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{{Status|Canon}}
{{era|HW|H1|H2|H3|TF|HE|HGN}}
{{Disambig header|the general term|the specific Flood form commonly referred to as a combat form|Flood attacker form}}
{{ratings}}
{{Flood infobox
{{references}}
|name=Combat form
{{Grammar}}
|image=[[File:H Evol - Mona Lisa Flood Combat Forms.png|350px]]<br>Several variations of combat form
{{Flood Species Infobox
|height=Varies depending on type and host species.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P408}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P409}}
|name=Combat Form
|distinctions=
|image=[[File:1195430022 100.jpg|400px]]
|attacks=Lunging at enemies with claws and whip-like tendrils, biting, and/or firing infectious barbs.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P408}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P409}}
|height=Varies on host
|notable=
|distinctions=Host body covered with greenish-gray decaying skin (more so in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'') and armed with mutated appendages. The host's head is pushed aside to make room for the [[Infection Form]].
*[[Flood attacker form|Attacker form]]
|species=*[[Human]]
*[[Flood thrasher form|Thrasher form]]
*[[Sangheili]] (Elite)
*[[Flood swarm|Swarm form]]
*[[Jiralhanae]] (Brute)
|notable-title=Notable types
*[[Unggoy]] (Grunt)
*[[Kig-Yar]] (Jackal)
|attacks=Lunging at a victim, whipping with appendages and using held weapon
|notable=*[[Kusovai]]
*[[Wallace A. Jenkins]]
*[[Manuel Mendoza]]
*[[Jacob Keyes]]
}}
}}


The '''Flood combat form''' is the primary form used by the [[Flood]] to overwhelm and decimate surviving populations, and one of the most common forms found in [[Feral Stage|early stages]] of a Flood outbreak. Combat forms can be created using either sapient or non-sapient hosts infected via means of the [[Flood Super Cell]], typically by a [[pod infector]]. They serve as the Flood's primary combatants, defending the Flood against attack and securing additional hosts for infection. The most common variation of combat form is the [[Flood attacker form|attacker form]].{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P408|Enc22|Page=408}}
A '''Flood Combat Form'''<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', page 225: ''"The first of these '''combat forms''' he'd seen had once been Elites."''</ref> Is an organism deemed suitable for combat that has been infected by the [[Flood]] parasite via an [[Infection Form]] or [[Flood Spores]]. The victim is mutated into a combat unit for use by the Flood. They coordinate attacks on certain enemies under the control of a [[Gravemind]].


==Pathology==
==Pathology==
===Infection and creation===
A Combat Form is not a natural organism, but rather a mutated host infected by parasitic [[Flood Super Cell]]s implanted by an Infection Form. Successful creation of a Combat Form requires a host with sufficient biomass and calcium store. After mutation begins, the infection form attaches with a protruding neural connection that allows it to command the host's nervous system, thus rendering command of the legs and arms useless. 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.
Combat forms are typically created when a [[pod infector]] is successfully able to enter a host's body, though this is not the only vector by which hosts can be infected.{{Ref/Site|Id=Universe|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/species/flood|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Flood}} Flood outbreaks can often be caused by [[Flood spore|spores]] or other microbiological vectors entering the host body,{{Ref/Reuse|Universe}} or by contact with other forms that include Flood [[Seeder infector|Seeder]]s or [[Flood infester form|Infester]]s.{{Ref/Game|Id=ATN|HW2|Detail=[[Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare|Awakening the Nightmare]]}} In more advanced stages of infection, the need for specific [[infection form]]s is decreased as the Flood-infected area converts to a [[Blightlands|Blightland]] or [[Flood hive]]. By this point, the Flood presence makes up the majority of the terrain in the area, making contact with the Flood Super Cell and the naturally-generated spores an inevitability. Some Flood structures such as the "[[Flood launcher|launcher]]" specialize in firing clouds of spores at uninfected forces, causing them to succumb to the infection without any kind of infection form involved.{{Ref/Game|HW|Flood Launcher in-game unit}}


