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Illustration of Headcrab zombie
Original AI-made illustration based on the descriptions in the sources. Not an official design.
File No. 147 of 446

Headcrab zombie

Also called: Classic Zombie, Standard Zombie
GamesInfected, still aliveShamblesA parasite1968 to 1999

The zombie of Valve's Half-Life series: a living human worn as a vehicle by an alien parasite. Reviewers have called them walking tragedies, because the victim remains conscious underneath. In Half-Life 2 the town of Ravenholm is overrun by them, and scarce ammunition pushes the player to fight with traps and thrown objects.123

Battle it
First appeared
1998
Half-Life (1998)
Source work
Half-Life (1998)
Valve
Age rating
ESRB M
Made in
USA
What causes it
A parasite
A headcrab, a dog-sized alien parasite, clamps onto a person's head and takes over the body's motor functions.
How you become one
A headcrab latches onto the victim's head; the victim keeps control at first and is then overridden.
How it moves
Shambles
Turns the host into a slow, lurching creature that walks blindly at its prey.
Intelligence
Mindless
Weak spots
  • killing the headcrab
  • Ravenholm's traps: it is oblivious to danger

When did it first appear?

Ancient worldMiddle Ages1500 to 18991900 to 19671968 to 19992000 to 20092010 to today1998

Half-Life (1998)

field notes

What the sources say

1

The host is still alive and apparently aware but cannot act123

2

In Half-Life 2 the muffled screams can be heard, and a burning zombie begs for help123

3

Attacks with claw swipes and by knocking objects at the player123

4

The Combine fire shells full of headcrabs at towns to turn the inhabitants123

5

Critics have compared the takeover to The Thing and to Alien's facehugger more than to Romero123

6

Some lie 'asleep' and get up when approached123

Could you outrun it?

Speed class from how the sources describe it (shambles), not a measurement.

Headcrab zombie about 3 km/h (1.9 mph)
You, walking about 5 km/h (3.1 mph)
You, jogging about 10 km/h (6.2 mph)
A fit adult sprinting about 24 km/h (15 mph)
A fast cyclist about 37 km/h (23 mph)

Sources

  1. Zombie - Combine OverWiki
  2. Half-Life (video game) - Wikipedia
  3. Half-Life - RAWG

Every fact on this page comes from these sources, written in our own words. Spotted a mistake? Tell us at [email protected].

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