99 Nights in the Forest Potion Making Update (October 2025) Release Date & Details
The Halloween celebration in 99 Nights in the Forest continues with the highly anticipated Potion Making Update, marking the second…
The Vamp mutation has become one of the most sought after Halloween exclusive mutations in Grow a Garden, and I’m here to guide you through every method to obtain it. As someone who’s spent countless hours farming during the Ghoul Garden event, I’ve tested both primary methods extensively and discovered several strategies that significantly increase your chances of getting this blood red mutation on your plants.
The Vamp mutation is a limited time Halloween event mutation that applies a spooky blood red fog effect to your crops while boosting their selling value. This mutation can only be obtained during the Ghoul Garden Halloween event through two specific methods: triggering the Bat Attack weather event via the Witch’s Cauldron or using the rare Hex Serpent pet.
| Method | Availability | Success Rate | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bat Attack Weather Event | Every alternate hour | High (affects multiple plants) | 5 minutes active |
| Hex Serpent Pet | Requires Divine pet + Hex Circle | Guaranteed every 12 minutes | Permanent method |
| Value Multiplier | 3x selling value | N/A | N/A |
| Event Period | October 11 – End of October 2025 | N/A | N/A |
The Vamp mutation is a Halloween Event exclusive mutation introduced in the Ghoul Garden update (v1.27.0) that transforms your crops with vampiric visual effects. When applied, your plants emit a distinctive blood red fog that creates an eerie, atmospheric appearance perfectly suited for the spooky season.
From a gameplay perspective, the Vamp mutation provides a 3x selling value multiplier to any affected crop. While this might not seem as impressive as some of the higher tier mutations in the game, the Vamp mutation serves a critical purpose: it’s required for certain Harvest Reaper event submissions, making it essential for completing Halloween achievements and maximizing event rewards.
The visual transformation is immediately noticeable. Your crops will be shrouded in crimson mist with shadow like particle effects swirling around them, giving your entire garden a haunted, vampire themed aesthetic that’s both visually striking and thematically appropriate for Halloween.
The Bat Attack weather event is the primary method for obtaining the Vamp mutation and operates as a cooperative, server wide activity. Unlike natural weather patterns that occur randomly in Grow a Garden, the Bat Attack event must be manually triggered by players working together to fill the Witch’s Cauldron.
Every alternate hour throughout the Halloween event, you’ll notice the Witch spawning at the center of the lobby, positioned dramatically beside her massive cauldron with a dead tree looming behind her. This marks the beginning of a one hour window where all players on the server can contribute to filling the cauldron’s progress bar.
Step 1: Wait for the Witch to Spawn
The Witch appears at the event hub every other hour starting from the top of the hour (12 AM, 2 AM, 4 AM, etc., in UTC time). She’ll remain present for exactly 60 minutes, giving you a full hour to contribute and trigger multiple Bat Attack events.
Step 2: Harvest and Collect Your Plants
Head to your garden and harvest as many fruits and plants as possible. The type and quality of what you submit matters significantly:
I recommend focusing on Uncommon and Rare tier plants at minimum. Common plants will work, but you’ll need far more of them to make meaningful progress.
Step 3: Submit Plants to the Witch’s Cauldron
Approach the Witch’s Cauldron and interact with it. You’ll see an option to “Submit All Fruit” which will deposit your entire inventory into the brew. The cauldron’s percentage will increase based on what you submitted, and you’ll see your contribution reflected on the progress bar floating above the cauldron.
Here’s the contribution breakdown I’ve observed:
Plants with valuable mutations (Gold, Rainbow, Celestial, etc.) can contribute even more, sometimes filling 15-20% of the bar with a single submission if you have high tier mutated crops.
Step 4: Wait for 100% Completion
This is where server cooperation becomes crucial. As the cauldron fills, you’ll see contributions from other players adding to the total. Communication helps immensely if you’re in a Discord server or have friends playing, coordinate your submissions to reach 100% faster.
