Editing Combat Form

{{era|H1|H2|H3|TF|HGN}}
{{Flood Species Infobox
|name=Combat Form
|image=[[Image:SMGFlood.jpg|300px]]
|height=*[[Human]] - 2 meters (6.6 feet)
*[[Sangheili]] - 2.4 meters (8.6 feet)
*[[Jiralhanae]] - 2.8 meters
|distinctions=The host body with greenish-grey decaying skin (more so in Halo: CE), armed with tentacles and the head pushed aside
|species=*[[Human]]
*[[Sangheili]]
*[[Jiralhanae]]
|attacks=Lunging at a victim, whipping with tentacles, firing held gun 
|notable=*[[Kusovai]]
*[[Wallace A. Jenkins]]
*[[Manuel Mendoza]]
}}
{{Cleanup}}
A '''Combat Form''' is a vertebrate suitable for combat that has been infected with the [[Flood]] parasite via an [[Infection Form]] and mutated into a combat unit that fights for Flood goals and objectives.

==Introduction==

A combat form comes into existence when an [[Infection form]] made of Flood Super Cells <ref>Bestarium</ref> attaches itself to a lifeform with sufficiant biomass and calcium store. It then uses a protruding neural connection to interact with the host's nervous system, synchronizing with it's electrochemical signals and gaining control over the host's body. It has been theorized that certain nervous disorders, such as [[Boren's Syndrome]] may counteract this affect and render an infection form harmless.

During the Infection process, the host's internal organs are liquefied and the nutrients from them are used to develop the tentacles and other appendages of the combat form. Penetrating weaponry, such as the [[Sniper Rifle]], have little affect on the Flood Combat form because of this. The Flood Combat form still has reliance on some of it's host's life support functions and as such any projectile or melee weapon with enough force to damage these systems can effectively kill the Combat form.

Unfortunately for the host, he/she stays alive for the duration of the transformation process and is even conscious and aware after the final transformation.

Once fully transformed, the [[Infection form]] has total control over the host's body and changes the physical appearance of the host to better suit it's own needs. On rare occasions this affect may be weakened by time in stasis, allowing the host to regain some control <ref>Halo: The Flood</ref>.

These combat forms can use any and all knowledge previously attained by the host, and as such can wield weapons, as well as drive [[Vehicles]] and [[Boarding|board]] enemy vehicles.

==Types of Combat Forms==
Of the various races of the [[Covenant]] hegemony, there are only a specific amount of species that have the necessary requirements to become potential Flood vectors. Species known to be immune to infection include the [[Hunter|Lekgolo]], whose segmented neural structure make synchronization for the Flood form impossible, the [[Jackal|Kig-Yar]] whose avian bodies do not contain the necessary calcium stores, the [[Drone|Yanme'e]] whose chitinous shell makes infection impossible and the [[Engineer|Huragok]], whose artificial nature removes it's infection potential. While other forms of Flood Combat forms are conceivable, only three are seen during the span of the games.

===Human Form===
The Human Combat Form is significantly smaller than other forms, due to the comparative differences of the host bodies. Although it cannot take in as much damage as the Elite Combat Form can, it has some advantages to its counterpart, It seems more alert, is quicker to melee an opponent, and presents a smaller, and thus harder to hit, target. In [[Halo 1]] it does not burst into speed as often as the Elite Form. It shows a preference for human weapons, and can be deadly with a [[shotgun]] in close quarters, as well as an [[M6D]] at any range. As with other Combat Forms, it is capable of sustaining massive physical damage before being unusable to the Flood Controller; in fact, as long as the chest cavity and legs remain intact, it will continue to try and fight. They seem to drive vehicles more often than the [[Elite]] form as well.

===Elite Form===
[[Image:Flood Combat Form (Elite).jpg|thumb|right|300px|An Elite Combat Form in Halo 3.]]
During infection, the Flood pushes the Elite's head backwards to create sufficient space for the Combat form to reside. The [[Covenant]] Combat Form is a formidable enemy; it is capable of a deadly physical attack using its whip-like tentacles. They also have the ability to wield both [[human]] and Covenant weapons. It is very fast, very strong, and can jump great distances and heights. Some Elite combat forms can still use their armour's [[Active Camouflage]] and [[Energy Shields]]. Fortunately for the player, because of Elite physiology, they are 'bigger' than the human form, therefore presenting a larger target.

===Brute Form===
[[Image:Flood Combat Form (Brute).jpg|thumb|right|300px|A Brute Combat Form.]]
[[Brute]] Combat Forms, while mutated similarly to [[human]] and [[Elite]] Combat Forms, behave much more aggressively in combat towards an opponent. During infection, the [[Infection Form]] burrows into their skulls and force the jaws apart to create a residual space. These creature seem to draw on their host's brutish nature and often forgo projectile weapons in favor of close combat. They are known to wield several Brute weapons such as the [[Spiker|Spikers]], [[Mauler|Maulers]], and even [[Gravity Hammer|Gravity Hammers]], as well as more traditional Covenant weaponry and human armaments.

==Combating a Combat Form==
The Combat Forms can take extensive damage before being neutralized. Arms, legs, even heads can be totally blown off of their bodies before they are incapacitated. The only known weakness of a Combat Form is its sensory feelers that normally develop in the upper chest region. This is where the Infection Form has nestled, and once destroyed by a headshot-capable weapon, the body is incapacitated. In Halo and Halo 2, a combat form may fall, only to stand up again and keep fighting moments later. This can only happen if it still has a usable limb. In Halo 2, if the body is not destroyed, such as by an Energy Sword, [[Grenade]] or Brute Shot blade, Combat Forms can be "revived" by  other Infection Forms crawling into it. Also Note that if you shoot into the sensory feelers in the upper chest region while a headshot mark appears in the reticle with weapons that actually can do headshots (almost exclusively human weapons) while the "Grunt Birthday Party" skull is in effect, the flood will explode and be completely destroyed, or, in the case of the flood surrounding the "Famine" skull, be blown into the air and return to the ground completely unharmed and unmoved.

