For those who have meticulously crafted countless Sims, built architectural marvels, and guided their digital families through generations of mundane triumphs and tragedies, the routine can, at times, feel… predictable. Eleven years into The Sims 4`s storied existence, the call for something beyond the ordinary grows louder. Thankfully, Maxis has heeded this call, steadily weaving a rich tapestry of the supernatural into the fabric of Sim-life. No longer are we confined to the simple human experience; a veritable pantheon of occult possibilities now awaits. From the immortal allure of Vampires to the primal howl of Werewolves and the newfound enchantment of Fairies, transforming your Sim into a creature of myth is now entirely within reach.
This guide delves deep into the various supernatural life states available, detailing their unique mechanics, inherent advantages, perplexing drawbacks, and the curious methods of embracing or escaping their extraordinary existence. Prepare to shake up your gameplay, embrace the bizarre, and perhaps even bend the rules of reality itself.
The Path to the Peculiar: Embracing an Occult Identity
The journey to becoming an occult Sim often begins with a choice, or perhaps, a twist of fate. While some identities can be embraced directly in Create-A-Sim (CAS), others require a more interactive approach within the game world. Furthermore, the supernatural lineage can be passed down through generations. When two occult Sims of the same type procreate, their offspring is guaranteed to inherit their powers. A union between an occult Sim and a normal human carries a 50% chance of a supernatural birth. However, beware the perplexing biology of mixed occult parents: a Vampire and a Werewolf will produce a child that is either one or the other, never a hybrid. The Sims 4, in its infinite wisdom, maintains a strict “one occult at a time” policy, a design choice that certainly encourages focused role-playing, or, for the more adventurous, a foray into the expansive world of community-made modifications that laugh in the face of such limitations.
1. Vampires: The Eternal Night Shift (Vampires DLC)
Embrace the pale elegance and ancient power of the Vampire. No more pesky hunger pangs or the indignity of bathroom breaks; your needs transform into Vampire Energy and Thirst. Immortality is a rather compelling perk, allowing you to witness epochs unfold from your gothic mansion. However, eternal life comes with its classic caveats: the searing touch of sunlight, the insidious discomfort of garlic, and a constant, insatiable thirst for plasma. Failure to quench this thirst can lead to a rather undignified feral rampage, a social faux pas best avoided.
- Becoming One: Create in CAS, or simply ask a friendly (or persuasive) Vampire to turn you.
- Perks of the Predicament: Immortality, unique skill tree with powerful abilities (e.g., mist form, emotional dampening), and the delightful ability to skip sleep and baths. The emotional dampening perk is particularly useful for avoiding existential dread after outliving your entire family tree.
- Burdens of the Bloodline: Sunlight is lethal, regular food causes illness, and constant blood consumption is a must. Progressing your powers often requires selecting negative perks, ensuring the path of vampirism is rarely a comfortable one.
- Escaping the Embrace: Max out your Vampire Lore skill, then mix and drink the “Ultimate Vampire Cure” at any bar. Back to mortality you go!
2. Werewolves: Howl at the Moon (Werewolves DLC)
For those who prefer primal instincts over aristocratic elegance, the Werewolf offers a uniquely untamed experience. Your Sim will develop a “Fury” meter, a volatile gauge that swells with mood swings and lunar cycles, eventually triggering a full, glorious transformation into a beast. Each Werewolf possesses a unique “temperament” that dictates what truly riles them up – a fascinating psychological insight into the mind of a digital beast. Unlike the solitary Vampire, Werewolves thrive in packs, a social structure critical to their happiness.
- Becoming One: Create in CAS, or receive a transformative bite from an existing Werewolf.
- Wild Advantages: Unique skill tree and dormant abilities (like burrowing through the ground for rapid travel, or, rather inexplicably, eating furniture). Once mastered, Werewolves also gain effective immortality, simply aging but never truly dying of old age.
- Furry Foibles: Managing the Fury meter can be a social nightmare in early stages, leading to rampages that decimate friendships and public perception. The gameplay is certainly a significant departure from standard Simming, perhaps a bit too much for some.
- Taming the Beast: Unlock the “Lunar Epiphany” dormant ability by delving into Werewolf tomes. This allows for a return to human form.
3. Fairies: Whimsical Wonders (Enchanted by Nature DLC)
The newest addition to the occult roster, Fairies bring a touch of ethereal magic and profound gardening prowess. These nimble beings forego the mundane needs of eating and bladder control, instead managing an “Emotional Force” bar, a delicate energy source that, if depleted, can lead to their surprisingly easy demise. Their powers range from influencing others` emotions and healing ailments to rapidly accelerating plant growth, making them the ultimate green-thumbed puppeteers.
- Becoming One: Create in CAS, or embark on a charming quest involving a Fairy Seedling, Mother Nature, and the enigmatic Moondrop Springs.
- Enchanting Efficacy: Unparalleled gardening efficiency, potent emotional manipulation, and the sheer joy of flight. Their chaotic potential for social mischief is a highlight.
- Flickering Flaws: The fragility of their “Emotional Force” can lead to accidental self-termination if not carefully managed. A powerful fairy is a careful fairy.