Once the cauldron hits 100%, there’s a brief anticipation moment before the event triggers. You’ll see visual cues dark clouds gathering, ominous sound effects, and then the swarm arrives.
Step 5: Bat Attack Activates
When Bat Attack triggers, you’ll witness hundreds of bats swarming across the entire server. These bats will randomly descend upon gardens and apply the Vamp mutation to fully grown crops. The event lasts for exactly 5 minutes, during which:
During my testing, I found that approximately 40-60% of eligible plants in my garden received the Vamp mutation during a single Bat Attack event. The randomness means some players might get more or fewer mutations, but having more plants increases your overall chances.
Step 6: Repeat Every 5 Minutes
Here’s the game changing strategy most players miss: you can trigger Bat Attack multiple times within the same hour long Witch spawn window. As soon as one Bat Attack event ends, the cauldron resets to 0% and you can immediately start filling it again.
In a single hour with coordinated server effort, I’ve successfully triggered Bat Attack up to 12 times, resulting in nearly my entire garden obtaining the Vamp mutation. This is why having an active, cooperative server makes such a massive difference.
Beyond triggering Bat Attack, submitting plants to the Witch’s Cauldron provides direct rewards:
Players who contribute the most during the hour receive bonus rewards when the hour ends, incentivizing repeated participation even after you’ve obtained enough Vamp mutations.
The Hex Serpent is a Divine tier pet introduced in the Ghoul Garden 2 update and represents one of the most powerful mutation applying pets in the entire game. According to the official Grow a Garden wiki, the Hex Serpent can apply five different mutations: Zombified, Vamp, Bloodlit, Pestilent, and Celestial more than any other pet in the game.
This makes the Hex Serpent incredibly valuable not just for obtaining Vamp mutations, but for high value crop farming in general. The Celestial mutation alone provides a 120x multiplier, making any crop with that mutation extraordinarily valuable.
The Hex Serpent can only be obtained through the Gravedigging minigame, which appears every 2 hours beside the Harvest Reaper during the Halloween event. This minigame is pure RNG (random number generation), meaning there’s no guaranteed method to obtain the Hex Serpent you simply need luck on your side.
When the Gravedigging event spawns:
I spent approximately 8 hours over multiple days participating in Gravedigging events before finally obtaining my Hex Serpent. Some players have gotten it on their first try, while others have gone 20+ attempts without success. Patience is essential.
Alternative acquisition methods:
Once you’ve obtained the Hex Serpent, you can’t simply place it in your garden and expect Vamp mutations. You need the Hex Circle cosmetic to activate its ritual ability.
Step 1: Purchase the Hex Circle
The Hex Circle is available at the Devilish Decor shop located in the Halloween Market. The Halloween Market spawns every hour at the event hub and remains accessible for 15 minutes.
Cost breakdown:
Step 2: Place the Hex Circle in Your Garden
Once purchased, go to your garden’s cosmetic menu and place the Hex Circle. Choose a strategic location where you have easy access and can quickly replant crops. The Hex Circle creates a visible circular pattern on the ground this is your ritual zone.
Step 3: Plant Single Harvest Crops Inside the Circle
This is crucial: the Hex Circle requires exactly five single harvest plants placed within its boundaries to activate the ritual. Single harvest plants are any crops that produce one fruit and then are removed (like Carrots, Potatoes, Corn, etc.).
My recommendations for optimal results:
Step 4: Place Your Hex Serpent Pet
Position your Hex Serpent pet near the Hex Circle. Pet positioning in Grow a Garden can affect ability application, so keeping the Hex Serpent close to the circle ensures consistent ritual triggering.
Step 5: Wait for the Ritual
Every 12 minutes, the Hex Serpent will perform its ritual. You’ll see dramatic visual effects dark energy swirling, the Hex Serpent moving to the center of the circle, and then the five plants being consumed in a supernatural display.
When the ritual completes:
The mutation application appears to be random and affects crops throughout your entire garden, not just those within the Hex Circle. During my testing, I observed approximately 3-7 plants receiving mutations per ritual, with Vamp being one of the more common results.
