Flood burster

Bursters are a kind of carrier form used by the Flood.

Overview
Bursters differ from their carrier form cousins in one primary aspect - they tend to burrow underground and travel via subterranean means rather than walking upon it. Upon reaching a target, they emerge from beneath and explode to release their cargo of infection forms - Flood spores and pod infectors. Because of this behaviour, they are most commonly found within the blightlands which have already succumbed to Flood infestation as opposed to regular terrain.

It is unclear whether bursters are converted from other existing organisms, or whether they are a kind of pure form specifically designed for the task which they are given.

History
Bursters were encountered by Banished and UNSC forces on Installation 00 in 2559. During the Second Ark Conflict, Voridus and Pavium were assigned by Atriox to investigate the crash site of the Covenant holy city High Charity. The two Jiralhanae breached the site, unleashing the Flood on the Ark. The infection would rapidly spread, eventually spawning Bursters in the blightlands.

Halo Wars 2
Bursters appear as enemy forces in the Awakening the Nightmare expansion for Halo Wars 2, in both the campaign and Terminus Firefight modes.

List of appearances

 * Halo Wars 2
 * Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare