The most iconic, widely known, widely used, and most referenced virus in the entire Resident Evil series was the Tyrant Virus, or t-Virus (sometimes capitalized as "T-Virus"; also referred to as the "Cannibal Disease" by the media of Raccoon City). The t-Virus revolutionized modern warfare in the same fashion gunpowder did. While viruses such as T-JCCC203, "t-Wesker", and t-Veronica were technically t-Viruses, this analysis focuses on the Umbrella Corporation's primary t-Virus first developed at the Umbrella Executive Training School, and later refined at the Arklay research facility.
Each aspect of the t-Virus and its mutated hosts are covered below in the following parts, in this order:
Part One:
This is part one of Virus Analysis: Tyrant.
Each aspect of the t-Virus and its mutated hosts are covered below in the following parts, in this order:
Part One:
- Overview (History and Effects)
- Zombies (Humans)
- Zombie Animals (Mammalian and Aves)
- Evolved Zombies (Crimson Heads, Lickers, etc.)
- Tyrants
- Arthropods (Spiders and Insects)
- Annelids (Worms)
- Chordates (Reptiles, Fish, Amphibians, and Tunicate)
- Plants
- Hybrids (Hunters, Chimeras, etc.)
- Super Humans (Sergei and Mary Grey)
- Miscellaneous (Undertakers, Nyx, etc.)
- t-Virus Countermeasures
This is part one of Virus Analysis: Tyrant.
t-Virus Project
The secret main goal of the pharmaceutical corporation Umbrella was the production of living bioweapons called Bio Organic Weapons (B.O.W.s) using the capacity of the Progenitor Virus to rewrite genes. But Progenitor was far too lethal to establish itself in host bodies. The need for an artificial variant strain thousands of times weaker was apparent, both to produce B.O.W.s and to achieve the corporation's founders' ultimate goals of immortality and forced evolution. This was the aim of the t-Virus Project.
The t-Virus Project was the central focus of Umbrella, and had three stages conceptualized:
The t-Virus Project was the central focus of Umbrella, and had three stages conceptualized:
- Creation of a new, ideal virus.
- Stabilization of this virus.
- B.O.W. production.
In 1977, Umbrella Co-founder Dr. James Marcus created what would become the successful base for the finished t-Virus. This strain, unofficially dubbed t-Marcus, was created by injecting Progenitor into leeches. When a virus successfully establishes itself in a host, it mutates due to recombination with the host's cells. It not only changes the host but is changed itself. The key to weakening Progenitor was to find hosts it could infect without killing, then extracting the recombinant strain from the host.
Leeches, like the Stairway to the Sun flower, were highly resistant to the damaging effects of the virus, allowing them to adapt and mutate. It is implied that t-Marcus was actually based on the Type B strain of Progenitor used on Lisa Trevor, as it was the only virus Umbrella had managed to create up to that point that didn't kill every human it infected.
Leeches, like the Stairway to the Sun flower, were highly resistant to the damaging effects of the virus, allowing them to adapt and mutate. It is implied that t-Marcus was actually based on the Type B strain of Progenitor used on Lisa Trevor, as it was the only virus Umbrella had managed to create up to that point that didn't kill every human it infected.
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t-Marcus was weak enough to infect other hosts, such as humans, accomplishing the first goal of the Project. It also made the animals it infected become violent, which was ideal for weapons development. Marcus performed his own secret experiments with t-Marcus, and attempted to develop a tangible B.O.W. He infected arthropods, amphibians, and mammals with the virus in his quest to find the ideal host. The first B.O.W.s were made at this point, including "Zombies".
Meanwhile, Oswell E. Spencer (Umbrella's President and CEO) ordered Marcus' best students, Albert Wesker and William Birkin, to steal t-Marcus. Birkin was then unjustly given the credit for discovering the t-Virus, in order to undermine Marcus and to ensure he was unable to stand against Spencer in the company. Birkin and Wesker were afterwards made the head researchers of a laboratory located under the Arklay Mansion, which became the primary t-Virus development facility. They arrived at the facility to begin their research on July 31st, 1978. |
Stabilization
The Ebola virus
Tasked with finishing the t-Virus, Wesker and Birkin became fascinated with the Ebola Virus. What makes Ebola so dangerous is its incubation period: a host will not display symptoms immediately and will inadvertently spread the virus to others. This inspired the duo, as the t-Virus was originally envisioned as merely a tool to create B.O.W.s, not a deadly weapon on its own.
While the Zombie mutation of t-Marcus was not suitable for the Project's goals, it could outdo Ebola: instead of creating carriers who accidentally and indirectly spread the virus, t-Virus hosts would actively seek out others and infect them. The t-Virus was essentially envisioned as a cheaper alternative to bombs, which would also have the added bonus of leaving infrastructure intact. As a precaution, the virus was modified to grow less infectious over time, to prevent a pandemic.
A sample of Ebola was brought to the Arklay laboratory, and Birkin incorporated its genes into the t-Virus in order to strengthen its properties. As noted by the Biology of Evil, the only Ebola genes that would benefit the t-Virus would be VP24 and VP25. These genes would allow the t-Virus to infect hosts with a smaller likelihood of triggering an immune response. This would ensure not only that less people would be immune to the virus, but that more hosts could survive infection as Zombies without suffering a fatal immune reaction.
t-Marcus was weakened and modified over the years by infecting a wide variety of hosts. By injecting t-Marcus into spiders (tarantulas), they created t/Clay Alpha (α). α had greater results in arthropod hosts, and created the Web Spinner B.O.W.
α was also used with Great White Sharks to enhance its abilities with marine life and to test the viability of the virus in such animals. While results were minimal, they were not totally in vain, and the Neptune B.O.W. was created.
After injecting α into dogs (Dobermans), the Beta (β) strain was created, as was the Cerberus B.O.W. β had enhanced abilities in mammalian hosts, but infected humans still left much to be desired.
While at this stage in development (1981), the t-Virus only affected nine out of ten people. Spencer ordered the Arklay staff to focus on creating a strain that was 100% effective. This was because at some point, Spencer planned to use the t-Virus to wipe out most of the human race. While the staff had difficulty overcoming the 10% immunity problem, Birkin developed a work-around - the development of B.O.W.s that could hunt down and kill anyone who resisted the virus. This idea resulted in the Hunter Project.
The β strain was further modified to create Beta II, which allowed for greater powers of genetic manipulation. βII created genetic hybrids such as the Hunter B.O.W.
While at this stage in development (1981), the t-Virus only affected nine out of ten people. Spencer ordered the Arklay staff to focus on creating a strain that was 100% effective. This was because at some point, Spencer planned to use the t-Virus to wipe out most of the human race. While the staff had difficulty overcoming the 10% immunity problem, Birkin developed a work-around - the development of B.O.W.s that could hunt down and kill anyone who resisted the virus. This idea resulted in the Hunter Project.
The β strain was further modified to create Beta II, which allowed for greater powers of genetic manipulation. βII created genetic hybrids such as the Hunter B.O.W.
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While βII could produce favorable results in many organisms, the ideal B.O.W. Tyrant needed to be based on a human host for it to possess enough intelligence to effectively follow complex orders. However, the virus was too damaging in human brains, and could not create Tyrants in that state. Birkin refined the virus further and managed to create a new strain of βII that would have a minimal influence on a human's brain, so long as the host "completely adapted" to the virus. Only humans born with a certain genome could adapt, and such hosts would be exceedingly rare - only one in ten million people were compatible (according to simulations run by the "Gene Analysis Section"). Umbrella was unsuccessful in finding such a host, and as a result the Project reached a standstill.
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While t-Virus progress stagnated for many years, various different projects were advanced in the meantime in order to create B.O.W.s that performed roles other than combat perfection. This included B.O.W.s specializing in virus dispersal. In 1991, Birkin finally moved on to a new assignment - the G-Virus Project - in a lab (called NEST) built beneath the nearby Raccoon City. Wesker, meanwhile, feeling his limitations as a researcher, transferred to the Intelligence Division and plotted against Spencer and Umbrella.
In December of 1991, former USSR Colonel Sergei Vladimir sought employment at Umbrella. He was found to pass the genetic requirements for becoming a Tyrant, and rather than waste such a valuable find, Umbrella gave Sergei an executive position in exchange for ten clones of Sergei formerly created by the Soviets. By incorporating the genome of these clones into the Virus, a strain which could turn more hosts into Tyrants was eventually created. Progress on the t-Virus finally resumed as a result of this development. |
In April of 1996, Umbrella took base cells from at least 13 people, including Yoko Suzuki, in order to further refine the t-Virus. The exact nature of this experiment is unknown, but it was apparently "essential to completing T". These individuals may have been closer to Tyrant adaption than an average person, although likely not to the extent Sergei was, and used to make it possible for the t-Virus to turn even more people into Tyrants. There is also another possibility, proposed by News Bot: each of the 13 test subjects appeared to come from a very different ethnic background. It may have been that they were used to make the t-Virus more effective against a wide range of different ethnicities, as part of Spencer's goal for the virus to be capable of affecting everyone on the planet.
In 1998, the t-Virus reached a certain level of perfection. The latest strain was designated Epsilon (ε). It is unknown if there were Gamma or Delta strains of the virus in-between βII and ε - it is possible that any intermediary strains between them were not impressive enough for Umbrella to name, and so they skipped two letters.
Two test subjects were used to create the first two Tyrants (the T-001 and T-002), and with the first Tyrants created, ε was officially made the Umbrella t-Virus. While Tyrants were costly and difficult to create from scratch, not to mention infertile, they could easily be mass produced via cloning.
In 1998, the t-Virus reached a certain level of perfection. The latest strain was designated Epsilon (ε). It is unknown if there were Gamma or Delta strains of the virus in-between βII and ε - it is possible that any intermediary strains between them were not impressive enough for Umbrella to name, and so they skipped two letters.
Two test subjects were used to create the first two Tyrants (the T-001 and T-002), and with the first Tyrants created, ε was officially made the Umbrella t-Virus. While Tyrants were costly and difficult to create from scratch, not to mention infertile, they could easily be mass produced via cloning.
Mansion Incident
During the administration of ε into the host who became the T-002 on May 11, 1998, the Arklay Laboratory was attacked by the Queen Leech (a mutant with the memories of the deceased Dr. Marcus), resulting in ε leaking as an airborne strain. While the researchers attempted to prevent a biohazard with protective suits, the virus reached the water supply. This led to the outbreak incident known as the "Mansion Incident".
Umbrella quarantined the Mansion and forced the staff within to study the effects of the virus as it spread. Any results were then recovered using the underground railway and used for B.O.W. development in other facilities. Birkin also used the railway to recover cloned B.O.W. embryos and virus samples, including a cloned embryo of the T-002, which became the base for the mass production model of Tyrant.
The outbreak went on until the dawn of the 25th of July, when the facility was eradicated by Rebecca Chambers from S.T.A.R.S. (Special Tactics And Rescue Service; a unit belonging to the Raccoon City Police Department, which had been lured to the Mansion by Wesker to collect combat data on the B.O.W.s and irregular mutants there) using the self-destruct system.
Umbrella quarantined the Mansion and forced the staff within to study the effects of the virus as it spread. Any results were then recovered using the underground railway and used for B.O.W. development in other facilities. Birkin also used the railway to recover cloned B.O.W. embryos and virus samples, including a cloned embryo of the T-002, which became the base for the mass production model of Tyrant.
The outbreak went on until the dawn of the 25th of July, when the facility was eradicated by Rebecca Chambers from S.T.A.R.S. (Special Tactics And Rescue Service; a unit belonging to the Raccoon City Police Department, which had been lured to the Mansion by Wesker to collect combat data on the B.O.W.s and irregular mutants there) using the self-destruct system.
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During the incident, the virus mutated and a new strain of ε surfaced. This strain utilized a process called V-ACT to create Crimson Heads. The V-ACT strain was recovered by Birkin.
Birkin managed to enhance the metabolic effects of the V-ACT strain of the virus even further, creating "t-Birkin". t-Birkin not only made B.O.W.s with enhanced regenerative abilities, but it took the Crimson Head mutation further to create Lickers. During these experiments, another mutant strain was discovered, t-Wesker, which restored the Progenitor ability to create super humans. t-Birkin replaced ε as the official t-Virus. It was mass produced by Umbrella and sent to its facilities all over the world for further developments. It caused multiple outbreaks, such as the Raccoon City Destruction Incident, the Sheena Island Incident, and the Spencer Rain Incident. t-Birkin was also used with the G-Virus to create t+G, and with t-Veronica to create t-02. Another strain was possibly created and leaked at Rockfort Island: t-Alfred. This strain could infect corpses. It afterwards contaminated the Umbrella Antarctic Lab. |
Bioterror
Five years after its creation, t-Birkin was refined further to create "Perfected T", a strain which harnessed the full potential of the t-Virus. As such, it is likely it could infect corpses (like t-Alfred) create super humans from adapters (like t-Wesker) and create Tyrants without the use of body-strengthening surgeries (like t+G). Perfected T was the final strain of the t-Virus created by Umbrella. It was stolen from the Umbrella Caucasus Facility (a massive facility built to mass produce B.O.W.s) in 2003 and leaked to the black market by Wesker, who defected from Umbrella some time prior. This, combined with other former Umbrella employees stealing Umbrella viruses and research, resulted in the global age of bioterror. The t-Virus is now widely available to terrorist groups, corporations, and governments all over the planet. Umbrella itself was rendered defunct the same year due to its involvement in B.O.W. production becoming public knowledge, although it was reestablished four years later under special conditions as a PMC called Blue Umbrella.
The t-Virus was used during the Harvardville Outbreak in 2005, and in its aftermath a vaccine developed by the WillPharma Corporation was recovered. However, new viruses based on Umbrella's t-Virus strains have been developed by many different groups and new mutant strains are common. Rather than eliminate the problem, the vaccine potentially complicated it by motivating bioterror groups to bypass the vaccine by continuing Umbrella's dark legacy. These groups include TRICELL, A-GUA Industries, Neo-Umbrella, Shén Yā Pharmaceutical, and even first-world governments.
Most post-Perfected T strains have only minor differences between them, but evolved strains have begun to eliminate necrosis and toxicity, resulting in smarter Zombie breeds and Tyrants created from simple injection. While many t-Viruses in the age of bioterror are not named, some are different enough to be given new titles. These include:
As the t-Virus is thousands of times weaker than the Progenitor Virus, and because its mutations are tailored towards creating living weapons, it serves as the perfect base for new viruses and is "the raw material most suitable for creating Bio Organic Weapons".
Most post-Perfected T strains have only minor differences between them, but evolved strains have begun to eliminate necrosis and toxicity, resulting in smarter Zombie breeds and Tyrants created from simple injection. While many t-Viruses in the age of bioterror are not named, some are different enough to be given new titles. These include:
As the t-Virus is thousands of times weaker than the Progenitor Virus, and because its mutations are tailored towards creating living weapons, it serves as the perfect base for new viruses and is "the raw material most suitable for creating Bio Organic Weapons".
Summary
In short, the development of the t-Virus involved a direct line of succession with mutated strains of the Progenitor Virus, with each strain more and more effective for Umbrella's purposes. The main strains known in this line of succession are:
- Progenitor
- Progenitor Type B
- t-Marcus
- t-Ebola
- Clay α
- Clay β
- Clay βII
- Clay ε
- ε (V-ACT)
- t-Birkin
- Perfected T
Symptoms and Effects
The vast majority of t-Virus effects actually originate in the Progenitor Virus: certain traits are simply made more prominent in the t-Virus. The primary effect, intended effect of the t-Virus is the promotion of "abnormal evolution, enabling higher forms of life and making divine achievements possible". This is opposed to the Progenitor Virus, which originally promoted natural evolution. The speed of this "evolution" was accelerated by the virus, so that it could occur in a single generation. The "abnormal evolution" promoted by the t-Virus is geared towards turning living organisms into weapons, culminating in the development of "new capabilities that are impossible for evolution in the natural world". In general, the t-Virus makes hosts tougher and puts them into a berserk state. While it is excellent at turning animals into super predators, the t-Virus also generally causes a decline in intelligence. Tissue necrosis and infertility are also common symptoms. These issues are what caused Umbrella research to drag on for decades before adequate t-Virus B.O.W.s could be created.
The specific trait that makes the t-Virus different from any other weakened Progenitor strain is the Tyrant mutation, which is essentially the result of Umbrella forcing evolution in a direction that makes organisms ideal soldiers. As a result, all instances of the Tyrant mutation come from the t-Virus (for example, Ultimate Abyss, Morpheus, Diego, and Ustanak all get their traits from the t-Virus percentage within their variant strains). The details of Tyrant creation and each type of Tyrant are covered below in the "Tyrant" section.
The t-Virus has vastly different effects on different types of organisms, and this is demonstrated as each mutant animal is covered in this analysis. But certain effects are universal, such as:
The specific trait that makes the t-Virus different from any other weakened Progenitor strain is the Tyrant mutation, which is essentially the result of Umbrella forcing evolution in a direction that makes organisms ideal soldiers. As a result, all instances of the Tyrant mutation come from the t-Virus (for example, Ultimate Abyss, Morpheus, Diego, and Ustanak all get their traits from the t-Virus percentage within their variant strains). The details of Tyrant creation and each type of Tyrant are covered below in the "Tyrant" section.
The t-Virus has vastly different effects on different types of organisms, and this is demonstrated as each mutant animal is covered in this analysis. But certain effects are universal, such as:
- Increase in size
- Heightened aggression
- Augmented instincts
- Increased strength and vitality
- Lack of fear
t-Virus hosts lacking fear and having heightened aggression could partially be contributed to potential changes in the amygdala, a part of the brain which takes a primary role in decision-making and emotional responses. The absence of fear, pain, and fatigue were invaluable traits in a weapon.
The virus will also commonly cause inflammation, leading to enlarged and discolored veins. This is due to the body having a severe immune response to the t-Virus. The increase in size displayed in almost all hosts combined with excessive regeneration also leads to irregular tissue development, which in turn leads to the development of tumor-like growths across the skin. These tumors may very well be cancerous, possibly harming the long-term viability of t-creatures.
The virus will also commonly cause inflammation, leading to enlarged and discolored veins. This is due to the body having a severe immune response to the t-Virus. The increase in size displayed in almost all hosts combined with excessive regeneration also leads to irregular tissue development, which in turn leads to the development of tumor-like growths across the skin. These tumors may very well be cancerous, possibly harming the long-term viability of t-creatures.
Almost all hosts to the t-Virus gain an incredible increase in vitality, so that most are able to endure physical shock to a degree greater than almost all natural animals. The t-Virus will actually improve the immune system of hosts following transformation, allowing creatures with open wounds to survive for long periods of time, and to resist the damaging effects of other Progenitor-based viruses. These attributes also make the t-Virus valuable from a medicinal standpoint, and it is implied that Umbrella used the virus to become the leading manufacturer of the best pharmaceuticals. The t-Virus even has the potential to cure terminal illnesses.
Many t-Virus mutants will twitch on the ground after being killed. As the t-Virus keeps various bodily system alive in impossible circumstances, it may be that it also keeps parts of the brain alive even after the host is severely damaged. This could cause parts of the motor cortex and motor nerves to fire off in an uncontrolled fashion (credit: Doktor Wunderbar). Monsters left in this state could possibly regenerate and resume activity at a later time, as the virus makes recovery possible so long as enough of the host is still kept alive.
The t-Virus makes "gene synthesis between different species comparatively easy" (see the Hybrids section in part 3 of this analysis). It may also be capable of increasing the potential of cells to generate and transport electricity (see "Albinoid", under the Amphibia section in part 2 of this analysis).
Many t-Virus mutants will twitch on the ground after being killed. As the t-Virus keeps various bodily system alive in impossible circumstances, it may be that it also keeps parts of the brain alive even after the host is severely damaged. This could cause parts of the motor cortex and motor nerves to fire off in an uncontrolled fashion (credit: Doktor Wunderbar). Monsters left in this state could possibly regenerate and resume activity at a later time, as the virus makes recovery possible so long as enough of the host is still kept alive.
The t-Virus makes "gene synthesis between different species comparatively easy" (see the Hybrids section in part 3 of this analysis). It may also be capable of increasing the potential of cells to generate and transport electricity (see "Albinoid", under the Amphibia section in part 2 of this analysis).
Zombie specification stats taken from Biohazard Directors Cut: Inside of Biohazard Guide
The t-Virus can be transmitted as an airborne strain, but will not stay this way for long, due to it having "a property to evolve with the passage of time and external environment". It will quickly mutate and stabilize into forms better suited to dispersal through water, saliva, blood, and even touch. After a sufficient amount of time has passed, it will become less and less virulent, until even Zombie bites will no longer spread it. The virus still posed the potential to mutate in the wild, however, which could circumvent this limitation.
The virus could also contaminate the environment by getting into bodies of water and soil. The only solution to environmental contamination with the t-Virus would be the incineration of the area. Destroying an area with missile strikes could create the possibility of virus-filled soil being blown upward and contaminating rainwater.
As late as 1981, 10% of t-Virus hosts would not experience the onset of symptoms. This is because of the delicate differences in genes from individual to individual, some of which were not compatible with the t-Virus. It is unknown if an incompatible host would function as a "healthy carrier" - someone who is asymptomatic but is still capable of accidentally spreading the virus to others. It is also unknown if Umbrella managed to change this percentage over time.
The incubation period for the t-Virus varies wildly and is affected by a number of factors. Namely:
The strain of the t-Virus used is also a factor. Epsilon could take many days before the onset of transformation, while Perfected T only took seconds.
The virus could also contaminate the environment by getting into bodies of water and soil. The only solution to environmental contamination with the t-Virus would be the incineration of the area. Destroying an area with missile strikes could create the possibility of virus-filled soil being blown upward and contaminating rainwater.
As late as 1981, 10% of t-Virus hosts would not experience the onset of symptoms. This is because of the delicate differences in genes from individual to individual, some of which were not compatible with the t-Virus. It is unknown if an incompatible host would function as a "healthy carrier" - someone who is asymptomatic but is still capable of accidentally spreading the virus to others. It is also unknown if Umbrella managed to change this percentage over time.
The incubation period for the t-Virus varies wildly and is affected by a number of factors. Namely:
- Environment
- Host resistance (being severely wounded affects this)
- Dosage
The strain of the t-Virus used is also a factor. Epsilon could take many days before the onset of transformation, while Perfected T only took seconds.
It is important to note that "B.O.W." only refers to creatures created through primary infection (injection of the virus in a laboratory setting), and which were created for the express purpose of being used as weapons. B.O.W.s created by the t-Virus specifically have been called "t-Series B.O.W.s". Monsters created through secondary infection (tainted water, bites from other virus hosts, eating infected flesh, or even inhaling an aerosol form) are called "Irregular Mutants", and are typically formed as the result of an accidental leak. While Irregular Mutants are much more violent than normal animals, they are less likely to actively attack humans than B.O.W.s, at least in the case of infected animals. They will however always resort to violence if their territory is invaded. "t-Virus Series Creature" refers to both B.O.W.s and Irregular Mutants created by the t-Virus.
To tell you the truth, last month there was an accident in the lab and a virus being studied began to leak. All my colleagues who were infected with the virus are now dead.
...Well, maybe not dead exactly.
They can still walk around, and in fact, some are beating on the door of my room right now. But there's no light of intellect in their eyes anymore.
That cursed virus forever erase from the human brain everything that makes us human, love, joy, fear and humor.
Most humans exposed to the t-Virus will undergo a process called "Zombification", which ends in the development of a Zombie organism - a mutant with the appearance of a reanimated corpse ("Living Dead"), that lacks an ego and is hostile towards humans. While commonly associated with the t-Virus, this effect actually originated in Progenitor, and is a fairly universal symptom in all Progenitor-based viruses. The first "t-Zombies" (tentative name for Zombies created by the t-Virus) were created by James Marcus, after he decided that only mammalian hosts to the virus could retain enough intelligence to follow orders. Due to the majority of t-Virus outbreaks happening in areas populated primarily by humans, Zombies are the most common byproduct of the virus. Depending on why and how a Zombie was created, it could be considered either a B.O.W. or an irregular mutant.
