MUTATIONS & TRAITS
Every fish carries genes: a hue shift, a possible trait (rare bloodline), and a generation number. Merges breed the next generation, which can mutate into one of five prized bloodlines. Mutations are the reef's jackpot — visually distinct, codex-worthy, and worth a heavy pearl prize.
The five bloodlines
| Trait | Look | Prize (base) | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden | Gilded, warm gold across the whole fish | 320 — the crown jewel | most prized |
| Crystal | Pale, bright, translucent | 230 | rarest roll |
| Aurora | Shifting celestial hues | 180 | uncommon |
| Abyssal | Deep, desaturated, glowing cool | 140 | uncommon |
| Albino | White body, red eye | 110 | common trait |
The prize is a pearl bonus paid whenever a mutation appears, scaled by the fish's tier: prize × (1 + tier × 0.4). A Golden that lands at a high tier is a massive payout (e.g. Golden at tier 8 ≈ 320 × 4.2 ≈ 1,344 ✦), so rare high-tier golden fish are the reef's real jackpots. This is on top of the ×3 merge-gain multiplier mutations already earn.
How mutations happen
Genes pass to the child on every merge (childGenes):
- Pure line (both parents share a trait): ~70% the child keeps it.
- Carrier (one parent has a trait): ~35% the child inherits it.
- Spontaneous mutation: otherwise a base chance (~5%), tripled during a Mutation Surge (rewarded boost).
Mutations also roll on eggs, especially the Rare / Abyssal egg (which forces or boosts a trait). Hatching a mutation pays the same prize and shows a sparkle in its trait colour.
The Abyssal Codex
Every species × trait combination you discover is recorded permanently in the Codex (a grid of tinted sprites). Filling it is the collection meta-goal that survives every reef reset.