‘Fallout’ Season 2 Just Introduced a Very Real Part of the Games That We All Forgot About

Editor's note: The below contains spoilers for Fallout Season 2 Episode 4.

Fallout's latest episode finally introduces one of the games' best and most characteristic dynamics, but also one that most gamers had completely forgotten about — and for good reason. In "The Demon in the Snow," Lucy MacLean (Ella Purnell) is plagued by itching, grumpiness, and a hunger for "not food." The Ghoul (Walton Goggins) quickly explains the cause: Lucy has become addicted to Buffout, but what is this powerful drug, and what are its origins in the Fallout game universe?

What Is Buffout in the 'Fallout' Universe?

Buffout has been present in every installment of Fallout since the very first game was in 1997. It's a kind of steroid that significantly improves strength, reflexes, endurance, and even temporarily raises the player's maximum health — or, simply put, it "buffs" the player's stats, hence the name.

In the world of Fallout, Buffout began spreading before the Great War, with athletes using it secretly and, obviously, illicitly. However, this made the drug extremely popular, with ordinary people also taking it to "run longer and hit harder," as advertised in Fallout 76. Before long, military personnel were also using Buffout, and variations mixed with other substances also became popular, like Bufftats (boosting intelligence and perception), Buffjet (giving the player a slowed-down perception of time), and Psychobuff (boosting damage resistance and increasing the damage caused).

After the nuclear holocaust, Buffout continued to spread in the Wasteland. In Fallout 4, it's documented that characters who've taken it can punch through ten wood boards, the kind of strength that is really helpful when you find yourself facing killer creatures or enemy factions. Players usually resort to using Buffout for one reason or another, as its immediate benefits are sometimes useful and necessary. The problem is that the more you use it, the more you need it.

How Does Lucy Get Access to Buffout in 'Fallout' Season 2?

In "The Demon in the Snow," we're introduced to Buffout rather unexpectedly, as it's the Rangers of the New California Republic who hook Lucy up to the drug. After being exposed to the sun for too long in the Legion camp in the previous episode, Lucy needed not only rest but also medical care, but Buffout is as close as real medicine gets for most people forced to survive in the Wasteland.

In Lucy's case, the problem is that she was hooked up to an IV of Buffout for two days non-stop, as the Ghoul explains. If occasional use of the drug in the games is enough to get players addicted, imagine what it must have done to Lucy's nervous system. It's a miracle that she's only itchy and grumpy, but her withdrawal is already pretty strong. The positive side of the drug is on full display when the two arrive at the New Vegas Strip entrance and face a gang of Elvis Presley impersonators that became ghouls over time. To put it in gaming terms, Lucy clearly has her stats buffed, as proven by how she makes quick work of them all by herself.

Of course, taking Buffout and its variations doesn't make characters invulnerable, and there are always risks depending on the situation. You can die of an overdose in the games, and, if you're already addicted, you can't simply "muscle through" withdrawal. That's what the Ghoul tells Lucy, but she is only in her first dose (albeit a heavy one, for sure), so she could endure it. But the more you take it, the more you need it, so hoarding Buffout is a common practice precisely to avoid the risk of running out and potentially dying. There are ways to quit the drug altogether, but the gameplay benefits are often worth the addictive side effects.

Buffout Addiction Is Now Part of Lucy’s Storyline in ‘Fallout’ Season 2

Introducing Buffout in Fallout Season 2 speaks volumes about Lucy's overall character arc. From now on, Buffout is bound to be an ever-present part of her storyline, lest she suffer the consequences of not having it readily available. Unless she sees a doctor or takes real addiction medicine, she will remain hooked. For players of the games, taking Buffout is such a recurring practice that it's become almost second nature, so most likely hadn't considered when it would pop up in the series. Now that Lucy's about to face off with a Deathclaw, and given that she's on the verge of finding Hank MacLean (Kyle MacLachlan) and whatever else lies ahead in New Vegas, she's going to need all the muscle she can get.