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{{Status|Canon}}
{{Era|HCW}}
{{Species infobox
{{Flood Species Infobox
|variant=Flood
|name=Carrier Form
|name=Carrier Form
|image=[[File:Flood Carrier Form.png|300px]]<br/>The ubiquitous carrier form, created from infected hosts
|image=[[File:Flood Carrier Form.png|300px]]
|latin=
|height={{Convert|6.9|ft|cm}}{{Convert|7.9|ft|cm}}
|classification=Carrier form
|species=[[Flood]]
|subspecies=
|diet=
|height={{Convert|203.9|cm|ftin|sp=us}} to {{Convert|220.1|cm|ftin|sp=us}}{{Ref/Game|Id=Library|HCEA|Library (feature)|Library|Detail=Carrier Form}}
|weight={{Convert|146.5|kg|lb}} to {{Convert|241|kg|lb}}{{Ref/Reuse|Library}}
|distinctions=Large, bloated with two tentacles and short, stubby legs
|distinctions=Large, bloated with two tentacles and short, stubby legs
|lifespan=
|attacks=Explodes near a potential host
|homeworld=
|notable=
|techlevel=
|notable-person=
|othernames=
|languages=
}}
}}
{{Quote|...this thing contained four of the infection forms you saw earlier, and when it popped the resulting explosion had enough force to knock Sergeant [[Lister (Marine)|Lister]] on his can.|[[Melissa McKay]] on the remains of a carrier form.{{Ref/Novel|TF|10}}}}
The '''Carrier Form'''<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page 239'': ("''The Spartan'' [...] ''sidestepped to evade a charging carrier form.''")</ref> is a [[The Flood|Flood]] form used to incubate and spread [[Flood infection form]]s.<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''', [[campaign]] level ''[[343 Guilty Spark (level)|343 Guilty Spark]]''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[The Oracle]]''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level ''[[Floodgate]]''</ref> Carrier forms are formed from older [[Flood combat form|Combat Forms]], or from infected bodies that are unsuitable for combat.<ref name="combat">'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page 47'': ("''The Infection Forms rewrite a victim's cellular structure and convert him into a Combat Form, then later a Carrier Form''")</ref>
The '''carrier form''' is a classification of various [[Flood]] forms that incubate and spread [[infection form]]s.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P409|Enc22|Page=409}}
 
The ubiquitous carrier form is transformed from older [[Flood combat form|combat forms]],{{Ref/Novel|Id=fs6|FS|6|Quote=The Infection Forms rewrite a victim's cellular structure and convert him into a Combat Form, then later a Carrier Form—an incubator for  more Infection Forms.}} or from infected bodies that are unsuitable for combat;{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc11|Enc11|Page=165}}{{Ref/Book|OSFM|Page=174}} however, the carrier form also has a variety of specialized forms, such as the [[Flood burster|burster]],{{Ref/Game|Id=PLBursters|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Bursters}} the [[Flood bomber form|bomber form]],{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P409}} and the [[Flood spawner form|spawner form]],{{Ref/Game|Id=PLSpawners|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Spawners}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P410|Enc22|Page=410}}


==Overview==
==Overview==
{{Quote|The infection forms rewrite a victim's cellular structure and convert him into a combat form, then later a carrier form—an incubator for more infection forms.|[[Cortana]]{{Ref/Reuse|fs6}}}}
Combat forms that have outlived their usefulness or become too damaged to fight will begin to spontaneously generate infection forms within their host bodies.<ref name="combat"/> As the upper body swells to grotesque proportions, the limbs of the combat form wither away into stumpy legs and flailing tentacle-like appendages. The Flood form is now unable to defend itself, but still retains enough mobility to move toward potential hosts.
While there are subtypes of carrier forms, they are characterized by the ability to incubate and release Flood infection forms from their bulbous and bloated bodies. Carrier forms perpetuate the Flood species by acting as mobile incubators for newly created Pod infectors. If potential hosts are detected, the carrier form will attempt to close in and release its infection forms.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P409}}


During the [[Battle of Installation 05]], carrier forms were utilized as "[[Naval boarding|boarding]] parties" by the Flood. They were ejected from an [[airlock]] of an infected ship towards an uninfected ship.{{Ref/Novel|GoO|22|Quote=It touched one of its brother ships, energy shields shimmered, frequencies matched, and the Flood-infected ship released a swarm of bulbous carrier forms.}} The spawner form can release infection forms anywhere it wishes without killing itself in the process,{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P409}} while the burster spawns a variety of Flood forms once its internal pressure has reached a certain point.{{Ref/Level|Id=LTF|HW2|Light the Fuse}} The bomber form floats using its gas bladders, dropping [[Flood blister|blister]]s full of pod infectors and [[Flood spore|spore]]s onto enemies below.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P409}}
Carrier forms perpetuate the Flood species by acting as mobile incubators for newly created infection forms. If potential hosts are detected, the Flood form will simply waddle within range of them, throw itself on the ground, and expand its incubation sac with gases until it explodes. This detonation scatters the infection forms and can injure or kill potential hosts, with the explosion being comparable to that of a [[M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade|fragmentation grenade]]. Early sightings state that the carrier form can produce short bursts of speed once it spots a target. Later sightings claim they can also jump.