As Flood forms, including the combat form, naturally produce the Flood Super Cell (FSC), even being in contact with one can result in infection for an unprotected potential host. Given the combat forms' preference for melee combat, this makes even non-fatal strikes a death sentence, though such infections may progress slowly.{{Ref/Anthology|Id=MonaLisa|Evo|[[The Mona Lisa]]}} However, infection by spore inhalation or infection form is extremely quick, with a host succumbing often in as little as a few seconds.
The host stays alive during and after the transformation process and can be conscious and aware even after the final transformation. The victim is kept alive after infection so that more of the host can be consumed by the Infection Form. This process is presumably very painful and terrifying. 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 its own needs (although an infected host will be roughly the same size as it was before). On rare occasions, this effect may be weakened by time in stasis, allowing the host to regain some control, as in the case of [[Private First Class]] [[Wallace Jenkins]].<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page ??''</ref> Combat Forms retain the host's previous attributes and so can single wield weapons, and drive and [[boarding|board]] enemy vehicles. However, Infection Forms do not require their hosts to still be alive for infection. Even dead hosts are suitable for conversion into a Combat Form, [[Flood#Biology|reanimating]] them again after infecting them; though the brain tissue remains dead, the victim's biomass and calcium reserves are sufficient to warrant infection.


When conventionally infected by a pod infector, the infector latches onto the host and dig into the host's flesh with a razor-sharp barb-like appendage, injecting the FSC and proceeding to burrow themselves within the host. Typically, the pod infector makes its home within the chest cavity of the host life form, though depending on circumstance this is not always the case. Depending on the host in question, the pod infector will dislodge the host's bones and organs to make room for itself, resulting in extreme disfiguration such as dislocating the host's jaw{{Ref/Game|Id=H2AMP|H2A|[[Infection]] game mode}} or, in the case of infected [[Sangheili]], completely snapping the neck. This process can be performed on living or recently-deceased hosts, though often results in the "death" of a living host prior to their re-animation once the FSC takes hold.{{Ref/Reuse|Universe}} Some hosts may be attacked and infected by multiple pod infectors.{{Ref/Reuse|Flood10}} Even if the infection form is removed, the injection of FSC into the generated wounds results in those wounds becoming spore-filled blisters, and the host cannot be saved from infection.{{Ref/Game|Id=PLInfectionForm|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Infection Forms}}
In the initial stage of a Flood outbreak, the [[Feral Stage]], Combat Forms communicate using pheromones and have one instinctual behavior; to secure new hosts to strengthen the local [[Proto-Gravemind|controlling intelligence]]. Once a sufficient store of biomass is available the Flood enters the [[Coordinated Stage]], and begins forming [[Pure Form]] Flood, with the Combat Forms being used either as defensive units or calcium/biomass reserves. According to the [[John-117]], a Sangheili Combat Form looked like a Sangheili, except it appeared that someone had ''"killed him, buried the body, and dug it up two weeks later"''.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 220''</ref> Flood infection is a rapid and efficient biological process, as it can take under a minute in certain cases. The Flood can recognize if a potential host is immune, and will focus on removal of that organism above all other threats in the area.{{fact}} A group of Flood will occasionally go after [[Sentinels]] if they are perceived to be the greatest threat in the area, although they are unable to be infected by the Flood.


Once infected, the super cell begins to consume and convert sections of the host body, creating growths and new appendages of new super cell. As this process occurs, bodies take on the appearance and smell of decay.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Flood10|TF|Chapter=10}} With sapient hosts, some limbs and sensory organs are preserved in the transformation, and are used to operate tools, equipment, weapons, vehicles, and even ships.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P408}} Infection forms will often augment a host's body to better serve as a living weapon, and damage taken during fighting and infection can be repaired by the controlling infection form, though the combat form is ultimately disposable.{{Ref/Game|Id=PLCombatForm|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Combat Forms}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P408}} Any damage that the combat form receives ultimately creates more vectors of infection as the chunks of infected flesh it leaves behind are scattered throughout the environment.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P408}} The Flood Super Cell is able to arrange itself to mimic any organ needed to keep the host working,{{Ref/Game|Id=Bestiarum|H3|[[Bestiarum]]}} while other internal organs are replaced with accretions that function as support lattices containing a sickly green liquid full of spores in suspension. Spore-filled polyps also often cover the exterior of combat forms.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P408}} Even once the FSC has taken control of the victim, the controlling infection form can often be seen buried within the victim, with the infection form's red sensory appendages poking out of the flesh. Until the body is completely subsumed by super cell growth, these appendages are maintained as an impromptu central nervous system.{{Ref/Reuse|Universe}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P408}} Some combat form super cell growths take on a more chitinous nature, akin to armor plating, helping protect the combat form from enemy attacks.{{Ref/Game|Id=H4|H4|[[Flood (gametype)|Flood]] gametype}}
==Types of Combat Forms==
A specific creature is needed for the infection and creation of a Combat Form. Of the various Covenant races, only a few species meet the necessary requirements. Species known to be immune to conversion include the [[Mgalekgolo]]/[[Lekgolo]], whose complete lack of skeletal calcium (i.e. bones) and central nervous system, colonial physiology, and insuficient biomass per individual worm make infection and neural synchronization impossible for Infection Forms, the [[Yanme'e]], whose exoskeleton lacks the required amount of calcium and renders infection impossible, and the [[Huragok]] which is an artificial, gas-based organism, and therefore believed to be immune.


