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{{Era|H1|H2|H3|TF|HGN}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{ratings}}
{{Flood infobox
{{Flood Species Infobox
|name=Carrier Form
|name=Carrier Form
|image=[[Image:H3 Flood Carrier Form.jpg|300px]]
|image=[[File:Flood Carrier Form.png|300px]]
|height=2 meters (6.6 feet)
|height={{Convert|210|cm|ftin}}–{{Convert|240|cm|ftin}}
|distinctions=Large, bloated with two tentacles and short, stubby legs
|distinctions=Large, bloated with two tentacles and short, stubby legs
|species=*[[Human]]
|attacks=Explodes near a potential host
*[[Sangheili]]
*[[Jiralhanae]]
|attacks=Explode near a potential host
|notable=
|notable=
}}
}}
The Flood '''Carrier Form''' is a type of normal [[Flood]] form primarily used to create and transport [[Infection Forms]] thus spreading the Flood.
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 [[pod infector]]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>


== Overview ==
The carrier form has a variety of forms, such as the [[Flood spawner form|spawner form]], the [[Flood burster]], and the [[Flood bomber form|bomber form]]. The spawner form can spawn Flood forms anywhere it wishes without killing itself in the process, while the burster spawns a variety of Flood forms once its internal pressure has reached a certain point.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', [[campaign]] level ''[[Light the Fuse]]''</ref> 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/Book|Id=Enc22P409|Enc22|Page=409}}


Carrier forms are formed by the [[Flood]] from species with insufficient calcium reserves for transformation to [[Combat Forms]] or from [[Combat Forms]]. Carrier Forms perpetuate the [[Flood]] species by acting as incubators for newly created Infection Forms and keeping them safe until they're fully developed. Once the Infection Forms are ready, the carrier simply explodes spontaneously, sending the new [[Infection Forms]] flying into the air. This number may vary depending on the game. In Halo and Halo 2, this number was around 6. In [[Halo 3]], however, it may be at least four times that much. Also unique to Halo 3 is the ability to use [[Plasma Grenade]]s to eliminate the form along with it's offspring. In Halo 1 and 2, the Carriers will be shot through the air, but will only explode and release the Infection Forms when coming into contact with the ground again, thus letting the smaller creatures survive. As soon as the Infection Forms are released, they begin searching for new hosts. It should be noted that Carrier Forms will not wait until full maturation has occurred. If potential hosts are nearby it will simply get close and explode, sending the Infection Forms flying at the unsuspecting and often damaged enemies. The explosion of a Carrier Form is like the explosion of a grenade, and deals damage to any players nearby. The Carrier form has a simple mindset, which is to release the Infection Forms it carries to a suitable host. While they make no noise, they can somehow communicate with other Carriers, to inform them of a potential sentient being.
==Overview==
The Flood carrier forms have two types: converted and demoted. The converted carrier forms are hosts with little offensive capabilities, and transformed into carrier forms inmediately.{{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|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.


== Creation ==
Carrier forms perpetuate the Flood species by acting as mobile incubators for newly created Pod infectors. 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 Pod infectors 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.


When an [[Infection Form]] takes over a body that is unsuitable for combat, has insufficient calcium reserves for transformation to a [[Combat Form]](such as a Grunt or a Jackal as shown in Halo: the Flood), or once a [[Combat Form]] has been damaged beyond usefulness, it becomes a Carrier Form. Eventually when a [[Combat Form]] has lived long enough, it too will evolve into a carrier, regardless of damage taken.  
During the [[Battle of Installation 05]], Carrier forms were utilized as "[[Naval boarding|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>
[[Image:FloodWalk.PNG|200px|right|thumb|Flood Carrier Forms]]


== Combat ==
==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".


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 [[grenade]]s to explode. This means a single Carrier can cause a massive explosion filling much of a room. This can be used to a soldier's advantage if there are Combat or Infection Forms surrounding the Carrier(s).
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.


The quick and clean way to kill a Carrier Form is to stick it with a plasma grenade or spike grenade. The grenade vaporizes the Carrier as well as the [[Infection Forms]] inside it, so you don't have to worry about releasing a swarm of [[Infection Forms]].
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.


