The Sims 4: Island Living has brought with it a new occult life state, mermaids. They work in a similar way to other occult life states and can be created directly in create-a-sim, by having a baby with a mermaid or by transforming an existing sim in-game.
Mermaids have a few quirks and some nice powers to utilize. Their personality will also affect some of their powers. They live in harmony with the ocean and some of their abilities are only activated when they're in the sea.
If you want to live the mermaid life here are some things you need to know about The Sims 4’s new mermaids.
Updated June 24th By Helen Ashcroft: As time has passed mermaids are still considered one of the most underutilized occults in the game. Since this article was originally written we've discovered a few more things about them, yet they still come with a number of limitations. In order to help you decide if the mermaid life is for you, we've added this extra information to this list.
You'll now find some of the drawbacks of mermaid life listed alongside some extra perks. Mermaids really are beautiful, bold, and sometimes frustrating. Here's everything you need to know about the aquatic lifestate as it stands right now.
15 You Can Become A Mermaid With Mermaidic Kelp
If you want to change an existing sim into a mermaid then mermaidic kelp is for you. You can find it by diving, fishing, or exploring the cave in Mua Pel 'Am. However, if you don’t want to wait for the random event which rewards it, then you can purchase it for 500 satisfaction points via the rewards menu.
Once you have the kelp simply get your sim to eat it. This will give them a “call of the ocean” buff. Then your sim should enter the ocean within 24 sim hours and the transformation is complete. If you want to change back just eat 2 kelp in a row. The first one will give the buff, the second removes it. Then enter the water again to change back to normal.
14 Mermaid Transformation Rules Are Static
Once you are a mermaid you'll realize that the transformation rules are very static. Mermaid tails only appear when they are submerged in water either in the ocean, a pool, a body of water, or a bath.
You cannot force a transformation and mermaids won't transform whilst in a shower. Transformation also requires a mermaid to be teen or older. Sadly toddlers and children don't have tails.
13 Bathing Replenishes A Mermaid's Hydration
Mermaid traits replace hygiene with hydration and it works in exactly the same way. If your hydration gets low then your mermaid will become stinky and uncomfortable. It's also worth noting that hydration is also spent when using mermaid powers, so keeping it topped up is worthwhile.
Hydration is replenished quickly by being in the ocean but can be topped up by any water source, including sinks, showers, and baths. This means that your mermaid can live anywhere you like. They do not have to be near the ocean, although being in open water offers other benefits.
12 Mermaids Favor The Ocean
While you can have mermaids live anywhere, they do thrive by the ocean. Their hydration replenishes faster, they get happy buffs and they can access all of their abilities.
A mermaid's ability to survive isn't related to the ocean but on dry land, they are restricted. They will ache for the ocean and will be much happier if located in Sulani. Certain powers are linked to the ocean and these will be unusable in other bodies of water.
11 Mermaids Can Swim Faster Than Anyone Else
One of the first things you'll notice is that your mermaid will swim faster than anyone else, even a sim with level 10 fitness. A mermaid's incredible speed in water can mean the ocean is often the quickest way for them to travel around the islands.
They will transform into mermaid form as soon as they get into deeper water. This happens through a tumbling animation. Their closeness with the ocean also allows them to sleep in the sea, which they will do by floating on their back.
10 Mermaids Can't Climb Ladders
If you have an oceanfront home you'll quickly realize that while mermaids can dive into the sea they cannot use pier ladders to get back out. Presumably, this is because their tails make it impossible to climb.
Instead, they need to head towards the shore, where they will transform back into human form as they reach shallower water. Then they are free to use any other steps and entrances to a home.
9 Mermaids Won’t Snorkel
If you click on the buoys in the ocean there are several different options, depending on the depth of the water your sim is in. These include snorkeling, purchasing dive equipment, scuba diving, and free diving.