Step 6: Replant and Repeat
Immediately replant five single harvest crops in the Hex Circle to prepare for the next ritual in 12 minutes. This creates a consistent, automated system for obtaining Vamp mutations every 12 minutes throughout your play session.
| Factor | Hex Serpent Method | Bat Attack Method |
|---|---|---|
| Consistency | Guaranteed every 12 minutes | Requires server cooperation |
| Mutation Quantity | 3-7 plants per ritual | 40-60% of garden per event |
| Setup Cost | Requires Divine pet + 500 Candy Corn | Free (just harvest and submit) |
| Time Investment | 12-minute intervals | 5-minute events (repeatable hourly) |
| Additional Mutations | Can apply 5 different mutations | Only applies Vamp |
| Best For | Solo players, consistent farming | Large scale mutation farming, active servers |
In my experience, Bat Attack is superior for quickly obtaining Vamp mutations on many plants, especially if you have an active server. However, the Hex Serpent method is better for sustained, consistent mutation farming and has the added benefit of potentially applying much more valuable mutations like Celestial (120x multiplier).
The most game changing tip I can offer is to find and join an active, cooperative server. When multiple players are working together to fill the Witch’s Cauldron, you can trigger Bat Attack events every 5-7 minutes instead of every 15-20 minutes with solo effort.
How to find active servers:
During one particularly successful session, my server managed to trigger 10 Bat Attack events in a single hour, resulting in over 200 Vamp mutations across my garden. The difference between solo and cooperative play is staggering.
Not all plants are equal when it comes to obtaining Vamp mutations. Here’s what I’ve learned through extensive testing:
For Bat Attack submissions:
For receiving Vamp mutations during Bat Attack:
For Hex Serpent ritual sacrifices:
The Halloween event operates on specific timing windows that you should align with:
Witch spawn hours: Every other hour (12 AM, 2 AM, 4 AM, 6 AM, 8 AM, 10 AM, 12 PM, 2 PM, 4 PM, 6 PM, 8 PM, 10 PM UTC)
Optimal play windows:
Halloween Market spawns: Every hour for 15 minutes
Plan your sessions to coincide with Witch spawn hours if your goal is maximizing Vamp mutations. Even 15-20 minutes of focused farming during these windows can net you 50+ Vamp mutations if the server is active.
One of my biggest discoveries was that multi harvest plants are significantly more efficient for Vamp mutation farming. Here’s why:
When Bat Attack occurs, each individual fruit on a multi harvest plant can potentially receive the Vamp mutation. If you have a plant that produces 5 fruits, all 5 might get the Vamp mutation during a single Bat Attack event.
Best multi harvest plants for Vamp farming:
Keep several multi harvest plants permanently growing in your garden. They’ll accumulate Vamp mutations over multiple Bat Attack events, and since they don’t need replanting, you’re not wasting time between events.
If you’re using the Hex Serpent method, optimization is key:
Setup checklist:
Advanced technique: Plant your five ritual crops, then immediately plant additional cheap crops throughout your garden. When the ritual triggers, it might apply Vamp to these additional plants, maximizing your mutation yield per ritual cycle.
Don’t choose between Hex Serpent and Bat Attack use both simultaneously. Keep your Hex Serpent ritual running on its 12-minute cycle while also participating in Bat Attack events when the Witch spawns. This dual approach maximizes your overall Vamp mutation acquisition rate.
During one 3-hour play session, I combined both methods and obtained the Vamp mutation on over 300 plants. This strategy is particularly effective if you’re trying to complete Harvest Reaper event requirements that demand specific numbers of Vamp mutated crops.
Let’s break down the practical value of the Vamp mutation:
Selling value: The 3x multiplier is modest compared to elite mutations like Shocked (100x), Celestial (120x), or Cosmic (240x). If your primary goal is maximizing Sheckles (the game’s currency), Vamp is not the most efficient mutation.
