As soon as your Larva has matured, you will be able to choose between the four initial Alien castes: Drone, Runner, Defender, and Sentinel. Depending on which you choose, you will then be able to progress in their respective castes. Do not underestimate them. What they lack in special abilities or raw power, they make up in sheer quantity and potential to quickly replace their fallen sisters.
Build the Hive and expand it with new weed nodes. Support fellow Aliens with your pheromones. Occasionally plant weeds aggressively to support pushes. Use your acid to help the Hive break into places.
A good engagement starter that additionally specifies in protecting other castes with its unique tail sweep ability being key to keeping those marines at bay while injured sisters retreat back to heal.
Health: 350 Plasma: 100 Armor: 35
After a while as a Tier 1 Alien, you will build up evolution until you are finally able to advance. There, depending on the Hive's size and existing higher tier Aliens, you may be able to Evolve on the spot, or have to wait for another spot to free up, continuing to Upgrade in your current caste in the meantime. Whatever the case, you will no doubt see yourself becoming one of these castes should you stay alive long enough.
Lay the foundations for alien mines in strategic locations or the hive's flanks. Flank your way around the map with the tunnel ability and dig tunnels to allow for quick transportation of fellow Aliens from the hive to the frontlines.
Shape the Hive to your will with a massive plasma reserve. Become one with weeds and sprint around weeded terrain like a Runner. Use pheromones to assist fellow Aliens.
Protect your fellow Aliens with a corrosive acid spit, allowing you to damage hosts from a distance and deny areas or lanes of fire to them. Use your strong acid to quickly melt into places.
Health: 400 Plasma: 1000 Armor: 20
While you can rapidly access Tier 3 by evolving again, it is certainly a serious responsibility. There will usually only be one or two of each of these castes in every Hive, and their loss can throw the Hive into disarray. If you do decide to Evolve, wield your new power carefully. Remember that even Tier 3 Aliens can quickly die, novice Tier 3 Aliens can be weaker in some aspects than experienced Tier 1 Aliens.
Bring the Hive's ranged combat castes to their maximum potential with long range acid glob shots, allowing you to bombard and heavily damage areas after a bit of setup. Use your enhanced vision to locate targets without being seen and shot. Use your acid spray for close range defense. Use your incredibly strong acid to make short work of everything in your way.
Make use of your armored front crest and your massive body to shield and tank bullets. Eat up explosions without flinching thanks to your thick hide. Charge your foes down and stomp on them to dislodge every single bone in their body.
Use your powerful pheromones to lead and support major assaults. Enjoy even stronger neurotoxin and acid spits. Use a special resin spit to cover a small area in mobility-inhibiting sticky resin. Use your strong acid to quickly melt into places.
Bring death to all that face you. Use a powerful, short range leap to knock a Marine off their feet and finish them off with powerful blows capable of chopping limbs clean off. Ambush, hit and run or even frontal assaults are all options for you.
Health: 230 Plasma: 200 Armor: 25
The Queen is in her own, informal category. Unlike all other Aliens, she will usually appear immediately at the start of a round, and her death will throw the Hive into disarray. If she can be replaced, she is also unique, and should she go missing all other Aliens will be unable to evolve any further. If this goes on for too long, the Hive might very well rot away.
The Abomination is also in their own, informal category. Since the Abomination requires a successful infected and bursted head hunter, the
Lead your Hive to victory over the Marines. Use your powerful pheromones and your command abilities to organise the Hive. Lay eggs to create facehuggers and accumulate more Larvae. Use your screech to defend yourself and signal pushes. Use your acid to melt into places.
Use hit and run tactics against opposing headhunters and tall hosts. Gain more strength for every kill you make. Be fear incarnate against both the headhunters hunting you and the tall hosts.
Health: 650 Plasma: 300 Armor: 30
Maybe there are more than just the Aliens above... It'd be best to find out their purpose and their evolutions for yourself. You'll know about them... one day.