These creatures were named Zombies due to their resemblance in appearance and behavior to the fictional creatures popularized by the movie "Night of the Living Dead" by George A. Romero, and by the many works of Zombie fiction that followed it. This is why many Resident Evil characters call them "Zombies" despite not being aware of their official designation. "Romero Zombies" were likewise retroactively named after the "Zombi", a kind of creature from the Vodou religion. According to mythology, Zombis were buried corpses that were revived and forced into slavery, for the purpose of forced labor and even criminal activity. Some modern scholars believe that real Zombis were actually living humans under the influence of powerful drugs. As the Progenitor Virus has had a hidden influence on human history, it may be that Zombis were actually the result of viral infection as well, and that Zombies created by the t-Virus were indirectly named after creatures they were actually related to.
Progenitor-family viruses kill hosts that are unable to withstand the rapid, dramatic physical changes they cause. They can also cause a fatal immune response in hosts, leading to death by cytokine storm. While the t-Virus managed to lessen the toxicity of Progenitor by several thousand degrees, it was still highly damaging to the host body.
Zombies are the result of virus hosts being simultaneously weakened and strengthened, putting them in the middle ground between hosts who survive and die from infection. Zombie bodies resemble walking corpses due to necrosis (the death of cells in multiple tissues). t-Virus necrosis is caused by both intense mutations breaking down cells and by the host’s high, constantly-active metabolism causing the body to “eat itself”, a phenomenon similar to the final stages of starvation. Despite their sickly appearance the virus has also granted them vitality far exceeding natural animals. A later source also claims Zombies are capable of regeneration, which could simply be an allusion to Crimson Heads or Lickers (see the "Evolved Zombies" section).
Zombies are the result of virus hosts being simultaneously weakened and strengthened, putting them in the middle ground between hosts who survive and die from infection. Zombie bodies resemble walking corpses due to necrosis (the death of cells in multiple tissues). t-Virus necrosis is caused by both intense mutations breaking down cells and by the host’s high, constantly-active metabolism causing the body to “eat itself”, a phenomenon similar to the final stages of starvation. Despite their sickly appearance the virus has also granted them vitality far exceeding natural animals. A later source also claims Zombies are capable of regeneration, which could simply be an allusion to Crimson Heads or Lickers (see the "Evolved Zombies" section).
Before/during Zombification, infected hosts undergo a number of visible symptoms:
The fatigue and fever symptoms are also synonymous with many other diseases, and the host at this stage will often mistake t-Virus infection with the common cold. The itching symptom is due to the virus' promotion of the host's metabolism. This itching sensation is later exacerbated when the t-Virus erodes the outer layers of the epidermis (skin), leading to rashes and shedding.
- Fatigue
- Intense Itching
- Fever
- Rash, which progresses to skin necrosis
- Increased sense of hunger
- Psychosis
- Clouding of consciousness and loss of reasoning
- Aggression
- Coma
The fatigue and fever symptoms are also synonymous with many other diseases, and the host at this stage will often mistake t-Virus infection with the common cold. The itching symptom is due to the virus' promotion of the host's metabolism. This itching sensation is later exacerbated when the t-Virus erodes the outer layers of the epidermis (skin), leading to rashes and shedding.
Hosts will slowly lose their minds, and will be driven by hunger to attack and consume others (such as the infamous Keeper). This symptom immediately precedes coma, and is short. Newer, faster strains of the t-Virus skip this stage entirely, due to the Zombie transformation happening much sooner.
During coma, the host will enter a state of suspended animation. Damage from the virus reaches a critical point, and vital signs drop so low they become undetectable. This gives the illusion that Zombies rise from the dead, which is technically not true, as the brain never fully shuts down. In a certain sense of the word, Zombies are still "alive", and are plagued by a certain kind of decomposition without ever actually dying. It would be more accurate to call them feral humans that are rotting while alive than to call them undead.
In addition to the t-Virus degrading brain cells directly, brain damage and coma may be exasperated further by the host experiencing autoimmune encephalitis. This is when the immune system targets the brain (in this case due to the t-Virus reaching the brain and the body attempting to fight it off), resulting in inflammation that can cause brain damage and even a coma state. This would explain why hosts to advanced strains of the t-Virus seem to "die" and transform faster, as the virus activity is increased to the point that it reaches and begins to affect the brain sooner.
After a period, the virus strengthening reaches a critical point, and hosts regain consciousness as Zombies.
Zombies created from the t-Virus are not as weak as Progenitor Zombies due to the t-Virus being less lethal than Progenitor. A t-Zombie's outward necrosis appears more severe, but it actually doesn't affect muscle strength. An increase in growth hormone causes Zombies to grow taller - the average Zombie height is 6 feet, 5 inches. This is 8 inches taller than an average adult male. They do not seem to weigh any more than a normal human being despite this.
During coma, the host will enter a state of suspended animation. Damage from the virus reaches a critical point, and vital signs drop so low they become undetectable. This gives the illusion that Zombies rise from the dead, which is technically not true, as the brain never fully shuts down. In a certain sense of the word, Zombies are still "alive", and are plagued by a certain kind of decomposition without ever actually dying. It would be more accurate to call them feral humans that are rotting while alive than to call them undead.
In addition to the t-Virus degrading brain cells directly, brain damage and coma may be exasperated further by the host experiencing autoimmune encephalitis. This is when the immune system targets the brain (in this case due to the t-Virus reaching the brain and the body attempting to fight it off), resulting in inflammation that can cause brain damage and even a coma state. This would explain why hosts to advanced strains of the t-Virus seem to "die" and transform faster, as the virus activity is increased to the point that it reaches and begins to affect the brain sooner.
After a period, the virus strengthening reaches a critical point, and hosts regain consciousness as Zombies.
Zombies created from the t-Virus are not as weak as Progenitor Zombies due to the t-Virus being less lethal than Progenitor. A t-Zombie's outward necrosis appears more severe, but it actually doesn't affect muscle strength. An increase in growth hormone causes Zombies to grow taller - the average Zombie height is 6 feet, 5 inches. This is 8 inches taller than an average adult male. They do not seem to weigh any more than a normal human being despite this.
Zombie skin is most heavily damaged, turning pale and cracking. Rashes will sometimes remain on the skin from the stages prior to Zombification. Exposed muscle (and even bone) is commonly seen as the skin rots and peels. A common area to peel away is the skin surrounding the mouth, causing Zombies (and sometimes Tyrants) to lose their lips. The extensive skin damage caused by the t-Virus caused many Raccoon City medical professionals to mistake it for a mere skin disease.
Zombie eyes become glazed over and turn a milky white, with the pupil sometimes completely covered by cataracts or a pale-blue haze. The extent of this clouding varies greatly, sometimes affecting the entire eye and sometimes only the pupil. When the process of decomposition begins in a human body, one of the first visible changes (beginning within 10 minutes of death) is to the eye, which clouds over as a result of the corneas becoming deprived of fluid or oxygen as circulation is cut off. If a diseased person's eyes are open at the time of death, film/clouding can begin to cover them in mere minutes as they dry up faster. Despite this, the cells that make up the eye are actually able to survive and remain functional longer than most of the tissues in a corpse, and as such Zombies usually retain their sight to some extent. In a script for the first Resident Evil game, Zombie eyes were described as "dried and barely functioning" (credit: Nóra). Any hindrance to their vision is compensated with extra-sensitive hearing and an enhanced sense of smell. Zombies likely retain their sense of taste as well.
Zombie eyes become glazed over and turn a milky white, with the pupil sometimes completely covered by cataracts or a pale-blue haze. The extent of this clouding varies greatly, sometimes affecting the entire eye and sometimes only the pupil. When the process of decomposition begins in a human body, one of the first visible changes (beginning within 10 minutes of death) is to the eye, which clouds over as a result of the corneas becoming deprived of fluid or oxygen as circulation is cut off. If a diseased person's eyes are open at the time of death, film/clouding can begin to cover them in mere minutes as they dry up faster. Despite this, the cells that make up the eye are actually able to survive and remain functional longer than most of the tissues in a corpse, and as such Zombies usually retain their sight to some extent. In a script for the first Resident Evil game, Zombie eyes were described as "dried and barely functioning" (credit: Nóra). Any hindrance to their vision is compensated with extra-sensitive hearing and an enhanced sense of smell. Zombies likely retain their sense of taste as well.
Internal organs are heavily affected by necrosis as well. The circulatory and respiratory systems (heart and lungs) are completely shut down, making Zombies clinically dead. They no long breathe, allowing them to survive being buried (seen in Resident Evil 3), submerged in water (Resident Evil), and exposed to smoke or many dangerous gases like nerve gas (The Bewitching Beast of the North Sea). How they survive without oxygen is a mystery, although it could be related to glycolysis, as theorized in the Biology of Evil. Glycolysis is a metabolic pathway that allows cells to obtain ATP (high-energy molecules that drive processes in living cells) from nutrients without using oxygen. Umbrella’s recombination experiments with the t-Virus could have given the virus extra copies of the genes relative to glycolysis from multiple different animals (leeches, spiders, dogs, and even humans), essentially multiplying the effect. It may be that Zombies essentially cannibalize themselves, with the living cells feeding off of the dead ones. This would both contribute to the necrosis symptom and make feeding all the more important to stave off the host from literally eating itself.
The lack of blood circulation (hemostasis) is also what leads to the eyes of Zombies almost immediately becoming hazed over and losing visible color. It also likely contributes to the discoloration of their skin. Zombie blood is usually coagulated, with open wounds bleeding very little.
The reproductive system of a Zombie is also destroyed, making all Zombies infertile. Any reproductive instincts are removed, although their desire to bite humans does serve as an equivalent.
As a result of their subcutaneous fat rotting, Zombies carry a permanent, repulsive smell, which could in itself serve to debilitate and distract prey. Despite not needing to breathe, they were also capable of exhaling a lukewarm miasma characterized by the smell of rot and gastric juices. The ghastly appearance of Zombies also serves to intimidate and stun targets, and makes them attractive for bioterrorists whose aim is to instill terror.
Due to widespread cell death, Zombies generally lack essential molecules like ATP. Because of this, Zombies ordinarily do not mutate beyond their general human form, as they lack the energy to do so, unless they can gain enough nutrition from feeding.
Unlike other bodily systems, the digestive system is heavily strengthened to accommodate the intense hunger of Zombies. They begin to produce large amounts of highly corrosive stomach acid able to quickly break down flesh. They produce so much, in fact, that Zombies periodically vomit excess amounts from the body. They will attempt to direct this acid at prey, giving Zombies a valuable weapon against out of reach targets. Zombies may even use this acid in order to soften prey to make consumption easier, similar to fly behavior. In Operation Raccoon City, this bile instead obscures the vision of those vomited on, allowing Zombies to stun and confuse their faster prey.
Internal organs are heavily affected by necrosis as well. The circulatory and respiratory systems (heart and lungs) are completely shut down, making Zombies clinically dead. They no long breathe, allowing them to survive being buried (seen in Resident Evil 3), submerged in water (Resident Evil), and exposed to smoke or many dangerous gases like nerve gas (The Bewitching Beast of the North Sea). How they survive without oxygen is a mystery, although it could be related to glycolysis, as theorized in the Biology of Evil. Glycolysis is a metabolic pathway that allows cells to obtain ATP (high-energy molecules that drive processes in living cells) from nutrients without using oxygen. Umbrella’s recombination experiments with the t-Virus could have given the virus extra copies of the genes relative to glycolysis from multiple different animals (leeches, spiders, dogs, and even humans), essentially multiplying the effect. It may be that Zombies essentially cannibalize themselves, with the living cells feeding off of the dead ones. This would both contribute to the necrosis symptom and make feeding all the more important to stave off the host from literally eating itself.
The lack of blood circulation (hemostasis) is also what leads to the eyes of Zombies almost immediately becoming hazed over and losing visible color. It also likely contributes to the discoloration of their skin. Zombie blood is usually coagulated, with open wounds bleeding very little.
The reproductive system of a Zombie is also destroyed, making all Zombies infertile. Any reproductive instincts are removed, although their desire to bite humans does serve as an equivalent.
As a result of their subcutaneous fat rotting, Zombies carry a permanent, repulsive smell, which could in itself serve to debilitate and distract prey. Despite not needing to breathe, they were also capable of exhaling a lukewarm miasma characterized by the smell of rot and gastric juices. The ghastly appearance of Zombies also serves to intimidate and stun targets, and makes them attractive for bioterrorists whose aim is to instill terror.
Due to widespread cell death, Zombies generally lack essential molecules like ATP. Because of this, Zombies ordinarily do not mutate beyond their general human form, as they lack the energy to do so, unless they can gain enough nutrition from feeding.
Unlike other bodily systems, the digestive system is heavily strengthened to accommodate the intense hunger of Zombies. They begin to produce large amounts of highly corrosive stomach acid able to quickly break down flesh. They produce so much, in fact, that Zombies periodically vomit excess amounts from the body. They will attempt to direct this acid at prey, giving Zombies a valuable weapon against out of reach targets. Zombies may even use this acid in order to soften prey to make consumption easier, similar to fly behavior. In Operation Raccoon City, this bile instead obscures the vision of those vomited on, allowing Zombies to stun and confuse their faster prey.
Zombie brain scan from Inside of Biohazard by BSAArklay
Zombie brains are devastated by necrosis, leaving much of the brain completely inactive/paralyzed. In particular, the cerebral neocortex is most heavily damaged, which is the part of the mammalian brain most responsible for higher brain functions like cognition, language, and fine motor control (this is perhaps why non-mammalian hosts are not as heavily damaged by the virus). This necrotizing is a gradual process, with the host losing their humanity and intelligence gradually following infection. The parts of the brain still active will develop abnormally (sections of the thalamus, midbrain, limbic system, and hypothalamus) in order to compensate for the lost sections, and metabolism is promoted to an unnecessary level. The autonomic nervous system is largely left intact in general. All former personality, emotions, and higher reasoning are wiped away entirely, as are most memories. Zombies are a "kind of brain dead, their actions limited merely to simple survival activity along with instinct. As a result, they move to the feeling of starvation and are a sad existence wandering in a quest for food" (Biohazard Director's Cut Inside of Biohazard). Zombie intelligence is overall comparable to that of an insect, with their behavior being completely bereft of thought.
Due to damage to the neocortex and potentially other areas of the cerebellum or even the frontal lobe, a Zombie's fine motor control is heavily affected. This results in Zombie movements being slow, clumsy, and erratic. The exact level of mobility from Zombie-to-Zombie alternates greatly. On rare occasions some will even experience irregular bouts of speed, possibly as a result of stimuli like the smell of prey or loud noises, before regressing back to slow movements. Others on even rarer occasions still possess enough agility to climb a chain-link fence.
Due to damage to the neocortex and potentially other areas of the cerebellum or even the frontal lobe, a Zombie's fine motor control is heavily affected. This results in Zombie movements being slow, clumsy, and erratic. The exact level of mobility from Zombie-to-Zombie alternates greatly. On rare occasions some will even experience irregular bouts of speed, possibly as a result of stimuli like the smell of prey or loud noises, before regressing back to slow movements. Others on even rarer occasions still possess enough agility to climb a chain-link fence.
Zombies are ordinarily not intelligent or coordinated enough to use tools or weapons, although they have used the latter in Gaiden, a cutscene in The Darkside Chronicles, and in The Experience (although a variant strain may well have been at work in The Experience). Zombies sometimes retain enough memory to keep some habits, and will commonly mill about places familiar to them as humans. Some Zombies retain enough muscle memory to operate a door handle and open doors. When not in pursuit of prey or attacking, Zombies will usually wander aimlessly. They lack any sense of fear, and have almost no self-preservation instincts beyond feeding and conserving energy.
Most Zombies are incapable of articulating speech, and will instead moan and growl. Advanced Zombies in modern times sometimes mutter simple phrases, and even t-Virus Zombies have been known to speak words relevant to the situation, implying not only some memory retention, but perhaps some degree of remaining self-awareness. This was seen with Zombie Brad Vickers in the reimagining of Resident Evil 3, who actually apologized to Marvin Branagh. In Pachislot, Zombie Forest Speyer begged Chris Redfield to kill him.
Zombie pain receptors are also inactive due to the damage to their nervous systems. Losing limbs, being shot, or being set on fire will not deter them. Instead, all they feel is hunger.
Zombies are in a constant state of starvation due to their metabolism being critically high and constantly active. In order to support their oxygen-deprived bodies, they must eat constantly. As infected flesh is stripped bare of nutrients, Zombies prefer to devour the flesh of uninfected hosts. As they grow more desperate, they will however resort to cannibalism. Zombies (beyond Crimson Heads) are very rarely ever seen attacking each other, and they instead feed on dead or prone Zombies (the latter of which don't even seem to notice). Zombies appear to be able to distinguish humans from other Zombies using their sense of smell, as they are drawn to the rich scent of oxygenated blood (it is implied Zombies will also drink blood). Zombies may even go into a frenzy when a target bleeds profusely, similar to shark behavior.
Oddly, Zombies not only prefer uninfected humans over other Zombies, but they generally prefer humans over other animals in general. It is unknown if there is a distinct biological reason for this, or if it is due to "an inherent hidden dark side of humans themselves" (Inside of Biohazard). The latter would imply that in their brain damaged state, Zombies revert to some subconscious behavior dormant inside all human minds...
Some Zombies will lie on the ground and play dead, biting the ankles of unsuspecting victims. This is not an indication of intelligence, but of primal instincts located in the reptilian part of the brain. These are called "Playing Dead Zombies". Zombies on the verge of starvation will also lie on the ground in order to conserve energy, and these individuals are distinguished by the title "Lying Zombies". "Crawling Zombie" are Zombies whose legs have decayed to the point that they are incapable of walking and will instead crawl towards prey using their arms.
Due to their outstanding vitality, Zombies are impossible to kill unless the brain itself is destroyed/removed, or the body is totally incinerated. Zombies can also starve to death. They will not bleed to death due to their inactive circulatory system. Even a bullet to the brain of a Zombie is not a guaranteed kill, as much of the brain is dead anyway. Destroying the brain stem is the safest and most reliable way to cease activity in a Zombie, as this may destroy the autonomic nervous system. Total decapitation is also a reliable way to ensure death in a Zombie. Breaking through the neck of a Zombie is sometimes enough to cease activity, but only if the connection to the brain is totally severed. Hanging prior to transformation into a Zombie is not a reliable preventative measure. Raccoon City Hospital doctors were also unable to kill t-Virus hosts using chemical euthanasia. Zombies can also resist fire to a certain extent, and will even continue to attack prey while engulfed in flames, making their attacks especially deadly. Soaking a Zombie in kerosene or other forms of fuel can ensure that Zombie bodies will be burned to the point of death.
Despite their decayed appearance, Zombies are actually stronger than normal humans. While this is largely due to the t-Virus altering their genetic structure and strengthening their muscle tissue, their lacking a sensation of pain also leads to them expending more effort than a normal animal would. They will often strike at prey with their arms in order to prevent them from resisting being fed on, with their scratches sometimes being capable of transmitting the t-Virus. Zombies mistaken for dead by humans and buried underground are even capable of digging out of their graves, so long as they are close enough to the surface. Despite this, excessive rotting can also make Zombie bodies relatively fragile and more susceptible to being torn apart with ease. There is very little consistency in regards to how strong a Zombie's body will be, and the biology of the host, time spent infected, and strain of the virus used are all relevant factors.
Zombies are incapable of understanding commands or being trained, making their purpose as soldiers practically naught. Instead, Zombies are used in the same fashion as one might use a bomb - to start a chain reaction of infection that will devastate a population of people: a single Zombie will bite a single human and create a second Zombie. Then the two Zombies will each bite another person, resulting in four Zombies. The four Zombies will then become eight, then sixteen, and so on. The end result is Zombie numbers multiplying exponentially. This is especially likely in areas with a high population of people, and even more so when among civilians who lack the knowledge or skills to properly kill Zombies. If an organization wanted to destroy an enemy base, they could infect a POW (prisoner of war), release them, and let them transform into a Zombie while inside enemy territory. Then once the base would be wiped out, the Zombies would eventually starve to death and the base could be captured with minimal effort. As stated earlier, Zombies are also useful as a tool for terrorists to promote fear.
While Zombies are not as clever or as unpredictable as humans, their lack of pain, emotion, and fear makes them impossible to defeat using traditional warfare, which usually relies on demoralizing an enemy force and weakening them until they surrender. Zombies can only be stopped through containment or complete eradication.
It should be noted that early on in the Resident Evil series, the t-Virus (then called the "T-Virus") actually caused hosts to experience a drop in metabolism, not an increase in it. Zombies rotted and were constantly starving at this point because the chemical processes that maintain the human body were largely inactive or slowed. This plot point was eventually retconned by later releases but was reused for the Afflicted created by the t-Phobos Virus.
Zombies are in a constant state of starvation due to their metabolism being critically high and constantly active. In order to support their oxygen-deprived bodies, they must eat constantly. As infected flesh is stripped bare of nutrients, Zombies prefer to devour the flesh of uninfected hosts. As they grow more desperate, they will however resort to cannibalism. Zombies (beyond Crimson Heads) are very rarely ever seen attacking each other, and they instead feed on dead or prone Zombies (the latter of which don't even seem to notice). Zombies appear to be able to distinguish humans from other Zombies using their sense of smell, as they are drawn to the rich scent of oxygenated blood (it is implied Zombies will also drink blood). Zombies may even go into a frenzy when a target bleeds profusely, similar to shark behavior.
Oddly, Zombies not only prefer uninfected humans over other Zombies, but they generally prefer humans over other animals in general. It is unknown if there is a distinct biological reason for this, or if it is due to "an inherent hidden dark side of humans themselves" (Inside of Biohazard). The latter would imply that in their brain damaged state, Zombies revert to some subconscious behavior dormant inside all human minds...
Some Zombies will lie on the ground and play dead, biting the ankles of unsuspecting victims. This is not an indication of intelligence, but of primal instincts located in the reptilian part of the brain. These are called "Playing Dead Zombies". Zombies on the verge of starvation will also lie on the ground in order to conserve energy, and these individuals are distinguished by the title "Lying Zombies". "Crawling Zombie" are Zombies whose legs have decayed to the point that they are incapable of walking and will instead crawl towards prey using their arms.
Due to their outstanding vitality, Zombies are impossible to kill unless the brain itself is destroyed/removed, or the body is totally incinerated. Zombies can also starve to death. They will not bleed to death due to their inactive circulatory system. Even a bullet to the brain of a Zombie is not a guaranteed kill, as much of the brain is dead anyway. Destroying the brain stem is the safest and most reliable way to cease activity in a Zombie, as this may destroy the autonomic nervous system. Total decapitation is also a reliable way to ensure death in a Zombie. Breaking through the neck of a Zombie is sometimes enough to cease activity, but only if the connection to the brain is totally severed. Hanging prior to transformation into a Zombie is not a reliable preventative measure. Raccoon City Hospital doctors were also unable to kill t-Virus hosts using chemical euthanasia. Zombies can also resist fire to a certain extent, and will even continue to attack prey while engulfed in flames, making their attacks especially deadly. Soaking a Zombie in kerosene or other forms of fuel can ensure that Zombie bodies will be burned to the point of death.
Despite their decayed appearance, Zombies are actually stronger than normal humans. While this is largely due to the t-Virus altering their genetic structure and strengthening their muscle tissue, their lacking a sensation of pain also leads to them expending more effort than a normal animal would. They will often strike at prey with their arms in order to prevent them from resisting being fed on, with their scratches sometimes being capable of transmitting the t-Virus. Zombies mistaken for dead by humans and buried underground are even capable of digging out of their graves, so long as they are close enough to the surface. Despite this, excessive rotting can also make Zombie bodies relatively fragile and more susceptible to being torn apart with ease. There is very little consistency in regards to how strong a Zombie's body will be, and the biology of the host, time spent infected, and strain of the virus used are all relevant factors.
