Flood spore

"One single Flood spore can destroy a species."

- Rtas 'Vadum

Spores are the most basic of Flood forms that act as carriers of the parasite's infection. They are also crucial in the formation of Flood hives and are an effective method of suffocating future hosts and clearing the area of uninfected hostiles.

Description
Spores are generally airborne, often clogging air filtration systems, allowing for more efficient access to host organisms. When infesting a location, the Flood often uses spore mountains or spore capsules to quickly disperse spores into a planet's atmosphere and thus expedite the conversion of the local biota. The biomass that Flood launchers launch at enemies will sometimes manifest into clouds of Flood spores.

While Pod infectors are the Flood's standard means of infection, it is possible for a compatible host organism to be infected by spores alone. The spores will enter the body and go about interfacing with the host's biology, consuming the victim's biomass and replacing it with Flood biomass, leading to biological transformation. The Prophet of Truth was later infected similarly at the Battle of the Citadel.

Trivia
In Halo 4's Flood mode, the infected Spartan-IVs appear to be infected via spores, as they lack the Pod infector's tendrils, and the method of infection is direct contact with a combat form.

List of appearances

 * Halo 2
 * Halo Graphic Novel
 * The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor
 * Halo 3
 * Halo Wars
 * Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
 * Terminals
 * Halo: Silentium
 * Halo 2: Anniversary
 * Halo: Shadow of Intent