Redcon1 vs Mutant vs Animal comes down to what you want from a hardcore brand. Choose Redcon1 for a high-stim pre-workout and big meal shakes, Animal for pill packs and daily basics, and Mutant if you already like its Madness pre-workout or BCAA 9.7. All three are North American gym brands with loud branding, but at Supps247 in Australia, Redcon1 is by far the biggest seller of the three, led by Total War.
Redcon1 vs Mutant vs Animal at a glance
| Redcon1 | Mutant | Animal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where from | USA | Canada | USA, made by Universal Nutrition |
| Known for | High-stim pre-workout, meal shakes, intra-workout carbs | Madness pre-workout, BCAA 9.7, Mutant Mass | Pill packs (Flex, Pump) and training basics |
| Pre-workout we stock | Total War, $69.95 (30 serves) | Madness All-In, $79.95 (18 serves) | Animal Pump, $139.95 (30 packs) |
| Approx. cost per pre-workout serve | $2.33 | $4.44 | $4.67 |
| Protein or meal shake | MRE, $139.95 (3.2 kg) | None in stock online at the time of writing | Clear Whey Isolate, $129.95 (500 g) |
| Aminos or intra-workout | Cluster Bomb carbs, $79.95 | BCAA 9.7, $59.95 | Juiced Aminos, $89.95 |
| Best for | Experienced stim users and hard gainers | Fans of the Madness formula | People who like one-pack-a-day convenience |
Prices are at the time of writing and update automatically on this page. Cost per serve is the tub price divided by the serves on the label, so use it as a rough guide.
Pre-workouts: Total War vs Madness All-In vs Animal Pump
Redcon1 Total War
Total War is one of our best-selling pre-workouts in the last six months. Each scoop lists 6 g citrulline malate, 3.2 g beta-alanine and 1 g taurine, with about 320 mg of caffeine (250 mg caffeine anhydrous plus 100 mg di-caffeine malate, which Redcon1 says gives 70 mg caffeine). Caffeine is AIS Group A, and the ISSN caffeine position stand suggests 3 to 6 mg per kg of body weight. For a 70 kg person that is 210 to 420 mg. Food Standards Australia New Zealand advises healthy adults to have no more than 200 mg of caffeine in a single serving and 400 mg a day from all sources, so a full scoop is a strong dose. Start with half a scoop, and do not stack it with coffee or energy drinks. Our Total War guide covers flavours and dosing in more detail.
Mutant Madness All-In
Mutant Madness All-In is sold as a full-dose formula for experienced users, with 18 servings in a 504 g tub. That makes it dearer per serve than Total War. Read the full label for the caffeine amount before you try it.
Animal Pump
Animal Pump comes as 30 individually portioned pill packs, so there is nothing to mix. It is the most expensive per serve of the three, and suits people who would rather swallow a pack than drink a pre. Check the label for the stimulant content. Overseas labels for both Animal Pump and Madness All-In list huperzine A (from Huperzia serrata) among the focus ingredients, so if you take medication, are pregnant or have a medical condition, talk to your GP before using either.
Compare these with other formulas in our best pre-workout guide.
Protein and meal shakes: Redcon1 MRE vs Animal Clear Whey
Redcon1 MRE is a calorie-dense meal shake made from whole-food protein sources (beef protein isolate, salmon, chicken, egg albumin, brown rice and pea) with oats, yam and sweet potato. A 130 g serve of Blueberry Cobbler lists 530 Calories, 47 g protein and 75 g carbs, and the 3.2 kg tub holds about 25 serves, or roughly $5.60 a serve. It suits hard gainers who struggle to eat enough. The ISSN protein position stand suggests 1.4 to 2.0 g of protein per kg a day for most people who train, and one MRE serve covers a big chunk of that.
Animal Clear Whey Isolate goes the other way: a light, juice-style whey isolate that mixes with water, with zero added sugar and zero fat listed. It is a good change from creamy shakes, but a 500 g tub is small, so cost per gram of protein is high. If value matters most, see our best protein powder guide.
Intra-workout and aminos
- Redcon1 Cluster Bomb: 25 g of carbs from Cluster Dextrin per 27.5 g scoop, 30 serves. Carbs during long, hard sessions are well supported, and the AIS lists sports drinks in Group A. It makes most sense for sessions over about an hour or for athletes training twice a day.
- Mutant BCAA 9.7 and Animal Juiced Aminos: both are 2:1:1 BCAA drinks with added electrolytes. They taste good and help you drink more water, but the AIS places BCAAs in Group C, meaning the evidence does not support a benefit for athletes who already eat enough protein.