Zombies are incapable of understanding commands or being trained, making their purpose as soldiers practically naught. Instead, Zombies are used in the same fashion as one might use a bomb - to start a chain reaction of infection that will devastate a population of people: a single Zombie will bite a single human and create a second Zombie. Then the two Zombies will each bite another person, resulting in four Zombies. The four Zombies will then become eight, then sixteen, and so on. The end result is Zombie numbers multiplying exponentially. This is especially likely in areas with a high population of people, and even more so when among civilians who lack the knowledge or skills to properly kill Zombies. If an organization wanted to destroy an enemy base, they could infect a POW (prisoner of war), release them, and let them transform into a Zombie while inside enemy territory. Then once the base would be wiped out, the Zombies would eventually starve to death and the base could be captured with minimal effort. As stated earlier, Zombies are also useful as a tool for terrorists to promote fear.
While Zombies are not as clever or as unpredictable as humans, their lack of pain, emotion, and fear makes them impossible to defeat using traditional warfare, which usually relies on demoralizing an enemy force and weakening them until they surrender. Zombies can only be stopped through containment or complete eradication.
It should be noted that early on in the Resident Evil series, the t-Virus (then called the "T-Virus") actually caused hosts to experience a drop in metabolism, not an increase in it. Zombies rotted and were constantly starving at this point because the chemical processes that maintain the human body were largely inactive or slowed. This plot point was eventually retconned by later releases but was reused for the Afflicted created by the t-Phobos Virus.
Zombie Variants
There is usually a great deal of consistency regarding how each individual Zombie will operate, but some alternate types have existed due to differences in how they were created:
Most t-Zombies are slow and lack the coordination to pursue human prey over large distances, and the phenomenon of Zombies running is very rare. However, some extremely rare Zombies were capable of making faster, more complicated movements on a regular basis. Two examples of these Zombies would be Zombie Forest Speyer and the Doctor/Anatomist Zombie on Rockfort Island. Both of these Zombies also had an even greater level of vitality when compared to normal Zombies, with their bodies being more resistant to ballistic trauma. The reason for this may be the hosts being more compatible with the t-Virus than ordinary Zombies, but not enough to become Tyrants or superhumans. One Zombie, which was formerly the captain of the Spencer Rain ("Captain Zombie") also possessed greater vitality than normal, but its movement speed was no greater than that of an ordinary Zombie.
Early strains of t could not revive corpses, but more advanced strains unlocked this ability. Undead Zombies were indistinguishable from living ones. These were, according to one source, encountered by Claire Redfield on Rockfort Island, when a unique strain was carried by rainwater into shallow graves, causing the corpses there to reanimate.
Most t-Zombies are slow and lack the coordination to pursue human prey over large distances, and the phenomenon of Zombies running is very rare. However, some extremely rare Zombies were capable of making faster, more complicated movements on a regular basis. Two examples of these Zombies would be Zombie Forest Speyer and the Doctor/Anatomist Zombie on Rockfort Island. Both of these Zombies also had an even greater level of vitality when compared to normal Zombies, with their bodies being more resistant to ballistic trauma. The reason for this may be the hosts being more compatible with the t-Virus than ordinary Zombies, but not enough to become Tyrants or superhumans. One Zombie, which was formerly the captain of the Spencer Rain ("Captain Zombie") also possessed greater vitality than normal, but its movement speed was no greater than that of an ordinary Zombie.
Early strains of t could not revive corpses, but more advanced strains unlocked this ability. Undead Zombies were indistinguishable from living ones. These were, according to one source, encountered by Claire Redfield on Rockfort Island, when a unique strain was carried by rainwater into shallow graves, causing the corpses there to reanimate.
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Improved Zombies (also known as Naked Zombies or Enhanced Zombies) were created at the Arklay Mansion and the laboratory beneath Raccoon City. 'These were physically distinguishable by their lack of clothes, the surgical scars and stitching across their bodies, and by their genitalia being missing. As their name suggests, Improved Zombies had greater strength and vitality than ordinary Zombies, although their movements and intelligence were just as limited.
Improved Zombies were created via body strengthening surgery and primary injection of the t-Virus. In this sense, Improved Zombies could be seen as either failed Tyrants or a midway point between Zombies and engineered Tyrants. They could also be seen as the B.O.W. equivalent of Zombies, with "normal" Zombies being irregular mutants. Their faces sometimes appeared to be partially melted, which could either be from intense heat (caused by intense cellular activity), skin damage, or damaged skin regenerating improperly. |
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In Resistance, multiple Zombie variants created by the Umbrella Corporation were depicted. While the canonicity of Resistance is negligible, and while certain Zombie aspects are purely the result of gameplay buffs and upgrades, some special enemy types are still interesting to take note of. Special thanks to kingsaigon for help in finding this information.
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Detonators were a unique Resistance Zombie type that appeared to have been heavily bloated. They ran surprisingly fast, and their bodies would explode after making a contact with human prey.
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Jesters were Resistance Zombies that were named for their being dressed like clowns. They could let out a loud screech that stunned humans, much like the Shrieker Zombies created by the C-Virus.
Dealers were Resistance Zombies dressed as the kind of card-dealers seen in casinos. They ran especially fast.
During the Raccoon City destruction incident, Umbrella provided the Raccoon Police Department survivors with a special gas called P-Z, which was supposed to harm Zombies. Instead, this gas caused mutations in Zombies that heightened their combat abilities. Poisonous Zombies created by P-Z constantly exhaled a purple gas that could poison prey. It seems the otherwise inactive lungs were repurposed to produce this gas. Some would expel a large poison cloud when the body was ruptured. Besides damaging the human body when inhaled, this poison also caused coughing fits that would progressively get worse until it was treated. Poisonous Zombies were distinguishable by their purple skin and glowing eyes.
This reaction is likely related to the Poison Ivy, which was created by a t-Virus B.O.W. being exposed to the P-ε - gas (see "t-Virus Countermeasures" section for information on P-ε, and the "Plantae" section more information on Poison Ivy). "Z" may have stood for "Zombie", while the "P" likely denoted that it was a derivative of P-ε. The Poisonous Zombies' purple coloration and ability to produce poison gas were shared by Poison Ivy. Umbrella's intention in the creation of P-Z may have been:
This reaction is likely related to the Poison Ivy, which was created by a t-Virus B.O.W. being exposed to the P-ε - gas (see "t-Virus Countermeasures" section for information on P-ε, and the "Plantae" section more information on Poison Ivy). "Z" may have stood for "Zombie", while the "P" likely denoted that it was a derivative of P-ε. The Poisonous Zombies' purple coloration and ability to produce poison gas were shared by Poison Ivy. Umbrella's intention in the creation of P-Z may have been:
- To harm Zombies in particular, with the creation of Poisonous Zombies being a completely unintended side-effect.
- To increase Zombie deadliness. In this case, it is highly likely that Umbrella created P-Z using data obtained on Poison Ivys and used said data to replicate the poison effect in non-plant hosts. Umbrella would have given this gas to the survivors in order to both further compromise their safety and to gather data on the results of P-Z exposure in a live test.
Gun Survivor 2 featured Zombie variants that also produced poison gas. Umbrella Researcher Zombies would scatter this gas upon being killed. It is unknown if these Zombies created the gas like Poisonous Zombies did, or if the researchers they once were carried containers of the gas.
Advanced Zombies have also been created by other strains of the Progenitor Virus, such as G, C, A, and Kodoku. The only Progenitor-based virus that hasn't been shown to create Zombie-like mutants is t-Veronica, although its effects on corpses (if any) have yet to been seen.
The Zombie mutation is not limited to humans and is actually common in mammalian hosts. Infected mammals are generally considered Zombies due to severe necrosis giving them the appearance of undead creatures and due to their ravenous appetite for uninfected flesh created by metabolic changes. Most if not all Zombie animals experience a smaller amount of brain damage than human hosts, allowing them to retain some intelligence, fine motor control, and the sensation of pain. Many Zombie animals that are smaller than humans (like dogs, monkeys, bats and rats) also experience less muscle degeneration in general. This is because their bodies require less energy to operate, giving them a better grip on their heightened metabolisms.
Canine - While canines become Zombies following infection with the t-Virus, the effects of the virus are far less damaging on their bodies. Canine brains and muscles are left intact, allowing infected dogs and wolves to hunt, run, and jump as they did prior to Zombification. Outward signs of decay are just as dramatic as in human hosts, but internal damage is limited. In the Resident Evil remake, mutated dogs can even be seen breathing, indicating that at least the respiratory system is still functioning. While their eyes are usually glazed over or bloodshot, any damage to their eyesight would be offset by the fact canines rely more on their senses of hearing and smell. Like human Zombies, their overall size is somewhat greater than normal following infection.
Zombie canine muscle mass is strengthened along with general vitality, although their bodies are not quite as resistant to damage as the larger Zombie humans. They compensate for this with their speed, agility, and natural weapons (claws and sharp teeth). As canines attack prey by jumping from a low stance, they are also harder to hit than humanoid targets. Their extreme aggression and incredible hunger brought about by metabolic changes makes them very dangerous to humans and Zombies alike. Their muscular strength and combative instincts are also strengthened dramatically by the virus. They lack any sense of fear, and their pain tolerance is higher, if not outright numbed like human Zombies. This makes them relentless pursuers and merciless attackers.
Infected canines retain their hunting and pack instincts after infection, like group tactics and ambush techniques, as well as virtually all of their intelligence. Their combative instincts are even said to be increased significantly following infection, indicating either sensory or even neurological enhancements. Canines also retain their memories following infection, including training. Despite their intelligence, their actions are still primarily governed by their hunger for flesh.
Zombie canine muscle mass is strengthened along with general vitality, although their bodies are not quite as resistant to damage as the larger Zombie humans. They compensate for this with their speed, agility, and natural weapons (claws and sharp teeth). As canines attack prey by jumping from a low stance, they are also harder to hit than humanoid targets. Their extreme aggression and incredible hunger brought about by metabolic changes makes them very dangerous to humans and Zombies alike. Their muscular strength and combative instincts are also strengthened dramatically by the virus. They lack any sense of fear, and their pain tolerance is higher, if not outright numbed like human Zombies. This makes them relentless pursuers and merciless attackers.
Infected canines retain their hunting and pack instincts after infection, like group tactics and ambush techniques, as well as virtually all of their intelligence. Their combative instincts are even said to be increased significantly following infection, indicating either sensory or even neurological enhancements. Canines also retain their memories following infection, including training. Despite their intelligence, their actions are still primarily governed by their hunger for flesh.
Dogs have been bred and trained for use in warfare by humans for thousands of years. As they are already "living weapons" in this sense, they were an obvious choice for Umbrella in the creation of B.O.W.s.
Dogs intentionally modified by Umbrella using the t-Virus for use as B.O.W.s are called Cerberus (MA-39), named after the guardian of the gates to Hades in Greek mythology. They have also been given called "Hellhounds", which means demons in the form of dogs. The term Cerberus can refer to any dog breed infected via primary injection. Dogs infected through secondary infection (drinking tainted water, consuming infected flesh, or even being directly bitten by a virus carrier) are instead referred to as Zombie Dogs.
Due to infected dogs retaining all of their training, Cerberuses are controllable as B.O.W.s when based on military dogs. Many Cerberuses were also created by cloning other Cerberuses, which means that they can be trained after already becoming monsters as well. A trained Cerberus can be made to act on several commands at once. Their enhanced abilities and ferociousness make them more effective weapons than ordinary attack dogs, while their natural social skills allowed them to make coordinated attacks with their companions to a degree greater than most B.O.W.s outside of the Hunter. This, combined with how cheap they are to produce, has made them desirable weapons even now, as they were used during the attack on TRICELL HQ and in other modern bioterror attacks. But the intense hunger in Cerberuses must be maintained if control is to be asserted.
Umbrella based their Cerberus line on Doberman pinchers, and although a Saint Bernard variant was planned as well, it was scrapped due to the incident at the Arklay Mansion disrupting research. A group of Cerberuses were supposed to be tested for their practicality in combat in the mansion courtyard, but due to the psychosis of their infected keeper, their feeding was neglected, and the dogs managed to escape their cages in desperation. While some of these Cerberuses hung around the courtyard due to their memories of the area, others escaped into the surrounding forest and began attacking hikers and campers in the Arklay Mountains. This is what largely attracted the attention of the media in Raccoon City, forcing the RPD to send S.T.A.R.S. to investigate the area. Strange howls could be heard in the area due to roaming, wild Cerberus packs.
Doberman Cerberus embryos were taken from the Mansion by Birkin, cloned, and later sold on the black market. Because of this, all known instances of Cerberus B.O.W.s in bioterror included the use of Dobermans.
Doberman pinchers were also used for the Raccoon Police department's K-9 unit, due to the suggestion of RPD Chief Brian Irons. During the Raccoon City Destruction Incident, many if not all of these dogs became infected with the virus and transformed into Zombie Dogs. Despite being the same breed as the base used for Umbrella's Cerberuses, they lacked the same advanced military training, making them slightly less lethal. They still were based on excellent police dogs, and so their physical abilities and agility were greater than they would be if they were based on normal dog.
During the t-Virus outbreak caused by Vincent Goldman on Sheena Island, dogs that appeared to be Dobermans became Zombies as well. These dogs were comprised of both police or military dogs and stray dogs from the area.
Dobermans were also kept as guard dogs at Rockfort Island and were also infected when HCF caused the t-Virus to leak in that area. These dogs had military training, and so despite them being irregular mutants their abilities were on par with Cerberuses.
Doberman pinchers have a variety of sizes: they can be anywhere from 22-26 inches long and are most commonly 24-28 inches tall. Following infection with the t-Virus, Dobermans could grow so large as to be 29 inches long (75cm) and 39 inches tall (100cm).
Normal Doberman pinchers weight 55-100 pounds, while infected ones can weigh as much as 172 pounds. This increase in weight is likely due to Zombie Dog muscle tissue being transformed and replaced with superior, ultra-dense alternatives, giving them greater strength. Zombie Dogs will use their weight against their foes in combat - a Zombie Dog will pounce onto prey and impose its entire body weight onto them, pinning them down as it eats away at its prey's throat. When multiple Cerberuses attacked a single target, they would circle their prey and attack in waves without providing their prey any opportunity to rest, wearing them down. Other times they would bite down on a person's hand, restricting their movement and giving other Cerberuses an opportunity to attack. They would actively attempt to lunge at prey from the blind spots in the prey's vision. They were excellent at killing even the most skilled human combatants, like S.T.A.R.S. officers Edward Dewey and Joseph Frost.
While the maximum running speed of Zombie Dogs is not affected too much by their weight gain due to their improved muscles, they do run approximately 3 miles-per-hour slower. Zombie Dog jumping abilities are still impressive, and they can easily clear tall fences by leaping over them or even by climbing. Humans in outbreak zones who learn to survive encounters with slow, clumsy Zombies by using their mobility are still at risk of being overtaken by Zombie Dogs. The relatively thin legs of Zombie Dogs do provide a weakness to them, however, and it is easy for armed humans to cause them to trip when running by shooting them in the legs.
Dogs intentionally modified by Umbrella using the t-Virus for use as B.O.W.s are called Cerberus (MA-39), named after the guardian of the gates to Hades in Greek mythology. They have also been given called "Hellhounds", which means demons in the form of dogs. The term Cerberus can refer to any dog breed infected via primary injection. Dogs infected through secondary infection (drinking tainted water, consuming infected flesh, or even being directly bitten by a virus carrier) are instead referred to as Zombie Dogs.
Due to infected dogs retaining all of their training, Cerberuses are controllable as B.O.W.s when based on military dogs. Many Cerberuses were also created by cloning other Cerberuses, which means that they can be trained after already becoming monsters as well. A trained Cerberus can be made to act on several commands at once. Their enhanced abilities and ferociousness make them more effective weapons than ordinary attack dogs, while their natural social skills allowed them to make coordinated attacks with their companions to a degree greater than most B.O.W.s outside of the Hunter. This, combined with how cheap they are to produce, has made them desirable weapons even now, as they were used during the attack on TRICELL HQ and in other modern bioterror attacks. But the intense hunger in Cerberuses must be maintained if control is to be asserted.
Umbrella based their Cerberus line on Doberman pinchers, and although a Saint Bernard variant was planned as well, it was scrapped due to the incident at the Arklay Mansion disrupting research. A group of Cerberuses were supposed to be tested for their practicality in combat in the mansion courtyard, but due to the psychosis of their infected keeper, their feeding was neglected, and the dogs managed to escape their cages in desperation. While some of these Cerberuses hung around the courtyard due to their memories of the area, others escaped into the surrounding forest and began attacking hikers and campers in the Arklay Mountains. This is what largely attracted the attention of the media in Raccoon City, forcing the RPD to send S.T.A.R.S. to investigate the area. Strange howls could be heard in the area due to roaming, wild Cerberus packs.
Doberman Cerberus embryos were taken from the Mansion by Birkin, cloned, and later sold on the black market. Because of this, all known instances of Cerberus B.O.W.s in bioterror included the use of Dobermans.
Doberman pinchers were also used for the Raccoon Police department's K-9 unit, due to the suggestion of RPD Chief Brian Irons. During the Raccoon City Destruction Incident, many if not all of these dogs became infected with the virus and transformed into Zombie Dogs. Despite being the same breed as the base used for Umbrella's Cerberuses, they lacked the same advanced military training, making them slightly less lethal. They still were based on excellent police dogs, and so their physical abilities and agility were greater than they would be if they were based on normal dog.
During the t-Virus outbreak caused by Vincent Goldman on Sheena Island, dogs that appeared to be Dobermans became Zombies as well. These dogs were comprised of both police or military dogs and stray dogs from the area.
Dobermans were also kept as guard dogs at Rockfort Island and were also infected when HCF caused the t-Virus to leak in that area. These dogs had military training, and so despite them being irregular mutants their abilities were on par with Cerberuses.
Doberman pinchers have a variety of sizes: they can be anywhere from 22-26 inches long and are most commonly 24-28 inches tall. Following infection with the t-Virus, Dobermans could grow so large as to be 29 inches long (75cm) and 39 inches tall (100cm).
Normal Doberman pinchers weight 55-100 pounds, while infected ones can weigh as much as 172 pounds. This increase in weight is likely due to Zombie Dog muscle tissue being transformed and replaced with superior, ultra-dense alternatives, giving them greater strength. Zombie Dogs will use their weight against their foes in combat - a Zombie Dog will pounce onto prey and impose its entire body weight onto them, pinning them down as it eats away at its prey's throat. When multiple Cerberuses attacked a single target, they would circle their prey and attack in waves without providing their prey any opportunity to rest, wearing them down. Other times they would bite down on a person's hand, restricting their movement and giving other Cerberuses an opportunity to attack. They would actively attempt to lunge at prey from the blind spots in the prey's vision. They were excellent at killing even the most skilled human combatants, like S.T.A.R.S. officers Edward Dewey and Joseph Frost.
While the maximum running speed of Zombie Dogs is not affected too much by their weight gain due to their improved muscles, they do run approximately 3 miles-per-hour slower. Zombie Dog jumping abilities are still impressive, and they can easily clear tall fences by leaping over them or even by climbing. Humans in outbreak zones who learn to survive encounters with slow, clumsy Zombies by using their mobility are still at risk of being overtaken by Zombie Dogs. The relatively thin legs of Zombie Dogs do provide a weakness to them, however, and it is easy for armed humans to cause them to trip when running by shooting them in the legs.
Added by BSAARKLAY; Image on the left. According to the Biohazard Remake website Cerberus would attack as a team, one demanding the preys attention while the other circles and attacks from the side much like Velociraptor's from Jurassic Park. Image on the right shows concept art that the Cerberus breed was originally going to be Saint Bernard. Finally in Biohazard Remake the Cerberus at one stage were going to be replaced by infected Bears.
Zombie Wolves were encountered in the Caucasus region in 2003, due to the t-Virus leaking from an Umbrella facility nearby. Zombie Wolves displayed abilities seemingly identical to Zombie Dogs, but of course had no combat training outside of their natural instincts.
Feline - Hyenas, Lions, and many other animals held at the Raccoon Zoo in Raccoon City became Zombies once their water supply became contaminated with the t-Virus. Many mutated animals escaped their cages and exhibits, and roamed the zoo grounds preying on humans, Zombies, and each other. Due to a streetcar stop in front of the zoo being a designated evacuation point for survivors of the ongoing outbreak, infected animals did not need to venture far from this area, as they had a steady supply of food come to them.
Zombie Hyenas wandered several locations in the Raccoon Zoo. They were extremely similar to Zombie Dogs, due to hyenas being closely related to canines. Zombie Hyena intelligence, instincts, and fine motor were not diminished. Their outward symptoms of necrosis were minimal, and no tearing of the skin was visible. The only thing setting their behavior apart from Zombie Dogs is that their already-impressive agility increased to the point that they could dodge bullets to some extent, although they were slightly less aggressive and erred more on the side of caution. They also lacked any kind of combat training.
The appearance of the Zombie Hyenas suggested they were based on spotted hyenas, a species that is especially ferocious and social. Spotted hyenas rely on pack hunting over scavenging like other hyenas: Zombie Hyenas retained these habits and social instincts following Zombification and attacked their prey in packs. Like spotted hyenas, Zombie hyenas were apt to prey on humans, especially once their aggression and appetite was amplified by the virus.
It should be noted that hyenas are not felines in the most technical sense, but are rather "feliform", or "cat-like". They have much in common with canines (like their relying on their teeth in combat over their claws like cats) but are more closely related biologically to felines. They are essentially a midway point between the two Families.
The appearance of the Zombie Hyenas suggested they were based on spotted hyenas, a species that is especially ferocious and social. Spotted hyenas rely on pack hunting over scavenging like other hyenas: Zombie Hyenas retained these habits and social instincts following Zombification and attacked their prey in packs. Like spotted hyenas, Zombie hyenas were apt to prey on humans, especially once their aggression and appetite was amplified by the virus.
It should be noted that hyenas are not felines in the most technical sense, but are rather "feliform", or "cat-like". They have much in common with canines (like their relying on their teeth in combat over their claws like cats) but are more closely related biologically to felines. They are essentially a midway point between the two Families.
One male Lion was a permanent fixture at the Raccoon Zoo, while several female lions had been brought to the location at the time of the outbreak as part of a breeding program that would have lasted until the end of October. All said lions became infected.
Zombie Lions were much more powerful than other Zombie quadrupeds due to the natural size and strength of the host species. Lions have extremely dense, powerful muscles wrapped around immense bodies. The bodies of Zombie Lions grew even larger, and their natural abilities were improved. Their bodies experienced more signs of outward necrosis than those of Zombie Hyenas, although like Zombie dogs this did not impede their mobility or intelligence. In addition to some torn flesh, what appeared to be tumor-like growths also formed on their bodies (these could also have been expanded muscles, like those on Eliminators).
Starved Lions are very prone to man-eating, and so Zombie Lions were extraordinarily aggressive towards humans. Unlike Zombie Dogs and Hyenas but like true felines, Zombie Lions used their paws more than their teeth. Their strong muscles made their strikes deadly and capable of knocking humans onto the ground. Zombie Lions largely relied on hit-and-run attacks and used their weight against their prey. They were so agile that they were capable of jumping over tall fences to pursue and hunt human prey. Their thick bodies made them extremely resilient to gunfire.
Three of the Zombie Lionesses (called "Ferals" by localization) at the zoo were named "Silfy", "Jennifer", and "Angela". While female lions usually hunt in groups, the Zombie Lionesses were slightly more solitary following infection. They still retained some of their social instincts, however. They were extremely territorial and did not wander much from their preferred hunting grounds, opting instead for prey to come to them. They may have done this to avoid crossing paths with the true apex predator of the Zoo, Oscar.
