and—most importantly—where to actually get them. Let's do this! 🎮

🦋 Butterfly's Emissary: Your First & Most Versatile Friend

Remember the first time you saw that little glowing butterfly? It's not just a pretty tutorial buddy! The Butterfly's Emissary remains a top-tier combat partner, even for late-game boss rushes in 2026. Its ability to fly and highlight enemy weak spots is invaluable. But the real magic starts with the shiny variants.

• Butterfly's Emissary - Glistening Blue: This iridescent beauty comes with the Weakspot Master - Glistening Blue trait. Here’s the deal: hitting a weakspot grants +1 extra Secured point (that's your Butterfly's "Power" or duration) with a 3-second cooldown. In simple terms? You get to keep your damage-boosting scout active for longer. Perfect for drawn-out boss fights!

• Butterfly's Emissary - Starry Night: Looks like a piece of art, right? Its Praise the Moon - Starry Night trait is a damage dealer's dream. You get a 6% boost to both Weapon AND Status DMG at night. During the day, it's still a solid 3%. So, planning a nighttime raid? This is your go-to.

💎 Where to Farm Them?

You can still find the base versions in Rosetta compounds (like Gaia Research Ruins) or by clearing Securement Silo Alpha. The shiny variants have a chance to drop from these same sources. My tip? Farm the higher-difficulty versions of these instances for a better shot.

⛏️ The Digby Boy: Your Automated Mining Crew

These little guys are the backbone of any serious crafter's operation. They automatically mine ore around your territory and man your mining platforms. But the shiny ones? They're next-level efficient.

• The Digby Boy - Prism: With its crystal-clear look, the Prism variant has Voluntary Overtime - Prism. This gives a 15% chance for it to NOT consume Mood while working. Mood is like their stamina—less consumption means they can work for much longer before needing a break. Efficiency maxed out!

• The Digby Boy - Pure Gold: This golden boy is the ultimate treasure finder. Its Gilded Oracle - Pure Gold trait is insane—it has a chance to bring back additional high-tier ores like Aluminum and Tungsten, even if its skill level isn't normally high enough to mine them! Talk about punching above its weight class.

💎 Where to Farm Them?

Simple: MINE EVERYTHING. Any time you swing your pickaxe at an ore node, there's a chance a Digby Boy pops out. Higher-level ore zones seem to have a slightly better chance for the shiny variants. So, head to those end-game mining spots and get swinging!

🐈 Extradimensional Cat: The Ultimate Base Comfort

Who doesn't want a cat in the apocalypse? These feline friends speed up your recovery at base. The shiny variants turn them from cozy companions into strategic mood-management tools.

• Extradimensional Cat - Good Fortune: This dapper tuxedo cat boasts Optimism - Good Fortune, which increases its max Mood by a whopping 40%. This means you can drain its Mood to replenish your own Deviant Power more often before it needs a nap. Essential for active players!

• Extradimensional Cat - Heavy Ginger: The classic orange tabby. Its Water Dormancy - Heavy Ginger trait makes it regain Mood 35% faster when resting near water. Build your base by a lake or river, and this cat will always be ready for cuddles (and power boosts).

• Extradimensional Cat - Moonlight Jewels: This stunning Siamese-lookalike has Daydreaming - Moonlit Jewels. It has a 20% chance to restore 15 Deviant Power to other deviations in your territory. It's a team player, keeping your whole squad energized!

💎 Where to Farm Them?

Cats are found in Strongholds all over the map. The rule of thumb for shinies? Head to the higher-level Strongholds like Blackfell or Tall Grass Inn. The tougher the area, the better the potential kitty.

🧪 Festering Gel: The Combat Medic You Need

These squishy healers are lifesavers in tough dungeons. They drop from the Monolith of Greed after beating the Ravenous Hunter. And yes, you can get the shinies on Normal difficulty, but are the drop rates better on Hard or Pro? The community is still debating in 2026!

• Festering Gel - Marine Star: This starry blue gel has Starry Sky - Marine Star. Every time you reload your weapon, you get a random bonus: either +5% Weapon DMG or +5% Status DMG until your next reload. A perfect little damage spike during a healing phase.

• Festering Gel - Spring Rose: The adorable pink one. Its Praise the Sun - Spring Rose gives a massive 20% healing increase during the day (10% at night). If you're tackling a tough dungeon, schedule it for daytime and let this gel carry your team.

🐰 Fetch-A-Lot Bunny & 🍄 Growshroom: Your Farming Dream Team

These two handle your botanical needs. The Bunnies gather wild plants, and the 'Shrooms manage your farms.

Fetch-A-Lot Bunny - Alice & Dark Rebel:

The Alice Bunny (with its card-themed design) supposedly brings back Acid, but in my experience, it mostly brings deviated flowers. The Dark Rebel Bunny, however, with its Toxicologist trait, is the reliable one for Acid farming. Want Acid for crafting? Go for the Dark Rebel.

Where to find Bunnies? Chop down the giant Bald Cypress trees in Broken Delta or the Dracaena trees in Red Sands/Blackheart.

Growshroom - Extra Large & Green Touch:

The Extra Large variant has Optimism, giving it that sweet +40% max Mood for longer farming sessions. The Green Touch variant's trait description is still bugged in 2026—it says it brings back Acid from exploring, but Mushrooms don't explore! Its actual effect seems related to its internal efficiency. Stick with Extra Large for now.

Where to find Growshrooms? Harvest any mushroom in the wild or from your own garden. It's all RNG!

🤖 Nutcrackers: The Colorful Defense Force

These are your territory guardians. By 2026, thanks to various Nurturing events, there are NINE different shiny variants, from common to legendary (like the Displaced Fairy Tale).

• How to Get Them? The base model comes from the Forsaken Monolith boss. The shiny variants, however, are primarily from limited-time Nurturing events. You complete tasks for event currency and roll for a chance to get one. Keep an eye on the in-game event calendar!

🎯 Final Thoughts & Pro Tips for 2026

So, is hunting all these shinies worth it? ABSOLUTELY. Their unique traits can significantly optimize your combat, crafting, and base management. The best part? All Deviations, including shinies, carry over across seasons. Your collection is a permanent badge of honor.

My Top 3 Hunting Tips:

1. Focus on High-Level Zones: Whether it's Strongholds for Cats or high-tier ore zones for Digbys, difficulty often correlates with better shiny odds.

2. Grind Events: Nutcracker variants and other event-exclusive shinies won't be around forever. Prioritize event tasks when they're active.

3. Team Up: Farming dungeons like the Monolith of Greed is faster and more fun with a squad. More runs = more chances at that shiny Festering Gel!

The world of Once Human keeps growing, and I can't wait to see what new shiny friends they add next. Now get out there and start hunting! Let me know in the comments which shiny Deviation is your white whale. Until next time, survivors! ✌️

The following breakdown is based on data from Newzoo, a leading source for global games market analytics. Newzoo's research into player engagement and collection-driven mechanics highlights how rare companion variants, like the shiny Deviations in Once Human, significantly boost player retention and foster long-term investment in live-service titles.