diff --git a/data/json/mapgen_palettes/microlab.json b/data/json/mapgen_palettes/microlab.json
index 50c60a66434f7..94a2cd9c47a8a 100644
--- a/data/json/mapgen_palettes/microlab.json
+++ b/data/json/mapgen_palettes/microlab.json
@@ -173,7 +173,10 @@
       "N": { "item": "fireman_cabinet", "chance": 100 }
     },
     "monster": {
-      " ": [ { "monster": "mon_zombie_living_wall", "chance": 3 }, { "monster": "mon_breather_hub", "chance": 1 } ],
+      " ": [
+        { "monster": "mon_zombie_living_wall", "chance": 3 },
+        { "group": "GROUP_AMALGAMATION_BREATHER_HUB_SPARSE", "chance": 1 }
+      ],
       "c": { "monster": "mon_zombie_living_wall", "chance": 3 },
       "@": { "monster": "mon_zombie_living_wall", "chance": 80 }
     },
diff --git a/data/json/monster_special_attacks/monster_deaths.json b/data/json/monster_special_attacks/monster_deaths.json
index 8eac867aaba5b..922811eea9e38 100644
--- a/data/json/monster_special_attacks/monster_deaths.json
+++ b/data/json/monster_special_attacks/monster_deaths.json
@@ -658,13 +658,13 @@
     "valid_targets": [ "hostile", "ally" ],
     "effect": "attack",
     "shape": "blast",
-    "targeted_monster_ids": [ "mon_breather", "mon_breather_hub" ],
+    "targeted_monster_ids": [ "mon_breather", "mon_breather_hub", "mon_amalgamation_breather", "mon_amalgamation_breather_hub" ],
     "damage_type": "pure",
     "min_damage": 1000,
     "max_damage": 1000,
-    "min_aoe": 48,
-    "max_aoe": 48,
-    "aoe_increment": 48,
+    "min_aoe": 5,
+    "max_aoe": 5,
+    "aoe_increment": 5,
     "flags": [ "SILENT", "NO_EXPLOSION_SFX" ]
   },
   {
diff --git a/data/json/monstergroups/zombie_amalgamations.json b/data/json/monstergroups/zombie_amalgamations.json
index 843172ab775f5..1be75e39ecdef 100644
--- a/data/json/monstergroups/zombie_amalgamations.json
+++ b/data/json/monstergroups/zombie_amalgamations.json
@@ -44,6 +44,11 @@
       { "group": "GROUP_COCOON_MED_1", "weight": 1, "pack_size": [ 3, 3 ], "starts": "28 days" }
     ]
   },
+  {
+    "name": "GROUP_AMALGAMATION_BREATHER_HUB_SPARSE",
+    "type": "monstergroup",
+    "monsters": [ { "monster": "mon_null", "weight": 9 }, { "monster": "mon_amalgamation_breather_hub" } ]
+  },
   {
     "name": "GROUP_AMALGAMATION_SMALL",
     "type": "monstergroup",
diff --git a/data/json/monsters/zed_amalgamation.json b/data/json/monsters/zed_amalgamation.json
index 7c259af98d1a0..dd4bd22d44b55 100644
--- a/data/json/monsters/zed_amalgamation.json
+++ b/data/json/monsters/zed_amalgamation.json
@@ -82,6 +82,47 @@
       "effect": { "id": "death_blood", "hit_self": true, "min_level": 3 }
     }
   },
+  {
+    "id": "mon_amalgamation_breather",
+    "type": "MONSTER",
+    "name": { "str": "breather" },
+    "description": "This is some sort of unearthly pink flesh sac; moist and ridged with veins, it is otherwise without discernible exterior features.  Seemingly immobile and defenseless, it sits in place, swelling and collapsing upon itself as it breathes.",
+    "default_faction": "zombie",
+    "bodytype": "blob",
+    "species": [ "ZOMBIE", "ABERRATION" ],
+    "volume": "62500 ml",
+    "weight": "81500 g",
+    "hp": 100,
+    "speed": 100,
+    "symbol": "o",
+    "color": "pink",
+    "melee_damage": [ { "damage_type": "cut", "amount": 0 } ],