The sole male Lion, originally named Max by the Zoo (called "Stalker" by localization), was even stronger and more ferocious than the Zombie Lionesses. This is likely because of the sexual dimorphism seen in lions: males tend to be stockier and stronger than females. In the Wild Things/Roar scenario of Outbreak file #2, on hard mode, a single Lioness follows Max. On very hard mode, two Lionesses follow him around, denoting his status as leader of the pride.
Zombie Lions were much more powerful than other Zombie quadrupeds due to the natural size and strength of the host species. Lions have extremely dense, powerful muscles wrapped around immense bodies. The bodies of Zombie Lions grew even larger, and their natural abilities were improved. Their bodies experienced more signs of outward necrosis than those of Zombie Hyenas, although like Zombie dogs this did not impede their mobility or intelligence. In addition to some torn flesh, what appeared to be tumor-like growths also formed on their bodies (these could also have been expanded muscles, like those on Eliminators).
Starved Lions are very prone to man-eating, and so Zombie Lions were extraordinarily aggressive towards humans. Unlike Zombie Dogs and Hyenas but like true felines, Zombie Lions used their paws more than their teeth. Their strong muscles made their strikes deadly and capable of knocking humans onto the ground. Zombie Lions largely relied on hit-and-run attacks and used their weight against their prey. They were so agile that they were capable of jumping over tall fences to pursue and hunt human prey. Their thick bodies made them extremely resilient to gunfire.
Three of the Zombie Lionesses (called "Ferals" by localization) at the zoo were named "Silfy", "Jennifer", and "Angela". While female lions usually hunt in groups, the Zombie Lionesses were slightly more solitary following infection. They still retained some of their social instincts, however. They were extremely territorial and did not wander much from their preferred hunting grounds, opting instead for prey to come to them. They may have done this to avoid crossing paths with the true apex predator of the Zoo, Oscar.
The sole male Lion, originally named Max by the Zoo (called "Stalker" by localization), was even stronger and more ferocious than the Zombie Lionesses. This is likely because of the sexual dimorphism seen in lions: males tend to be stockier and stronger than females. In the Wild Things/Roar scenario of Outbreak file #2, on hard mode, a single Lioness follows Max. On very hard mode, two Lionesses follow him around, denoting his status as leader of the pride.
A feline monster called "Mountain Cat" was originally going to be featured in Resident Evil 3. It was either based on a wildcat (possibly an Andean mountain cat), or on a cougar. It would have to have been an escaped test subject, a released B.O.W., or an animal that escaped the Raccoon Zoo, as both cougars and Andean mountain cats are not native to the midwestern United States. The Mountain Cat was going to appear in the Raccoon Park, where it would hide in the area's bushes in order to ambush prey. It was capable of moving without making any noise but would otherwise make an "eerie cry". The fangs of the mountain cat were greatly enlarged, similar to the teeth of a saber-toothed tiger. It appeared to have a human-like body, which could be due to it:
- Being an engineered chimera created by Umbrella.
- Inheriting human-DNA from the t-Virus.
- Gaining human traits through recombination after devouring infected human flesh, like the Drain Deimos.
Monkey - James Marcus, in his efforts to create a B.O.W. with enough intelligence to follow orders and excel in combat, performed experiments on large monkeys, due to their naturally high level of intelligence. Marcus attempted to avoid intelligence decline by injecting the virus into a host early in development, so that it could bond with the t-Virus "on a cellular level". After injecting a pregnant monkey with t-Marcus, her fertilized egg was infected with the virus. The zygote/embryo adapted to the virus as it developed in the womb. The creature eventually birthed by the mother monkey became a B.O.W. with a moderate level of perfection upon maturing fully. It was named an Eliminator and was replicated through cloning. Eliminators were effective, but mass production was stalled until further development could be made due to them only being capable of following simple commands. Eliminators proved to Marcus that mammalian hosts were his best chance at creating intelligent B.O.W.s, and instead of further developing the Eliminators he moved on to human research. However, the Queen Leech created a small army of them many years later (or the Investigation Team sent to the Executive Training Facility created or transported new Eliminators), and Umbrella approved them for mass production by 2003 due to its desperate state at the time.
Eliminators avoided most necrosis symptoms despite being one of the earliest B.O.W.s ever created due to them both circumventing rapid mutation and having a more stable metabolism. This is owing to the first Eliminator being able to bond with the virus as it developed in its mother's womb. The Cerberus B.O.W. later reached a similar level of perfection due to improvements made to the virus itself, allowing more mammals to have a positive reaction to the virus even when injected as fully-formed adults. Eliminators experienced almost no brain damage and retained both their intelligence and fine motor control. Amazingly, they even experienced an increase in intelligence. They were the first B.O.W.s that could be trained to follow orders, albeit only simple ones. They also seemed to cooperate with each other to some extent. Despite their metabolism otherwise being stable, Eliminators still experienced a constant sensation of starvation, which made them extremely aggressive and dangerous to handle.
Based on their appearance and lack of tails, it is likely that Eliminators were based on Barbary Macaques. They were 69cm tall, 60.8cm wide, and 53cm long. While Eliminators did not experience any necrosis of the skin, their muscles increased in size to a point where rips appeared in the skin, with some enlarged muscle tissue becoming exposed. While they avoided brain, skin, and internal damage, they still experienced some degree of necrosis in their eyeballs, harming their eyesight. Their hearing became more advanced to compensate for this. Eliminators always bared their fangs, which could be a result either of their aggression or their lips rotting off (which happens with many Zombies). They all had white fur; Reen Hearst theorized that this could have been due to the stress of their mutation, something supported by the Vârcolac creatures having white hair for the same reason. They had very long, sharp canine teeth, like Barbary Macaques, and developed sharp claws following infection.
Eliminator muscle tissue was not only over-developed but augmented to an almost impossible level. This is due to the virus' effects on metabolism "acting effectively". These muscles made Eliminators extremely strong, agile, and resistant to damage. They could run and leap at breakneck speeds as they attempted to bite and scratch at potential prey. Their vitality was so great that they could sometimes even withstand being hit by a shotgun blast. The Eliminators' ability to seek out and kill targets with intelligence and skill earned them their name, and they functioned well when hunting down outbreak survivors (although they were later surpassed in this area by the Hunter B.O.W.).
Resident Evil 1.5 originally had Monkey enemies as well. These creatures were enlarged by the virus, so that had the appearance of oversized gorillas (gorillas are not monkeys). These primates may have escaped from the Raccoon Zoo, although due to their presence in the backs of trucks and in Raccoon City's underground lab, they were more likely escaped test subjects or B.O.W.s. They used their incredible strength to smash prey, and their agility to corner and confuse them. They were missing patches of fur due to necrosis, and lacked tails, (either due to them being based on a tailless monkey species like Eliminators, or due to them losing their tails as their flesh rotted).
In early concept art for the Resident Evil 1.5 Monkey, they had a "bright red howl sack", which grew in size when the Monkeys growled. This was likely meant to be the same throat sack utilized by some apes. If this was meant to imply that 1.5 Monkeys were actually based on apes, then the "Monkey" was not a monkey at all. Some of this art does show Monkeys possessing tails, which could mean that they simply developed a howl sack as a result of mutation brought about by the virus.
This same art depicted Monkeys as having enlarged teeth and blood vessels, a horn, and as having the entire surface of their backs enclosed in a chrysalid-like shell (which could imply that Monkeys were actually G-Virus mutants, as chrysalids were an early theme for that virus). Thanks to Nora for Monkey art translations.
In early concept art for the Resident Evil 1.5 Monkey, they had a "bright red howl sack", which grew in size when the Monkeys growled. This was likely meant to be the same throat sack utilized by some apes. If this was meant to imply that 1.5 Monkeys were actually based on apes, then the "Monkey" was not a monkey at all. Some of this art does show Monkeys possessing tails, which could mean that they simply developed a howl sack as a result of mutation brought about by the virus.
This same art depicted Monkeys as having enlarged teeth and blood vessels, a horn, and as having the entire surface of their backs enclosed in a chrysalid-like shell (which could imply that Monkeys were actually G-Virus mutants, as chrysalids were an early theme for that virus). Thanks to Nora for Monkey art translations.
Rat - Zombie Rats were created in the sewers of Raccoon City when vials of the t-Virus were crushed under the weight of G-Birkin's feet. They seemed to retain a somewhat social nature, traveling and attacking prey in lethal swarms (including an injured member of the Umbrella Security Service). Due to them losing a turf war with infected roaches, the Zombie Rat population of Raccoon fled to the surface, indicating they retained some sense of fear and self-preservation. A swarm of infected rats made it into the city's water supply, which resulted in Racoon's drinking water being tainted by the t-Virus.
Bat - Bats living at the Arklay Mountains, Rockfort Island, and the tunnels of the Caucasus Facility became infected with the t-Virus after feeding on infected insects and plants. Bats sometimes grew slightly in size following infection, with smaller ones likely being a different species. They typically did not experience any outward signs of necrosis (because of their small size and low energy consumption), making them difficult to distinguish from normal bats. Their vitality was not enhanced much, and they could typically be killed by a single bullet from a small-caliber handgun.
The diet of Bats consisted primarily of the blood of humans and other animals. Vampire bats are the only natural species of bat that are not insectivores or herbivores, yet they are only native to Central and South America. The t-Virus was capable of completely changing the diets and dietary requirements of the Arklay and Rockfort bats, transforming them into a new, much more dangerous species of vampire bat. Bats had a tendency to lunge at prey as soon as they noticed them, using their sharp fangs to tear off their prey's skin and to suck their blood. Due to their large appetites, they would not stop feeding on prey until they were completely dried of blood.
Bats relied on sound over sight, like ordinary bats. Their hearing was actually enhanced by the virus, and they would seek out human prey by listening for the sound of footsteps. Because of this, moving targets were at a greater risk of being attacked by Bats. Besides their increase in aggression and dietary changes, Bat behavior was mostly the same following transformation. They had a preference for dark, damp, environments, and were not active at daytime or in bright areas. They sometimes possessed a fear of open flames (a peculiarity, considering most t-Virus hosts lose their sense of fear). Bats retained their social instincts, and often fought in massive colonies, "circling the skies as one organism". Their ability to fly made them dangerous transmission vectors for the virus. In The Umbrella Chronicles, infected Bats were slower than infected crows.
The diet of Bats consisted primarily of the blood of humans and other animals. Vampire bats are the only natural species of bat that are not insectivores or herbivores, yet they are only native to Central and South America. The t-Virus was capable of completely changing the diets and dietary requirements of the Arklay and Rockfort bats, transforming them into a new, much more dangerous species of vampire bat. Bats had a tendency to lunge at prey as soon as they noticed them, using their sharp fangs to tear off their prey's skin and to suck their blood. Due to their large appetites, they would not stop feeding on prey until they were completely dried of blood.
Bats relied on sound over sight, like ordinary bats. Their hearing was actually enhanced by the virus, and they would seek out human prey by listening for the sound of footsteps. Because of this, moving targets were at a greater risk of being attacked by Bats. Besides their increase in aggression and dietary changes, Bat behavior was mostly the same following transformation. They had a preference for dark, damp, environments, and were not active at daytime or in bright areas. They sometimes possessed a fear of open flames (a peculiarity, considering most t-Virus hosts lose their sense of fear). Bats retained their social instincts, and often fought in massive colonies, "circling the skies as one organism". Their ability to fly made them dangerous transmission vectors for the virus. In The Umbrella Chronicles, infected Bats were slower than infected crows.
South American Bats encountered during Operation: Javier also became infected with the t-Virus after sucking on the nectar of infected flowers. Their behavior, abilities, and diet were the same as other Bat species infected with the t-Virus, although they were active during the daytime. Their appearance was altered significantly by the virus, which could have been due to their species having a unique reaction to the virus. They developed large, swollen growths on their heads, possibly tumors formed from faulty regeneration. They also had drooped ears and blueish wings with enlarged blood vessels running through them.
At least two bats underwent a unique mutation and grew monstrous in size. They were simply referred to as “Infected Bats” (whereas normal bats infected with the virus were referred to as “Bats”). One of these creatures made its nest at the church behind Umbrella's Executive Training Facility, while the other lived in the tunnels connected to the Caucasus Facility. The first was killed by Rebecca Chambers and/or Billy Coen, while the second was killed by Albert Wesker.
The Infected Bats were 220cm (over 7ft) tall and had an incredible wingspan of 760cm (almost 25ft long), with each of their wings being approximately 3 meters/10ft long. Their skeletal systems (particularly their sternums) and muscles were further developed and enhanced to the point that they fully retained their flying abilities. They could not only fly with as much speed and agility as a normal bat, but they were strong enough to grab human prey with their legs and lift them into the air. Their enhanced bodies also made Infected Bats extremely durable and resistant to gunfire, and their speed when flying was so great that it was difficult for armed humans to hit them with guns in the first place. Like most creatures, their heads were a weak point.
They had red eyes and enlarged teeth. Their outward flesh was noticeably decayed, as a result of their bigger bodies consuming more energy than the smaller Bats.
Infected Bats were just as social and intelligent as their smaller brethren and assumed a sort of leadership role in Bat swarms, with the smaller Bats following around the giant ones. Infected Bats could call for additional swarms of Bats using soundwaves outside the perceivable range of humans. Infected Bats used the small Bats to distract and weaken their prey. Instead of drinking blood, Infected Bats would devour meat, likely in order to fuel their larger bodies.
The size and strength of Infected Bats is attributed to them being individuals that were highly combatable with the virus, similar to how specific genes were required for humans to become Tyrants with earlier strains of the t-Virus. In this sense, Infected Bats were to Bats what Tyrants were to Zombies. This is particularly interesting in relation to the role of Infected Bats as "leaders" in Bat swarms, as the T-002 was originally envisioned as having the ability to control Zombies. They have also been described as being Bats that "evolved further".
Horse – Zombie Horses were a planned enemy for Resident Evil 3, which were ultimately scrapped. These horses would grow considerably larger than most Zombie animals, standing at around four meters tall (nearly twice as tall as the largest documented horse in history). They were large and heavy enough to crush human prey with a single leg. As horses lack sharp teeth, they may have trampled their prey into an easy-to-digest mush before using their gigantic mouths to feed on them.
Elephant - Oscar was a performing elephant and the highlight of the Raccoon City Zoo. He became infected with the t-Virus before the outbreak fully broke out across the city, likely due to his water supply being tainted by the leaked virus. Oscar's keeper noted that during feeding time, the elephant became so excited that he broke part of his cage. Oscar did not appear to be sick to the keeper at this time, and so he would still have to have been in the earlier stages of infection. Eventually, Oscar transformed into a Zombie Elephant (called "Titan" by localization) and escaped confinement. Oscar was originally good natured but following Zombification he became vicious. His diet switched from herbivorous to carnivorous, and he roamed the zoo in search of food due his metabolism being affected by the virus.
Oscar's flesh was highly decayed, and his skeleton and tusks grew abnormally (his back was curved and uneven, suggesting his spine was deformed). His body, already gigantic, grew in size further, making him larger than any modern land animal. This gave him outstanding vitality and strength but further contributed to his high metabolism, making him attack Zombies and humans alike. His level of aggression seemed to alternate, perhaps due to how much hunger he experienced at any one period of time.
Despite his huge size he retained his mobility following Zombification. He shrieked wildly as he ran, destroying obstacles and upturning cars with his incredible strength. He was agile enough to leap and climb over tall fences. Oscar retained enough memory to be lured by the theme music used during an old zoo parade, which Oscar was the star of for years. He also seemed to recognize the zoo and remained within its boundaries, like how Zombie humans and dogs would sometimes remain in areas familiar to them when they weren't infected.
Oscar primarily attacked by trampling and stomping his prey underfoot. Oscar could use his trunk to pick up human-sized prey and either throw them or put them towards his mouth for consumption. Oscar would also swing his trunk at targets, using it as a weapon. He would break holes in the walls of buildings and smash through windows in order to reach potential human prey inside. Some smashed cages for zoo exhibits could imply that Oscar attempted to grab at other animals, and that this is how creatures such as Zombie Hyenas managed to escape confinement. These cages were ripped open at an angle too high for the animals inside to have done it.
While Oscar could absorb an extreme amount of damage, he still retained his sense of pain, and could be stunned. The inside of his mouth was more vulnerable to gunfire than his thick hide.
Oscar's flesh was highly decayed, and his skeleton and tusks grew abnormally (his back was curved and uneven, suggesting his spine was deformed). His body, already gigantic, grew in size further, making him larger than any modern land animal. This gave him outstanding vitality and strength but further contributed to his high metabolism, making him attack Zombies and humans alike. His level of aggression seemed to alternate, perhaps due to how much hunger he experienced at any one period of time.
Despite his huge size he retained his mobility following Zombification. He shrieked wildly as he ran, destroying obstacles and upturning cars with his incredible strength. He was agile enough to leap and climb over tall fences. Oscar retained enough memory to be lured by the theme music used during an old zoo parade, which Oscar was the star of for years. He also seemed to recognize the zoo and remained within its boundaries, like how Zombie humans and dogs would sometimes remain in areas familiar to them when they weren't infected.
Oscar primarily attacked by trampling and stomping his prey underfoot. Oscar could use his trunk to pick up human-sized prey and either throw them or put them towards his mouth for consumption. Oscar would also swing his trunk at targets, using it as a weapon. He would break holes in the walls of buildings and smash through windows in order to reach potential human prey inside. Some smashed cages for zoo exhibits could imply that Oscar attempted to grab at other animals, and that this is how creatures such as Zombie Hyenas managed to escape confinement. These cages were ripped open at an angle too high for the animals inside to have done it.
While Oscar could absorb an extreme amount of damage, he still retained his sense of pain, and could be stunned. The inside of his mouth was more vulnerable to gunfire than his thick hide.
Aves - Besides mammals, birds also become Zombie-like after infection. Birds usually become infected with the t-Virus after eating the flesh of infected corpses. Skin necrosis is indeed present but is undetectable due to feathers covering the body. The only discernible changes to appearance in infected birds are in a small increase in overall size and beak length (due to growth hormone), and the development of red, bloodshot eyes.
Like any other Zombie-like host, birds become mainly carnivorous following infection with the t-Virus, although some also retain the ability to eat plants as a secondary food source. Infected bird behavior is unpredictable. Some flocks rely solely on their natural habits and instincts: they remain in their territory and only attack when provoked or disturbed by rapid movements or loud noises. Some birds will hide in dark environments, and attack prey as soon as they encroach on their territory. Others will not only actively seek out humans to attack but are so desperate as to attack through closed windows. Bird aggression may be dependent on how well fed they are.
When attacking, infected birds use their thick, elongated beaks and sharp talons to rapidly stab and slice at prey while hovering above them or make hit-and-run dive-bomb attacks. Their vitality is not much greater than ordinary birds, but they retain enough intelligence to cooperate and attack in groups (crows in particular are naturally one of the smartest animals on Earth). Their ability to fly makes birds extremely dangerous carriers for the virus to infect a wide variety of different organisms. In addition, infected birds "have a habit of regurgitating prey in isolated areas, accelerating proliferation of the t-Virus." This regurgitation may be a result of them overeating or consuming non-digestible materials while they obsessively consume both corpses and live prey. The proliferation in question may be a result of other animals feeding on their contaminated vomit.
Crows are the most commonly encountered birds infected with the t-Virus in the Resident Evil series; in particular, the jungle crows located in the Arklay Mountains region, and the crows present in the forests surrounding the city on Sheena Island. Normal crows will only attack humans during breeding season to protect their chicks, but Crows mutated by the t-Virus were made much more aggressive.
Infected Crows will sometimes (in the original Resident Evil) grow to a height of 1.8ft, which is approximately 1.6 inches taller than a normal crow. Other Crows (in Resident Evil 0) are 30cm tall, with a wingspan of 140cm and a length of 75cm. While normal crows only weigh around 1.4 pounds at most, infected crows will sometimes weigh a whopping 15 pounds. This increase in weight would have to be due to a crow's natural bone and muscle tissue being replaced with highly-dense, powerful alternatives. This would also explain how infected crows can continue to fly despite weighing so much. This added weight would also make crow attacks more devastating (and accounting for their ability to break through windows) and would make their bodies harder to damage than a normal crow. Infected Crows can fly at a maximum speed of 21 mph; while this is around 4 mph slower than a normal crow, it is still impressive considering their weight. The dark feathers of Crows made them especially dangerous at night, where they could approach prey while blending into the dark.
Tropical Hornbill birds kept at the Racoon City Zoo were also infected with the t-Virus. These birds displayed the same symptoms as infected crows but were somewhat larger due to the size of the host species. They were easily identified by their massive, curved beaks, which are synonymous with the hornbill (Bucerotidae) family. They would circle in place before attacking human prey with their beaks. The infected Hornbills were outright referred to as Zombies.
Like any other Zombie-like host, birds become mainly carnivorous following infection with the t-Virus, although some also retain the ability to eat plants as a secondary food source. Infected bird behavior is unpredictable. Some flocks rely solely on their natural habits and instincts: they remain in their territory and only attack when provoked or disturbed by rapid movements or loud noises. Some birds will hide in dark environments, and attack prey as soon as they encroach on their territory. Others will not only actively seek out humans to attack but are so desperate as to attack through closed windows. Bird aggression may be dependent on how well fed they are.
When attacking, infected birds use their thick, elongated beaks and sharp talons to rapidly stab and slice at prey while hovering above them or make hit-and-run dive-bomb attacks. Their vitality is not much greater than ordinary birds, but they retain enough intelligence to cooperate and attack in groups (crows in particular are naturally one of the smartest animals on Earth). Their ability to fly makes birds extremely dangerous carriers for the virus to infect a wide variety of different organisms. In addition, infected birds "have a habit of regurgitating prey in isolated areas, accelerating proliferation of the t-Virus." This regurgitation may be a result of them overeating or consuming non-digestible materials while they obsessively consume both corpses and live prey. The proliferation in question may be a result of other animals feeding on their contaminated vomit.
Crows are the most commonly encountered birds infected with the t-Virus in the Resident Evil series; in particular, the jungle crows located in the Arklay Mountains region, and the crows present in the forests surrounding the city on Sheena Island. Normal crows will only attack humans during breeding season to protect their chicks, but Crows mutated by the t-Virus were made much more aggressive.
Infected Crows will sometimes (in the original Resident Evil) grow to a height of 1.8ft, which is approximately 1.6 inches taller than a normal crow. Other Crows (in Resident Evil 0) are 30cm tall, with a wingspan of 140cm and a length of 75cm. While normal crows only weigh around 1.4 pounds at most, infected crows will sometimes weigh a whopping 15 pounds. This increase in weight would have to be due to a crow's natural bone and muscle tissue being replaced with highly-dense, powerful alternatives. This would also explain how infected crows can continue to fly despite weighing so much. This added weight would also make crow attacks more devastating (and accounting for their ability to break through windows) and would make their bodies harder to damage than a normal crow. Infected Crows can fly at a maximum speed of 21 mph; while this is around 4 mph slower than a normal crow, it is still impressive considering their weight. The dark feathers of Crows made them especially dangerous at night, where they could approach prey while blending into the dark.
Tropical Hornbill birds kept at the Racoon City Zoo were also infected with the t-Virus. These birds displayed the same symptoms as infected crows but were somewhat larger due to the size of the host species. They were easily identified by their massive, curved beaks, which are synonymous with the hornbill (Bucerotidae) family. They would circle in place before attacking human prey with their beaks. The infected Hornbills were outright referred to as Zombies.
A giant version of an infected bird was originally going to appear in The Darkside Chronicles, in the Operation: Javier scenario. These massive birds were called Kid Nappers. They were larger than humans, and their talons were disproportionately large. They were capable of wrapping their talons around humans and presumably lifting them into the air (hence their name), either to feed on them elsewhere or to drop them from the sky. Kid Nappers were either B.O.W.s engineered by Umbrella or the Rival Org. and sold to the Sacred Snakes crime syndicate, or irregular mutants that experienced a unique reaction to the t-Virus, similar to how some bats grew much larger when exposed to the virus. They could have also been based on a larger species of bird which naturally reacted differently to the t-Virus than crows or hornbills. If they were B.O.W.s, then they may have been based on the data recovered on the crow mutants from the Arklay Mansion.
