Released November 2, 2026 · Update 1.2
Brotato: Primal Dread DLC Guide
Brotato's second DLC sends you into the Jungle: 20 new waves of dinosaurs, elites and bosses, 10 new characters, 17 new weapons, 40 new items (including 3 Pets and the Fossil set) and the new Evolution stat. Here is every new character with exact in-game stats and how to unlock them.
All 10 Primal Dread Characters
Stats as shown on the in-game character selection screen (v1.2).

Veteran
Unlocked by default
- +1% Damage for every 1% of missing health
- +2 Horde waves every 10 waves
- HP is not restored between waves
- -100 HP Regeneration
- -100% Life Steal
- Fruits are not attracted at the end of waves
Veteran build guide →

Archaeologist
Unlocked by default
- 4 dig sites appear on the map each wave, stay on one for 5 to 6 seconds to dig up a crate
- Gain 75% more materials from recycling crates
- +3% XP Gain for every crate collected
- +25% pickup range
- -50% materials dropped from enemies
Archaeologist build guide →

Droid
Unlocked by default
- Damage taken removes materials instead of HP. You die when you run out of materials
- Can only evolve on the Mecha side
- +1 mecha part when you level up
- +5% Enemy damage when you level up
- No upgrade when leveling up
- +1 Evolution at the end of a wave
Droid build guide →

Time Shifter
Unlocked by default
- You can shift time when you take damage
- Some waves come out of order (the first and final waves never move)
- +5% Speed
- % Dodge modifications are reduced by 100%
Time Shifter build guide →

Variant
Unlocked by default
- -25% XP Gain
- Can only evolve on the Mutant side
- Automatically mutate once at the end of each wave
- 50% chance that a mutating item is replaced by a mutated item of a better tier
Variant build guide →

Caveman
Unlock: Equip 5 fossils in a single run
- There is a permanent obscuring fog increasing each wave
- You can burn your weapons to increase the visibility of the obscuring fog
- You can't equip ranged weapons
- Burning weapon gives bonus damage on primitive weapons based on tiers [1,2,4,8]
Caveman build guide →

Arsonist
Unlock: Have 12 fire puddles on the ground at the same time
- Explosions leave a puddle of fire that scales with explosion size, dealing 4x4 (+100%) burning damage
- 50% chance for enemies dying while burning to leave a puddle of fire dealing 4x4 (+100%) burning damage
- +5% Speed
- Melee Damage modifications are reduced by 100%
- Ranged Damage modifications are reduced by 100%
- Engineering modifications are reduced by 100%
Arsonist build guide →

Poacher
Unlock: Kill 20 different enemy types in the Jungle
- Add 1 hunting area which gives +3% Damage for every 15 enemies killed inside
- -50% materials dropped by enemies killed inside the hunting area
Poacher build guide →

Survivor
Unlock: Pick up 10 crates in a single run
- Crate loot gives weapon
- No weapon in the shop
- You can equip up to 8 weapons at a time
- More trees spawn
- +25% chance to find crates
- -25% materials dropped
- Choose 1 additional starting weapon
- -2 HP recovered from consumables
Survivor build guide →

Mad Scientist
Unlock: Win a run with Variant and a run with Droid
- Every Evolution change counts as positive and feeds both the Mecha and the Mutant side. Enemies can evolve into either camp with equal chance
- +2 Evolution at the end of a wave
- -5% XP Gain at the end of a wave
Mad Scientist build guide →
The Evolution Stat: Mecha vs Mutant
Evolution is pushed by picking up drops on the map. Every point makes the Jungle's dinosaurs evolve — new looks, new attacks — but also gives you a bonus depending on the path.
🤖 Mecha path
- Pick up Mecha parts to mechanize your weapons and gain extra stats each time.
- Dismantle mechanized weapons in the shop to get even more Mecha parts.
- Enemies become mecha dinosaurs that shoot lasers and leave slowing oil puddles.
- Specialist: Droid (Mecha side only).
🧪 Mutant path
- Pick up Mutagens (green flasks from mutant enemies) for a chance to copy your items, multiplying their effects.
- Enemies become mutant dinosaurs that spread acid.
- Patch 1.2.0.1: Mutagen base drop chance raised from 2% to 3%.
- Specialist: Variant (Mutant side only). Mad Scientist feeds both sides.
New Weapons in Primal Dread
New Items in Primal Dread
The Jungle Map
- 20 new waves with new dinosaur enemies, elites and bosses.
- Dinosaur stampedes: packs charge through the map as hordes.
- New hazard: holes in the ground — and flying dinosaurs that ignore them.
- Dig sites, crates and Fossils tie into the Archaeologist, Survivor and Caveman.
Free Update 1.2: Character Buffs & Item Sets
Released alongside the DLC for everyone. The new Item Set menu (on the character selection screen) lets you toggle DLC and update content on or off. Older characters received these buffs:
- Farmer: Now starts with a Garden.
- Beast Master: Now starts with an additional Rat pet (Ratzilla).
- Dwarf: Gains Engineering every 5 kills instead of every 6.
- Hiker: Gains 5 materials every 8 steps instead of 10; Speed penalty removed.
- Druid: Fruit spawn chance increased from 3 to 4.
- Fisherman: Material drop penalty reduced from -50% to -40%.
- Diver: Enemy health modifier reduced from 250% to 200%.
- One Armed: Your weapon counts as 3 extra weapons of its classes for set bonuses.
Also: Nightmare enemies nerfed, the chance to be offered a weapon you already own went from 20% to 23%, and Revolver, Combat Shotgun, Chain Gun, Chainsaw and Grenade Launcher keep reducing their long reload with Attack Speed.
Also New in 2026: Nightmare, Wounded & Railgun
The free All Pain No Gain update (May 2026) added the Nightmare difficulty above Danger 5 (unlocked after 10 Danger 5 wins with different characters or maps), the one-hit glass cannon Wounded and the Railgun, which gains damage every 5 seconds as long as you don't get hit.
Primal Dread FAQ
When was Brotato: Primal Dread released?
Primal Dread launched on November 2, 2026 for PC (Steam, Epic, GOG) at $3.99 / €3.99. Console and mobile versions are planned for early 2027. It requires the base game.
How many characters does Primal Dread add?
10 new characters: Veteran, Archaeologist, Droid, Time Shifter and Variant are available right away. Caveman, Arsonist, Poacher, Survivor and Mad Scientist have to be unlocked.
How do I unlock the Primal Dread characters?
Caveman: equip 5 fossils in a single run. Arsonist: have 12 fire puddles on the ground at the same time. Poacher: kill 20 different enemy types in the Jungle. Survivor: pick up 10 crates in a single run. Mad Scientist: win a run with Variant and a run with Droid.
What is the Evolution stat in Brotato?
Evolution is the new Primal Dread stat. You raise it by picking up Mecha parts or Mutagens dropped on the map. It makes enemies stronger, but gives you a bonus: the Mecha path upgrades (mechanizes) your weapons with extra stats, the Mutant path randomly copies (mutates) your items to multiply their effects.
Do I need Primal Dread to play the Wounded?
No. The Wounded and the Railgun came with the free All Pain No Gain update (May 2026). The Wounded is unlocked by winning a run on the new Nightmare difficulty.