==Types of carrier forms==
During the [[Battle of Installation 05]], Carrier forms were utilized as "[[boarding]] parties" by the Flood. They are ejected from an [[airlock]] of an infected ship towards an uninfected ship.<ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', ''page 197''</ref>
===Carrier===
[[File:Carrier1.png|thumb|175px|The standard carrier form.]]
Serving as the final stage of an infected host's transformation process,{{Ref/Reuse|Library}} the most common type of the Flood carrier form has two types: converted and demoted. The converted carrier forms are hosts with little offensive capabilities,{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P409}} lacking the calcium mass to serve as combat forms,{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}} and transformed into carrier forms immediately.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P409}} The demoted carrier forms are combat forms that have outlived their usefulness or become too damaged to fight.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P409}} In both cases, the carrier form will begin to spontaneously generate Pod infectors within their host bodies.{{Ref/Reuse|Library}}{{Ref/Reuse|fs6}} Upper body swells to grotesque proportions to hold infection forms,{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}} the limbs wither away into stumpy legs and flailing tentacle-like appendages. While unable to attack with conventional methods, the carrier form retains enough mobility to move toward potential hosts.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P409}} If its sacs are not already perforated, it will expand its incubation sac with gases until it explodes.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}} This detonation scatters the Pod infectors and can injure or kill potential hosts.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P409}}


===Specialized carrier forms===
==Tactics==
*'''[[Flood burster]]''': Flood bursters burrow underground and travel via subterranean means; as they approach a target, they erupt from the ground, simultaneously releasing their cache of parasites and spores.{{Ref/Reuse|PLBursters}}
Carrier forms are usually considered slow and of little threat unless they are close to the player. However, one particularly dangerous trait of exploding Carrier Forms is the explosive chain reactions they can cause. A Carrier explosion will cause any other Carrier Forms close enough to explode also. They also cause any nearby explosives or objects to explode. This means a single Carrier can cause a massive explosion through a chain reaction filling much of a small area. This can be used to a soldier's advantage if there are Combat or Infection forms surrounding the Carrier(s). They are sometimes considered a "Flood grenade".
*'''[[Flood bomber form]]''': With an non-sapient airborne pseudo-[[Wikipedia:Cephalopod|cephalodpod]] serving as its original host, the bomber form uses its host's gas bladders to stay aloft and incubate blisters within its body before dropping them onto victims below.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P409}}
*'''[[Flood spawner form]]''': Unlike other carrier forms, the spawner form is a pure form — created solely with Flood biomass — rather than being an infected host. A brood sac hanging down from its body can be used to grow infection forms of all kinds.{{Ref/Reuse|PLSpawners}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P410}}
<gallery class=center>
File:HW2-Burster.png|Burster.
File:HW FloodBomber 1.png|Bomber.
File:Enc22 Spawner.png|Spawner.
</gallery>


<!--The section below is hidden for migration to the eventual gameplay page.
Any direct explosion eliminates the threat of the Carrier, as well as any Infection forms that were incubating inside of it. This means that enough needles from a [[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|Needler]] will kill it, or one can throw a grenade at it.
==Gameplay==
Carrier forms are usually considered slow and of little threat unless they are close to the player. However, one particularly dangerous trait of exploding Carrier Forms is the explosive chain reactions they can cause. A Carrier explosion will cause any other Carrier Forms close enough to explode also. They also cause any nearby explosives or objects to explode. This means a single Carrier can cause a massive explosion through a chain reaction filling much of a small area. This can be used to a soldier's advantage if there are Combat or Pod infectors surrounding the Carrier(s). They are sometimes considered a "Flood grenade".


Any direct explosion eliminates the threat of the Carrier, as well as any Pod infectors that were incubating inside of it. This means that enough needles from a [[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|Needler]] will kill it, or one can throw a grenade at it.
Carrier forms are one of the easiest enemies to take down. One shot from any weapon, say the [[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol|Plasma Pistol]], will force it to explode. However, there is not a single weapon that can actually blow it up, not even a direct [[M41 Surface-to-Surface Rocket Medium Anti-Vehicle/Assault Weapon|Rocket Launcher]]. Therefore, this has to be taken into account, strategically. For example, when confronting a large number of Flood, one may wish to destroy the Carrier forms, which in turn will kill all nearby Flood. First, allow the Combat forms and other to get reasonably close. Then, use any weapon - preferably one which has ample ammunition - to kill it.