While Zombies mainly represent hosts that fail to "bond" with the virus, they are not truly an evolutionary dead-end. If the t-Virus remains active in a Zombie for an extended period of time, and if the Zombie obtains enough nutrition from human flesh, a Zombie may undergo further mutations and become a more advanced predator. Continuous viral activity leads to cellular repairs, and the living cells will eventually reproduce and replace the dead ones. In this sense, a Zombie can potentially come "back to life" over time. The proliferation of rewritten cells leads to Zombies losing their humanoid form, as the virus is finally capable of acting to the full extent of its abilities in the body. In this way, the Zombie state is actually a temporary one, and only a midway point in the development of superior creatures ("the Zombie period, when appetites are ramped up, is the time when metabolism is at its highest, and body tissues are being rebuilt in accordance with the action of the T-Virus that produces biological weapons"; RESEARCH ON BIOHAZRD 2).
However, all known strains prior to ε cease activity in the Zombie host after the initial transformation, making further regeneration and mutation impossible until V-ACT was discovered.
V-ACT (Virus Activation) is a process inherent to all viruses derived from Progenitor, including the t-Virus. While commonly associated with Crimson Heads, V-ACT is responsible for most monster transformations after sustaining damage. When a mutant is severely wounded or even killed, the V-ACT process causes the virus to resume activity, and enables "cellular activation", reconstructing and reforming tissue while boosting the overall abilities of the creature. Creatures created by the G-Virus may practice V-ACT continually, while creatures created by the t-Virus can only undergo V-ACT once. In this way, V-ACT serves as a trigger for the virus to resume the transformation of its hosts. The resulting mutations are usually directly in response to the environment or the way the Zombie is injured, as a form of spontaneous evolution.
During the Mansion Incident, ε mutated and the V-ACT process was "unlocked". William Birkin recovered this strain of the virus and used it to upgrade the virus. The new strain ("t-Birkin") eliminated the need for a V-ACT trigger: the t-Virus would remain active in a Zombie until every cell was rewritten and restored, with the only prerequisite being time and gaining enough energy from feeding.
Below are all known examples of Zombies evolving due to the virus completely transforming the host and repairing dead cells:
Below are all known examples of Zombies evolving due to the virus completely transforming the host and repairing dead cells:
Crimson Heads
During the Mansion Incident, multiple Zombies were shot in the head and left in a near-death state. Due to the virus mutating, these hosts experienced V-ACT while unconscious and transformed into new creatures. The surviving mansion researchers kept these creatures in confinement for further study, and while attempting to feed them their unexpected abilities and ferocity allowed them to kill four researchers. Due to the spot becoming "a blood bath in an instant", the creatures were named Crimson Heads (a name which was also in reference to their coloration). All but one of the Crimson Head Prototypes were disposed of due to their risk and the ongoing outbreak. One of the creatures, the Crimson Head Prototype 1 (or "Proto 1"), was frozen with cryogenic gas and placed in a suspended coffin by the surviving researchers. The researchers were unwilling to destroy the Proto 1 due to its excellent combat abilities, with it showing promise as a B.O.W.
When S.T.A.R.S. officers took refuge in the mansion, they encountered multiple Crimson Heads. An officer belonging to Alpha Team eventually released the Proto 1, and afterwards killed it.
When this strain was recovered by Birkin, Crimson Heads were studied and kept at the Caucasus Facility to be sold as products. During the 2003 outbreak at the Caucasus facility, many Crimson Heads dressed as Umbrella researchers roamed the complex, which would imply that the Crimson Head strain of the virus was responsible for the outbreak.
The time it takes for an incapacitated Zombie to transform into a Crimson Head varies dramatically. The longest known time it can take is approximately 2 hours and a half, while the shortest time is only 5 minutes. Certain variables such as the extent of the damage taken and how old the Zombie was could impact this time frame.
As V-ACT occurs in Zombie bodies, they enter suspended animation once again. Due to virus activity causing "cell activation", their tissue is repaired and their metabolism is improved. Many internal organs are restored as a result, including the circulatory and respiratory systems. Because of this Crimson Heads very noticeably breathe, and their hearts pump blood. This blood becomes reoxygenated and turns a bright red. The skin remains damaged, and the now-running blood seeps through the damaged skin cells, turning their skin blood-red.
When S.T.A.R.S. officers took refuge in the mansion, they encountered multiple Crimson Heads. An officer belonging to Alpha Team eventually released the Proto 1, and afterwards killed it.
When this strain was recovered by Birkin, Crimson Heads were studied and kept at the Caucasus Facility to be sold as products. During the 2003 outbreak at the Caucasus facility, many Crimson Heads dressed as Umbrella researchers roamed the complex, which would imply that the Crimson Head strain of the virus was responsible for the outbreak.
The time it takes for an incapacitated Zombie to transform into a Crimson Head varies dramatically. The longest known time it can take is approximately 2 hours and a half, while the shortest time is only 5 minutes. Certain variables such as the extent of the damage taken and how old the Zombie was could impact this time frame.
As V-ACT occurs in Zombie bodies, they enter suspended animation once again. Due to virus activity causing "cell activation", their tissue is repaired and their metabolism is improved. Many internal organs are restored as a result, including the circulatory and respiratory systems. Because of this Crimson Heads very noticeably breathe, and their hearts pump blood. This blood becomes reoxygenated and turns a bright red. The skin remains damaged, and the now-running blood seeps through the damaged skin cells, turning their skin blood-red.
Extensive neurological repairs undo prior brain damage, giving Crimson Heads more intelligence, and their motor control is restored, allowing them to run quickly.
Aside from repairs, Crimson Heads also mutate further and change form, gaining several Tyrant traits due to the latent effects of the Tyrant Virus. Their muscle mass increases somewhat, giving them enhanced strength and durability. When a Crimson Head rises from the ground, their enhanced leg muscles allow them to hoist themselves up in an unnatural-looking motion, without needing to use their arms. Bone growth is promoted at the tips of their fingers, creating claws. Crimson Heads are extremely deadly, even more-so than most t-Series B.O.W.s, especially so because of their aggression increasing even further. They will kill other Zombies in their way and instantly shatter wooden doors with their claws as they pursue prey. They have been said to attack "everything that moves". Their voices are more animalistic and monstrous than ordinary Zombies, indicating changes to the vocal cords.
When Crimson Heads breathe, their breath is actually visible, similar to when human breath experiences condensation in cold weather. Not only that, but Crimson Head breath is a unique yellowish color. As noted by USSCMD, this color could be related to the excessive stomach acid of Zombies, which seems to be even more prominent in Crimson Heads (they will vomit acid more often than regular Zombies). It is also possible the lungs of Crimson Heads have mutated to produce some kind of gas, for poisoning prey or spreading the virus. There is a precedence for this with the Poisonous Zombie subspecies.
The Crimson Head Prototype 1 had much more vitality than a normal Crimson Head, at least by the point that it was encountered by S.T.A.R.S. This is most likely a result of age (or rather, time active following its initial V-ACT transformation). It may be that other, more recent Crimson Heads encountered at the Mansion were comparatively weaker due to their transformation being more recent, with their muscles not fully strengthened by the virus yet. It is also possible that the Proto 1 had a unique reaction to the cryogenic gas used to keep it in suspended animation.
One source claims the Prototype 1 was actually administered the t-Virus, although judging by other sources and its attire, it is more likely that it was a researcher who was infected when the t-Virus leaked in the mansion water supply.
Aside from repairs, Crimson Heads also mutate further and change form, gaining several Tyrant traits due to the latent effects of the Tyrant Virus. Their muscle mass increases somewhat, giving them enhanced strength and durability. When a Crimson Head rises from the ground, their enhanced leg muscles allow them to hoist themselves up in an unnatural-looking motion, without needing to use their arms. Bone growth is promoted at the tips of their fingers, creating claws. Crimson Heads are extremely deadly, even more-so than most t-Series B.O.W.s, especially so because of their aggression increasing even further. They will kill other Zombies in their way and instantly shatter wooden doors with their claws as they pursue prey. They have been said to attack "everything that moves". Their voices are more animalistic and monstrous than ordinary Zombies, indicating changes to the vocal cords.
When Crimson Heads breathe, their breath is actually visible, similar to when human breath experiences condensation in cold weather. Not only that, but Crimson Head breath is a unique yellowish color. As noted by USSCMD, this color could be related to the excessive stomach acid of Zombies, which seems to be even more prominent in Crimson Heads (they will vomit acid more often than regular Zombies). It is also possible the lungs of Crimson Heads have mutated to produce some kind of gas, for poisoning prey or spreading the virus. There is a precedence for this with the Poisonous Zombie subspecies.
The Crimson Head Prototype 1 had much more vitality than a normal Crimson Head, at least by the point that it was encountered by S.T.A.R.S. This is most likely a result of age (or rather, time active following its initial V-ACT transformation). It may be that other, more recent Crimson Heads encountered at the Mansion were comparatively weaker due to their transformation being more recent, with their muscles not fully strengthened by the virus yet. It is also possible that the Proto 1 had a unique reaction to the cryogenic gas used to keep it in suspended animation.
One source claims the Prototype 1 was actually administered the t-Virus, although judging by other sources and its attire, it is more likely that it was a researcher who was infected when the t-Virus leaked in the mansion water supply.
Forest Speyer, as a Zombie, displayed the ferocity and speed of a Crimson Head, but without the claws and red skin. It has been speculated he was attacked by both Zombies and infected Crows, based on bloody handprints leading to his location. This excessive damage during his initial transformation could have triggered premature V-ACT. It is also possible that Forest was simply an ordinary Zombie that was one of the rarer, faster varieties.
In Operation Raccoon City, Crimson Heads were dropped into Raccoon City by Umbrella during the outbreak, in order to wipe out any survivors and to gather combat data. In this depiction, Crimson Heads had a number of differences, which could imply that they were the result of a new variant strain modified by Umbrella. They are here called "ORC Crimson Heads" for the sake of distinguishing them from "normal" Crimson Heads.
ORC Crimson Heads skipped the suspended animation stage of development - a Zombie that experienced enough damage to trigger V-ACT would transform into an ORC Crimson Head in a matter of mere seconds, without so much as dropping to the ground. This is comparable to the Bloodshots created by the C-Virus, and possibly to Mutant Zombies. ORC Crimson Heads were visually distinguishable from "standard" Crimson Heads due to a red "light" or gas that constantly emanated from their bodies. This light may have been a way to represent the intense heat generated by their instantaneous transformations. It could also be related to the "gas" created when Crimson Heads exhaled.
While normal Zombies could transform into ORC Crimson Heads, USS member FOUR EYES could turn humans into Crimson Heads by injecting them with a virus using her hypo gun. These humans would completely skip the Zombie stage when transforming. It may be that the virus she carried was modified to specifically induce the Crimson Head mutation immediately - this is supported by the fact that this strain could also transform normal Zombies into Crimson Heads, even those which were based on a virus different than the V-ACT strain.
Zombies and humans transforming into ORC Crimson Heads would jerk and twitch, and their mutation was often accompanied by a whining sound. This sound plays even when music is turned off in Operation Raccoon City, implying it is more than just a musical cue (credit: USSCommand).
ORC Crimson Heads skipped the suspended animation stage of development - a Zombie that experienced enough damage to trigger V-ACT would transform into an ORC Crimson Head in a matter of mere seconds, without so much as dropping to the ground. This is comparable to the Bloodshots created by the C-Virus, and possibly to Mutant Zombies. ORC Crimson Heads were visually distinguishable from "standard" Crimson Heads due to a red "light" or gas that constantly emanated from their bodies. This light may have been a way to represent the intense heat generated by their instantaneous transformations. It could also be related to the "gas" created when Crimson Heads exhaled.
While normal Zombies could transform into ORC Crimson Heads, USS member FOUR EYES could turn humans into Crimson Heads by injecting them with a virus using her hypo gun. These humans would completely skip the Zombie stage when transforming. It may be that the virus she carried was modified to specifically induce the Crimson Head mutation immediately - this is supported by the fact that this strain could also transform normal Zombies into Crimson Heads, even those which were based on a virus different than the V-ACT strain.
Zombies and humans transforming into ORC Crimson Heads would jerk and twitch, and their mutation was often accompanied by a whining sound. This sound plays even when music is turned off in Operation Raccoon City, implying it is more than just a musical cue (credit: USSCommand).
Credit to Lunar Indie Studios for the scan
Javier Hidalgo, leader of the Sacred Snakes crime syndicate, injected a strain of the t-Virus he purchased from Umbrella into people who opposed him. These people were transformed into Zombies. Javier performed primitive experiments on these Zombies, and artificially put them into an inactive state/suspended animation, which triggered V-ACT in their bodies. They developed some Crimson Head traits, like reddish skin, small claws, the ability to run, and increased brutality. They were known simply as "Javier Zombies".
Javier Zombies had stitching across their skin - leftovers from the rudimentary experiments Javier performed on them - and were covered in restraints which were used with chains to bind them. They were used by Javier as weapons of terror, and as "watchdogs" for his private mansion. When intruders approached, he would release them from their shackles to kill anything in the vicinity of the mansion grounds. They were eventually discovered in their underground holding pens by Leon S. Kennedy and Jack Krauser in 2002, during the events of "Operation: Javier".
Javier Zombies had stitching across their skin - leftovers from the rudimentary experiments Javier performed on them - and were covered in restraints which were used with chains to bind them. They were used by Javier as weapons of terror, and as "watchdogs" for his private mansion. When intruders approached, he would release them from their shackles to kill anything in the vicinity of the mansion grounds. They were eventually discovered in their underground holding pens by Leon S. Kennedy and Jack Krauser in 2002, during the events of "Operation: Javier".
Licker
After using the V-ACT strain of Epsilon to create t-Birkin, William Birkin created a more dramatic form of Evolved Zombie. These creatures are Lickers, named by the surviving Raccoon City Police officers during the Raccoon City Destruction Incident for their elongated tongues.
Unlike with Crimson Heads, Zombies do not need to experience V-ACT in order to become Lickers. All that is required is that the Zombies manage to keep up with their hyperactive metabolisms by feeding on large amounts of flesh. As Zombies are in a constant state of starvation and have to compete with other mutated creatures in an outbreak zone, this is rare. When a Zombie does manage to eat enough it is rewarded by becoming a Licker, a far better predator. In this way, Lickers are born as a result of a "gruesome/fierce competition for survival".
Due to the virus acting to the full extent of its abilities in the host, a well-fed t-Birkin Zombie will have every one of its cells reformed on the inside, giving it an appearance so far removed from human that it is difficult to consider it the same species. In a sense, Lickers are the final point in Zombie development, and do not continue to change form after this stage. They appear to be carnivorous animals due to them evolving/adapting to survive (and even thrive) in their harsh environments, in addition to the ability of the t-Virus to transform hosts into "living weapons" (although they fall short of Tyrants due to them failing to bond with the virus in the earlier stages of infection).
The Licker mutation can also be seen as the same process as the Crimson Head mutation, only exaggerated and initiated by a different trigger (feeding in the former, V-ACT in the latter). It would appear that Crimson Heads did not need to gain enough nutrition to fuel their transformation, which could simply be because the Licker transformation was much more severe, and therefore involved the consumption of more energy.
Unlike with Crimson Heads, Zombies do not need to experience V-ACT in order to become Lickers. All that is required is that the Zombies manage to keep up with their hyperactive metabolisms by feeding on large amounts of flesh. As Zombies are in a constant state of starvation and have to compete with other mutated creatures in an outbreak zone, this is rare. When a Zombie does manage to eat enough it is rewarded by becoming a Licker, a far better predator. In this way, Lickers are born as a result of a "gruesome/fierce competition for survival".
Due to the virus acting to the full extent of its abilities in the host, a well-fed t-Birkin Zombie will have every one of its cells reformed on the inside, giving it an appearance so far removed from human that it is difficult to consider it the same species. In a sense, Lickers are the final point in Zombie development, and do not continue to change form after this stage. They appear to be carnivorous animals due to them evolving/adapting to survive (and even thrive) in their harsh environments, in addition to the ability of the t-Virus to transform hosts into "living weapons" (although they fall short of Tyrants due to them failing to bond with the virus in the earlier stages of infection).
The Licker mutation can also be seen as the same process as the Crimson Head mutation, only exaggerated and initiated by a different trigger (feeding in the former, V-ACT in the latter). It would appear that Crimson Heads did not need to gain enough nutrition to fuel their transformation, which could simply be because the Licker transformation was much more severe, and therefore involved the consumption of more energy.
The transformation of a Zombie into a Licker has been described as being achieved in "a short period of time". Resident Evil 2 Reimagined was at one point going to feature unique creatures that functioned as an intermediary between Zombies and Lickers. One could choose to still regard this design (seen above) as a true, albeit never seen stage in Licker development. These creatures would have suddenly transformed into Lickers in an instant, similar to how C-Zombies with red eyes will suddenly and instantly transform into Bloodshots (which are the C-Virus version of Lickers).
Lickers are generally around 2 meters in length. Like Crimson Heads, Licker skin is left feeble and damaged, while new muscle develops which is larger in size and mass. The very cells of this muscle are said to be enhanced. The skin will eventually peel away, causing their muscular system to become exposed, which effectively replaces the integumentary system (skin). The brain, while it is repaired, swells in size. This gives them greater intelligence than Crimson Heads, but they still fall short of human intelligence due to their minds being "devastated by distorted transformation". To make room for the brain the entire upper half of the skull is destroyed, causing it to become exposed. Along with the skull, the already damaged eyes are completely destroyed, making Lickers blind. To compensate, the already considerably high hearing of Zombies is strengthened even further (something perhaps facilitated by the expansion of the brain: particularly, development of the auditory cortex). The nose and outer parts of the ears seem to be destroyed along with the eyes; however, the inner part of the ears likely remain intact.
The skeletal system of Lickers is completely mutated, turning them into quadrupeds (four-legged animals). Their heightened agility, elongated limbs, and sticky muscle tissue give them incredible climbing abilities. Lickers stick to and move on vertical and suspended surfaces with the ease and grace of a spider. They will often travel through ventilation shafts and ambush prey from surprising locations. Their muscles make a distinctive-but-soft scraping sound when they move along a surface, but aside from this and their breathing, Lickers are silent predators. Lickers can jump from surface-to-surface with great skill and will pounce on their prey like tigers.
The skeletal system of Lickers is completely mutated, turning them into quadrupeds (four-legged animals). Their heightened agility, elongated limbs, and sticky muscle tissue give them incredible climbing abilities. Lickers stick to and move on vertical and suspended surfaces with the ease and grace of a spider. They will often travel through ventilation shafts and ambush prey from surprising locations. Their muscles make a distinctive-but-soft scraping sound when they move along a surface, but aside from this and their breathing, Lickers are silent predators. Lickers can jump from surface-to-surface with great skill and will pounce on their prey like tigers.
The tongue is the most heavily affected muscle in a Licker's body. Its shape alternates in different appearances, from being flat like a human tongue to being circular and worm-like. It grows to an incredible length, to the point that it can extend farther than the length of its entire body. This could be possible due to the tongue wrapping around internal organs while retracted. The extremely long tongue of a woodpecker wraps around its skull, for example. The end of the tongue takes on a shape resembling a lance. They are both strong enough and sharp enough that Lickers are capable of using their tongues to perform deadly, long-ranged attacks on their prey. They can ensnare or even decapitate humans with a flick of their tongues or use them to reel in corpses while roosting from high points.
Lickers develop large bone claws far larger than those seen on Crimson Heads, which resemble talons. Licker claws not only aid in climbing, but are strong enough to tear through metal, stone, and human bone with ease. The rest of a Licker's bones will also grow to the point that some of them will emerge outside of the muscle tissue. This includes the shoulder blades, parts of the ribs, and the tail bone.
A Licker's teeth commonly become jagged and sharp, alternating from just barely sharper than human teeth to enormous blades larger than the teeth of most predatory animals. Licker voices also alternate from high-pitched to deep and guttural. While Lickers do not seem to have noses, they actually have an improved sense of smell. It may be that this is accomplished through developments in the tongue: taste cells actually do contain olfactory receptacles. Lickers also retain their anuses, and Licker-occupied areas will sometimes have piles of feces present. The absence of visible genitalia may imply that Licker reproductive organs atrophy or fall off, although the ability of Licker β to breed could imply this is merely an issue of censorship. It is also possible Licker genitalia retracts in males, similar to many animals.
Lickers develop large bone claws far larger than those seen on Crimson Heads, which resemble talons. Licker claws not only aid in climbing, but are strong enough to tear through metal, stone, and human bone with ease. The rest of a Licker's bones will also grow to the point that some of them will emerge outside of the muscle tissue. This includes the shoulder blades, parts of the ribs, and the tail bone.
A Licker's teeth commonly become jagged and sharp, alternating from just barely sharper than human teeth to enormous blades larger than the teeth of most predatory animals. Licker voices also alternate from high-pitched to deep and guttural. While Lickers do not seem to have noses, they actually have an improved sense of smell. It may be that this is accomplished through developments in the tongue: taste cells actually do contain olfactory receptacles. Lickers also retain their anuses, and Licker-occupied areas will sometimes have piles of feces present. The absence of visible genitalia may imply that Licker reproductive organs atrophy or fall off, although the ability of Licker β to breed could imply this is merely an issue of censorship. It is also possible Licker genitalia retracts in males, similar to many animals.
Thanks to their overdeveloped muscles, Lickers are very resilient to damage - far more so than Zombies. Their exposed brains do not make them more susceptible to head damage, which would imply much of the extra mass of the brain serves as redundant tissue that cushions and protects the parts that are actually vital. While small-caliber gunfire does little to Licker bodies, they are especially susceptible to high temperatures and acidic chemicals due to their lack of skin.
The overall condition of a Licker is much more stable than that of a Zombie, in that their organs are functioning, they breathe, their sense of pain has "recovered somewhat", and they do not seem to be in a state of starvation. They are generally more comparable to wild animals than to brain-dead-humans. Despite this, their "internal brain functions have probably suffered a devastating change from the violent transformation promoted by the T-Virus" (RESEARCH ON BIOHAZARD 2). While they are less intelligent than humans, they are still much more competent than Zombies and even Crimson Heads and are even social. Lickers will at times stay together in a "nest", like the Apple Inn, and will venture out by themselves to hunt. Lickers often make a distinctive hissing noise, which could be a method to intimidate prey, to communicate with other Lickers, or even to achieve some form of echolocation. When a Licker is killed, it may let out a high-pitched scream to alert other Lickers to its location, as well as any nearby Zombies, most likely. Lickers are also intelligent enough to be trained to follow specific commands, issued with specific noises. This combined with their terrifying appearance and combat abilities makes Lickers a popular weapon among bioterrorists.
On one occasion, a Licker appeared to deliberately destroy a surveillance camera being used by humans. This could have been the result of the Licker retaining enough memory to not only recognize a camera, but to recognize it as a tool used by its prey. However, as Lickers are blind, it is more likely that the Licker was attracted to the sounds or movements made by the camera, and simply destroyed it out of curiosity or annoyance.
On one occasion, a Licker appeared to deliberately destroy a surveillance camera being used by humans. This could have been the result of the Licker retaining enough memory to not only recognize a camera, but to recognize it as a tool used by its prey. However, as Lickers are blind, it is more likely that the Licker was attracted to the sounds or movements made by the camera, and simply destroyed it out of curiosity or annoyance.
In the Biohazard 2 Official Guide Book, in the Image Story section by Benny Matsuyama, Licker tongues are described as hardening before they strike their prey, instantly becoming a spear in a single stroke. Their flesh is also described as being covered in mucus.
