Editing Flood infester form

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Species infobox
|variant=Flood
|name=Infester
|image=[[File:Enc22 Infester.png|300px]]
|latin=
|classification=[[Flood pure form|Pure form]]
|species=[[Flood]]
|subspecies=
|diet=
|height=
|weight=
|distinctions=Tripodal leg arrangement, with claws used to rip open vehicles
|lifespan=
|homeworld=
|techlevel=
|notable-person=
|othernames=
|languages=
}}
The '''Infester''' is a [[Flood]] [[Flood pure form|pure form]] that specializes in combating and converting enemy ground [[vehicle]]s and their crews.{{Ref/Game|Id=PL|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Infester}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=411}}

==Overview==
Infesters are hunched-over Flood forms boasting three legs, with two at the front on the "shoulders" and one located at the back. The two front legs end in massive spikes, which can be used to claw through heavy armour plating. They are used for hunting down crewed vehicles, climbing aboard them and ripping them apart with their claws and tentacles.{{Ref/Reuse|PL}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} Once done, the infester infects the crew inside, converting the crew into [[Flood spore|spore-packed]] pustules and mucus-like growths which themselves hold the damaged vehicle together. This process does weaken the vehicle's structural integrity, but means that the infected vehicle can serve the Flood for growing [[pod infector]]s inside. Once destroyed, these pod infectors can emerge forth to continue the Flood's life cycle.{{Ref/Game|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Infected}} This threat also serves to encourage enemy forces to rely less on vehicles and traverse on foot - making them more vulnerable to other forms of Flood infection.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

Once the infester has completed its task, it collapses in a heap and dies, spewing spores around the area.{{Ref/Reuse|PL}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

The infester can also use its barbed tendrils to attack infantry and structures, though with less effectiveness than attacks against vehicles.{{Ref/Reuse|PL}}

==In-game information==
===''Halo Wars 2''===
{{Expand-section}}

====Phoenix Log====
{| class="wikitable": style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none; width: 45%"
|+ '''[[Phoenix Logs|Phoenix Log]] - Infester'''
|-
|{{:Phoenix Logs/Flood Units/Infester}}
|}

==Production notes==
In the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]'', the artwork used to the Infester and the [[Flood spawner form|Spawner]] forms are swapped around - one of [[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)#Mistakes|several errors]] in the book. The correct artwork from the Encyclopedia is used at the top of this page.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HW2 FloodInfestor Render.jpg|A render of the infester's high-poly model.
File:HW2 FloodInfestor.png|An infester in ''[[Halo Wars 2]]''.
File:HW2 Infester InGame.png|A screenshot of the infester in ''Halo Wars 2''.
File:HW2 ForbiddenBuffet.png|Two infesters along with a [[Flood spawner form]] among a cluster of [[Flood blister]]s.
File:Enc22 Spawner.png|An image of the Flood Spawner, incorrectly used to represent the infester in the ''Halo Encyclopedia''.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
**''[[Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare]]'' {{1st}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

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