diff --git a/data/json/monster_special_attacks/spells.json b/data/json/monster_special_attacks/spells.json
index f34bf6bca9368..1c672121f4733 100644
--- a/data/json/monster_special_attacks/spells.json
+++ b/data/json/monster_special_attacks/spells.json
@@ -586,6 +586,76 @@
     "min_field_intensity": 1,
     "max_field_intensity": 2
   },
+  {
+    "type": "SPELL",
+    "id": "spell_gene_sting",
+    "name": { "str": "Gene Sting" },
+    "description": "Yugg attack which causes random mutation.",
+    "effect": "attack",
+    "shape": "blast",
+    "valid_targets": [ "hostile" ],
+    "min_range": 24,
+    "max_range": 24,
+    "sound_description": "ssszziiipp",
+    "damage_type": "biological",
+    "min_damage": 5,
+    "max_damage": 17,
+    "extra_effects": [ { "id": "spell_gene_sting_selector" } ]
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "spell_gene_sting_selector",
+    "type": "SPELL",
+    "name": "Gene Sting Selector",
+    "description": "The spell fires the EOC for the yugg gene sting.  It's a bug if you have it.",
+    "message": "",
+    "valid_targets": [ "hostile" ],
+    "flags": [ "NO_FAIL", "SILENT", "NO_HANDS", "NO_LEGS" ],
+    "effect": "effect_on_condition",
+    "effect_str": "EOC_random_mutate",
+    "shape": "blast",
+    "max_level": 1
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "effect_on_condition",
+    "id": "EOC_random_mutate",
+    "condition": "u_is_character",
+    "effect": [
+      { "set_string_var": "<random_category>", "target_var": { "context_val": "dart_mutation_category" }, "parse_tags": true },
+      { "u_mutate_category": { "context_val": "dart_mutation_category" }, "use_vitamins": false }
+    ]
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "snippet",
+    "category": "<random_category>",
+    "text": [
+      { "text": "CHIMERA", "weight": 6 },
+      { "text": "INSECT", "weight": 2 },
+      { "text": "ALPHA", "weight": 1 },
+      { "text": "URSINE", "weight": 2 },
+      { "text": "CHIROPTERAN", "weight": 2 },
+      { "text": "BIRD", "weight": 2 },
+      { "text": "MEDICAL", "weight": 1 },
+      { "text": "LUPINE", "weight": 2 },
+      { "text": "RAT", "weight": 2 },
+      { "text": "SLIME", "weight": 1 },
+      { "text": "PLANT", "weight": 2 },
+      { "text": "BATRACHIAN", "weight": 2 },
+      { "text": "RAPTOR", "weight": 1 },
+      { "text": "MOUSE", "weight": 2 },
+      { "text": "CEPHALOPOD", "weight": 2 },
+      { "text": "ELFA", "weight": 1 },
+      { "text": "FISH", "weight": 2 },
+      { "text": "HUMAN", "weight": 1 },
+      { "text": "RABBIT", "weight": 2 },
+      { "text": "GASTROPOD", "weight": 2 },
+      { "text": "BEAST", "weight": 1 },
+      { "text": "FELINE", "weight": 1 },
+      { "text": "CATTLE", "weight": 1 },
+      { "text": "LIZARD", "weight": 1 },
+      { "text": "TROGLOBITE", "weight": 1 },
+      { "text": "CRUSTACEAN", "weight": 1 }
+    ]
+  },
   {
     "type": "SPELL",
     "id": "base_portal",
diff --git a/data/json/monsters/nether.json b/data/json/monsters/nether.json
index 93826b17f1f60..87c0e415dfb70 100644
--- a/data/json/monsters/nether.json
+++ b/data/json/monsters/nether.json
@@ -1428,7 +1428,7 @@
     "families": [ "prof_wp_netherium_abomination" ],
     "weakpoint_sets": [ "wps_netherium_abomination" ],
     "harvest": "meatslug",
-    "special_attacks": [ [ "GENE_STING", 20 ] ],
+    "special_attacks": [ { "type": "spell", "spell_data": { "id": "spell_gene_sting", "min_level": 5 }, "cooldown": 160 } ],
     "flags": [ "SEES", "SMELLS", "HEARS", "HAS_MIND", "BASHES", "DESTROYS", "POISON", "VENOM", "NO_BREATHE", "DIGS" ],
     "armor": { "bash": 6, "electric": 3 }
   },
diff --git a/src/monattack.cpp b/src/monattack.cpp
index 57c539ba8919d..85a1d0d14119c 100644
--- a/src/monattack.cpp
+++ b/src/monattack.cpp
@@ -2745,27 +2745,6 @@ bool mattack::dogthing( monster *z )
     return false;
 }
 
-bool mattack::gene_sting( monster *z )
-{
-    const float range = 7.0f;
-    Creature *target = sting_get_target( z, range );
-    if( target == nullptr || !( target->is_avatar() || target->is_npc() ) ) {
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    z->mod_moves( -to_moves<int>( 1_seconds ) * 1.5 );
-
-    damage_instance dam = damage_instance();
-    dam.add_damage( damage_stab, 6, 10, 0.6, 1 );
-    bool hit = sting_shoot( z, target, dam, range );
-    if( hit ) {
-        //Add checks if previous NPC/player conditions are removed
-        dynamic_cast<Character *>( target )->mutate();
-    }
-
-    return true;
-}
-
 bool mattack::para_sting( monster *z )
 {
     const float range = 4.0f;
diff --git a/src/monattack.h b/src/monattack.h
index ed5cfe5211416..5c8926f693686 100644
--- a/src/monattack.h
+++ b/src/monattack.h
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ bool jackson( monster *z );
 bool dance( monster *z );
 bool dogthing( monster *z );
 bool vortex( monster *z );
-bool gene_sting( monster *z );
 bool para_sting( monster *z );
 bool triffid_growth( monster *z );
 bool stare( monster *z );
diff --git a/src/monstergenerator.cpp b/src/monstergenerator.cpp
index 33d76471a0693..e293c9b0f97d5 100644
--- a/src/monstergenerator.cpp
+++ b/src/monstergenerator.cpp
@@ -628,7 +628,6 @@ void MonsterGenerator::init_attack()
     add_hardcoded_attack( "JACKSON", mattack::jackson );
     add_hardcoded_attack( "DANCE", mattack::dance );
     add_hardcoded_attack( "DOGTHING", mattack::dogthing );
-    add_hardcoded_attack( "GENE_STING", mattack::gene_sting );
     add_hardcoded_attack( "PARA_STING", mattack::para_sting );
     add_hardcoded_attack( "TRIFFID_GROWTH", mattack::triffid_growth );
     add_hardcoded_attack( "PHOTOGRAPH", mattack::photograph );
diff --git a/src/mutation.cpp b/src/mutation.cpp
index fd3d3a3fdf4c1..1041a7a5dfe72 100644
--- a/src/mutation.cpp
+++ b/src/mutation.cpp
@@ -1317,7 +1317,7 @@ void Character::mutate_category( const mutation_category_id &cat, const bool use
     }
 
     add_msg_debug( debugmode::DF_MUTATION, "mutate_category: mutate_towards category %s", cat.c_str() );
-    if( select_mutation || mutation_selector( valid, cat, use_vitamins ) ) {
+    if( select_mutation && mutation_selector( valid, cat, use_vitamins ) ) {
         // Stop if mutation properly handled by mutation selector
         return;
     }