At this stage, the Flood seek to create an assembly of biomass, calcium, and nervous system reserves, which leads to the creation of a Flood hive and the beginnings of a proto-Gravemind. This stage of a Flood outbreak is known as the Feral Stage. In the absence of a Gravemind, the Flood possesses only basic coordination they are incapable of forming complex strategies, and focus solely on attacking and infecting nearby sentient organisms. Due to this group consciousness, the Flood as a whole is more accurately described as a single, transsentient superorganism rather than a collection of individuals directed by one or more controlling beings. When enough hosts have been infected, the Flood consciousness becomes a Gravemind - a self-aware, highly intelligent entity that strategically commands all Flood forms in an outbreak. Because of their frighteningly rapid growth rate, as long as enough hosts of sufficient biomass and intelligence are available, the Flood is effectively unstoppable.Īll Flood forms share a single consciousness, which becomes progressively more intelligent and sophisticated with every sentient host that is assimilated.

Through infecting sentient lifeforms, the Flood assimilates their memories and intelligence, and the species becomes collectively more intelligent as a result. Originating as a corrupted form of the galaxy's most ancient custodians (the Precursors) the Flood reproduces and spreads by infecting other organisms, hijacking their bodies and nervous systems in order to transform them into one of many specialized forms. The Flood was responsible for consuming most of the sentient lifeforms in the galaxy - including the vast majority of Forerunners - during the Forerunner-Flood war in ancient past, prompting the activation of the galaxy-sterilizing Halo Array in 97,445 BCE. The Flood, designated as LF.Xx.3273 by the Forerunners ( Latin Inferi redivivus meaning 'the dead reincarnated' ) and referred to as the Parasite and the infection by the Covenant, is a species of highly virulent parasitic organisms that reproduce and grow by consuming sentient lifeforms of sufficient biomass and cognitive capability. ' One single Flood spore can destroy a species.' - Rtas 'Vadum

For other uses, see Flood (disambiguation).

Parasite in the city death animations