With sapient hosts, the victim may still attempt to cry out from what remains of its mouth and throat even while being controlled, though it is also possible for the infection form to do so using the host's thoughts and memories as a psychological weapon.{{Ref/Game|Id=PLInfected|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Infected}} In extremely rare circumstances, a victim may remain fully aware of their present status, unable to do much but watch as their body is controlled by an outside force.{{Ref/Reuse|PLCombatForm}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P408}}
All victims of the Flood's infection, regardless of their physiology, will undergo the reanimation process where the hosts will experience its skin decaying rapidly (if they were infected while alive), growing whip-like appendages which will serve as their primary melee weapon in close-combat situation and have their heads (which are useless to the Infection Form) pushed aside/apart to provide space for the Infection Form to rest itself on the host' chest. In ''Halo 3'', the reanimation process can be witnessed; the host will twitch around in pain, and eventually collapse on the ground. Afterward, the whip appendages will force itself out of host's left arm, and the Infection Form will force itself out of the host's chest.


===Capabilities===
If available, the Combat Forms are able wield the arsenals of the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] and those of the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]]. In ''Halo 2'', all Combat Forms are also capable of driving and boarding vehicles and are able to do so in ''Halo 3'', though the ability to drive vehicles is lost.
The infection form controlling a host body does not feel pain or fear, though the host is able to feel the physical effect of attacks rendered upon it.{{Ref/Reuse|PLCombatForm}} In extreme cases, the infection form will resort to self-mutilation of the host body if it needs to, such as breaking its own arms to use the snapped bone as an improvised weapon. However, the pain inflicted on the host body may also weaken the controlling infection form, provided that it was old and weak prior to infecting the host.{{Ref/Reuse|Flood10}} Combat forms are reliant on their infection form for all bodily and motor functions, and shooting the infection form will "kill" the combat form, though the body can be re-reanimated if another infection form is able to reach it. As a result, a combat form can be resurrected as many times as is needed, provided the body is still intact enough to be a viable host. To properly kill a combat form, it must be dismembered or disfigured to the point at which it is no longer a suitable host body for an infection form.{{Ref/Reuse|H3Gameplay}}


When a sapient host is infected and made into an [[Flood attacker form|attacker form]], the infection form is able to absorb all of the host's knowledge and memories. As a result, attacker forms are capable of operating firearms, driving vehicles, operating tools and even starships.{{Ref/Reuse|PLCombatForm}} In the case of the ''[[Infinite Succor]]''{{'}}s [[Skirmish on Infinite Succor|infection]], infected warriors were able to set up patrols of the ship's corridors to guard the [[Proto-Gravemind]] growing in the ship.{{Ref/Comic|Id=Succor|HGN|Detail=[[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]}} The Flood's possession of an individual's body allows it to speak with the host's tongue.{{Ref/Reuse|PLCombatForm}}{{Ref/Reuse|Succor}}{{Ref/Level|H3|The Covenant (level)|The Covenant}} This memory-absorption extends critical knowledge such as command codes or colony locations. As such, when critical personnel are infected, they are contributed to the construction of a [[Gravemind]].{{Ref/Level|Id=Keyes|HCE|Keyes}}
[[File:Flood.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A Human Combat Form]]
===Human Form===
The Human Combat Form is significantly smaller than other forms due to their original smaller size. 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 fight. Although it cannot take as much damage as the Sangheili Combat Form can, the Human Form has some advantages.