Health basics: Animal Flex and Mutant Multi
Animal Flex is a once-a-day joint pack with 44 packs per tub. Each pack lists a 3,000 mg blend of glucosamine, MSM and chondroitin, a 1,000 mg blend of ginger, turmeric, boswellia, quercetin and bromelain, plus vitamins C and E, 15 mg zinc and 70 µg selenium. The Mutant Multivitamin is a broad multi with more than 80 ingredients, taken with a meal. Both are conveniences rather than must-haves, and neither replaces a varied diet. If you take blood thinners or other regular medication, check with your GP or pharmacist before starting a joint formula with turmeric and other herbal extracts.
Which brand should you choose?
- Choose Redcon1 if you want a strong, well-dosed stim pre-workout at a fair price per serve, or a meal shake to help you bulk.
- Choose Animal if you like pill packs and want joint support or a no-mix pre.
- Choose Mutant if you already know and like the Madness formula or want a tasty BCAA drink, but expect a higher cost per serve.
Our pick for most people is Redcon1 Total War, because its label shows clear, research-backed doses of citrulline and beta-alanine and it costs less per serve than the other two pre-workouts here. Just respect the caffeine. Browse the full Redcon1, Mutant and Animal ranges.
How our price compares
Here is what the same products cost at other Australian supplement stores, so you can check the difference yourself.
| Product | Supps247 | Nutrition Warehouse | ASN | Elite Supps | Supplement Mart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redcon1 Total War 30 serves | $69.95 | $69.95 | $69.95 | $71.90 (sale) | $69.95 |
| Redcon1 MRE 3.2 kg (7 lb) | $139.95 | $139.95 | $139.95 | Not confirmed | $139.95 |
| Redcon1 Cluster Bomb 30 serves | $79.95 | $79.95 (out of stock) | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
Supps247 prices come from our website. Other prices were checked on the websites of Nutrition Warehouse, Australian Sports Nutrition (ASN), Elite Supps and Supplement Mart on 29 October 2026 (same product and size, price for one unit) and can change at any time. Sale means it was on sale that day. Out of stock means it was listed but not available that day. Not listed means we could not find that exact product on their site. Not confirmed means we could not confirm the same product and size. Supps247 members can use our Price Match Guarantee against Nutrition Warehouse, ASN, Elite Supps and Supplement Mart: we beat their full price by 5% or match their sale price (conditions apply).
Shop the products in this guide
Redcon1 Total War Watermelon$69.95
Redcon1 MRE Cookies & Cream 3.2 kg$139.95
Animal Flex 44 packs$114.95
Mutant Madness All-In Melon Candy$79.95
Browse all Redcon1, Mutant and Animal products, or all pre-workouts.
FAQs
How much caffeine is in Redcon1 Total War?
The Total War label lists 250 mg caffeine anhydrous plus 100 mg di-caffeine malate, which Redcon1 says provides 70 mg caffeine, so a full scoop gives about 320 mg. That is a strong dose. Start with half a scoop to check your tolerance, avoid other caffeine that day, and do not take it late in the evening if it affects your sleep. Label versions vary slightly, so check your tub.
Is Mutant an American brand?
No. Mutant is a Canadian brand, best known for Mutant Mass and the Madness pre-workout. Redcon1 and Animal are American, with Animal made by Universal Nutrition. All three are sold in Australia, but the range each store carries differs, so check the product page for what is in stock before you order or visit a store.
Is Redcon1 MRE a mass gainer?
It works like one. A 130 g serve of Blueberry Cobbler MRE lists 530 Calories, 47 g protein and 75 g carbs, from whole-food protein sources and oats, yam and sweet potato. That makes it useful for hard gainers or as a meal on the go. If you only need extra protein without the calories, a whey isolate is a better fit.
Are BCAAs worth it if I already use protein powder?
For most people, no. The AIS places BCAAs in Group C, meaning the evidence does not support a benefit for athletes who already eat enough protein each day. A scoop of whey or a protein-rich meal already contains plenty of BCAAs. Some people still like BCAA drinks such as Mutant BCAA 9.7 for the taste and to help them drink more water while training.
Where can I buy Redcon1, Mutant and Animal in Australia?
You can buy all three brands online at Supps247 with Australia-wide delivery, free on orders of $99.99 or more, and Afterpay is available at checkout. You can also use click and collect at stores that offer it, or visit a Supps247 store in Victoria or Queensland. Flavour stock varies, so check the product page first.
Sources: AIS Sports Supplement Framework, Group A; AIS Sports Supplement Framework, Group C; FSANZ, caffeine powders and high caffeine content foods; ISSN position stand: caffeine and exercise performance (2021); ISSN position stand: protein and exercise (2017); product labels and brand nutrition panels, checked October 2026.
Order online with Australia-wide delivery, free on orders of $99.99 or more, with Afterpay available at checkout. You can also use click and collect at a store that offers it, or visit a Supps247 store in Melbourne, regional Victoria or Brisbane to compare products in person. Members can use our member price match on full-priced items.
Prices and stock were checked on 29 October 2026 and can change at any time. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant or take regular medication, check with your doctor first.