- Shedding the Shimmer: The process is a charming mirror of their transformation: summon Mother Nature via a Fairy Seedling, ask her to remove the charm, and revisit Moondrop Spring.
4. Spellcasters: Masters of Mysticism (Realm of Magic DLC)
The Spellcasters are arguably the most versatile and overtly powerful occult type, offering a vast array of magical abilities and alchemical concoctions. Beyond a unique skill tree, Spellcasters individually learn spells and potion recipes, transforming mundane tasks into magical feats – instant repairs, object duplication, and even a Potion of Immortality, because who has time for aging? The only real “downside” (if one can call it that) is the “spellcaster charge” meter, which increases the likelihood of a spell backfiring, potentially with explosive results. An occupational hazard, one might say.
- Becoming One: Create in CAS, seek the Rite of Ascension from a sage in the Magic Realm, or be initiated by a powerful fellow Spellcaster.
- Unrivaled Utility: Unmatched convenience for daily life (cleaning, repairing, needs fulfillment), the ability to grant immortality, and even revive the deceased. In essence, becoming a Spellcaster is a pure upgrade to the Sim experience.
- The “Danger” of Divinity: Only the “spellcaster charge” meter offers a semblance of risk, making this perhaps the most “overpowered” occult choice.
- Relinquishing Rites: Request the Rite of Dissolution from a sage. Should you choose to return to magic later, your power level is retained, though skill perks need re-selection.
5. Aliens: The Disguised Neighbors (Get to Work DLC)
Aliens stand apart from the other occult types, possessing a more subtle set of supernatural traits. They come with distinctive blue or purple skin, a unique empathetic ability to discern and even mimic others` emotions, and the curious power to transmute metals and crystals. Unlike others, Aliens don`t have a dedicated skill tree or dramatic transformations; they are simply… different. Their primary unique “feature” might just be the occasional forced abduction and subsequent alien pregnancy, a truly universal experience for some male Sims.
- Becoming One: Born as an Alien, or created in CAS. Existing Sims cannot turn into Aliens, though male Sims can experience alien pregnancy via abduction.
- Subtle Strengths: Empathetic understanding, material transmutation, and the ability to seamlessly blend into human society with a disguise. It`s essentially a Sim with extra flair, minus the dramatic downsides.
- Absence of Adversity: No significant cons. Their existence is largely “normal” with a few added bonuses, making them perhaps the least disruptive, and thus least occult, of the occult types.
6. Mermaids: Sirens of Sulani (Island Living DLC)
Embrace the aquatic life as a Mermaid, swapping legs for a magnificent tail when in water. Your hunger need is replaced by a hydration meter, demanding constant moisture to survive. Mermaids are masters of the ocean, swimming with incredible speed, conversing with fish and dolphins, and even possessing the power to subtly influence the weather. For those with a darker inclination, there`s also the option to lure unsuspecting swimmers to a watery demise – a charming trait for a family-friendly game, indeed.
- Becoming One: Create in CAS, born a Mermaid, or consume “Mermadic Kelp” found in the world or purchased as an aspiration reward.
- Oceanic Opportunities: Exceptional swimming speed, unique interactions with marine life, weather manipulation, and a distinct aesthetic. Ideal for players focusing on Sulani life.
- Dry Dilemmas: The hydration meter can be a constant concern, especially away from large bodies of water. Irony dictates that chlorinated pools and hot tubs actually dehydrate them, forcing a reliance on natural waters or constant showering.
7. Ghosts: The Ever-Present Apparitions (Life & Death DLC)
The ultimate transition from the mundane to the truly extraordinary: dying. Once a Sim passes on, they can linger as a Ghost, a glowing, ethereal spirit with no physical presence. This opens up the Ghost Mastery skill tree, allowing them to choose a path of benevolent haunting or mischievous poltergeist activity. From replenishing living Sims` needs to inducing nightmares or saving lives, Ghosts offer a unique, posthumous gameplay experience.
- Becoming One: Die. (No, really, that`s the primary method.)
- Spectral Strengths: Walk through walls (and other Sims), perform jump scares, choose between positive (e.g., blessing Sims, saving lives) or negative (e.g., cursing objects, nightmares) abilities. Occult Sims who die from their weaknesses (e.g., a Vampire from sunlight) retain their original occult powers as a Ghost, adding layers of complexity.
- Liminal Limitations: While largely unrestricted, Ghosts cannot, for instance, have children, which seems a reasonable limitation for a non-corporeal entity.
- Returning to the Realm of the Living: Ghosts are surprisingly curable. Options include consuming Ambrosia, being brought back by a “Book of Life,” a Spellcaster`s “Dedeathify” spell, or even reincarnating by swimming in the waters of Revenwood.
The Sims 4`s evolution into a playground for the supernatural has significantly broadened its appeal and longevity. These occult life states offer not just new abilities, but entirely new ways to conceptualize and play your Sims. Whether you crave immortality, primal strength, whimsical charm, magical mastery, alien detachment, aquatic grace, or simply a mischievous afterlife, there`s an extraordinary path waiting to be explored. So, go forth, embrace the bizarre, and let your Sims live (or un-live) their most extraordinary lives. The mundane is, after all, simply a state of mind – and a choice easily undone with the right DLC.
Ellis Thorne