== Trivia ==
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.
[[Image:Flood carrier.jpg|150px|Halo 2 Flood Carrier|thumb|right]]
*In Halo 2, If you run very quickly past a carrier form, occasionally it will not detonate.
*In Halo 3, throwing a plasma grenade, incendiary grenade or spike grenade would normally blow up a Carrier Form. However, in Halo:CE and Halo 2, throwing a the mentioned grenades on a Carrier form would instead send the Carrier form flying in random direction.
*In ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''  they could gain speed for a short time.
*In ''[[Halo 2]]'', Carrier forms are noticeably slower, but can jump.
*In ''[[Halo 3]]'', they carry far more Infection Forms than in the previous two games.
*In ''[[Halo 3]]'', carriers are less common but come in groups of 2-4 which are even deadly on easy.
*In ''[[Halo 3]]'', they can jump rather high compared to [[Halo: Combat Evolved]] (in which they couldn't even jump) and [[Halo 2]] where they could jump about 2-3 feet.
*In ''[[Halo 3]]'', they are noticeably more resistant to firearms.
*In ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', carriers are noticeably less resistant than their [[Halo 2]] and 3 counterparts.
*Curiously, in [[Halo: Combat Evolved]] and [[Halo 3]], you can let a carrier walk up to you and fall over, then if you shoot it with a shotgun, it will stand back up and fall over backwards and explode.
*In [[Halo: The Flood]] Sergeant Lister is "knocked on his ass" by the explosion of a Carrier Form, according to McKay.


== Related Links ==
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.


*[[Shielded Flood Carriers]]
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.
 
In ''[[Halo Wars 2]]'' prioritize destroying Flood Spawner, since it can produce units to counter any units and buildings that player uses to attack it.
 
==Trivia==
*Carrier forms have a slight similarity in physical appearance to the [[Flood Juggernaut]].
*Carrier forms are sometimes nicknamed "popcorn",{{citation needed}} due to how they "pop" and release Pod infectors. The title has also been applied to the Pod infectors themselves.
*The Carrier form of Flood 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 you were three meters close to them they would explode, heavily damaging or killing the player.
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', the level "[[The Maw]]" contains a glitch in which the Carrier form explodes, but the Pod infectors do not move.
*The Carrier forms in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo 2'' would release between 4-6 Pod infectors 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.
*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 Pod infectors, 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 Pod infectors. The Incendiary grenade does, however, seem to have a small explosive force used to scatter the flames.
*In ''Halo 3'', sticking Carrier Forms with Plasma or [[Spike Grenades]] prevents the Pod infectors from being released, presumably because the grenade destroys them within the Form.
*In ''Halo Wars 2'', Flood spawners and Flood bursters are a more advanced type of the Flood carrier form.
 
==Gallery==
<gallery widths="150" orientation="landscape">
File:HCE_EarliestFlood_Concept.jpg|Earliest known concept art of the flood, depicting what later became the Carrier form.
File:HCE EarlyCarrierForm Concept.png|Concept art of the Carrier form.
File:HCE_CarrierForm_Concept.png|Concept art of the Carrier form.
File:Carrier1.png|Carrier form in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:H2_FloodCarrierForm_2.jpg|Carrier form in ''Halo 2''.
File:H2_FloodCarrierForm_1.png|Closeup of a Flood Carrier Form in ''Halo 2'' on Gas Mine.
File:1216051145 Carrier form.jpg|A Carrier form in [[Voi]], [[Kenya]].
File:H2ACarrierForm.png| A Carrier form in Halo 2: Anniversary.
File:H3 Flood Carrier Form.jpg|Carrier form in ''Halo 3''.
File:CEACarrier.png|Carrier form in Halo CE: Anniversary
File:Flood carrier in Halo Wars.jpg|Carrier form in ''Halo Wars''.
File:HW CarrierForm_Model.jpg|Carrier form artwork from ''Halo Wars''.
File:TASRepro.png|A human infected Carrier form from ''Halo: Tales from Slipspace''.
</gallery>
 
==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'' {{MCCo}}
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[The Mona Lisa]]'' {{c|Motion comic only}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''
**''[[Something Has Happened]]''
*''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]]''
 
==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}


{{Flood}}
{{Flood}}


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

Latest revision as of 03:42, November 17, 2023

Carrier Form
Flood Carrier Form.png
General overview

Distinctions:

Large, bloated with two tentacles and short, stubby legs

Height:

210 centimetres (6 ft 11 in)–240 centimetres (7 ft 10 in)

Method of attack:

Explodes near a potential host

 

The Carrier Form[1] is a Flood form used to incubate and spread pod infectors.[2][3][4] Carrier forms are formed from older Combat Forms, or from infected bodies that are unsuitable for combat.[5]

