Resurrector mech serum

The resurrector mech serum is an item found in quests that can resurrect any deceased human or animal.

Acquisition

Resurrector mech serums cannot be crafted nor bought from traders. Instead they can only be acquired as a reward for performing quests or found in ancient shrines. Note that quest rewards are selected with a weighted random generator, so there is no way to guarantee access to a serum in a given play-through. Anecdotally, it is often reported that the increased number of reward options added by the DLC dilute the reward pool with more options.

Usage

A resurrector mech serum can be used on any non-desiccated corpse, even rotting ones. To activate it, select a pawn and right-click the serum, then click a valid target. The colonist will use the serum on the corpse, returning it to life as well as restoring missing organs and eliminating all health problems except brain injury and Luciferium addiction. Artificial body parts are not affected. As the serum will replace the head if it is destroyed, brain included, brain injuries can effectively be cured by destroying the head of the corpse prior to resurrection. This can be done by allowing animals to eat the corpse, however this is inconsistent and risks them consuming the corpse entirely. If the Ideology DLC is active, extracting the skull will destroy the head safely and consistently. Note that while this may be used as substitute for a healer mech serum for treating brain injury by intentionally killing a pawn, removing the head, and resurrecting them, the risk of resurrection psychosis must be weighed against the benefit of curing the brain injury. While the risk can be minimized by resurrecting them immediately, there is always at least 2% chance of resurrection psychosis and it is inevitably fatal unless a healer mech serum can be used.

Using it on an enemy corpse will not convert them towards your side. They will remain hostile. However, since they return to life incapacitated you can easily arrest and capture them.

Resurrection ailments

Using the resurrector is not always without cost. Once revived, pawns will initially be incapacitated due to resurrection sickness. Besides this, they may suffer from additional side effects, though the chances are less when the serum is used on a corpse that is fresh or better preserved.

Possible side effects are:

Dementia
Blindness
Resurrection psychosis, visible 10 days after usage

For all of the above, the initial chance is 2%, linearly increasing to 80% after 5 days of decay. Each are applied separately.

Notes

Colony pets may feed from the corpse of the intended body if within reach.
Using the serum also removes the "Tainted" tag from any clothing worn on the dead.
Storing dead colonists in a freezer or other cold room will allow for resurrecting them long after death without higher risks of side effects. It may be worth constructing a room with sarcophagi in it if you wish to preserve them.