Carrier forms are one of the easiest enemies to take down. One shot from any weapon, say the [[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol|Plasma Pistol]], will force it to explode. However, there is not a single weapon that can actually blow it up, not even a direct [[M41 Surface-to-Surface Rocket Medium Anti-Vehicle/Assault Weapon|Rocket Launcher]]. Therefore, this has to be taken into account, strategically. For example, when confronting a large number of Flood, one may wish to destroy the carrier forms, which in turn will kill all nearby Flood. First, allow the Combat forms and other to get reasonably close. Then, use any weapon - preferably one which has ample ammunition - to kill it.
It is not recommended to use sniper rifles against the Flood; it is simply a waste of valuable ammo. In any case, sniper bullets simply pass through Carrier forms, dealing virtually no damage.


It is not recommended to use sniper rifles against the Flood; it is simply a waste of valuable ammo. In any case, sniper bullets simply pass through carrier forms, dealing virtually no damage.
In ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' a good tactic is to hook one with a [[Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade|Plasma Grenade]] and shoot it with the [[M90 Close Assault Weapon System|Shotgun]]; this will kill the Infection forms inside. Another good tactic is to splatter it with vehicles, since it does not explode directly upon contact.


In ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' a good tactic is to hook one with a [[Anskum-pattern plasma grenade|Plasma Grenade]] and shoot it with the [[M90 Close Assault Weapon System|Shotgun]]; this will kill the Pod infectors inside. Another good tactic is to splatter it with vehicles since it does not explode directly upon contact. If there are several Flood Combat Form nearby, taking down the Carrier Form should eliminate most of the threat. Players often call it ''Flood Grenade'' due to the explosion function similar to a grenade that can harm anyone nearby.
In ''[[Halo 3]]'' it is a good idea to individually lure a Carrier form away from the rest of the Flood forms and '''then''' shoot it down, if its done right one can take down a Carrier form with an assault rifle and the infection forms inside just needs accuracy and very good timing. The luring bit needing patience as its quite tricky to lure them out as if one gets too close they'll explode, if one gets too far they'll just walk away. A [[M6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Rifle|Spartan Laser]] beam can only penetrate two Carrier forms. In turn, this will make the Carrier forms explode without releasing any infection forms at all, similar to sticking a Carrier form with a grenade or killing it with a Needler supercombine explosion.


In ''[[Halo 3]]'' it is a good idea to individually lure a carrier form away from the rest of the Flood forms and '''then''' shoot it down, if its done right one can take down a carrier form with an assault rifle and the Pod infectors inside just needs accuracy and very good timing. The luring bit needing patience as its quite tricky to lure them out as if one gets too close they'll explode, if one gets too far they'll just walk away. A [[M6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Rifle|Spartan Laser]] beam can only penetrate two carrier forms. In turn, this will make the carrier forms explode without releasing any Pod infectors at all, similar to sticking a carrier form with a grenade or killing it with a Needler supercombine explosion. A [[M7057 flamethrower|Flamethrower]] has a chance to kill the carrier form along with the Pod Infector if aimed and used correctly with just one shot. Flame Grenade is also useful since burning the carrier form can result in instant kill due to heavy damage over time.
Running over Carrier forms by a vehicle, on the other hand, is a very bad idea. Their explosions will easily flip the vehicle, wasting precious time, especially on a level like Halo 3's final level.


