updated
Introduced early in the story of The Last of Us, the cordyceps infection is a fungal virus that spreads among human victims. Once a victim is infected either via a bite or inhaling cordyceps spores, they will lose control a few days after as the infection spreads to their brain. Once they succumb to the cordyceps, they'll quickly become a blood-hungry husk.
As we learn throughout The Last of Us' main campaign, the cordyceps infection changes its host rapidly over time, transforming their appearance and physical attributes. The game specifically shows us four stages of this mutation: the Runner stage, the Stalker stage, the Clicker stage and the Bloater stage. Let's run through each. Want to skip to a specific variant of the infected? Click the links below:
| Runners | Stalkers | Clickers | Bloaters |
|---|
advertisem*nt
Runners
Runners are the earliest and most common variation of the infected. Essentially still human in appearance, these lightning-quick-infected monsters will sprint at Joel and Ellie, attacking them wildly. Despite their feral nature, they aren't as powerful as the later stages of the infected and will go down as quickly as regular humans.
Runners can often be found in a resting state, hunching over and twitching in place. In this state, they won't react to Joel and Ellie getting close to them. However, if a loud nose wakes them, they'll return to normal.
Stalkers
Stalkers are the second stage of the infected. These agile creatures will begin to show physical signs of the infection, with spores growing from their head and body. The spread of the infection means they still retain the speed of a runner but with some new changes.
For one, stalkers will attempt to get the drop on Joel and Ellie, hiding around corners or out of sight and charging them when they get too close. Ellie and Joel also won't be able to enter stealth and hide from stalkers, meaning they always know their position.
Clickers
Clickers are formed during the third stage of the infection. These terrifying monsters have been completely consumed by the cordyceps virus, with fungus enveloping their head and body. Among many differences, the main change is that clickers are blind, relying on echolocation to locate enemies.
However, although they can't see anymore, clickers are far more dangerous than previous stages. These monsters are powerful, with the ability to kill Joel and Ellie in a single hit. They're also much sturdier, taking more damage than standard enemy types.
advertisem*nt
Bloaters
The final stage of infection is shown during the events of the first game. Bloaters are infected that have survived a long time, forming into lumbering brutes able to launch poisonous projectiles. These powerful foes crop up only a few times during The Last of Us, but when they do, you'll know about it.
Able to tank tons of damage, kill Ellie and Joel with a single melee strike and charge around the battlefield, they're easily the most dangerous infected variation encountered during the first game.