Attacker combat forms use their whip or scythe-like growths to attack their opponents in melee combat, and are capable of performing feats that their hosts previously could not, such as leaping large distances to cover ground. Even if a melee strike is not fatal, the imparted Flood Super Cell is enough to ensure the target's infection and death.{{Ref/Reuse|MonaLisa}} As the infection forms do not feel pain, combat forms are undeterred by enemy attacks and will not stop until they are destroyed, or their enemy is killed. Ballistic weapons are notably less effective against some combat forms because of this, with [[SRS99C-S2 AM sniper rifle]] rounds passing through combat forms with virtually no effect.{{Ref/Game|HCE|Gameplay}} Targeted shots against the limbs and embedded infection form are effective ways of dispatching combat forms.{{Ref/Book|OSFM|Page=172-175}}
It seems to be more alert and is quicker to melee an opponent. It also presents a smaller, harder target to hit, especially the Infection Form, as it isn't protruding out of the body as much as those of Sangheili Forms. However, in ''Halo 3'', the Human form becomes an easier target to hit; the Infection Form protrudes a lot more out of the host's chest and becomes a visibly significant target, and it seems to be significantly slower.
{{clear}}


===Role within the Flood===
[[File:1213329521_250px-Eliteflood.png|thumb|200px|right|"Sangheili" Combat Form]]
Combat forms make up the majority of the Flood's combatant forces, particularly in the [[Feral Stage]] of the parasite's development in which it has yet to acquire enough raw biomass for the creation of a [[Gravemind]] or [[Flood pure form|pure forms]]. During this stage, combat forms are not centrally controlled, and will begin to gather bodies for conversion into more Flood forms.{{Ref/Reuse|Keyes}} If a location cannot be immediately secured, multiple combat forms may merge to create the [[Flood Juggernaut|Juggernaut]] and [[Abomination]] keymind forms, able to direct local forces in the area until a permanent presence can be established.
===Sangheili (Elite) Form===
The Sangheili Combat Form is a formidable enemy as it is very agile, resilient, and capable of utilizing its host's armor abilities such as [[Active Camouflage]] and [[Energy Shields]] to assist them in combat. The Sangheili Combat Forms are slightly larger than the Human Form and as such present a larger target.


When a local biosphere has been completely assimilated into the Flood, typically once the Flood has entered the [[Coordinated Stage]], combat forms cannot be created anymore due to a lack of viable hosts. Due to this, the Flood moves onto breaking down raw biomass into Flood Super Cell, thereby creating [[Flood pure form|pure forms]] of wholly Flood biomass. Once the number of pure forms reaches a sufficient equilibrium, combat forms are relegated to defensive roles or added to the hive's raw biomass and [[calcium]] reserves.{{Ref/Reuse|Bestiarum}} Otherwise, aging or damaged combat forms are turned into [[Flood carrier form|carrier form]]s, growing infection forms within a large, bulbous mass on their back.{{Ref/Reuse|Universe}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P409|Enc22|Page=409}}
In ''Halo 2'', all of the Sangheili Forms encountered use one armor palette; the [[Sangheili Minor|Minor Domo]]'s [[Sangheili Combat Harness|Combat Harness]]. In ''Halo 3'' however, the Sangheili Forms will retain its host's armor palette. Strength of each Sangheili Form will be dependant on the ranks of its host; an infected [[Sangheili Major]] will be considerably harder to kill than a [[Sangheili Minor]].  
{{clear}}


==Types of combat forms==
[[File:1213329520_250px-Bruteflood.png|thumb|right|200px|Brute form schematics.]]
Virtually any creature with sufficiently complex nervous systems can be infected and made a combat form, but the most commonly-seen hosts are those of sapient species such as [[human]]s, [[Sangheili]], and [[Jiralhanae]].{{Ref/Reuse|H3Gameplay}} [[Kig-Yar]] and [[Unggoy]] can also be made into combat forms, though are seemingly more rare.{{Ref/Reuse|PLCombatForm}} Sapient hosts such as these are generally made into the most basic version of combat form, simply known as an attacker form.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P408}} Non-sapient animals can also be made into combat forms provided they have sufficient calcium reserves and neuro-complexity.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P409}}
===Jiralhanae (Brute) Form===
The Jiralhanae Combat Form, is a formidable enemy and is more aggressive in combat than other Combat Forms, as it will charge towards an opponent recklessly; this behavior is most likely as a result of the Jiralhanae's savage nature, and favor of close combat.


