Flood tank form

The Flood Tank Form is a type of Flood from Halo 3. It is a Pure Form, originally derived by mutating from the Stalker Form.

The Tank Form is similar in appearance to the Drinol, and may have been inspired conceptually by the deleted Covenant race. There is also a notable similarity between the roles of the Tank Form and of the Covenant Hunter, although the former is larger and the former lacks a mounted weapon. It is also speculated to be a revised form of the Flood Juggernaut. Tank Forms are slow in comparison to the other Combat Forms but they make up for it with relative resilience and their devastating melee attack as they cannot pick up or use weapons with their arms that are shaped into hardened spikes (as opposed to whip-like tentacles exhibited by other Combat Forms). The Tank form is generally rather slow, but can run on all fours for a short period, allowing a burst of speed to overtake a target. On occasion these large combat forms eject Infection Forms from their 'mouth' as if regurgitating them (not explosively like the Flood Carrier Forms and possibly only on harder difficulties) as a form of short ranged attack, or an attack to counteract bubble shields. Like all of the Pure Forms, The Tank forms cannot be dismembered, only disabled.

Counterattack


The best way to take a Tank Form down is by simply shooting it in its head or mouth before it can spit Infection Forms, though once hit it will often cover with one arm for protection. If you hit its mouth with a projectile weapon (ex. Battle Rifle) it will count the shot as a head shot. All Flood Combat Forms have this supposed "head mouth". If you want a beat down or like to use the Energy Sword just pull it out, hit the head, and get a one hit kill.

They are extremely tough, almost like the Flood's equivalent of a Hunter, and attacks that destroy normal Combat forms with one hit deal far less damage to a Tank Form. They are able to take multiple hits from the Gravity Hammer and the Shotgun, though the Energy Sword seems to make shorter work of them, as will a melee attack in the mouth, usually killing them in one slice.

Since they are very slow and unable to rush the player, the Flamethrower or Firebombs are a simple, ranged, one-hit option attack against the Tank Forms, though rare. Though beware, they can use all four limbs for locomotion. Brute Shots are also extremely effective against them because the melee attack with the Brute Shot is an instant kill against them on all difficulties except Legendary, which takes one shot with one hit. Plasma Grenades are also very effective only if they are placed near the head area. A pair of shotgun blasts to a Tank Form's head is sufficient to put it down on Normal difficulty.

There is a more unconventional method of jumping onto one's head and either meleeing them or using a powerful weapon, as they are unable to attack above them.

So, when you see a Tank form you must remember these hints:


 * Use a headshot capable weapon, like the Carbine or the Battle Rifle but not the snipers, because they have only 2 or 4 shots per cartridge, and Aim to the Mouth.


 * Use known anti-flood weapons, like the Shotgun, the Energy Sword, the Brute shot, Flamethrower, the Needler and the Brute Gravity Hammer.


 * Stay back! A single melee hit may kill you. It is always best to keep as much distance as possible between you and it.


 * Remember that this form will chase you. Do not allow them to get close to you.


 * Sticky grenades such as the Spike Grenade, Fire Bomb or a Plasma Grenade, if stuck near the mouth, is a sure fire kill. Bear that in mind.

Note: This only really works if the Tank Form is alone, thus nullifying any risk of damage from other Flood forms.

Trivia

 * Although the Drinol was firstly meant to be a Covenant species, the concept may have provided the inspiration for the Tank Form
 * The Energy Sword and Gravity Hammer have enough power to kill any Tank Form with only one lunge or slash if done right.
 * If a Tank form is hit in the "head", with the right kind of melee, it will instantly die. This includes the melee from a skull, a plasma rifle, or an Energy Sword. Also, shooting it in the head does a lot of damage.
 * The Flood Tank Form has the ability to spew out Flood Infection Forms from its "mouth", such as the Graveminds do.
 * A possible early concept of the Tank Form may be the Flood Juggernaut, due to its similar structure and one-hit-kill potencial.
 * Interestingly the tank form is also the form the gravemind uses to talk to players
 * Tank forms are the only Flood Pure Forms that are not able to cling onto walls.
 * There is a Tank form that can be seen inside a cryo-like tube in the multiplayer map, Cold Storage.
 * The Tank form is vulnerable to Assassination, as in, you can kill it with one melee from any weapon if you hit it in the back.