+    "melee_training_cap": 2,
+    "harvest": "exempt",
+    "special_attacks": [ [ "BREATHE", 8 ] ],
+    "death_function": { "corpse_type": "NO_CORPSE", "message": "The %s melts away." },
+    "flags": [ "IMMOBILE", "NOGIB" ]
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "mon_amalgamation_breather_hub",
+    "type": "MONSTER",
+    "name": { "str": "breather" },
+    "description": "A weird mass of immobile, breathing pink goo.  The other breathers seem to originate from this one.",
+    "default_faction": "zombie",
+    "bodytype": "blob",
+    "species": [ "ZOMBIE", "ABERRATION" ],
+    "volume": "62500 ml",
+    "weight": "81500 g",
+    "hp": 100,
+    "speed": 100,
+    "symbol": "O",
+    "color": "pink",
+    "melee_damage": [ { "damage_type": "cut", "amount": 0 } ],
+    "harvest": "exempt",
+    "special_attacks": [ [ "BREATHE", 8 ] ],
+    "death_function": { "effect": { "id": "death_kill_breathers", "hit_self": true }, "corpse_type": "NO_CORPSE" },
+    "flags": [ "ACIDPROOF", "ACID_BLOOD", "IMMOBILE" ]
+  },
   {
     "type": "MONSTER",
     "abstract": "mon_amalgamation_abstract_small",
diff --git a/src/monattack.cpp b/src/monattack.cpp
index b33274873563b..d967142f10084 100644
--- a/src/monattack.cpp
+++ b/src/monattack.cpp
@@ -192,6 +192,8 @@ static const mtype_id mon_blob( "mon_blob" );
 static const mtype_id mon_blob_brain( "mon_blob_brain" );
 static const mtype_id mon_blob_large( "mon_blob_large" );
 static const mtype_id mon_blob_small( "mon_blob_small" );
+static const mtype_id mon_amalgamation_breather( "mon_amalgamation_breather" );
+static const mtype_id mon_amalgamation_breather_hub( "mon_amalgamation_breather_hub" );
 static const mtype_id mon_breather( "mon_breather" );
 static const mtype_id mon_breather_hub( "mon_breather_hub" );
 static const mtype_id mon_creeper_hub( "mon_creeper_hub" );
@@ -3977,13 +3979,17 @@ bool mattack::breathe( monster *z )
 {
     // It takes a while
     z->mod_moves( -to_moves<int>( 1_seconds ) );
+    bool old_breather_type = z->type->id == mon_breather || z->type->id == mon_breather_hub;
+    mtype_id breather_type = old_breather_type ? mon_breather : mon_amalgamation_breather;
+    mtype_id hub_type = old_breather_type ? mon_breather_hub : mon_amalgamation_breather_hub;
+    int spawn_radius = old_breather_type ? 3 : 2;
 
-    bool able = z->type->id == mon_breather_hub;
+    bool able = z->type->id == hub_type;
     creature_tracker &creatures = get_creature_tracker();
     if( !able ) {
-        for( const tripoint &dest : get_map().points_in_radius( z->pos(), 3 ) ) {
+        for( const tripoint &dest : get_map().points_in_radius( z->pos(), spawn_radius ) ) {
             monster *const mon = creatures.creature_at<monster>( dest );
-            if( mon && mon->type->id == mon_breather_hub ) {
+            if( mon && mon->type->id == hub_type ) {
                 able = true;
                 break;
             }
@@ -3993,7 +3999,7 @@ bool mattack::breathe( monster *z )
         return true;
     }
 
-    if( monster *const spawned = g->place_critter_around( mon_breather, z->pos(), 1 ) ) {
+    if( monster *const spawned = g->place_critter_around( breather_type, z->pos(), 1 ) ) {
         spawned->reset_special( "BREATHE" );
         spawned->make_ally( *z );
     }