How Does a Human Become a Bloater in The Last of Us?
The monstrous Bloater, a formidable and terrifying foe in The Last of Us universe, represents a rare and advanced stage of the Cordyceps brain infection. It’s not a transformation every infected undergoes; rather, it’s the outcome of a specific set of circumstances and, crucially, a prolonged period of infection. In simple terms, a human becomes a Bloater by surviving the initial stages of infection for an exceptionally long time – typically over a decade in the game’s lore. However, the HBO series has made some adjustments to this timeline, suggesting that Bloaters might develop somewhat faster, though they remain a rarity.
The process begins, like all infected transformations, with exposure to the Cordyceps fungus. This could occur through direct contact with an infected individual via a bite, or indirectly through the inhalation of airborne fungal spores released by deceased infected hosts. Once infected, the individual rapidly progresses through initial stages, losing cognitive function and becoming a Runner within a couple of days or even hours.
The journey towards becoming a Bloater is far from quick. Unlike the rapid transformations into Runners or even the slower development of Clickers, which takes about a year, the Bloater form takes years, possibly even a decade or more, to manifest. This extended duration is key; it appears the Cordyceps fungus needs ample time to fully colonize and drastically alter the host’s physiology. The fungal growth becomes so excessive that the host’s body is warped, producing a grotesque, heavily armored shell of fungal matter. This process dramatically increases the infected’s size and strength, turning them into formidable adversaries. The Bloater form also features large, spore-filled sacs on their body, which they can rupture to attack with mycotoxins.
Essentially, a Bloater is the product of a long-term, unchecked infection where the fungal growth has become completely dominant. The prolonged survival of the infected, combined with a unique interaction between the fungus and the host body, results in the terrifying Bloater transformation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bloaters and Infection
How Long Does it Take an Infected to Become a Bloater?
In The Last of Us game, an infected individual has to remain alive and infected for more than a decade to become a Bloater. However, the HBO adaptation suggests that Bloaters may develop somewhat faster while still being rare. It’s not a process that happens overnight and is contingent on the host living long enough with the infection.
Why Don’t All Infected Become Bloaters?
Not all infected individuals will become Bloaters because it requires a significant amount of time for the fungal infection to reach that advanced stage. Many infected do not survive long enough, succumbing to various environmental factors or attacks by survivors before they can develop into Bloaters. The fungus appears to prioritize reproduction and dispersal, not long-term host development in all cases. Additionally, the host’s own health and genetics may play a role in whether the fungus can develop to this degree.
What are the Different Stages of Infection?
There are several distinct stages of Cordyceps infection:
- Runners: The initial stage where the infected are still relatively human-like and fast, turning within days of exposure.
- Stalkers: A more advanced stage where infected become more stealthy and dangerous, often hiding in dark places.
- Clickers: They are blind and rely on echolocation, resulting in distinctive clicking sounds. Clickers form approximately a year after infection.
- Bloaters: Extremely strong, heavily armored, and rare, formed after at least a decade of infection.
- Shamblers: A Bloater variant found in humid locations capable of spraying acid, and much more deadly than Bloaters.
- The Rat King: An extremely rare and terrifying amalgamation of multiple infected, representing the fifth stage of infection.
How Does Someone Get Infected in The Last of Us?
Infection occurs through direct contact with infected, such as through a bite, or indirectly via airborne fungal spores. These spores can quickly infect a person, causing breathing difficulties and slowed movement within minutes of exposure in spore-dense areas. It is imperative to avoid areas with these spores.
What are the Bloater’s Weaknesses?
Bloaters, despite their size and strength, are particularly vulnerable to fire. Molotov cocktails and flamethrowers are extremely effective tools for dealing with them. Bloaters are more vulnerable than other infected to high temperatures and severe burning will kill them much faster than physical trauma.
How do Runners Turn into Clickers?
Runners transform into Clickers after about a year of being infected. As the fungus progresses, it causes significant changes in the infected’s brain, leading to blindness, and the development of the characteristic clicking sound used for echolocation. It’s a gradual process of fungal dominance.
Why Does the Bloater Throw Spore Sacks?
Bloaters throw sacks filled with mycotoxins, which explode upon impact and spray the area with a harmful substance. These sacks are a defense mechanism and another means of spreading the infection. It’s not the spores themselves that harm the target, but the force and speed at which these sacks are ejected and the toxicity that these sacks release upon impact.
How Long Can Bloaters Live?
Once Bloaters reach their full stage of development, they have been recorded to live up to 10 years old. This means that once an infected reaches the bloater phase, it is a very long term threat.
What is a Shambler, and How Does It Relate to a Bloater?
Shamblers are a bloater variant found in humid locations. They are more dangerous than standard Bloaters, being capable of spraying acid at their prey, as well as firing acidic spores from their bodies. It’s a more evolved version of the Bloater suited to a different environment.
How Did Joel Avoid Getting Infected?
Joel’s avoidance of infection in the initial episodes of The Last of Us TV show was subtly attributed to his food choices. He avoided foods that were at high risk of being contaminated by the cordyceps fungus. This implied that meticulous food choices were a potential way to minimize the risk of infection early in the outbreak.
Why Is Ellie Immune to the Cordyceps Infection?
Ellie’s immunity is attributed to her mother, Anna, being bitten by an infected runner while pregnant. Before the umbilical cord was severed, the Cordyceps fungus was transferred to Ellie, resulting in an atypical infection that created natural immunity. She carries the virus but isn’t affected by it the same way as others.
How Did Tess Get Infected and Why Did She Kiss the Infected?
Tess was infected through a bite on her shoulder. Later, a still-human-looking infected approached her and, rather than attacking violently, gave her an open-mouthed kiss. This kiss allowed tendrils of the evolved Cordyceps fungus to pass into her, speeding up the infection and ensuring her transformation. This was a method used by the Cordyceps to rapidly infect a host.
Is Ellie the Only Immune Person?
As far as is known, Ellie is the only person that has managed to live a normal life with the Cordyceps present in her brain. There are no other known immune survivors in the world of The Last of Us, making her unique and important.
Does Ellie’s Immunity Mean a Cure Can Be Created?
Despite the doctors in The Last of Us universe believing that Ellie can be used to create a cure, this storyline is not resolved. Her immunity remains a major plot point, and it’s unclear whether it will ever lead to a viable vaccine. While scientists initially thought a cure was a possibility, the story leads the audience and Joel down another path.
Is the Cordyceps Virus Real?
There are thousands of species of cordyceps, each designed to infect a particular species. However, human infection is impossible due to our advanced immune systems and higher body temperature. This is a central reason why the game and show are fictional, though it draws from real-world fungal infections.