For a baseline example:
However, the Vamp mutation’s true value lies elsewhere:
The Harvest Reaper event is the primary reason you need Vamp mutations. This event appears every hour during Halloween and presents 25 ritual plates, each requesting specific plants some of which must have the Vamp mutation applied.
If you cannot provide the requested Vamp mutated plants:
I’ve seen Harvest Reaper requests like:
Without adequate Vamp mutations in your garden, you’ll be scrambling to obtain them between Harvest Reaper spawns, potentially missing out on rewards entirely.
For players who care about aesthetics and completion, the Vamp mutation is essential:
Several Halloween event achievements specifically require obtaining and submitting Vamp mutated plants. If you’re aiming to complete all 26 Halloween achievements to earn the unique Pumpkin Fence cosmetic, you’ll need dozens of Vamp mutations.
Yes, the Vamp mutation is absolutely worth getting for the following players:
✅ Anyone participating in the Halloween event
✅ Players completing Harvest Reaper challenges
✅ Achievement hunters aiming for 100% completion
✅ Aesthetic focused gardeners who love Halloween themes
✅ Traders who want valuable mutated crops
The Vamp mutation might not be worth intensive farming for:
❌ Players purely focused on maximizing Sheckles
❌ Casual players who won’t complete Harvest Reaper events
❌ Those who already have hundreds of Vamp mutations
For most active players during the Halloween event, I strongly recommend obtaining at least 50-100 Vamp mutations across various plant types. This ensures you’re prepared for any Harvest Reaper requests and won’t miss limited time rewards.
I made this error early on I used Legendary and Epic plants inside the Hex Circle, thinking higher rarity would increase mutation chances. It doesn’t. The ritual consumes whatever plants are in the circle regardless of value, and mutation application to other plants appears random.
Solution: Only use cheap, abundant single harvest plants like Corn or Carrots for rituals. Save your expensive crops for growing and mutating outside the circle.
Solo farming Bat Attack events is incredibly inefficient. Without cooperation, filling the cauldron can take 15-20 minutes, limiting you to 2-3 Bat Attacks per hour instead of 10-12.
Solution: Use chat to coordinate. A simple “Let’s fill the cauldron together!” message can turn a dead server into an active farming community.
During my first Bat Attack event, I made the rookie mistake of harvesting plants as soon as they got the Vamp mutation, thinking I needed to collect them immediately. This is wrong Bat Attack can apply multiple mutations to the same plant if it’s multi harvest.
Solution: Let Bat Attack run its full 5-minute duration before harvesting. Multi harvest plants will accumulate mutations on multiple fruits, maximizing your yield.
The Halloween Market only appears for 15 minutes every hour. If you miss the window, you can’t purchase the Hex Circle or other essential items.
Solution: Set reminders for market spawn times (every hour at :00). Prioritize visiting immediately when it spawns to avoid missing limited stock items.
Showing up to a Witch spawn with only 10-20 plants means you’ll spend most of the hour replanting instead of contributing. This limits your Bat Attack triggers and mutation yields.
Solution: Before Witch spawn hours, harvest and stockpile 100-200 plants in your inventory. This ensures you can make multiple large contributions without constant replanting breaks.
Through extensive observation, I’ve determined the following about Bat Attack targeting:
The randomness means luck plays a significant role, but having more eligible plants increases your statistical chances of receiving more Vamp mutations per event.
Vamp mutations can stack with most other mutations, but not all. Here’s what I’ve confirmed:
Vamp CAN stack with:
Vamp follows standard mutation stacking formula: Total Multiplier = Variant × (1 + ΣMutations Number of Mutations)
Example calculation:
This means combining Vamp with high value variants and mutations can create incredibly valuable crops, making the 3x multiplier more impactful when properly stacked.
Vamp mutated plants are immediately recognizable by their distinctive blood red fog effect. Even from across your garden, you can spot which plants have received the mutation. The fog particles continuously emit from the crop, creating a swirling mist effect that’s both eerie and beautiful.