Due to their claws and enhanced musculature, some Umbrella researchers have mistaken Lickers for "wild" Tyrants. The similarities between Lickers and Super Tyrants created from the T-103 type are more than coincidental: both creatures are the result of the virus acting to the fullest extent of its ability in the host, and both had their metabolism enhanced by t-Birkin. In this sense, Lickers could be seen as the Zombie equivalent of Super Tyrants - the "default" or fully developed form of human hosts exposed to the t-Virus.
Due to their claws and enhanced musculature, some Umbrella researchers have mistaken Lickers for "wild" Tyrants. The similarities between Lickers and Super Tyrants created from the T-103 type are more than coincidental: both creatures are the result of the virus acting to the fullest extent of its ability in the host, and both had their metabolism enhanced by t-Birkin. In this sense, Lickers could be seen as the Zombie equivalent of Super Tyrants - the "default" or fully developed form of human hosts exposed to the t-Virus.
Outbreak Licker
In Outbreak, Lickers were given a redesigned appearance, which was also later reused in The Umbrella Chronicles. These Lickers were shown to retain a weakened, thin layer of skin. They were much smaller in appearance, with spindly limbs instead of overdeveloped ones. They also lacked claws or a sharpened tongue. Their fingers were elongated, and they seemed to only possess four digits on each foot/hand. They used their tongues a whips instead of piercing weapons. They attacked in larger numbers, and protected the unique Suspended mutant.
While this design of Licker may only represent a different style from a design standpoint, the larger, normal appearance for Lickers is also found in models extracted from the Outbreak disk. This could imply that these small Lickers are actually meant to be a different type, that at one point was going to be depicted alongside the normal ones. The reason for this Licker type could be:
Lickers also retain a thin, translucent layer of skin in Operation Raccoon City.
While this design of Licker may only represent a different style from a design standpoint, the larger, normal appearance for Lickers is also found in models extracted from the Outbreak disk. This could imply that these small Lickers are actually meant to be a different type, that at one point was going to be depicted alongside the normal ones. The reason for this Licker type could be:
- Age: Either the Lickers were young adults or children prior to infection, or the Lickers themselves begin their lives as a smaller creature before eventually growing into their normal appearance and fully shedding their skin.
- Umbrella experiments, as noted by News Bot. In The Umbrella Chronicles, Jill Valentine noted that the Lickers encountered were possibly escaped test subjects. It may be that their appearance is a side effect of Umbrella cloning normal Lickers.
Lickers also retain a thin, translucent layer of skin in Operation Raccoon City.
While most Lickers are irregular mutants born from secondary infection, they do have a B.O.W. counterpart. Enhanced/Improved Lickers were created by Umbrella at NEST and Sheena Island. These creatures were made by researchers who performed genetic modifications on Lickers created using Enhanced/Improved Zombies as a base. Enhanced Lickers were even more aggressive than ordinary Lickers. They had black-blue or green muscle tissue that was more resistant to gunfire. They most noticeably had an overdeveloped, sickle-like claw on each of their forelimbs that extended their reach greatly. REARCH ON BIOHAZRD 2 suggests that the resemblance of Enhanced Licker claws to those of Chimeras could be more than a mere coincidence, with Enhanced Lickers possibly having the same "genetic roots" (insect DNA). It is also possible that Enhanced Lickers had reptilian DNA, or that the improvements they underwent were the same ones used on the Hunter R: both creatures were developed at the same facility, had somewhat green skin, had a single, enlarged claw on each hand, and were improvements made to preexisting monsters.
In Gun Survivor 2, a special Licker subspecies appears in Dungeon mode. The Chameleon Licker was, as its name suggests, capable of camouflaging its body in the same fashion a chameleon would. A Chameleon Licker will change color to almost perfectly blend in with an environment, giving it extremely efficient stealth capabilities. Once a Chameleon Licker is harmed by gunfire, its camouflage will begin to falter, as it gradually returns to its normal color. This is likely due to them having superimposed layers of flesh on or within their hides specializing in changing color, which would be ruptured and destroyed by ballistic trauma.
This Licker may only exist in Claire Redfield's nightmares (as the premise of Gun Survivor 2 is that Claire is dreaming of her past experiences), may only be a non-canon side-mode enemy, or could even exist as an Umbrella experiment that was never seen or even completed. This experiment could have involved gene splicing a Licker with a chameleon. Interestingly, both chameleons and Lickers use their tongues as projectile weapons. It may be that Umbrella were only inspired by chameleons and sought to enhance a Licker's capacity for long-range attacks by giving it stealth abilities.
This Licker may only exist in Claire Redfield's nightmares (as the premise of Gun Survivor 2 is that Claire is dreaming of her past experiences), may only be a non-canon side-mode enemy, or could even exist as an Umbrella experiment that was never seen or even completed. This experiment could have involved gene splicing a Licker with a chameleon. Interestingly, both chameleons and Lickers use their tongues as projectile weapons. It may be that Umbrella were only inspired by chameleons and sought to enhance a Licker's capacity for long-range attacks by giving it stealth abilities.
Other
The way that Zombies will evolve can be unpredictable, with varying factors playing a role in how they change form. While most Epsilon Zombies become Crimson Heads and most t-Birkin Zombies become Lickers, random mutations can result in alternate effects. Three unique examples are listed below:
One female Zombie in Raccoon City experienced a unique mutation and became the Suspended (called "Regis Licker" by localization, meaning "king/ruler Licker"). This creature resided at the Apple Inn and was slain by a group of survivors. It was a mutated subspecies of Licker that possessed many Licker-like traits, without totally losing its human form. It seemed to be recognized by the other Lickers as being one of them, and they even seemed to attempt to protect it.
The Suspended had red skin that looked as if the outermost layer (the epidermis) had been peeled off. Like Lickers, it had claws (albeit smaller) and a long tongue. Its legs were bent unnaturally, and it had boney protrusions along its right arm. It still had hair, eyes, a nose, and some remainder of clothing, but seemingly lacked genitalia. Its belly appeared to be ripped open, causing its intestines to hang out. It made Licker-like breathing noises but screamed and growled with a more human-like voice.
As its name suggests, the Suspended hung upside down by its legs from an air vent on the ceiling by the front door to the inn. It remained in this spot, watching for prey, until it was killed by a group of survivors. It would appear that the Suspended either moved throughout the ventilation system and only emerged to attack prey or remained above that particular spot in order to ambush anyone attempting to enter or leave the inn. It is unknown how well the Suspended could move, or if it was mobile at all, considering its legs were bent in the wrong direction. The Suspended's legs did however aid the creature in remaining hooked to its position. It is possible that the Suspended pulled itself into and through the inn's ventilation shafts using its tongue like a grabbling hook, and that it overcame its lack of mobility by using a hunting technique similar to that of a trapdoor spider.
Despite having a less mutated appearance, the Suspended's abilities, physical strength, and vitality were actually superior to those of the Lickers. The Suspended's tongue was longer and more developed than a Licker's tongue, which could have been an adaption in direct response to its limited mobility. In addition to working as a piercing weapon, this tongue could whip at multiple humans at once, or be used to lift prey off the ground by the neck, strangling them. Its open belly allowed it to bend its torso in either direction very well - it may have ripped open in the first place as a result of this bending.
The reason the Suspended transformed the way it did could have been that:
The Suspended had red skin that looked as if the outermost layer (the epidermis) had been peeled off. Like Lickers, it had claws (albeit smaller) and a long tongue. Its legs were bent unnaturally, and it had boney protrusions along its right arm. It still had hair, eyes, a nose, and some remainder of clothing, but seemingly lacked genitalia. Its belly appeared to be ripped open, causing its intestines to hang out. It made Licker-like breathing noises but screamed and growled with a more human-like voice.
As its name suggests, the Suspended hung upside down by its legs from an air vent on the ceiling by the front door to the inn. It remained in this spot, watching for prey, until it was killed by a group of survivors. It would appear that the Suspended either moved throughout the ventilation system and only emerged to attack prey or remained above that particular spot in order to ambush anyone attempting to enter or leave the inn. It is unknown how well the Suspended could move, or if it was mobile at all, considering its legs were bent in the wrong direction. The Suspended's legs did however aid the creature in remaining hooked to its position. It is possible that the Suspended pulled itself into and through the inn's ventilation shafts using its tongue like a grabbling hook, and that it overcame its lack of mobility by using a hunting technique similar to that of a trapdoor spider.
Despite having a less mutated appearance, the Suspended's abilities, physical strength, and vitality were actually superior to those of the Lickers. The Suspended's tongue was longer and more developed than a Licker's tongue, which could have been an adaption in direct response to its limited mobility. In addition to working as a piercing weapon, this tongue could whip at multiple humans at once, or be used to lift prey off the ground by the neck, strangling them. Its open belly allowed it to bend its torso in either direction very well - it may have ripped open in the first place as a result of this bending.
The reason the Suspended transformed the way it did could have been that:
- It was a random mutation. Retroviruses are prone to mutate, and the t-Virus is no exception. The positioning of its legs in this case would be a biological adaption to help it hunt while suspended in the air.
- The host herself was unique and had a special reaction to the virus.
- The Suspended was damaged mid-transformation. It may have been that a Zombie was in the process of becoming a Licker, and the transformation was aborted or became irregular in response to some extreme injury. This could account for the Suspended's exposed internal organs and broken leg, and the fact it has some Licker traits while overall appearing to be more "human". In this case, it using these traits to hunt from the ceiling would be a behavioral adaption rather than a biological one. Credit to Jon Garrett for this theory.
- It served a queen-like role in the Licker society. The Apple Inn was home to what appeared to be a Licker "hive", and Lickers are social creatures. t-Virus infection commonly causes hosts to evolve into eusocial creature. This is further supported by the strength of the Suspended, the gender of the host, and the fact normal Lickers seemed to defend it. If this is the case, it is unknown what function the Suspended would play in Licker society. If it was a queen, it may have had reproductive role. It was later shown that Licker's could have the capacity for reproduction with the Licker β. It could even be that the smaller version of Licker seen in the Apple Inn (mentioned above) were actually its offspring, which would explain their alternative appearance.
Credit to JC Wesker for the above image
Some Zombies created from t-Birkin transformed into Pale Heads (or "Paleheads"). Pale Heads were distinguishable in appearance by their pale white skin, which was heavily damaged and appeared to "melt" in spots. Pale Heads moved slightly faster than typical Zombies and had the ability to quickly regenerate from most wounds. The only way to kill them was to inflict massive damage on their bodies using high-powered weaponry faster than they could regenerate.
Due to the name being similar to "Crimson Head", and the implication they were created via a random mutation that occurred at a fixed rate, one could assume that these hosts were the result of V-ACT. As Lickers are not the result of V-ACT, it may be that Pale Heads are the result of t-Birkin Zombies being damaged instead. The reason they transformed into these creatures instead of something similar to Crimson Heads and Lickers may have to do with both following factors:
It may essentially be that the regeneration that follows the V-ACT process doesn't slow down following the final Pale Head transformation. This excessive, rapid, and constant cellular activity would cause tissue to break down under the intense load of the activity, leading to their melted appearance. Pale Heads also seem to be surrounded by smoke or gas - it may be that the intense heat generated by their healing created this effect.
Due to the name being similar to "Crimson Head", and the implication they were created via a random mutation that occurred at a fixed rate, one could assume that these hosts were the result of V-ACT. As Lickers are not the result of V-ACT, it may be that Pale Heads are the result of t-Birkin Zombies being damaged instead. The reason they transformed into these creatures instead of something similar to Crimson Heads and Lickers may have to do with both following factors:
- Birkin improved the metabolic enhancements granted by the t-Virus with t-Birkin, which would naturally create creatures with enhanced regenerative potential.
- V-ACT sometimes involves the host mutating not only as a result of damage, but in direct response to how the host is damaged. A Zombie being severely injured could cause the host body to prioritize healing over anything else, resulting in a transformation that is solely characterized by regeneration. This would leave no energy for the development of claws, mutated bone, etc., and thus abort the Licker/Crimson Head transformation. This is comparable to G-Birkin, whose G-Cell replication went wrong partially due to his being damaged.
It may essentially be that the regeneration that follows the V-ACT process doesn't slow down following the final Pale Head transformation. This excessive, rapid, and constant cellular activity would cause tissue to break down under the intense load of the activity, leading to their melted appearance. Pale Heads also seem to be surrounded by smoke or gas - it may be that the intense heat generated by their healing created this effect.
Some Zombies at the remains of the Umbrella Antarctic Lab (after it was largely destroyed at the end of 1998) also underwent a unique mutation due to the t-Virus mutating over an extended period of time (possibly as long as over ten years). These creatures, simply called "Mutant Zombies", greatly resembled the Bloodshot created by gas strain of the C-Virus. Like Bloodshots, they were created when an internal explosion in Zombie bodies caused their bones to stick outwards and their skin to burst off in an instant. Their exposed musculature makes them similar looking to Lickers, although they remain bipedal. Their muscles hardened to the point they were heavily resistant to gunfire, and their skulls were dominated by an oversized mouth.
These traits were all shared with the Bloodshot, but there were also several differences. Unlike the Bloodshot, the teeth of Mutant Zombies were pointed, the back bones protruded to a much greater extent, and their exposed ribs did not seem to move (likely due to them being a result of the t-Virus, and therefore not containing insect traits from the t-Veronica percentage in the C-Virus. The fact their chest remains sealed also eliminated the weak-point possessed by Bloodshots - an exposed internal organ). Bloodshots made a scream similar to that of a Shrieker (another mutated C-Virus Zombie) when they spotted prey, although it is unknown if this cry had a similar effect on nearby Zombies.
Despite apparently having some biological advantages over the Bloodshot, Mutant Zombies were not nearly as agile. Instead of pouncing at prey with incredible jumps and darting to their sides to avoid gunfire, Mutant Zombies simply ran erratically at prey and swung their arms in a blind fury. They could be stunned, implying they felt pain to some degree, but were too frenzied to normally react to trauma. They were still incredibly fast runners but lacked either the coordination or intelligence to use ladders. They were immune to the effects of the Zombie Jammer produced by Blue Umbrella, possibly due to their berserk state.
It is unknown if Mutant Zombies were the result of V-ACT like Crimson Heads or Bloodshots, or simply the process of time like Lickers. Their drastic transformation may have been due to them adapting to the harsh conditions of the Antarctic for an extended period of time. The similarities between Bloodshots and Mutant Zombies would imply that the Bloodshot mutation is an inherit mutation tendency within the t-Virus, which the C-Virus would simply inherit (see Virus Analysis: Chrysalid for more information).
Despite apparently having some biological advantages over the Bloodshot, Mutant Zombies were not nearly as agile. Instead of pouncing at prey with incredible jumps and darting to their sides to avoid gunfire, Mutant Zombies simply ran erratically at prey and swung their arms in a blind fury. They could be stunned, implying they felt pain to some degree, but were too frenzied to normally react to trauma. They were still incredibly fast runners but lacked either the coordination or intelligence to use ladders. They were immune to the effects of the Zombie Jammer produced by Blue Umbrella, possibly due to their berserk state.
It is unknown if Mutant Zombies were the result of V-ACT like Crimson Heads or Bloodshots, or simply the process of time like Lickers. Their drastic transformation may have been due to them adapting to the harsh conditions of the Antarctic for an extended period of time. The similarities between Bloodshots and Mutant Zombies would imply that the Bloodshot mutation is an inherit mutation tendency within the t-Virus, which the C-Virus would simply inherit (see Virus Analysis: Chrysalid for more information).
The ultimate T-Virus B.O.W. Umbrella devoted most of its power to develop. With its human-like appearance, terrifying destructive power and intelligence that allows it to follow any given order, it is more than merely a bioweapon.
The primary purpose and main function of the t-Virus was to create "immortal soldiers" that lacked sympathy, fear, pain and fatigue, and would be able to disguise themselves as humans. These ideal B.O.W.s were called Tyrants: a title taken from the official name of t-Virus, due to them being the "perfected version of a B.O.W.", "born in the final stage of the t-Virus Project as a symbol of the project". Umbrella employees considered Tyrants to be "the ultimate life form", with some (like Albert Wesker) going so far as to value them above human beings.
The name "Tyrant" is, in an official sense, a very strict title. Just because a creature has some Tyrant-like qualities does not make it a Tyrant. A "true" Tyrant is a host infected with an Ɛ-derived strain of the t-Virus, who was placed underneath the Tyrant Project and was a result of primary infection (injection of the virus into the bloodstream). In the biological sense of the word, a host may be a "Tyrant" without falling under these criteria, similar to how a Zombie Dog is not a Cerberus despite being biologically identical. A host who transforms into a Tyrant in the wild as a result of contracting the virus is sometimes referred to as a "Wild Tyrant". An alternative name used for Tyrants is "T-Type", or just "T", with a capital letter seemingly used to differentiate it from the t-Virus (which is often referred to as "t", in lowercase).
While Tyrants are the intended effect of human infection with the t-Virus, there are two problems which cause hosts to become Zombies instead:
While Tyrants are the intended effect of human infection with the t-Virus, there are two problems which cause hosts to become Zombies instead:
- Only 1 in 100 million hosts could originally resist t-Virus-induced brain damage.
- Host bodies could not endure the drastic mutations caused by the virus, leading to necrosis. The host was also likely to suffer a fatal immune response.
The art above is for a scrapped enemy for Resident Evil 2: "Tyrant Advanced". The notes surrounding the art were translated by Nora: they state that the "T-Advanced" were infected with a strain of the virus that surpassed the normal t-Virus. This virus could create Tyrants that retained their intelligence without any need for an "incubation tube". This concept was reused for Tyrants created by advanced strains of the t-Virus, like Perfected T, t+G, Kodoku, and t-Abyss.
All instances of the Tyrant mutation come from viruses related to the Ɛ strain of the t-Virus. Uroboros, G, and t-Veronica can therefore not create Tyrants. Tyrants created with new viral strains based on the t-Virus are covered in other Analyses.
Universal Tyrant Traits
Tyrants are human-based t-Virus mutants which have a minimized level of necrosis and exhibit mutations artificially tailored to make them as proficient in combat as possible. These mutations include an increase in size and muscle mass, claw growths, and incredible regenerative abilities. Most Tyrants lack the extensive physical decay seen in Zombies, although skin and eye damage are still present. Almost all Tyrants lose their hair following transformation, and most lose their genitalia for one reason or another.
Tyrant intelligence and understanding is almost equal to that of a human, but intentionally reduced enough (at least in one case via surgery) to make them compliant and subjectable to training. Their single-minded mentality when following orders is comparable to the behavior of a machine, and they will sometimes abandon self-preservation and put themselves in harm's way to achieve a goal. Their intelligence nevertheless allows them to follow complicated orders with multiple objectives, to a degree greater than any other B.O.W. created prior to 1998. In many ways, Tyrant intelligence was sometimes a liability, and the threat of rebellion was high. This forced Umbrella to experiment with many diverse means of control, from traditional training to cybernetic implants to parasitic manipulation. Tyrants created on-the-fly often retained all of their intelligence, largely due to a lack of surgery limiting their "ability to think".
Tyrants can be faster and more agile than other B.O.W.s, and more so than most natural animals. They possess enough strength to easily lift and throw humans, tear metal, and punch through thick concrete, and they use their strength as their primary weapon against combatants. Their hardened bodies can survive extreme damage like gunshot wounds, some explosions, or exposure to extreme elements, and they can heal from most injuries. Tyrants can feel pain, but to a much lesser extent than a normal human. They can also be rendered unconscious. Two of the only ways to effectively stun Tyrants are to inflict extraordinary trauma to their bodies or to damage their heads or exposed organs with gunfire. The only way to actually kill a Tyrant is to damage it to such an extent that its regeneration cannot keep up, or to completely obliterate a vital organ such as the brain (their hardened skulls and skeletal systems make the latter extremely difficult).
It is unknown what kind of dietary requirements Tyrants have, or if they sleep. Their metabolism at the very least seems more stable than that of a Zombie, to "some extent". This, combined with the fact their respiratory and circulatory systems continue to function, means that they are able to operate for a much longer period of time than Zombies.
Tyrants can be faster and more agile than other B.O.W.s, and more so than most natural animals. They possess enough strength to easily lift and throw humans, tear metal, and punch through thick concrete, and they use their strength as their primary weapon against combatants. Their hardened bodies can survive extreme damage like gunshot wounds, some explosions, or exposure to extreme elements, and they can heal from most injuries. Tyrants can feel pain, but to a much lesser extent than a normal human. They can also be rendered unconscious. Two of the only ways to effectively stun Tyrants are to inflict extraordinary trauma to their bodies or to damage their heads or exposed organs with gunfire. The only way to actually kill a Tyrant is to damage it to such an extent that its regeneration cannot keep up, or to completely obliterate a vital organ such as the brain (their hardened skulls and skeletal systems make the latter extremely difficult).
It is unknown what kind of dietary requirements Tyrants have, or if they sleep. Their metabolism at the very least seems more stable than that of a Zombie, to "some extent". This, combined with the fact their respiratory and circulatory systems continue to function, means that they are able to operate for a much longer period of time than Zombies.
"Super Tyrant" ("Tyrant Reborn" is an equivalent term used in two cases) is the name for the default, natural form of a Tyrant, and the result of the t-Virus acting to the fullest extent of its abilities in the host. While it represents the most powerful form a Tyrant can take, the creature is generally much more aggressive in this state, less human-looking, and much more difficult to control. A device called a "power limiter" (or simply a "limiter") created by Umbrella would often be implanted into or placed on a Tyrant's body, in order to repress development into the Super Tyrant stage and any runaway mutations. A power limiter many work by administering chemicals that suppress the activity of the virus, or it could send electrical signals to the brain that limit the production of certain hormones. Power limiters were also capable of monitoring a Tyrant's vital signs, and when a Tyrant was heavily damaged a limiter could automatically disengage in order to allow the virus to repair the Tyrant before it died and preserve its life.
Many Tyrants refrained from running, despite not having any brain damage that would affect fine motor control. This is possibly a result of:
Many Tyrants refrained from running, despite not having any brain damage that would affect fine motor control. This is possibly a result of:
- The Tyrants attempting to conserve energy, so that they could continue in the field for longer periods of time. This behavior is also seen in some animals, such as sloths.
- Muscle stiffness and rigidity. This idea is supported by the "Unnamed Tyrants", which were capable of running and had power limiters that injected muscle relaxant into their bodies. The Tyrant in Resident Evil 2 reimagined would often twist its head with its hand, which could be related to its body being rigid.
- Tyrant bodies being too heavy.
T-001 and T-002
In 1998, Umbrella created the first two Tyrants using prisoners on death row. The test subjects were strong, healthy, young males. Their bodies and immune systems were first strengthened with surgeries. The prisoners were then injected with the Epsilon strain of the t-Virus and placed in special capsules called "adjustment tanks". These pods were filled with a liquid solution that regulated how the virus spread in their bodies, allowing them to slowly bond with the virus while promoting the "proper growth" of t-Virus-infected cells. Several of them eventually became Tyrants following their genes being repeatedly manipulated. Each of the resulting Tyrants were given the codename "T-00" followed by a number that signified which ones were created first.
The first of the test subjects to successfully transform into a Tyrant was given the codename T-001. As the very first Tyrant ever created, it was also given the name "Proto Tyrant". This host developed amazing combat abilities, reaching Umbrella's goal to create an excellent fighter from the outset. But, like Zombies, the Proto Tyrant still suffered too much necrosis. This is due to the t-Virus not being regulated properly in its body, causing the virus to act to the fullest extent of its abilities. As a result of necrosis, the Proto Tyrant had decayed flesh (particularly along the left side of its mouth, causing it to drool constantly), an exposed and dislocated spine, a serious twitch, and limited intelligence which hindered its ability to understand orders. It was not equipped with a power limiter, which made it transform into a Super Tyrant by default; this combined with its low intelligence led to it being driven only by instinct and blind aggression. Umbrella deemed the T-001 a failure and discarded it, although its unprecedented vitality allowed it to survive chemical disposal and resume activity. It roamed the Water Treatment Plant outside Raccoon City and fought with Rebecca Chambers, Billy Coen, and Albert Wesker before being destroyed in the facility's self-destruct sequence.
