For the character from the Fallout Tactics demo, see Psycho (character). |
This is an overview article, listing content appearing in multiple Fallout media. For information specific to a given game or TV series, consult the table on the right. |
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Psycho, colloquially termed "angry juice" and "the big red one,"[1] is a military-grade, performance-enhancing drug in all Fallout games.
Background[]
A military-grade performance drug, Psycho is provided in a unique delivery system that mixes strange chemicals of military origin immediately prior to injection.[2][3][4] The drug was created by a private company, operated as a research division of the United States Army, founded by General Constantine Chase. It entered combat use during the final stages of the Anchorage Reclamation, to reduce the impact of attrition on U.S. forces deployed to the Alaskan front. Its deployment was authorized by General Chase and his chief medical officer, Dr. Adrienn Adami, despite the clinical trials being incomplete at the time.[5]
Psycho's primary effect is an increase in damage resistance and dampening of higher brain functions, intended to create tough shock troops for human-wave assaults. The caveat is that the dampening effect also makes the soldiers hard to control.[6] Some variants of Psycho, based around similar chemicals, also increase combat performance by speeding up reflexes and bodily functions to allow the soldiers to deal more damage, though said variant precluded the damage resistance boost.[7] Both cause them to be particularly jumpy and aggressive.[8]
Due to the rushed nature of the drug's development and deployment, numerous side effects manifest as a result of Psycho usage. Chief among these is that the stimulant can cause users with weak hearts to suffer a fatal heart attack.[9][10] Long term effects include dementia, psychosis,[5] elevated levels of aggression, and general agitation. It may also cause internal damage.[11] Addiction aggravates the adverse symptoms.[12]
Long term Psycho addiction may progress to the point that standard treatment options available in the wasteland, such as Addictol, are no longer effective in treating the habit.[13]
Variants[]
Psycho[]
Depending on the game, Psycho will give different effects. In Fallout and Fallout 2, Psycho increases damage resistance, allowing users to survive more hits in combat. In Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas, Psycho increases the damage dealt. In the latter game, Psycho is an ingredient for the Slasher drug. In Fallout 4, Psycho acts like Slasher did in Fallout: New Vegas, boosting damage resistance as well as the Sole Survivor's damage output.
Slasher[]
Slasher is a chem that combines the effects of Med-X and Psycho into a single consumable. It is possible to combine the effects of Slasher with Med-X to gain a 50% total boost to damage resistance. It does not stack with Psycho.
Psychojet[]
Psychojet, like Slasher, combines two chems, Psycho and jet. Psychojet increases damage resistance and will slow time for ten seconds.
Psychobuff[]
Psychobuff is a combination of Psycho and Buffout which gives increases to Endurance, Strength, maximum health, and damage dealt.
Psychotats[]
Psychotats are a combination of Psycho and Mentats which gives an increase to Perception, as well as damage resistance.
Notes[]
Script notes for Razz in Fallout: New Vegas describe Psycho as similar to methamphetamine, but legally distinct from it.[14] It is unclear whether this is referring to a story element, or real-life legal distinctions such as that of Med-X and morphine.
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ The Courier: "Sgt. McCredie asked me to talk to you about getting your squad in shape."
Razz: "Yo, I'll tell you what this squad needs. A healthy dose of angry juice."
The Courier: "Angry... juice?"
Razz: "Psycho! The big red one! I used to run with the Fiends, I still got the hookups. Smuggle some in and you'll see an improvement."
(Razz's dialogue) - ↑ Fallout and Fallout 2 item description: "{11000}{}{Psycho}
{11001}{}{An unique delivery system filled with strange and unknown chemicals of probably military origin. It is supposed to increase the combat potential of a soldier.}"
(PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout), PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout 2)) - ↑ Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel item description: "name_psychoChem = {Psycho}
desc_psychoChem = {An unique delivery system filled with strange and unknown chemicals of probably military origin. It is supposed to increase the combat potential of a soldier.}"
(Items.txt) - ↑ Fallout 4 loading screens: "Originally developed by the United States military to increase soldiers' combat effectiveness, Psycho grants the user increased Damage output and Damage Resistance for a limited period of time."
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Holotape - Psycho
- ↑ Fallout 2 Official Strategies & Secrets p.75: "The drug was developed specifically for military use. It increases a soldier's damage resistance, and its dampening effect on higher brain functions makes for tough, but uncontrollable, troops. This drug was very popular for human-wave assaults. Take it just before a difficult combat, and then go someplace safe to sit out the aftereffects."
- ↑ Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas drug effects.
- ↑ Ricky: "Oh man, yeah! Trigger finger is feeling itch-ay! Come on, assholes! Show yourselves and Deadeye Ricky'll blow your fucking heads off!"
(Ricky's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "Add a little Psycho to his Jet, and he'd have a heart attack."
Dennis Crocker: "[SUCCEEDED] Remind me never to get on your bad side. If that's true, then yes, that would be a suitable way to get rid of him. However, it would involve gaining access to his personal drug stash and tampering with it unseen, which might pose a challenge."
(Dennis Crocker's dialogue) - ↑ Big Jesus Mordino and John Cassidy, both of whom have bad hearts, will die if they use Psycho.
- ↑ The Sole Survivor: "Okay, calm down and take a deep breath. If you're sick, I want to help you."
Cait: "Okay, okay... it's like this. Ever since I left home, I been usin' Psycho. I dunno why I'm still takin' that crap, but I can't stop... and believe me, I've tried. I can't even go a day without it anymore and I'm fuckin' sick and tired of it. I've even been doin' it behind your back.... sneakin' doeses when I think you aren't lookin'. Worst of all, it's been makin' me sick. I've been spittin' blood and I don't feel right inside. I need to get this shite out of me system before I wind up dead."
(Cait's dialogue) - ↑ The Courier: "Unwarranted hostility and general agitation. How long have you been a Psycho addict?"
Ricky: "[SUCCEEDED] Hey hey hey! Fuck you! I didn't say nothing about using Psycho!"
(Ricky's dialogue) - ↑ The Sole Survivor: "Can your psycho addiction be cured?"
Cait: "Normally, a wasteland doc could handle it, but I've been usin' the stuff so damn long they can't help me anymore. There's only one other way I know, but it's not gonna be easy. There's supposed to be a vault somewhere out here... a place called Vault 95. I've heard that Vault-Tec used it for some kinda social experiment... stuck a bunch of junkies inside to poke and prod. Well, they supposedly had some special method to clean up those blokes in there... some kind of a machine or somethin'. If we could get inside, maybe that machine could help me."
(Cait's dialogue) - ↑ Razz: "Ha ha, fuck me, Jack's shit is still the best!"
(Razz's dialogue)