All victims of infection via pod infector, regardless of their physiology, will undergo a similar mutation process. The skin decays rapidly, and changes to the color and texture of Flood biomass as the Flood Super Cells overtake the body. In the case of attacker combat forms, the host's arm bones elongate and grow into whip or claw-like appendages, which serve as their primary melee weapon in close-combat situations. As the pod infector now serves as the host's "brain," the head is usually forced aside, and can be severed without any effect on the combat form.{{Ref/Game|Id=H3Gameplay|H3|Gameplay}}<ref group="notes">In ''Halo 3'', the reanimation process can be witnessed; the host will twitch around in pain, and eventually collapse on the ground. Afterwards, the whip appendages will force itself out of the host's left arm, and the pod infector will force itself out of the host's chest.</ref>
The Jiralhanae Form is more powerful than the Human Form, but falls short against the Sangheili Form. It is bulkier and slower than other Combat Forms. Since the reanimation process strips the host of their damaged [[Power Armor (Jiralhanae)|Jiralhanae Power Armor]], the Jiralhanae Form cannot make use of their host's armor abilities.
{{clear}}


===Attacker===
===Unggoy (Grunt) and Kig-yar (Jackal) Combat Forms===
{{Main|Flood attacker form}}
[[File:FloodGruntJ.jpg|thumb|Bungie concept art of an infected Unggoy.]]
The most common and basic combat form is the attacker. These forms are created solely from sapient hosts bent to the Flood's will. As the parasite takes over their thoughts and memories, it uses this information to allow the attacker to use weapons, equipment, and vehicles to further the Flood's reach and overall threat level. Given the intelligence of the host, occasionally the victims can manage a whisper pleading for mercy or simply cries of pain. However, the parasite will more often speak on their behalf using their stolen thoughts to terrorize both the host and any nearby survivors.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P408}} Potential hosts used for attackers include humans, Sangheili, Jiralhanae, Unggoy, Kig-Yar,{{Ref/Reuse|PLCombatForm}} and Forerunners.<ref>'''[[Halo: Fractures]]''', ''[[Defender of the Storm]]'', ''page 231''</ref>
These Forms do not appear in the main trilogy and are instead introduced in ''Halo Wars''.<ref group="notes"> While no canon source ever denied it was possible for Grunts or Jackals to be converted, it was thought that they were unsuitable for conversion due to their small size and an assumed lack of calcium.  Instead of using Grunts and Jackals as combat forms due to their size, The Flood typically used them as a type of 'nucleus' that a Carrier Form would grow around. They had originally been intended by Bungie to become Combat Forms, but limitations in resources and staff at the time of the formative years of the franchise led to the introduction into the fiction of the aforementioned assumptions about the Unggoy's and Kig-Yar's unsuitable status as Combat Forms. They would also serve as building blocks for a Gravemind. It wasn't until the release of Halo Wars that they were formally implemented in a Halo game.</ref> Rarely seen in actual combat situations, infected Unggoy and Kig-Yar are more commonly converted into Carrier Forms or processed for their biomass. These "building blocks" can be used to add to a Gravemind's superstructure or be molded into flood Pure Forms.


<gallery>
Actual Unggoy and Kig-Yar Combat Forms have only been witnessed in the first recorded contact between the Covenant and the Flood. It is suggested that these weaker forms were quickly ruled out by the Flood and determined to be a less efficient use of biomass after only just a few battles. They are weaker, slower, and easier to kill than their Sangheili Combat Form brethren. Their introduction is representative of the Flood's malleability - ''any'' creature of any type can be used by the Flood for its purposes.
File:Anniversary, FloodCombatForm.jpg|A human attacker form.
{{clear}}
File:H4-FloodCombatForm-Spartan.png|A [[Spartan-IV]] attacker form.
 
