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FO4 UHR Mentats
Gameplay articles
FalloutMentats
Fallout 2Mentats
Fallout 3Mentats
Grape Mentats
Berry Mentats
Orange Mentats
Fallout: New VegasMentats
Party Time Mentats
Fallout 4Mentats
Grape Mentats
Berry Mentats
Orange Mentats
Psychotats
Bufftats
Fallout 76Mentats
Berry Mentats
Grape Mentats
Orange Mentats
Psychotats
Bufftats
Fallout: The Board GameMentats
Berry Mentats Fallout: New California
Grape Mentats Fallout: New California
Orange Mentats Fallout: New California
A pillbox of mind-altering chems. Increases memory related functions, and speeds other mental processes. Highly addictive.In-game description, Fallout

Mentats are a brand of nootropic chems in Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4, Fallout 76, Fallout Tactics, and Fallout: The Board Game.

Background[]

The chalky red tablets manufactured by Med-Tek Laboratories were a popular recreational drug before the Great War, favored by consumers for their effect on creativity.[Non-game 1][1] The active ingredient is a powerful nootropic that increases memory-related functions, and speeds other mental processes.[2] Students and those in other fields requiring intensive thought would also take Mentats for its mental benefits, though Mentats also had a reputation for being a drug for "beatniks and armchair philosophers," according to Judith Blackwell.[3][4][5] The effect of Mentants is temporary, leaving the user tired and sluggish once it wears off. The drug seems to have a profound effect on a developing adolescent mind, which results in a permanent and noticeable intelligence increase.[6][7] Mentats can further be used by those suffering from Alzheimer's disease to curb the degeneration of mind and keep the user sharp and lucid when they would otherwise be delirious and unattentive.[3] However, excessive consumption could also result in health complications, including recurring migraines from withdrawal and even worsening or developing debilitating neurological disorders.[8][9]

Coupled with a high addiction rate, Mentats were and still are a double-edged sword.[2] However, the high addiction rate of Mentats was of no concern to Med Tek and was designed as such. Med Tek would practice pre-seeding areas it planned on selling to with free drugs to further drive sales of Mentats brand (as well as its Fixer brand of addiction cure).[10] The seeding of areas predominantly targeted school districts, such as Shaw High School, where Principal Ronald Tanner would use both Rusty Burton and the book return system[11] to distribute Mentants around Shaw High school. To further target children, Med Tek started developing enticing fruit-flavored varieties and offering them as prizes to win at the National Archives after completing a basic history quiz.[12][13] Mentats were further advertised towards students in radio advertisements featuring children discussing using the chem.[14]

Mentats packages (available both as cardboard packs and tins)[15] sold well, with their popularity surviving the Great War and making them a popular drug across the wasteland. Some chemists even figured out how to iterate on the design and create special blends of Mentats.[16] The professor from Broken Hills allegedly developed an easy method to mass-produce Mentats, likely owing to its ubiquitous nature across the country, even years after production ceased.

Variants[]

Mentats[]

Chem Mentats
Fallout4 Mentats

Mentats are most useful for characters with low Intelligence and Perception, as they grant a useful bonus for both these SPECIAL stats. The downside is that they are addictive.

Grape Mentats[]

FO3 Mentats

These Mentats do not increase Intelligence and Perception; instead, they only increase Charisma.

Berry Mentats[]

FO3 Mentats

Berry Mentats do not have the Perception bonus that normal Mentats bring, only increasing Intelligence and in Fallout 4 provide enemy highlighting.

Orange Mentats[]

FO3 Mentats

Orange Mentats do not have the Intelligence bonus that normal Mentats bring, as they only increase Perception.

Party Time Mentats[]

FO3 Mentats
Gameplay article: Fallout: New Vegas

Party Time Mentats are a crafted variant of Mentats made by the Courier, requiring a Science skill of 50 and can be produced at any campfire.

Behind the scenes[]

The chem's name is a reference to Frank Herbert's novel Dune, in which "Mentats" are humans trained for computer-like mathematical and logical computations.

References[]

  1. Doctor Mobius: "I have such science-arific ideas while those chalky tablets are zipping through my biogel!".
    (Mobius' dialogue)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Fallout and Fallout 2 item description: "{5300}{}{Mentats}"
    "{5301}{}{A pillbox of mind-altering chems. Increases memory related functions, and speeds other mental processes. Highly addictive.}"
    (PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout), PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout 2))
  3. 3.0 3.1 Sam Blackwell's bunker terminal entries; Judy's terminal, Mentats Are Key
  4. The lecture halls of Vault-Tec University have many hidden stashes of mentats, especially on student sides of rooms.
  5. Mentats are a common find at the Big MT Research and Development Center
  6. Shaw High School terminal entries; Rusty Burton's school terminal
  7. Property of R. Burton
  8. Little Yangtze terminals; Little Yangtze log terminal, Elijah's journal - day 4
  9. Mobius suffers from acute dementia as a result of extremely prolonged Mentats and Psycho abuse.
  10. Med-Tek Research terminal entries; executive terminal, Sales Report Summaries
  11. Shaw High School rewards Mentats for book return tokens
  12. National Archives terminal entries; prize redemption terminal
  13. National Archives terminal entries; Administrator Berkeley's terminal, notice u89003
  14. Pirate Radio; Mentats advertisement
  15. In-game appearances.
  16. Different recipes available in Fallout: New Vegas and Fallout 4.

Non-game

  1. Fallout 2 Official Strategies & Secrets p. 74: "This party drug was once favored for the boost it gave to creativity—tune in, turn on, drop out. Mentats are just the ticket when you need to figure out something particularly perplexing or impress someone with your wits and charm. Mentats also sharpen your Perception, which greatly enhances long-range sniping attacks."
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