A second Tyrant was developed after the T-001 using another prisoner: Code No. T-002. This Tyrant suffered the same mutations as first Tyrant, but withstood necrosis and brain damage due to Umbrella continuing research based on the data gleaned from the Proto Tyrant. With its intelligence and combat abilities reaching adequate levels, the T-002 was considered a success. It was equipped with a power limiter device to keep it stable, which was surgically implanted into its body. As it was kept from entering its Super Tyrant stage, it was less aggressive than the Proto Tyrant at the expense of its overall strength and speed. It had "superior thinking ability for complying with commands". The T-002 developed patches of hardened, dark skin, likely more resistant to damage. It had a tumor-like growth on its right thigh, likely a result of its excessive regeneration. The frontal/forehead veins of the T-002 were enlarged and practically exposed (possibly an exterior set of blood vessels grafted onto its body, as a part of its secondary cardiovascular system; see below).
The T-002 was supposed to be pitted against veteran soldier combatants in order to test both its combat abilities and how well control over the Tyrant could be regulated. Umbrella would then use the resulting combat data to improve the Tyrant design. Before preparations could be made the Queen Leech attacked the laboratory, putting further T-002 experiments on hold. Once the facility was eventually overrun by the resulting t-Virus outbreak, Umbrella arranged for S.T.A.R.S. to enter the complex and battle the creature instead. Umbrella planned to afterwards dispose of the Tyrant and use the combat data gleaned in the battle to create even better Tyrants.
The T-002 was left alone for three months in its capsule due to the chaos of the Mansion Incident. Without training or mental programing, it retained its free will, rendering it uncontrollable. When it was released, it exacted revenge by impaling one of its creators, Albert Wesker, on its giant claw. It then attacked the surviving members of S.T.A.R.S. in a blind rage (Kenichi Iwao said he thinks the host used for the T-002 was probably a violent man with a strong sense of pride) but was subdued and rendered unconscious. Its power limiter disengaged, and it became a Super Tyrant ("S. Tyrant"). Its skin received a reddish tinge, likely due to increased blood flow. The S. Tyrant's strength, agility, and speed increased greatly due to dramatic internal changes, making it just as powerful as the Proto Tyrant (and more "fitting the true name" of Tyrant). Its reflexes were so great that it could swat away an incoming rocket.
It was soon after destroyed by a hit from a rocket launcher, instantly killing it before it could regenerate.
The T-002 was supposed to be pitted against veteran soldier combatants in order to test both its combat abilities and how well control over the Tyrant could be regulated. Umbrella would then use the resulting combat data to improve the Tyrant design. Before preparations could be made the Queen Leech attacked the laboratory, putting further T-002 experiments on hold. Once the facility was eventually overrun by the resulting t-Virus outbreak, Umbrella arranged for S.T.A.R.S. to enter the complex and battle the creature instead. Umbrella planned to afterwards dispose of the Tyrant and use the combat data gleaned in the battle to create even better Tyrants.
The T-002 was left alone for three months in its capsule due to the chaos of the Mansion Incident. Without training or mental programing, it retained its free will, rendering it uncontrollable. When it was released, it exacted revenge by impaling one of its creators, Albert Wesker, on its giant claw. It then attacked the surviving members of S.T.A.R.S. in a blind rage (Kenichi Iwao said he thinks the host used for the T-002 was probably a violent man with a strong sense of pride) but was subdued and rendered unconscious. Its power limiter disengaged, and it became a Super Tyrant ("S. Tyrant"). Its skin received a reddish tinge, likely due to increased blood flow. The S. Tyrant's strength, agility, and speed increased greatly due to dramatic internal changes, making it just as powerful as the Proto Tyrant (and more "fitting the true name" of Tyrant). Its reflexes were so great that it could swat away an incoming rocket.
It was soon after destroyed by a hit from a rocket launcher, instantly killing it before it could regenerate.
Both the T-001 and T-002 were giants: the T-001 was 255 centimeters tall, while the T-002 was 8.7 feet tall and weighed 540 pounds. Both Tyrants developed a single giant claw (the claw of the T-001 was more deformed in shape and resembled a trident. It developed very small claws on some of the fingers on its other hand as well). They were naked and lacked any genitalia. It is likely that, in order to reduce aggression and keep them controllable, they were castrated to reduce testosterone. Their skin and eyes suffered some damage and lost color, with the pupil sometimes depicted as being completely covered by cataract-like tissue. Despite this, the eyesight of the T-002 is said to have actually been enhanced, along with its sense of smell. Both of the Tyrants seemed to lack lips as a result of necrosis.
The Tyrants had exposed hearts. While heart expansion is a symptom of the virus, these appear to have been secondary hearts created by Umbrella. They were likely created by fusing large animal hearts together, which were then grafted onto their bodies to support their expanded cardiovascular system, without mixing arterial and venous blood. In the script for the Resident Evil movie written by George A. Romero, the Tyrant heart was said to be that of a rhinoceros, which could very well be the case for the game version as well. As these hearts were not a part of their primary cardiovascular system, they were not vital enough to serve as a lethal weak point, although destroying them could severely weaken the Tyrants. Even so, "moderate" attacks were not capable of dealing any damage to their hearts whatsoever, indicating that even this tissue was strengthened to an extreme degree by the virus. The T-002 had an especially loud heartbeat, which announced its presence to prey. Due to these extra hearts, a "strong cardiopulmonary function was achieved", causing "its mobility and reflex speed [to] greatly exceed the record numbers of conventional B.O.W.s" (Inside of Bio Hazard).
The T-002 moved much more slowly than the T-001 in its first form, walking at a slow pace. In its Super Tyrant form, its speed increased to at least match the Proto Tyrant. They could run at a max speed of 43 miles per hour, which is 15 mph faster than the fastest human in recorded history. Their senses, durability, regenerative capacity, and destructive strenght were just as impressive, making them the true apex of B.O.W. research at the time.
The Tyrants had exposed hearts. While heart expansion is a symptom of the virus, these appear to have been secondary hearts created by Umbrella. They were likely created by fusing large animal hearts together, which were then grafted onto their bodies to support their expanded cardiovascular system, without mixing arterial and venous blood. In the script for the Resident Evil movie written by George A. Romero, the Tyrant heart was said to be that of a rhinoceros, which could very well be the case for the game version as well. As these hearts were not a part of their primary cardiovascular system, they were not vital enough to serve as a lethal weak point, although destroying them could severely weaken the Tyrants. Even so, "moderate" attacks were not capable of dealing any damage to their hearts whatsoever, indicating that even this tissue was strengthened to an extreme degree by the virus. The T-002 had an especially loud heartbeat, which announced its presence to prey. Due to these extra hearts, a "strong cardiopulmonary function was achieved", causing "its mobility and reflex speed [to] greatly exceed the record numbers of conventional B.O.W.s" (Inside of Bio Hazard).
The T-002 moved much more slowly than the T-001 in its first form, walking at a slow pace. In its Super Tyrant form, its speed increased to at least match the Proto Tyrant. They could run at a max speed of 43 miles per hour, which is 15 mph faster than the fastest human in recorded history. Their senses, durability, regenerative capacity, and destructive strenght were just as impressive, making them the true apex of B.O.W. research at the time.
The T-002 developed a unique trait not possessed by any of the Tyrants to come after it: It developed a heart-like organ used for "refining airborne t-Virus". It would then use tubes on its back (which were like broken blood vessels connected to the "heart") to eject a gas containing this t-Virus. It is unknown if this was an intentional feature created by Umbrella, or the result of a random mutation. This was how the virus leaked into the Arklay Mansion - the Queen Leech disrupted an injection experiment on the T-002, which led to it secreting its gas. Umbrella managed to eliminate this trait in subsequent models, likely in response to the danger presented to handlers.
Originally, according to Kenichi Iwao, it was intended that the Tyrant was capable of controlling the Zombies created by the gas it secreted. This was part of the reason it was named "Tyrant". The Tyrant could be sent into a battlefield, cause an outbreak, and command an army of Zombies. After the enemy was wiped out, the Tyrant could easily dispose of the Zombies created using its control ability. It is unknown if this idea made it into the canon. If it did, then Umbrella likely abandoned this idea after the Mansion Incident along with the ability to secrete gas.
Originally, according to Kenichi Iwao, it was intended that the Tyrant was capable of controlling the Zombies created by the gas it secreted. This was part of the reason it was named "Tyrant". The Tyrant could be sent into a battlefield, cause an outbreak, and command an army of Zombies. After the enemy was wiped out, the Tyrant could easily dispose of the Zombies created using its control ability. It is unknown if this idea made it into the canon. If it did, then Umbrella likely abandoned this idea after the Mansion Incident along with the ability to secrete gas.
In the Sega Saturn port of Resident Evil, in Battle Game mode, a gold-colored version of the T-002 appeared. This Tyrant was otherwise identical to the normal T-002.
T-103, Ivan, and T-078
William Birkin recovered a cloned embryo of the T-002 during the Mansion Incident and modified it further. The resulting creature was the T-103, often called "Mr. X" by fans. This Tyrant was outfitted with an advanced power limiter while it was in development from an embryo to an adult, which stunted the activity of the virus and as a result the maturation of the T-103. The Tyrant clone looked human-like halfway through development, and so Umbrella prevented it from maturing all the way. This made it closer to Umbrella's goal of making Tyrants appear human but limited its abilities to an extent. While it was smaller than the T-002, its large size and damaged skin meant its ability to disguise itself as a human was limited. From a distance, a T-103 could still potentially be mistaken for a human. The eyes of T-103s usually had the same milky appearance as the eyes of the T-001 and T-002.
The T-103's power limiter was built into a special, shock-absorbing trench coat designed to protect the Tyrant while not restricting movement. This coat was both bulletproof and explosion-resistant, making the Tyrant even more indestructible. Pinned to the front of the coat was a small Umbrella pin, marking it as an official product. It wore gloves and boots as well, leaving only the head area uncovered - likely in order to prevent obstructing its view. A T-103 coat was usually moss-green in color, resembling a military uniform.
As of the 2019 reimagining of Resident Evil 2, the T-103's coat was instead made black and lacked an Umbrella pin. In this iteration it was also outfitted with a hat (to help disguise it) and an antenna-like device implanted into its left temple that apparently functioned as its power limiter in addition to its coat. Dr. Wunderbar speculates that the limiter may send electrical signals that inhibit the pituitary gland and hypothalamus. This device could also have been used for control, either remotely downloaded commands directly into the Tyrant's brain or functioning as a sort of "jack" for commands to be downloaded manually. This device could also have been a bomb, a poison injector, or a tracking device, to be used in case the Tyrant went out of control. The Tyrant's face also had severe wrinkles in this version, which were either the result of skin damage or the toughening of its face reducing the elasticity of its skin. It retained its pupils, each of which resembled a camera's lens.
Like the T-002, the T-103 walked slowly, probably to conserve energy. Due to the T-103 being a clone of the T-002, it was "born" without any human nature or memories. This meant that it was easier to control and lacked any visible emotion (although in The Darkside Chronicles it expressed anger). Unlike the T-002, there was no risk of the T-103 retaining its humanity and rebelling, as it had no humanity to begin with.
The T-103's power limiter was built into a special, shock-absorbing trench coat designed to protect the Tyrant while not restricting movement. This coat was both bulletproof and explosion-resistant, making the Tyrant even more indestructible. Pinned to the front of the coat was a small Umbrella pin, marking it as an official product. It wore gloves and boots as well, leaving only the head area uncovered - likely in order to prevent obstructing its view. A T-103 coat was usually moss-green in color, resembling a military uniform.
As of the 2019 reimagining of Resident Evil 2, the T-103's coat was instead made black and lacked an Umbrella pin. In this iteration it was also outfitted with a hat (to help disguise it) and an antenna-like device implanted into its left temple that apparently functioned as its power limiter in addition to its coat. Dr. Wunderbar speculates that the limiter may send electrical signals that inhibit the pituitary gland and hypothalamus. This device could also have been used for control, either remotely downloaded commands directly into the Tyrant's brain or functioning as a sort of "jack" for commands to be downloaded manually. This device could also have been a bomb, a poison injector, or a tracking device, to be used in case the Tyrant went out of control. The Tyrant's face also had severe wrinkles in this version, which were either the result of skin damage or the toughening of its face reducing the elasticity of its skin. It retained its pupils, each of which resembled a camera's lens.
Like the T-002, the T-103 walked slowly, probably to conserve energy. Due to the T-103 being a clone of the T-002, it was "born" without any human nature or memories. This meant that it was easier to control and lacked any visible emotion (although in The Darkside Chronicles it expressed anger). Unlike the T-002, there was no risk of the T-103 retaining its humanity and rebelling, as it had no humanity to begin with.
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Before the T-103 could be mass produced, combat data was required to work out any kinks. After Albert Wesker led S.T.A.R.S. to the Arklay Mansion to battle the T-002, data was recorded from the subsequent battle that exceeded Umbrella's expectations, allowing them to raise the T-103's level of perfection. As the T-002 both went out of control when awakened and released its power limiter when only damaged in a single encounter, Birkin sought to improve both the control aspect and the recovery ability of the Tyrant. It is possible that at this point Birkin used t-Birkin on the Tyrant, in order to take advantage of the enhanced metabolic abilities granted by this strain. After these improvements were made, the T-103 (mass production type) was approved. The refined T-103 was cloned in large numbers at the large-scale B.O.W. factory on Sheena Island, which became Umbrella's Tyrant production facility.
The mass production type had improved controllability, and it would faithfully carry out prescribed orders given to it by handlers. They had high intelligence ("extraordinary thinking ability") allowing them to understand complicated orders and learn to identify and track specific targets while not harming their handlers. In Operation: Raccoon City, a restrained T-103 was being trained by a screen being placed in front of its face for an extended period of time that displayed images relevant to its purpose. Their "overwhelming combat prowess" allowed them to eliminate almost any obstacle. While they lacked any claws in their deployed form like the T-001 and T-002, the enhancements made to their recovery ability made them almost immortal, and they could not only repel most attacks, but even resurrect themselves multiple times after seemingly being "killed". Even being dropped into a blast furnace only managed to force a T-103 into its Super from. |
Umbrella used these Tyrants as bodyguards, soldiers, and assassins, and planned to begin selling them as products. Due to the mass production type being the closest to reaching the project's final goals at the time, it was usually simply referred to as "Tyrant". It was considered "the most powerful of Umbrella's biological weapons, and a trump card for the company", as well as being Umbrella's "masterpiece", its "most successful product", and its "main B.O.W. series".
At least six T-103s were deployed to Raccoon City - five to kill the military team sent after Birkin at the Incineration Disposal Plant, and one to recover the G-Virus sample in Sherry Birkin's pendent. The latter T-103, batch number T-00 (not to be confused with the T-00 line of Tyrants, like the T-001 and T-002), was also ordered to kill any survivors in its path, in order to eliminate potential witnesses. It also destroyed surveillance cameras it encountered. The T-00 fought with Leon S. Kennedy, Claire Redfield, and Ada Wong before it was eventually destroyed, while the other five Tyrants were all killed in combat as well. Many other T-103s were evaded by Ark Thomson on Sheena Island, after Vincent Goldman released them.
When a T-103's life-support function reached its limit, its power limiter would disengage. At this point the T-103's coat would automatically come off and it would finish development into its default, yet irregular, form, like the T-002: the Super Tyrant. The Super T-103 was also known as the "Tyrant B", with the human-like form of the T-103 being called the "Tyrant A".
The Super T-103 had "obvious characteristics of the T-002 all over", and "an imposing appearance" "truly worthy of the name Tyrant". It had large claws on both of its arms (except in one depiction, where it only had one like its predecessors) and even greater muscle mass. Its other abilities were also enhanced to their fullest extent. It developed an exposed heart, a result of heart expansion to support its increased energy consumption (this was either an evolutionary adaptation or a result of Umbrella-made modifications to the T-103 model). It developed the darkened skin of the T-002 on its arms, chest, and the back of its head, with the rest of the body covered in gigantic, rigid muscles. It was strong and responsive enough to actually grab and redirect incoming rockets back at its attackers and could both run and jump dozens of feet into the air (heights even Kangaroos could not reach). Its vitality and healing abilities were great enough that it would not react to having its body engulfed in flames; the only way to kill it would be to use high-powered weapons capable of damaging it faster than it could regenerate, such as anti-tank guns. Despite these improvements, not only did the Tyrant lose any hope of blending in with humans in this form, but its aggression increased to the point that control was difficult. A Super T-103 was driven by blind rage and it would no longer be safe for its handlers to be in proximity to it. Despite this, Super T-103s would still retain their memories of and desire to complete their orders.
The Super T-103 had "obvious characteristics of the T-002 all over", and "an imposing appearance" "truly worthy of the name Tyrant". It had large claws on both of its arms (except in one depiction, where it only had one like its predecessors) and even greater muscle mass. Its other abilities were also enhanced to their fullest extent. It developed an exposed heart, a result of heart expansion to support its increased energy consumption (this was either an evolutionary adaptation or a result of Umbrella-made modifications to the T-103 model). It developed the darkened skin of the T-002 on its arms, chest, and the back of its head, with the rest of the body covered in gigantic, rigid muscles. It was strong and responsive enough to actually grab and redirect incoming rockets back at its attackers and could both run and jump dozens of feet into the air (heights even Kangaroos could not reach). Its vitality and healing abilities were great enough that it would not react to having its body engulfed in flames; the only way to kill it would be to use high-powered weapons capable of damaging it faster than it could regenerate, such as anti-tank guns. Despite these improvements, not only did the Tyrant lose any hope of blending in with humans in this form, but its aggression increased to the point that control was difficult. A Super T-103 was driven by blind rage and it would no longer be safe for its handlers to be in proximity to it. Despite this, Super T-103s would still retain their memories of and desire to complete their orders.
During the Mansion Incident, a single prototype T-103 was given to Umbrella executive Sergei Vladimir to serve as his bodyguard. He named this Tyrant "Ivan", likely due to his habit of humanizing Tyrants (with him using a Russian name because he considered them his brothers). Sergei had Ivan customized, with specific modifications being made so that it could better protect its owner. Ivan was distinguishable by the white color of its bulletproof coat, in contrast to the normal green coats of T-103s.
To allow it to operate in the presence of humans, the intelligence of Ivan was strengthened so that it could behave in a manner that did not arouse suspicion. While it presumably still lacked free will, its ability to think was increased drastically. It was capable of comprehending human words and understanding human society, allowing it to conduct itself accordingly. While Ivan carried no weapons, it was capable of using them, and on one occasion used a turret. It could otherwise take tactical actions that made it more dangerous on the battlefield.
Ivan had custom orange sunglasses grafted onto its face, covering its inhuman eyes to an extent to help it better blend in with humans. A head-mounted-display (HMD) was built into its sunglasses that fed it orders, a functionality that complimented its intelligence. These glasses did not provide any additional protection, and the head of Ivan still served as a vulnerability in combat.
Ivan's mobility was also upgraded in comparison to a standard T-103, likely so that it could better protect Sergei from faster threats. Its speed and agility were comparable to that of a Super Tyrant, but its destructive power was equal to that of a normal Tyrant. It was still capable of disengaging its power limiter and transforming into a Super Tyrant when its life was threatened. As Ivan was created before the combat data on the T-002 was recovered, it likely lacked the same regenerative prowess as the improved mass production model.
Ivan aided Sergei in his mission to recover the prototype for T-A.L.O.S. in 1998, fighting Albert Wesker and killing some Cerberuses in the process. Sergei later had a second Ivan created, which followed Sergei around and protected him alongside the first Ivan.
The second Ivan was called Ivan B, while the original was retroactively named Ivan A. Ivan B was visually distinguishable by its blue-colored visor. Ivan B was slightly stronger than Ivan A, which was likely due to the metabolic improvements made to the T-103 following the retrieval of T-002 combat data. Because of their improved intelligence, the Ivans were capable of communicating and cooperating with each other on the battlefield. As they never seemed to speak or use visible gestures of any kind, it is unknown how they managed to communicate: it is possible that they had some sort of implant that allowed them to do so, or they simply trained to pick up on each-other's behavior in combat. It is also possible that they, like their master, were capable of some sort of telepathy.
The Ivans played in perfect coordination with each other to eliminate Sergei's enemies, but they were still no match for the now-superhuman Albert Wesker, who slew the Tyrants in 2003.
To allow it to operate in the presence of humans, the intelligence of Ivan was strengthened so that it could behave in a manner that did not arouse suspicion. While it presumably still lacked free will, its ability to think was increased drastically. It was capable of comprehending human words and understanding human society, allowing it to conduct itself accordingly. While Ivan carried no weapons, it was capable of using them, and on one occasion used a turret. It could otherwise take tactical actions that made it more dangerous on the battlefield.
Ivan had custom orange sunglasses grafted onto its face, covering its inhuman eyes to an extent to help it better blend in with humans. A head-mounted-display (HMD) was built into its sunglasses that fed it orders, a functionality that complimented its intelligence. These glasses did not provide any additional protection, and the head of Ivan still served as a vulnerability in combat.
Ivan's mobility was also upgraded in comparison to a standard T-103, likely so that it could better protect Sergei from faster threats. Its speed and agility were comparable to that of a Super Tyrant, but its destructive power was equal to that of a normal Tyrant. It was still capable of disengaging its power limiter and transforming into a Super Tyrant when its life was threatened. As Ivan was created before the combat data on the T-002 was recovered, it likely lacked the same regenerative prowess as the improved mass production model.
Ivan aided Sergei in his mission to recover the prototype for T-A.L.O.S. in 1998, fighting Albert Wesker and killing some Cerberuses in the process. Sergei later had a second Ivan created, which followed Sergei around and protected him alongside the first Ivan.
The second Ivan was called Ivan B, while the original was retroactively named Ivan A. Ivan B was visually distinguishable by its blue-colored visor. Ivan B was slightly stronger than Ivan A, which was likely due to the metabolic improvements made to the T-103 following the retrieval of T-002 combat data. Because of their improved intelligence, the Ivans were capable of communicating and cooperating with each other on the battlefield. As they never seemed to speak or use visible gestures of any kind, it is unknown how they managed to communicate: it is possible that they had some sort of implant that allowed them to do so, or they simply trained to pick up on each-other's behavior in combat. It is also possible that they, like their master, were capable of some sort of telepathy.
The Ivans played in perfect coordination with each other to eliminate Sergei's enemies, but they were still no match for the now-superhuman Albert Wesker, who slew the Tyrants in 2003.
One T-103 mass production model (batch number T-078) was sent to Rockfort Island by a team led by HUNK. The T-078 was to be used as a training model for Umbrella's paramilitary units and was modified to better suit this purpose. It was released from storage by Alfred Ashford (who called it his "doll") and sent to kill Claire Redfield and Steve Burnside. It was destroyed after being launched from a plane by a missile.
The T-078 was deployed without a combat limiter, making it a Super Tyrant. Its combat and control attributes were enhanced in various ways, and it had higher "killing power". It had smaller claws than those on most Super Tyrants, with the claws emerging from its clenched fists in random spots instead of from its fingers. It also lacked any kind of exposed organ.
The reason for the unique biology of the T-078 is suggested to "possibly" be due to its limiter being "cancelled from the first": meaning it was allowed to fully develop into a Super Tyrant before it ever left its incubation tube. If this was the case, then the form the T-078 took would actually be the truly natural form of the T-103, with the other Super T-103s having more exaggerated traits due to compensating mutations in response to damage. However, this is only stated to be a possibility, and Film C in Resident Evil 2 (depicting a regular Super Tyrant still in incubation) largely contradicts this possibility.
Another possible reason that fits established lore better would be that the T-078 had its claws removed by Umbrella so that it functioned better as a training model, and that it developed new ones in irregular spots as a result of regeneration or adaptive mutation. It may also be that the final transformation of the Tyrant was aborted, preventing it from developing its final attributes. The lack of an exposed organ could even have been due to recent improvements made to the mass production line of Tyrants.