File:H2A-InfectedSpartan.png|A Spartan-II attacker form.
== Anti-Flood Countermeasures ==
File:FCFelite.jpg|A Sangheili attacker form.
Combat Forms can take extensive and sizable amounts of damage before being neutralized. Arms, legs and even heads can be dismembered before they are incapacitated. The weak areas of a Combat Form are its sensory appendages that normally develop on the upper chest. This is where the Infection Form has nestled, and the body is incapacitated if this area is destroyed by a projectile weapon.
File:HW2-Unleashed.png|A Jiralhanae attacker form.
 
File:Kig-Yar_Combat_Form.png|A Kig-Yar attacker form.
In all three ''Halo'' games, a Combat Form may fall only to stand up again and keep fighting. This can only happen if it still has a usable limb and appendage. In ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'', if the body is not destroyed, Combat Forms can be revived by other Infection Forms crawling into it..
File:HW2 - Flood Unggoy form.jpg|An Unggoy attacker form.
 
</gallery>
Human weapons are generally more effective against the Flood, as Covenant plasma weaponry is designed to debilitate targets by causing burning pain and structural damage to bodies, and the Flood cannot feel pain or be crippled.{{fact}}However, In ''Halo 3'', plasma-based weaponry and melee attacks, formerly weak against the Combat Forms in the previous two games, are now highly effective. Piercing weapons such as the [[Sniper Rifle]] and the [[Beam Rifle]] have little effect on Combat Forms. At a distance, explosive ordnance such as grenades and ranged weapons such as the [[Battle Rifle]] or the [[Covenant Carbine]] can performs well against Combat Forms. Do note that Plasma or Spike grenades should be used with caution, as the Combat Form will sometimes ignore all other targets and charge players using such weapons at high speed. The [[Needler]] can be devastating, as the needle explosion will prevent it coming back to life in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', and will shatter it in ''Halo 2'' and ''3''. In addition, the Needler's explosions will destroy an entire horde of charging Flood Combat Forms, similar to grenades and rocket launchers. For ranged weapons, it is recommended for players to focus their fire at the sensory appendages that is visible on the Combat Forms as successfully firing at one will immediately bring down a Combat Form. Dismemberment with ranged weapons is also recommended to prevent the Combat Forms from firing their held weapons. At close combat, it is recommended that the individual acquire close quarter weapons such as the Shotgun, Energy Sword and Gravity Hammer as they perform exceptionally well against Combat Forms. Burning the Combat Forms with sufficient amount is one of the most effective methods in any situation, as is destruction of the torso. Automatic weapons are effective also.
 
==Trivia==
===General===
* In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' Combat Forms will not disintegrate from successive melee hits when they are dead like in ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3''.
* Flood Combat Forms seem to take on physiological and biological changes throughout the Halo trilogy; these changes from game to game could be due to the Gravemind's influence in attempting to create a better Flood soldier or they could be simply graphical updates.
* Human flood forms always seem to have a screaming human face when infected.
* Some elite flood combat forms still have shields.


===Thrasher===
===Halo: Combat Evolved===
{{Main|Flood thrasher form}}
*In all of the ''Halo'' games, Flood Combat Forms always hold the [[Shotgun]] with one hand, and fire it without pumping another round into the chamber. They somehow manage to make the shotgun pump itself. A possible explanation for this is that the Flood has extended an appendage into/onto the Shotgun which allows it to use the Shotgun's pump as a body part, or the pump action just wasn't programmed into ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
Thrashers are a hulking, vicious variant of combat form created through the infection of certain non-sapient animals with sufficient neuro-complexity. Limited in intellect compared to attackers, thrashers are used as simple weapons in early stages of Flood infiltration and expansion. They have whip-like barbed tentacles and toothy maws suited to gorging on the flesh that fuels their violent rampage. Bearing resemblance to [[Flood tank form|some]] [[Flood pure form|pure form]]s, thrashers are primarily employed to defend existing Flood hives.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P409}}
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' if you stand on a Light Bridge (343 Guilty Spark) and shoot off armed Combat Forms' gun arms, they will leap onto the bridge and get stuck and will only be able to move by jumping at you.
*If you shoot both arms off a Combat Form in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' it will not be able to attack you and will simply follow you around. Players have dubbed this instance as creating a ''"[[Flood Friends|Flood Buddy]]"''.
*This is the only game in which an Infection Form cannot revive a dead Combat Form; instead the may just get back up.