Explosives such as grenades, Rocket Launchers, and the Brute Shot can easily kill a combat form. In both games, the Flood Combat Form is more vulnerable to human weapons, which unlike the Covenant small arms with the exception of the [[Needler]], has something actually 'hitting' it. At close range the [[Shotgun]] and [[Energy Sword]] are the best weapon for killing Combat Forms. A shotgun blast at short range or sword lunge will take them out permanently with no chance of them reviving. At close to medium ranges the [[M6C Magnum]] and [[SMG]] are also very effective against combat forms due their fast fire rate. The [[Sentinel Beam]] is also a effective weapon due to its continuous fire and burning capabilities. At longer ranges the [[BR55 Battle Rifle]], [[Covenant Carbine]], or the M6D work the best against Combat Forms (2 shots to the upper chest where the flood infection form is). The Brute Spiker is also an effective anti-flood weapon, as the melee can completely destroy a human or elite combat form in one hit. Although for close range, one of the most effective weapons is the [[Flamethrower]], for both Pure Forms and Combat Forms alike. The only disadvantage to this is your speed.

==Making Flood Friends==
{{Main|How to make Flood Friends}}

In Halo: CE You can neutralize the Combat Form by blowing off its arms. How many limbs depends on if it is holding a weapon or not. If it is unarmed you need to shoot off only one arm (the one it swings at you for melee attack). If it is holding a weapon, you need to shoot off both. This harmless torso with legs will follow you around and can be used as a shield against enemy fire. At the least it can create a distraction as it will sometimes charge nearby Covenant enemies that are firing at it. It is possible to have an entire squad (or more) of these flood buddies following you around soaking up Covenant ammo.

In Halo 2 the body will explode and the Infection Form comes out. It is still possible, in Halo 2 anyway, to get a Flood Buddy by shooting the 'melee' arm off a combat form that doesn't have any weapon. These will still follow you around but tend to be a bit more 'pushy' as they can move you around a little bit. 

In Halo 3, as in Halo 2, shooting both the arms off a combat form will cause it to explode and the infection form to come out. The question about if the same 'loophole' found in Halo 2 is also in Halo 3 has yet to be resolved here.

==End of Flood Life Cycle==
{{Main|Carrier Form}}
Eventually, a Combat Form will mutate into a Carrier, regardless of damage, to perpetuate the Flood species. The Combat Form will prematurely transform into a [[Carrier Form]] if it takes enough damage and the Combat Form cannot function effectively. As a Carrier, the host will basically become a walking incubator for more Infection Forms.

== [[Halo 3]] ==
In Halo 3, the Flood manage to get to [[Earth]] via an infected Covenant vessel and infect [[Voi]]. If an Infection Form lands on a Marine, Elite (with shields down) or Brute (with [[Power Armor|armor]] destroyed) they will be transformed into a Combat Form in a time period of roughly 7 seconds, as seen here: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-bCMhBINiA]. They also can reanimate and infect the corpses of any of the above, and if there is a weapon of any type near the body's arm, that Combat Form will use that weapon. Along with this, for the first time ever without modding, Flood Combat Forms carry [[Fuel Rod Cannon]]s on [[Legendary]] difficulty and pose a grave hazard. Also, it should be noted that melee attacks have a much greater effect on Combat Forms in Halo 3. Against a human or brute combat form, most if not all melee attacks will cause the torso of the combat form to crumble apart, killing the combat form and rendering the body useless. The same tactic will work on an Elite Combat Form only if their shields are down. This becomes very useful in situations involving multiple combat forms and limited ammo.



== Trivia ==
*In all Halo games, Flood Combat Forms always hold the Shotgun with one hand, and fire it without pumping another round into the chamber. (And in the case of Halo 1, they somehow manage to make the shotgun pump itself.)
*Sometimes flood will wield flamethrowers in a normal game if they are revived very near one.
*In Halo 2 and Halo 3, all Flood Combat Forms have more of the host's armor left on them such as chest plating and etc.
*In Halo 2, all the Flood Infected Elites wear the armor of an [[Elite Minor]], even on the Forerunner [[Gas Mine]] where the only Covenant Elites are the Spec-Ops Elites and the [[Arbiter]]. Even in the entire level, [[Quarantine Zone (Level)|Quarantine Zone]] and the level [[Sacred Icon (Level)|Sacred Icon]] are there only Minor Elite Flood, where no Minor Elites were found. This is probably due to make it easy to generate combat forms. In Halo 3 however, say an Elite Ultra was infected, then the new Combat form will still have the armour of an Ultra.
*In Halo 3, a Chieftain getting infected will turn into a Brute Combat Form with Minor Brute Armor on.
*Occasionally, if you throw a [[Plasma Grenade]] on a combat form it will charge at the player, ignoring any other non-flood targets.But in Halo 3 they will jump away from the grenade.
*Unlike human and elite combat forms, brute flood seem to be infected through the mouth/throat.  If you look at a brute combat form from the front, you will notice the upper half of it's head and jaw attached to the infection form inside, and if you look from the left of the flood or crouch, you will notice it's lower jaw swinging around beneath the infection form.

<GALLERY>
Image:Warrior Form Human2.png
Image:FloodWeaponless05.jpg
Image:Warrior Form Covie2.png
Image:Ultra Flood Combat.jpg
Image:BRUTEBUDDY.jpg</GALLERY>

{{flood}}


[[Category:The Flood]]