A mermaid cannot use or buy scuba diving equipment. They also will not snorkel or scuba dive, apparently it's a taboo subject. They can, however, access the free dive option and stay underwater for what seems like a much longer time than regular sims.
They can also purchase the diving knife, treasure tool, and underwater camera which allows them to free dive for seashells, treasure, and take underwater photos respectively.
8 Mermaid Powers Take Time To Grow
You cannot create a mermaid baby, toddler, or child in create-a-sim, but you can have one be born into a mermaid family. It works in the same way as other occult states, with a baby having a chance to inherit the mermaid trait.
A mermaid will come into their powers as a teenager. As a child, they gain the hydration trait but are otherwise normal children. Once they become a teenager they will gain a mermaid form and full use of their powers.
7 Mermaids Can Call Dolphins
Usually, dolphins are called using a buoy and can only be summoned during the morning and late afternoon, when they can be seen swimming in the area.
However, mermaids can call dolphins at any time using a special ability. Simply click on your mermaid while they are in the ocean to use the “call over dolphin” option, which costs 30 hydration.
Mermaids can also form relationships with dolphins much faster, meaning they are more likely to respond positively to them.
6 Mermaids Can Manipulate Other Sims
When swimming in the ocean a mermaid can use the siren’s call trait to lure sims towards them. They will then drag the sims underwater briefly. Once the sim emerges they will have an uncomfortable moodlet and the mermaid will regain +100 to all their needs.
Mermaids can also summon an ocean threat, which has a similar effect on the sim but does not affect the mermaid themselves.
Mermaids with the good trait will not have access to either of these powers, only siren’s lullaby and mermaid’s kiss.
5 Mermaids Can Remove Debuffs
Mermaids can also affect the moods of others, including children. The Siren’s lullaby ability will allow them to remove buffs and place moodlets on other sims. All lullabies have a duration of 4 hours.
The charmer’s lullaby removed embarrassed buffs and replaces them with a +2 flirty moodlet while the inspiring berceuse removes uncomfortable buffs and replaces them with a +2 inspired moodlet.
The final 2 lullabies are not so nice. Aegean’s question will remove a focused buff and replace with a +2 stressed moodlet, while night’s requiem removes energized buffs and replaces it with a +2 sad moodlet.
4 Mermaids Can Control The Weather
Another handy use of a mermaid is to control the weather. Simply click on your mermaid sim and look for the mermaid options. You will find the ability to summon rain, a storm or clear skies.
The mermaid will alter the weather by using a conch and this can be done both on land and in the ocean. While not instantaneous, the weather will gradually change shortly after the power is used. After use, the power will take some time to recharge before it becomes available again.
3 Mermaids Have Fixed Abilities
A mermaid's abilities are completely fixed. With the exception of certain abilities being absent in mermaid's with the good trait, everything else is static. They function like aliens, being primarily a lifestate that has some perks but are not very flexible.
The abilities they have fit well with the life state but there's no customization like you see in Vampires. You cannot earn points, gain any form of weakness or quirk, or customize abilities in any way.
2 Mermaids Can Live Almost Exclusively In The Ocean
Not only do mermaids prefer the ocean but they can actually fulfill pretty much all their needs in it. All sims can relieve themselves in the water and mermaids have no hygiene trait, meaning there are no drawbacks to this.
Swimming, diving, and talking to dolphins can build up their fun and social needs and mermaids can even sleep in the ocean. They just need to eat occasionally and they can live almost entirely out in the sea.
1 You Can Identify Mermaids Using A Conch
Under the social options menu, you will notice a new option, ask if mermaid. While this seems like a great idea, mermaids won’t usually give you an honest answer. The standard reply appears to be “a mermaid? whatever gave you that idea?” even when they’re stood next to you in mermaid form in the ocean.
However, there is another way of finding out. Mermaids will react strangely to conch shells being blown near them. The quirky reaction is slightly reminiscent of the Sims who got too close to those spores in Strangerville but luckily without the side effects.