<gallery>
===Halo 2===
File:FloodThrasher 1.png|A model of a thrasher form.
*''Halo 2'' is the only game where the Flood are able to drive vehicles.<ref>'''Halo 2''', ''[[Quarantine Zone (Level)|Quarantine Zone]]''</ref>
File:HW thrashersrunning2.jpg|Several thrasher forms on [[Trove]].
*When using the Grunt Birthday Party skull against the Flood in ''Halo 2'', the effect of the skull will cause the plasma grenade explosion to occur when you shoot the Combat Form in the chest, where the Infection Form is.
File:Enc22 Thrasher.png|A thrasher form in the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]''.
</gallery>


===Swarm===
===Halo 3===
{{Main|Flood swarm}}
* The Combat Form can pick any weapon should it be near them when they "resurrect".
Swarm forms are flying combat forms made via the infection of certain non-sapient avian predators with sufficient calcium reserves and resilient neurosystems. Despite their large size, swarm forms are remarkably swift and capable of performing coordinated attacks from the air with others of their kind. In addition to their sharp talons and teeth, swarm forms can fire infectious barbed projectiles at enemies.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P409}}
* Sometimes, [[Flood]] will wield [[Flamethrower]]s if they are revived close to one. In some cases, they can be seen wielding [[Plasma Turrets]] with one arm or tentacle. This is common on the level [[The Covenant (Level)|The Covenant]], right after you kill the Brute Chieftain with the [[Plasma Cannon]]. This may either mean that the Flood has built up a powerful muscular structure in the host during infection, or they haven't been programmed to hold these weapons with two hands.
* An infected Jiralhanae Chieftain will turn into a Jiralhanae Combat Form with [[Jiralhanae Minor]] Power Armor on. These errors were due to memory constraints and also represent the rapid increase of visual effects technology over the course of the development of the games.{{fact}}
* Regardless of gender, an infected [[Human]] Flood becomes a male Combat Form. There are no variations between an infected male or female Marine. Most likely this is because no female variant was designed.


== Gallery ==
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:HW FloodSwarm Concept.jpg|A swarm form.
File:Warrior Form Human2.png|A Human Combat Form from ''Halo:Combat Evolved''.
File:HW FloodSwarmForm 1.png|Another view of a swarm form.
File:Warrior Form Covie2.png|An Sangheili Combat Form from ''Halo:Combat Evolved''.
File:FloodWeaponless05.jpg|A Sangheili Combat Form from ''Halo 2''.
File:Combat forrn HGN.jpg|Two Human Combat Forms in ''Halo Graphic Novels''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> ''[[Breaking Quarantine]]''.
File:1216929149 Flood Combat Form (Very Angry).jpg|A Sangheili Combat Form in ''[[Halo: Graphic Novel]]''.
File:Flood_base-marine-copy-1-.jpg|Human Combat Form as depicted on the ''[[Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide]]''.
File:1216051647 Infected.jpg|A Marine undergoing the reanimation process after getting infected by an Infection form.
</gallery>
</gallery>
==Production notes==
Prior to the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]'', all human, Sangheili, Jiralhanae, Kig-Yar, and Unggoy combat forms were simply referred to as combat forms. While the Encyclopedia does not dispute this, it further clarified that these kinds of Flood forms are all part of the "[[Flood attacker form|attacker]]" subset of combat forms.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P408}}


==Notes==
==Notes==
<references group="notes"/>
<references group="notes"/>
==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''
**''[[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]''
**''[[Breaking Quarantine]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'' {{MCCo}}
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[The Mona Lisa]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo: Fractures]]''
**''[[Defender of the Storm]]''
*''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''
**''[[Something Has Happened]]''
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite]]''
**''[[Season 05: Reckoning]]''
*''[[Halo: Saturn Devouring His Son]]''
*''[[Halo: Epitaph]]''
*''[[Halo: The Television Series Season Two]]''
**''[[Halo (TV Series)|Halo]]''


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


{{Flood}}
{{Flood}}
[[Category:Flood forms]]
[[Category:The Flood]]

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