The carrier form has a variety of forms, such as the spawner form, the Flood burster, and the bomber form. The spawner form can spawn Flood forms anywhere it wishes without killing itself in the process, while the burster spawns a variety of Flood forms once its internal pressure has reached a certain point.[6] The bomber form floats using its gas bladders, dropping blisters full of pod infectors and spores onto enemies below.[7]

Overview[edit]

The Flood carrier forms have two types: converted and demoted. The converted carrier forms are hosts with little offensive capabilities, and transformed into carrier forms inmediately.[7] The demoted carrier forms are combat forms that have outlived their usefulness or become too damaged to fight.[7] In both cases, the carrier form will begin to spontaneously generate Pod infectors within their host bodies.[5] 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.

Carrier forms perpetuate the Flood species by acting as mobile incubators for newly created Pod infectors. 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 Pod infectors and can injure or kill potential hosts, with the explosion being comparable to that of a 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.

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.[8]

Gameplay[edit]

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 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 Plasma Pistol, will force it to explode. However, there is not a single weapon that can actually blow it up, not even a direct 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.

In Halo: Combat Evolved a good tactic is to hook one with a Plasma Grenade and shoot it with the 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 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 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 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.

In Halo Wars 2 prioritize destroying Flood Spawner, since it can produce units to counter any units and buildings that player uses to attack it.

Trivia[edit]

  • Carrier forms have a slight similarity in physical appearance to the Flood Juggernaut.
  • Carrier forms are sometimes nicknamed "popcorn",[citation needed] due to how they "pop" and release Pod infectors. The title has also been applied to the Pod infectors themselves.
  • The Carrier form of Flood is the successor of the 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.
  • In Halo: Combat Evolved, the level "The Maw" contains a glitch in which the Carrier form explodes, but the Pod infectors do not move.
  • The Carrier forms in Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 would release between 4-6 Pod infectors 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.
  • 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 Flamethrower, the Carrier form will explode and release the Pod infectors, 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 Pod infectors. The Incendiary grenade does, however, seem to have a small explosive force used to scatter the flames.
  • In Halo 3, sticking Carrier Forms with Plasma or Spike Grenades prevents the Pod infectors from being released, presumably because the grenade destroys them within the Form.
  • In Halo Wars 2, Flood spawners and Flood bursters are a more advanced type of the Flood carrier form.

Gallery[edit]

  • Earliest known concept art of the flood, depicting what later became the Carrier form.

    Earliest known concept art of the flood, depicting what later became the Carrier form.

  • Concept art of the Carrier form.

    Concept art of the Carrier form.

  • Concept art of the Carrier form.

    Concept art of the Carrier form.

  • Carrier form in Halo: Combat Evolved.

    Carrier form in Halo: Combat Evolved.

  • Carrier form in Halo 2.

    Carrier form in Halo 2.

  • Closeup of a Flood Carrier Form in Halo 2 on Gas Mine.

    Closeup of a Flood Carrier Form in Halo 2 on Gas Mine.

  • A Carrier form in Voi, Kenya.

    A Carrier form in Voi, Kenya.

  • A Carrier form in Halo 2: Anniversary.

    A Carrier form in Halo 2: Anniversary.

  • Carrier form in Halo 3.

    Carrier form in Halo 3.

  • Carrier form in Halo CE: Anniversary

    Carrier form in Halo CE: Anniversary

  • Carrier form in Halo Wars.

    Carrier form in Halo Wars.

  • Carrier form artwork from Halo Wars.

    Carrier form artwork from Halo Wars.

  • A human infected Carrier form from Halo: Tales from Slipspace.

    A human infected Carrier form from Halo: Tales from Slipspace.

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ Halo: The Flood, page 239: ("The Spartan [...] sidestepped to evade a charging carrier form.")
  2. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level 343 Guilty Spark
  3. ^ Halo 2, campaign level The Oracle
  4. ^ Halo 3, campaign level Floodgate
  5. ^ a b 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")
  6. ^ Halo Wars 2, campaign level Light the Fuse
  7. ^ a b c Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 409
  8. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 197

v • d • e
 
Known Flood forms
Regular Spore • Pod • Seeder • Tadpole • Dispersal pod
Growths Stalk • Blister
Other Flood Super Cell (FSC)
Infected
Structures
Hives Hive • Den • Nest • Colony • Spore Mound • Cocooned base • Blightlands
Defensive Launcher • Root
Other Porta • Vent
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