Infected: The Unstoppable Plague

The Infected are the pure manifestation of chaos and destruction. Originating from an ancient virus discovered in the Arctic, these beings have completely lost their humanity, transforming into deformed creatures devoid of individual consciousness. What were once people are now only distant memories, as their bodies are controlled by a network of hive minds. At their core, the Infected are an unstoppable plague, moving in massive hordes and destroying everything in their path with a singular purpose: to spread the infection.

The Context of the Infected

The origin of the Infected traces back to the discovery of a frozen virus in the Arctic, released by the thawing caused by climate change. Excited by the opportunity to study such an ancient pathogen, a group of scientists brought the virus to their laboratories to investigate its potential. Initially, the virus was genetically modified to create a controlled symbiosis between the host and the pathogen. The initial results were revolutionary: individuals infected with the initial strain experienced significant life extension and overall health improvements, quickly raising expectations of an unprecedented medical breakthrough.

This initial success sparked a frantic race among biotech corporations, eager to achieve what many considered the holy grail of science: eternal life. As companies secretly manipulated the virus, they pushed the experiment too far.

The death of the most promising subject marked a turning point in the research. Following their unexpected demise, the scientists, baffled, were preparing to shut down the project when the unthinkable happened: patient zero came back to life on their own. Without external intervention, the modified virus within their body resurrected them, but what awoke was no longer human. This new entity embodied both the promise and the peril of the research. What began as an attempt to enhance life turned into an uncontrollable infection, where the infected lost all humanity, driven solely by primal instincts and an insatiable need to spread the virus.

The Rise of Hive Minds and Nuclear War

In their early stages, the Infected were chaotic creatures driven solely by their most primal instincts. However, as humanity struggled to withstand the devastating initial waves, the virus evolved, adapting in unpredictable ways. This gave rise to hive minds, an advanced form of organisation that allowed the Infected to coordinate their attacks with terrifying precision. These hive minds not only increased combat efficiency but also transformed the Infected into a devastating force capable of annihilating entire nations through brutally organised and strategic assaults.

Desperate and unable to stop the endless hordes controlled by the hive minds, humanity was forced to play its final and most destructive card: nuclear war. In a last-ditch effort to halt the spread of the virus, world leaders launched strategic nuclear strikes on the most heavily affected areas, hoping that total devastation would contain the infection.

However, this extreme decision not only failed to achieve its goal but also accelerated the collapse of civilisation. The few regions that were still holding out were destroyed, and what was once a world in ruins became a nuclear wasteland where the Infected, far from being annihilated, continued to proliferate, now more relentless than ever. Despite the massive destruction, some groups of humans managed to survive in the few areas that escaped nuclear devastation. Others found refuge in underground bunkers, and the luckiest ones took shelter in orbiting space stations, watching helplessly as Earth succumbed to chaos.

Virus Evolution: Hive Minds and Wild Strains

Over time, the virus has continued to mutate and adapt, creating different strains that have given rise to multiple hive minds. Each of these minds controls distinct groups of Infected, directing their actions toward a singular goal: consuming what remains of the world. However, these hive minds not only fight against humanity; they also compete with one another in a fierce battle for control over the territories and resources that still persist on the devastated planet.

As the virus continues to evolve, wild Infected have emerged—creatures that are not under the control of any hive mind. Although they remain a threat, these wild strains are far less dangerous due to their lack of coordination. Their disorganisation makes them more predictable, and some scientists believe that these disconnected Infected could hold the key to disabling the broader threat posed by the Infected.

Infected Playstyle in Blastborn

The Infected are a faction that relies on speed, numbers, and constant pressure. Unlike Humans, who focus on planning and technology, or Mutants, who leverage their mutational abilities, the Infected depend on their mobility and massive waves of weak troops. While they lack the endurance for prolonged battles or the ability to deal significant damage in a single attack, the Infected use their speed and special abilities to harass opponents, gradually wearing them down until their forces collapse under the relentless pressure.

Mobility and Numbers

The greatest strength of the Infected lies in their ability to move relentlessly in large numbers. While their speed varies depending on the type of creature, the fact that they neither need rest nor recovery grants them a significant strategic advantage. In terms of persistence, this makes them a fast-moving force on the battlefield, capable of advancing without pause. This tireless mobility allows them to seize strategic positions and launch attacks before opponents can respond effectively. Although each Infected is extremely weak in terms of attack and defence, their true threat comes from their numbers: they can overwhelm enemies with endless waves, forcing opponents to expend valuable resources to fend off their constant assaults.

Fast Attacks and Constant Pressure

The Infected's playstyle is built on relentless pressure. Unlike other factions that rely on precise and well-coordinated strikes, the Infected launch fast and continuous attacks that wear down the enemy's defences. Their goal is not to defeat the opponent in a single blow but to weaken them gradually, exploiting any gaps to infect new areas or overrun enemy lines.

Their cards often include abilities that allow them to regenerate, add more units to their ranks, or boost their forces when they are in greater numbers. While they lack individual offensive power, the synergy between infected units enables them to overwhelm their rivals and keep them under constant pressure.

Infection Abilities

One of the most important traits of the Infected is their ability to spread the infection and convert their enemies. Some units can infect both humans and mutants, adding them to their ranks and transforming them into new units under their control. This ability provides a significant strategic advantage, as each converted enemy strengthens their army while weakening the opponent.

Hive minds also play a crucial role in the Infected's playstyle, granting bonuses and enabling coordinated movements that amplify the speed and lethality of their attacks, making the Infected an unstoppable force on the battlefield.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

• Mobility and Speed: While the speed of infected units varies, their ability to move relentlessly on the battlefield allows them to capitalise on their numbers and launch attacks in constant waves.
• Overwhelming Numbers: Although individually weak, their vast numbers and the ability to regenerate or "recruit" new units by infecting enemies make them a persistent threat capable of wearing down rival defences.
• Infection Abilities: The Infected have the ability to spread the infection to humans and mutants, converting them into new units under their control. This ability enables them to expand their army and weaken their opponents, increasing their power with each converted unit.

Weaknesses

• Low Attack and Defence: Infected units have little individual power, making them vulnerable in direct engagements and easily defeated when faced one-on-one against stronger units.
• Reliance on Numbers: The Infected depend on their numbers to be effective. If their waves are diminished or fail to overwhelm the enemy quickly, they may run out of options and lose their ability to maintain constant pressure.
• Lack of Tactical Planning: While fast, the Infected lack the ability to execute advanced strategies. Their purely offensive approach leaves them vulnerable against factions capable of fortifying or withstanding prolonged attacks.

The Future of the Infected: Will You Unleash the Ultimate Plague?

The spread of the NT Virus knows no end, and the hordes of Infected continue to grow, advancing relentlessly to consume everything that remains of the world. As a player, your mission will be to lead this plague, leveraging their relentless speed, overwhelming numbers, and infection abilities to subdue your enemies. Will you be able to harness their inexhaustible strength to expand the infection and turn your rivals into part of your army?