Running over carrier forms by a vehicle, on the other hand, is a very bad idea. Their explosions will easily flip the vehicle, wasting precious time, especially on a level like Halo 3's final level.
==Trivia==
-->
*Carrier forms have a slight similarity in physical appearance to the [[Flood Juggernaut]].
==Production notes==
*Carrier forms are sometimes nicknamed "popcorn",{{fact}} due to how they "pop" and release Infection forms. The title has also been applied to the Infection Forms themselves.
*The Flood carrier form is the [[List of Marathon references in the Halo series|successor]] of the [[marathongame:Simulacrums|Simulacrums]] from the ''[[Marathon]]'' series. The Simulacrums were cybernetic humans made to look like the crew of the UESC ''Marathon'', the only flaw was that they all wore green jump suits, making it easy to distinguish which humans were actually Simulacrums. As soon as the player was three meters away from them, the Simulacrum would explode, heavily damaging or killing the player.
*The Carrier form of Flood is the [[List of Marathon references in the Halo series|successor]] of the [[w:c:marathongame:Simulacrums|Simulacrums]], from the ''[[Marathon]]'' series. The Simulacrums were cybernetic humans made to look like the crew of the UESC ''Marathon'', the only flaw was that they all wore green jump suits, making it easy to distinguish which humans were actually Simulacrums. As soon as you were three meters close to them they would explode, heavily damaging or killing the player.
*[[Cut Halo 2 enemies#Shielded carrier form|A variant of the carrier form]] using the [[Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet]] was cut from ''[[Halo 2]]'', but can still be found in the game files.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://forums.bungie.org/halo/archive24.pl?read=724753|Site=halo.bungie.org|Page=Shileded Flood Carrier Form! OH SHI-|D=31|M=10|Y=2021}}{{Ref/Site|URL=http://forums.bungie.org/halo/archive24.pl?read=724861|Site=halo.bungie.org|Page=RE: Interesting.|D=31|M=10|Y=2021}}
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', the level "[[The Maw]]" contains a glitch in of which the Carrier form explodes, but the Infection forms do not move.
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo 2'', carrier forms release between four-to-six pod infectors when they explode, whereas carrier forms would release dozens of pod infectors in ''Halo 3''; this is leveled out by a smaller damage radius.
*The Carrier forms in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo 2'' would release between 4-6 Infection forms when they explode, but the ''Halo 3 ''Carrier forms would release dozens, but this is leveled out by a smaller and less extreme damage radius.
*In ''Halo 3'', the [[Orgudam Workshop firebomb|firebomb]] kills both the carrier form and the pod infectors inside of it; however, when killed by the [[M7057 flamethrower|flamethrower]], the carrier form will explode and release the pod infectors, which have apparently survived the fire damage.
*On rare occasions in ''Halo 3'', the ''Carrier's'' arms and legs will be left behind upon death. However, this is exclusive to ''Halo 3'' as the arms and legs completely vanish upon exploding in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo 2''.
*Strangely, when shot by the [[M7057/Defoliant Projector|Flamethrower]], the Carrier form will explode and release the Infection forms, which seem to survive the fire. Possibly the Carrier form's explosion puts out the fire. This is strange considering that an Incendiary grenade will kill the Carrier and the Infection forms. The Incendiary grenade does, however, seem to have a small explosive force used to scatter the flames.
*In ''Halo 3'', sticking Carrier Forms with a Plasma or [[Spike Grenades]] prevents the Infection Forms from being released, presumably because the grenade destroys them within the Form.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of Flood carrier forms}}
<gallery widths="150" orientation="landscape">
===Concept art and illustrations===
File:McLees Earliest Flood Concept Art.jpg|Earliest known concept art of the flood, depicting what later became the Carrier form.
<gallery>
File:Carrier Form Concept.png|Concept art of the Carrier form.
File:HCE_EarliestFlood_Concept.jpg|Earliest known concept art of the Flood, depicting what later became the carrier form.
File:Carrier1.png|Carrier form in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:HCE EarlyCarrierForm Concept.png|Concept art of the carrier form for ''Halo: Combat Evolved''
File:Flood carrier.jpg|Carrier form in ''Halo 2''.
File:HCE_CarrierForm_Concept.png|Concept art of the carrier form in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:H2 Flood Carrier Form.png|Closeup of a Flood Carrier Form in ''Halo 2'' on Gas Mine.
File:HW CarrierForm_Model.jpg|Carrier form artwork from ''Halo Wars''.
File:1216051145 Carrier form.jpg|A Carrier form in [[Voi]], [[Kenya]].
File:TASRepro.png|A human infected carrier form from ''Halo: Tales from Slipspace''.
File:H2ACarrierForm.png| A Carrier form in Halo 2: Anniversary.
</gallery>
File:H3 Flood Carrier Form.jpg|Carrier form in ''Halo 3''.
===Screenshots===
File:CEACarrier.png|Carrier form in Halo CE: Anniversary
<gallery>
File:Flood carrier in Halo Wars.jpg|Carrier form in ''Halo Wars''.
File:HCE FloodCarriers.jpg|Two carrier forms in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:1carrierwars (2).jpg|Carrier form artwork from ''Halo Wars''.  
File:HTMCC-HCE TheMaw FloodArmy.png|Two carrier forms following attacker forms in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:TASRepro.png|A human infected Carrier form from ''Halo: Tales from Slipspace''.
File:H2_FloodCarrierForm_2.jpg|A carrier form in ''Halo 2''.
File:H2_FloodCarrierForm_1.png|An idle carrier form in ''Halo 2''.
File:1216051145 Carrier form.jpg|A carrier form in ''[[Halo 3]]''.
File:H3 Flood Carrier Form.jpg|A carrier form in ''Halo 3''.
File:Flood carrier in Halo Wars.jpg|A carrier form in ''Halo Wars''.
File:CEACarrier.png|A carrier form in ''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''.
File:H2ACarrierForm.png|A carrier form in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
</gallery>
</gallery>


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*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'' {{MCCo}}
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
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*''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''
*''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''
**''[[Something Has Happened]]''
**''[[Something Has Happened]]''
*''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]]''


==Sources==
==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}
<references/>


{{Flood}}
{{Flood}}


[[Category:Flood forms]]
[[Category:Flood]]

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