Clickers are possibly the most iconic Infected in the game and are identified by a massive fungal plate over their face that leaves them blinded. Related: STALKER 2's Trailer Had English Subtitles - and That's a GOOD Thing ClickerĪfter a year of infection, the host then mutates into the Clicker.
They can often be found littered within groups of Runners and, just like them, can be killed with firearms or melee weapons. They have even been known to remain stationary on walls long enough for the fungus to set, camouflaging them.
Rather than strike randomly like Runners, Stalkers will wait for the opportune moment to attack their prey. They also begin to develop hunting habits as they earn their name from stalking their prey. Much like Runners, this stage still has recognizable human features but carries far more growths on their body as the disease progresses. This stage begins two weeks to a year after infection and is when the fungus begins to take a stronger hold on the host. The second stage of the disease is the Stalker. They are the most akin to zombies and, like zombies, can be easily be killed with firearms and melee attacks but are defeated even faster with headshots. This version of Infected is incredibly deadly in large numbers and is a major part of a scene from the first game when Joel is strung upside-down as a horde of Runners attack him and Ellie. No longer in control of their bodily functions, Runners become more aggressive and strike in large numbers. As a result, the Infected still maintain their human features but none of their memories. This is when the fungus itself hasn't started to fully take over the body but instead works its way into the mind. Hours after infection, humans become runners. RELATED: The Long, Strange Development History of Metroid Dread Runner These evolved versions have their own skills and abilities, making them difficult to beat but not impossible to survive. However, as the infection progresses, the cordyceps evolve the host into far deadlier variants. This includes groaning, aggression and a diminished frontal lobe.
When a person is first infected, they carry similar attributes as zombies, whether through spores or a bite. By having the spores jump species to humans, The Last of Us created enemies tied to reality that are far deadlier than the average zombie. The fungus itself only attacks insects, and its nature is to control an infected host and have them go to a high location where it will eventually die and spread even more spores. Rather than have a typical zombie virus bring about the end of the world, Naugty Dog chose to utilize the real-life fungal infection known as cordyceps.
Naughty Dog's The Last of Us series reinvigorated the zombie genre with a new type of enemy that the players encountered.