If you’re colorblind or have difficulty distinguishing the red fog, hovering your cursor over any single harvest crop or using the Magnifying Glass gear will display all applied mutations in text form.
While this guide focuses on Vamp mutations, it’s worth knowing about the other Halloween exclusive mutations:
Applied by the Ghost Bear pet, which can be purchased from the Creepy Critters shop in the Halloween Market. The Ghost Bear applies Spooky mutations every 18 minutes to random plants.
Visual: Creates a ghostly white aura with floating spirit particles Best use: Higher multiplier than Vamp, also required for some Harvest Reaper submissions
Applied by the Great Pumpkin crop which mutates nearby plants with Ghostly effects every 5 minutes.
Visual: Semi transparent appearance with ethereal glow Best use: Aesthetic appeal, some Harvest Reaper requests
Rarely seen in regular gameplay primarily from special pets or admin events.
Visual: Decaying, darkened appearance Best use: Extreme rarity makes it valuable for collectors
All three Halloween mutations (Spooky, Ghostly, Vamp) can be submitted to the Jack-O-Lantern NPC that appears every 2 hours. The Jack-O-Lantern rewards you with Candy Corn, Spooky Eggs, or Pumpkin Crates in exchange for Halloween themed plants or mutated fruits.
The Vamp mutation is exclusive to the Halloween event, which runs from October 11 through the end of October 2025. Once the event concludes, you cannot obtain new Vamp mutations, but any plants you’ve already mutated will retain the Vamp effect permanently.
No, the Vamp mutation cannot be obtained outside the Halloween event period. The Bat Attack weather event and Hex Serpent’s Vamp application are both tied exclusively to the Ghoul Garden Halloween event. However, if you obtain Vamp mutated plants during the event, they’ll keep the mutation permanently even after Halloween ends.
For maximum value, apply Vamp mutations to high tier multi harvest plants like the Great Pumpkin, Crimson Thorn, or any Prismatic/Transcendent crops you own. For Harvest Reaper submissions, focus on obtaining Vamp mutations across multiple rarity tiers (Rare, Epic, Legendary) to ensure you can fulfill any request.
Yes! Vamp mutations stack with Gold (20x) and Rainbow (50x) variants, significantly multiplying the total crop value. A Rainbow Vamp plant with additional mutations can easily reach 500x-1000x+ multipliers.
Harvest Reaper requests vary, but I recommend having at least 50-100 Vamp mutated plants across different rarity tiers. This ensures you’re prepared for any submission request without scrambling between spawns.
Yes, mutated plants can be traded with other players. High tier plants with multiple valuable mutations (including Vamp) are especially sought after during the Halloween event.
No, mutations only affect the visual appearance and selling value of crops. They don’t change growth rates, harvest quantities, or any other gameplay mechanics beyond price multipliers.
Once harvested, the Vamp mutation is removed and the plant returns to normal. The mutation is applied to the specific fruit/crop instance, not the seed or plant permanently. You’ll need to reapply the mutation to newly grown crops.
The Vamp mutation represents one of the most thematically fitting and mechanically important additions to Grow a Garden’s Halloween event. While its 3x multiplier might seem modest compared to elite mutations, the requirement for Harvest Reaper submissions and limited availability makes it essential for any serious Halloween event participant.
Throughout my extensive testing and farming during the Ghoul Garden event, I’ve obtained over 400 Vamp mutations using a combination of the Bat Attack method and Hex Serpent pet. The strategies outlined in this guide particularly server coordination for Bat Attack events and efficient Hex Serpent setup can help you achieve similar results.
Remember that the Halloween event is time limited. Prioritize obtaining Vamp mutations early in the event window so you’re prepared for all Harvest Reaper submissions and achievement requirements. Whether you’re a completionist collector, a Sheckles focused farmer, or simply someone who loves the spooky aesthetic, the Vamp mutation deserves a place in your Halloween garden.
Good luck with your farming, and may the bats bless your garden with crimson fog!