Despite it having smaller claws, the T-078 retained all of its strength, and it used its arms like battering rams to pulverize targets. Due to the unique positioning of its claws, each of its fists resembled a morning star weapon. Shortly after being released, it appeared to move at a very slow pace, similar to that of a normal, non-Super T-103. This may have been another result of it possibly having its final transformation aborted, and without an enlarged heart it lacked the necessary cardiopulmonary prowess to expend enough energy to run.
After being knocked unconscious as a result of its first fight with Claire Redfield, the T-078 mutated to some degree. While it still lacked an exposed organ, its speed and agility increased to that of other Super Tyrants. It was even able to jump onto the back of a moving aircraft. Most noticeably, the claws on the Tyrant's right hand extended, giving it a more powerful weapon. This mutation was either a result of
In The Darkside Chronicles, the T-078 had no claws in its first form, relying only on its fists. It also possessed the same speed and agility as its second form before it mutated. After mutating in this depiction, it grew five claws straight through its knuckles. This was likely a result of the Tyrant keeping its hands clenched into fists while its bones extended to form claws.
The T-078 had a "kill switch" implanted into its skull, still evidenced by a surgical scar on the back of its head. This "switch" was likely a bomb, which would destroy the one area that was proven to always be a fatal weak-point for Tyrants - the brain itself - when triggered. This switch ensured that the Tyrant could be stopped if it went out of control in training exercises. The kill switch was never triggered.
The T-078 was deployed without a combat limiter, making it a Super Tyrant. Its combat and control attributes were enhanced in various ways, and it had higher "killing power". It had smaller claws than those on most Super Tyrants, with the claws emerging from its clenched fists in random spots instead of from its fingers. It also lacked any kind of exposed organ.
The reason for the unique biology of the T-078 is suggested to "possibly" be due to its limiter being "cancelled from the first": meaning it was allowed to fully develop into a Super Tyrant before it ever left its incubation tube. If this was the case, then the form the T-078 took would actually be the truly natural form of the T-103, with the other Super T-103s having more exaggerated traits due to compensating mutations in response to damage. However, this is only stated to be a possibility, and Film C in Resident Evil 2 (depicting a regular Super Tyrant still in incubation) largely contradicts this possibility.
Another possible reason that fits established lore better would be that the T-078 had its claws removed by Umbrella so that it functioned better as a training model, and that it developed new ones in irregular spots as a result of regeneration or adaptive mutation. It may also be that the final transformation of the Tyrant was aborted, preventing it from developing its final attributes. The lack of an exposed organ could even have been due to recent improvements made to the mass production line of Tyrants.
Despite it having smaller claws, the T-078 retained all of its strength, and it used its arms like battering rams to pulverize targets. Due to the unique positioning of its claws, each of its fists resembled a morning star weapon. Shortly after being released, it appeared to move at a very slow pace, similar to that of a normal, non-Super T-103. This may have been another result of it possibly having its final transformation aborted, and without an enlarged heart it lacked the necessary cardiopulmonary prowess to expend enough energy to run.
After being knocked unconscious as a result of its first fight with Claire Redfield, the T-078 mutated to some degree. While it still lacked an exposed organ, its speed and agility increased to that of other Super Tyrants. It was even able to jump onto the back of a moving aircraft. Most noticeably, the claws on the Tyrant's right hand extended, giving it a more powerful weapon. This mutation was either a result of
- V-ACT. After being damaged, it may have developed new capabilities as a response to external stimuli.
- An extended period of time outside of stasis. It may be that the capsule it was stored in was preventing it from developing any further, and after being released it gradually finished maturing.
In The Darkside Chronicles, the T-078 had no claws in its first form, relying only on its fists. It also possessed the same speed and agility as its second form before it mutated. After mutating in this depiction, it grew five claws straight through its knuckles. This was likely a result of the Tyrant keeping its hands clenched into fists while its bones extended to form claws.
The T-078 had a "kill switch" implanted into its skull, still evidenced by a surgical scar on the back of its head. This "switch" was likely a bomb, which would destroy the one area that was proven to always be a fatal weak-point for Tyrants - the brain itself - when triggered. This switch ensured that the Tyrant could be stopped if it went out of control in training exercises. The kill switch was never triggered.
Offshoot Tyrant Models
Many variant Tyrant models based on T-103 data were created by Umbrella after T-103 mass production began. While the T-103 reached a certain level of perfection, there was always room for improvement, and it still fell short of what Umbrella envisioned as a "perfect" Tyrant. These new Tyrants models were either the result of experiments that sought to use alternative methods of control or developed to specialize in different areas. The models were all produced by different teams around the world and represented the fierce internal competition of different factions within Umbrella once the Tyrant was created to outdo one another (as the Umbrella Corporation was fairly meritocratic). While the Tyrant Project had stagnated for years, there had been many breakthroughs and developments in different areas that Umbrella had made in the meantime which could be used once Tyrants could finally be created.
All of the following Tyrant models were created using new human hosts and not from T-103 clones. Four of them were created in the latter half of 1998 alone, while another began development earlier that year. Two of the Tyrants (Thanatos and the T-0400TP) were referred to as "R" or "Reborn" instead of "Super" in their transformed, default stage. It may be that this naming scheme was adopted to specifically refer to Super Tyrants that were offshoots of the mass production line. Conversely, the Super stage of T-A.L.O.S. was called "T-A.L.O.S. II". It may be that the Reborn label did not apply to T-A.L.O.S. because it was based on a prototype from the T-00 line, which preceded the mass production model. It is unknown if the "R" label used for Tyrants was related to the Hunter Rs, as it seemingly stood for a different word in the case of the latter.
The Nemesis-T Type is covered in Nemesis Analysis, while the Tyrant-like Monster Sergei is covered in part 3 of this analysis, under "Super Humans".
All of the following Tyrant models were created using new human hosts and not from T-103 clones. Four of them were created in the latter half of 1998 alone, while another began development earlier that year. Two of the Tyrants (Thanatos and the T-0400TP) were referred to as "R" or "Reborn" instead of "Super" in their transformed, default stage. It may be that this naming scheme was adopted to specifically refer to Super Tyrants that were offshoots of the mass production line. Conversely, the Super stage of T-A.L.O.S. was called "T-A.L.O.S. II". It may be that the Reborn label did not apply to T-A.L.O.S. because it was based on a prototype from the T-00 line, which preceded the mass production model. It is unknown if the "R" label used for Tyrants was related to the Hunter Rs, as it seemingly stood for a different word in the case of the latter.
The Nemesis-T Type is covered in Nemesis Analysis, while the Tyrant-like Monster Sergei is covered in part 3 of this analysis, under "Super Humans".
Thanatos - The Thanatos B.O.W. (named after the Greek deity personifying death) was created in 1998 by Umbrella scientist Greg Mueller at Raccoon University, after he obtained the development data of the mass production type Tyrant from within Umbrella. Mueller wanted to create a weapon that was "beautiful, unique, and god-like". As such, Thanatos was highly refined, and its combat abilities exceeded those of its predecessors. While Thanatos was a Tyrant in the "biological sense" and was a derivative based on T-103 research, it was not an "official" Tyrant. This is because it was developed in secret by Mueller alone, and it was not an official Umbrella project. When Thanatos was completed or near-completion, Umbrella expressed interest in it, but Mueller refused to hand it over. Mueller was against Thanatos being mass-produced - he considered one "masterpiece" to be enough and thought that Umbrella's greed was weakening it. Mueller not taking mass-production into account during its creation may have contributed to Thanatos' extremely advanced abilities - like the Ivans, it had unique features that likely could not be easily reproduced.
As he could foresee Umbrella attempting to take Thanatos by force, Mueller began to work against Umbrella by developing a drug to combat the t-Virus (see the "Daylight" section under t-Virus Countermeasures for more information). During the Raccoon City Destruction Incident, Mueller became trapped within the city. Umbrella took advantage of the situation and sent Monitor Nikolai Zinoviev with a UBCS team to perform a special operation before the city was destroyed, codenamed "Emperor's Mushroom". The team's objective was to use a "C-2+ extractor" to extract live "T-Blood" from Thanatos, to kill the B.O.W., and to recover its corpse. The T-Blood could be used to clone Thanatos, while Umbrella could use its corpse to replicate any other modifications Mueller made to the creature. Mueller released the B.O.W. in order to stop the team, with it swiftly dispatching all of them save for Nikolai. Thanatos was then ordered to attack a group of survivors in the University, apparently in order to further test Thanatos' abilities. Mueller was eventually assassinated by Nikolai, and Thanatos was killed by the explosion that destroyed the city.
Thanatos was based on a dark-skinned human. It retained an even more human form than a T-103, although it still grew in size, had paled skin, and lost eye color. It also developed claws (albeit very small ones) and had an exterior, secondary heart like the T-001 and T-002 did, which was surrounded by enlarged blood vessels that ran across its body. While Thanatos probably could have been made more human-like by avoiding these traits, Mueller was more concerned with the Tyrant's magnificence than its ability to disguise itself as a human. Its secondary heart was partially covered by a protective metal case, and to accommodate the heart Thanatos did not wear a limiter coat. Its power limiter was surgically implanted into its body like the first Tyrants instead.
As Mueller was involved in research involving human memory and could even eliminate specific memories in humans, he may have utilized this research in order to make Thanatos completely loyal to him. Due to the improved control aspect of Thanatos, its genitalia did not have to be removed to reduce aggression-causing testosterone. While Thanatos was otherwise naked, its genitals were covered by underwear. The increased testosterone levels Thanatos would have been subject to made it especially ferocious - while it moved slowly at first, once it had some of its blood drawn by a C2+ extractor it went into a rage and sprinted towards its targets.
The vitality, speed, and overall combat abilities of Thanatos were greatly enhanced. Most blows from Thanatos' arms were fatal, and this lethality is what earned it its name. Despite having small claws, its strength was so great that it could plunge its fingers through a man's body and leave him impaled on its hand while it continued to run and jump. Its running and jumping abilities were at least on par with a Super Tyrant, even while its power limiter was still engaged. Thanatos did not react to being fired upon by multiple automatic weapons at once, despite lacking any protective clothing like the T-103. It survived multiple firefights in addition to being electrocuted, crushed, hit by a rocket launcher, and even being injected with the Daylight vaccine (which created deep, glowing cracks in its body due to an adverse chemical reaction in its blood).
As Mueller was involved in research involving human memory and could even eliminate specific memories in humans, he may have utilized this research in order to make Thanatos completely loyal to him. Due to the improved control aspect of Thanatos, its genitalia did not have to be removed to reduce aggression-causing testosterone. While Thanatos was otherwise naked, its genitals were covered by underwear. The increased testosterone levels Thanatos would have been subject to made it especially ferocious - while it moved slowly at first, once it had some of its blood drawn by a C2+ extractor it went into a rage and sprinted towards its targets.
The vitality, speed, and overall combat abilities of Thanatos were greatly enhanced. Most blows from Thanatos' arms were fatal, and this lethality is what earned it its name. Despite having small claws, its strength was so great that it could plunge its fingers through a man's body and leave him impaled on its hand while it continued to run and jump. Its running and jumping abilities were at least on par with a Super Tyrant, even while its power limiter was still engaged. Thanatos did not react to being fired upon by multiple automatic weapons at once, despite lacking any protective clothing like the T-103. It survived multiple firefights in addition to being electrocuted, crushed, hit by a rocket launcher, and even being injected with the Daylight vaccine (which created deep, glowing cracks in its body due to an adverse chemical reaction in its blood).
Thanatos was on the first floor of Raccoon University at the same time the building collapsed due to explosives planted by Nikolai. The weight of the multi-story building falling on top of the Tyrant grievously wounded it and caused it to lose its right arm. Thanatos' power limiter disengaged in response to it being in a near-death state and the creature transformed into its default, Super form: "Thanatos Reborn" (shortened to Thanatos R).
Thanatos grew to an incredible size in its Reborn/Super state - it was over 12 feet tall, making it the largest known Tyrant until it was later surpassed. Its skin was largely burned, and it seemed to lose its lips. Thanatos R's secondary heart expanded to the point that the metal case surrounding it ripped open, leaving the heart totally exposed. While it failed to regrow its severed right arm, its left arm grew in size and elasticity, with its claw growing massive. This may have been an adaptive mutation in response to it losing one arm, but it is possible its right arm would have developed in the same way had it not been lost. Its arm was capable of stretching in order to extend the reach of its enormous claw even further.
Despite its wounded appearance, the already outstanding destructive power of Thanatos increased even further in this state, as did its mobility and vitality. Thanatos R's jumping ability was even greater than that of other Super Tyrants, an ability that was already at a level previously thought impossible. It would jump so high into the sky that it would be capable of disappearing from view, allowing it to ambush its prey by dropping in other locations. It is possible the muscles in its legs became more elastic to realize this ability, in the same way its arm muscles did.
Umbrella failed to recover a blood sample of Thanatos or Thanatos itself, and with the death of Mueller and the destruction of the Tyrant's body, Umbrella could not replicate this B.O.W.
Thanatos grew to an incredible size in its Reborn/Super state - it was over 12 feet tall, making it the largest known Tyrant until it was later surpassed. Its skin was largely burned, and it seemed to lose its lips. Thanatos R's secondary heart expanded to the point that the metal case surrounding it ripped open, leaving the heart totally exposed. While it failed to regrow its severed right arm, its left arm grew in size and elasticity, with its claw growing massive. This may have been an adaptive mutation in response to it losing one arm, but it is possible its right arm would have developed in the same way had it not been lost. Its arm was capable of stretching in order to extend the reach of its enormous claw even further.
Despite its wounded appearance, the already outstanding destructive power of Thanatos increased even further in this state, as did its mobility and vitality. Thanatos R's jumping ability was even greater than that of other Super Tyrants, an ability that was already at a level previously thought impossible. It would jump so high into the sky that it would be capable of disappearing from view, allowing it to ambush its prey by dropping in other locations. It is possible the muscles in its legs became more elastic to realize this ability, in the same way its arm muscles did.
Umbrella failed to recover a blood sample of Thanatos or Thanatos itself, and with the death of Mueller and the destruction of the Tyrant's body, Umbrella could not replicate this B.O.W.
T-0400TP images scanned by BSAArklay and edited by Reen Hearst.
T-0400TP - The Tyrant-0400TP was a prototype created in Umbrella's Raccoon City above-ground laboratory, based on T-103 data. It was often just referred to as the "Tyrant", in the same way an M16 and AK-47 are both just called assault rifles. While it was based on a new human host, its appearance was nearly identical to that of a T-103. It wore what seemed to be the same standard green coat and power limiter worn by T-103s, with the only visual difference being that it did not wear gloves.
The T-0400TP was subjected to multiple genetic modifications that gave it greater abilities than a T-103. It was capable of running in its first form, like other advanced models such as Ivan and Thanatos. Its vitality was improved in general, with it even surviving an internal explosion. Its strength allowed it to kill many other B.O.W.s with ease.
The T-0400TP primarily diverged from normal Tyrants in that its behavior in combat was improved and controlled by downloading digital programs directly into the Tyrant's brain. It had a metal plate on the back of its neck, possibly serving as an access point for data to some kind of cerebral implant. This implant was likely connected to the base of the Tyrant's skull or its brain stem. This method of control could be seen as an offshoot of the envisioned T-A.L.O.S. project, a successor to the Ivan visors, or even a more refined form of the head-antenna used on the T-103 in Resident Evil 2 Reimagined.
The Tyrant was stored in a cold storage capsule (its "cradle') which maintained a fixed temperature and internal pressure. The Tyrant could only be fed programs while inside of this cradle. The programs and activation code for the Tyrant were scrambled by a security code for the sake of confidentiality and stored inside of a purpose-built MO disk. After being unscrambled, the data on this disk could be used on the cradle's start-up control terminal, which would then transmit data into the Tyrant. "Code A" ("action program") and "Code B" ("life-support program") were two known programs created for the T-0400TP, with the former containing it orders and the latter improving its combat abilities.
The T-0400TP was extraordinarily intelligent. While this may have been due the programs aiding its behavior and possible genetic enhancements, a larger factor may have been that the T-0400TP was based on a human test subject, unlike the T-103 model which was cloned, allowing it to potentially retain memories and free will (like the T-002 did). Umbrella might have not diminished its intelligence like they did with other Tyrants as well, as the T-0400TP did not need to be trained in the traditional sense. The Tyrant was capable of understanding human speech, was self-aware, and had strong feelings of self-preservation
In order to ensure it did not pose a risk to handlers in the event it rebelled or lost its power limiter, an Umbrella researcher named Carter implanted a bomb in the T-0400TP's body. This bomb, purchased from someone named Jeffery, could be triggered by a remote control so long as the Tyrant was within 6 feet of the device, by holding down the detonation button for 2 seconds. It was eventually triggered, but the vitality of the T-0400TP allowed it to survive the explosion. The failure of its implanted bomb to kill it may have contributed to Umbrella's decision to implant a bomb directly into the skull of the T-078 - to ensure the explosion would be fatal and that the Tyrant would not survive like the T-0400TP did.
An experiment was planned for the T-0400TP where it would combat several Hunter R B.O.W.s in order to measure its damage threshold limit, specific action program, and life-support program. This experiment was halted due to the outbreak in Raccoon City. When the Hunter Rs escaped captivity, Carter and a group of survivors activated the T-0400TP to clear the area out so that they could escape safely. Following its awakening, the T-0400TP overheard Carter mention that he could use the bomb implanted into it to kill the Tyrant at any time. The Tyrant then resisted its programming in an effort to save its own life. It snuck up on Carter and killed him, preventing him from using the bomb's remote control. The Tyrant afterwards went rampant and attacked any living thing it encountered, including the other human survivors. Control of the Tyrant failed due to not only the intelligence of the T-0400TP, but also the experimental nature of its control program and the fact the Tyrant was allowed to operate outside of its practice space (the area in which it was programmed to attack Hunter Rs).
The T-0400TP was subjected to multiple genetic modifications that gave it greater abilities than a T-103. It was capable of running in its first form, like other advanced models such as Ivan and Thanatos. Its vitality was improved in general, with it even surviving an internal explosion. Its strength allowed it to kill many other B.O.W.s with ease.
The T-0400TP primarily diverged from normal Tyrants in that its behavior in combat was improved and controlled by downloading digital programs directly into the Tyrant's brain. It had a metal plate on the back of its neck, possibly serving as an access point for data to some kind of cerebral implant. This implant was likely connected to the base of the Tyrant's skull or its brain stem. This method of control could be seen as an offshoot of the envisioned T-A.L.O.S. project, a successor to the Ivan visors, or even a more refined form of the head-antenna used on the T-103 in Resident Evil 2 Reimagined.
The Tyrant was stored in a cold storage capsule (its "cradle') which maintained a fixed temperature and internal pressure. The Tyrant could only be fed programs while inside of this cradle. The programs and activation code for the Tyrant were scrambled by a security code for the sake of confidentiality and stored inside of a purpose-built MO disk. After being unscrambled, the data on this disk could be used on the cradle's start-up control terminal, which would then transmit data into the Tyrant. "Code A" ("action program") and "Code B" ("life-support program") were two known programs created for the T-0400TP, with the former containing it orders and the latter improving its combat abilities.
The T-0400TP was extraordinarily intelligent. While this may have been due the programs aiding its behavior and possible genetic enhancements, a larger factor may have been that the T-0400TP was based on a human test subject, unlike the T-103 model which was cloned, allowing it to potentially retain memories and free will (like the T-002 did). Umbrella might have not diminished its intelligence like they did with other Tyrants as well, as the T-0400TP did not need to be trained in the traditional sense. The Tyrant was capable of understanding human speech, was self-aware, and had strong feelings of self-preservation
In order to ensure it did not pose a risk to handlers in the event it rebelled or lost its power limiter, an Umbrella researcher named Carter implanted a bomb in the T-0400TP's body. This bomb, purchased from someone named Jeffery, could be triggered by a remote control so long as the Tyrant was within 6 feet of the device, by holding down the detonation button for 2 seconds. It was eventually triggered, but the vitality of the T-0400TP allowed it to survive the explosion. The failure of its implanted bomb to kill it may have contributed to Umbrella's decision to implant a bomb directly into the skull of the T-078 - to ensure the explosion would be fatal and that the Tyrant would not survive like the T-0400TP did.
An experiment was planned for the T-0400TP where it would combat several Hunter R B.O.W.s in order to measure its damage threshold limit, specific action program, and life-support program. This experiment was halted due to the outbreak in Raccoon City. When the Hunter Rs escaped captivity, Carter and a group of survivors activated the T-0400TP to clear the area out so that they could escape safely. Following its awakening, the T-0400TP overheard Carter mention that he could use the bomb implanted into it to kill the Tyrant at any time. The Tyrant then resisted its programming in an effort to save its own life. It snuck up on Carter and killed him, preventing him from using the bomb's remote control. The Tyrant afterwards went rampant and attacked any living thing it encountered, including the other human survivors. Control of the Tyrant failed due to not only the intelligence of the T-0400TP, but also the experimental nature of its control program and the fact the Tyrant was allowed to operate outside of its practice space (the area in which it was programmed to attack Hunter Rs).
After the T-0400TP was severely damaged by human survivors and was near death, its power limiter disengaged and it went through an explosive transformation into its Super Tyrant form: the "Tyrant Reborn", or "Tyrant R"'.
The Tyrant R's cells "activated in response to an existential threat" and went "out of control". Like most Super Tyrants it evolved into a more aggressive form with claws (which was similar to the white claw on Thanatos Reborn) and an exposed heart, with its speed, strength, and agility all being enhanced. The Tyrant R was unique in that its skin was strengthened and hardened to such an extent that it appeared as if it was made of rock, seemingly due to modifications made by Umbrella. This gave the Tyrant R a sort of biological armor, making it especially durable. While its stony surface gave it an ungainly appearance, it did not affect its incredible mobility. Its enlarged heart was partially covered by its rocky skin. Thanks to its armor, the Tyrant R survived multiple battles with armed humans and even being partially absorbed by Nyx. It was eventually defeated by Ada Wong and destroyed in the bombing of Raccoon City.
It can be assumed that had the T-0400TP experiment gone well and had the research been recovered, the improvements made to the T-04000TP would have been implemented on the T-103 line, or that the T-0400TP would have replaced it entirely. In Biohazard Clan Master, the Vasilisk Corporation managed to create their own version of the Tyrant R.
The Tyrant R's cells "activated in response to an existential threat" and went "out of control". Like most Super Tyrants it evolved into a more aggressive form with claws (which was similar to the white claw on Thanatos Reborn) and an exposed heart, with its speed, strength, and agility all being enhanced. The Tyrant R was unique in that its skin was strengthened and hardened to such an extent that it appeared as if it was made of rock, seemingly due to modifications made by Umbrella. This gave the Tyrant R a sort of biological armor, making it especially durable. While its stony surface gave it an ungainly appearance, it did not affect its incredible mobility. Its enlarged heart was partially covered by its rocky skin. Thanks to its armor, the Tyrant R survived multiple battles with armed humans and even being partially absorbed by Nyx. It was eventually defeated by Ada Wong and destroyed in the bombing of Raccoon City.
It can be assumed that had the T-0400TP experiment gone well and had the research been recovered, the improvements made to the T-04000TP would have been implemented on the T-103 line, or that the T-0400TP would have replaced it entirely. In Biohazard Clan Master, the Vasilisk Corporation managed to create their own version of the Tyrant R.
Tyrant C - At the end of the Showdown 3 mini-game from Outbreak File #2, a unique Tyrant appears after defeating two T-0400TPs. Due to it being the third Tyrant encountered, it is called "Tyrant C". It was the "ultimate evolved Tyrant that reigns at the apex of all life-forms".
This Tyrant appeared to be based on the T-0400TP and may have been an experimental offshoot that sought to increase T-0400TPs combat abilities even further. It had a metal plate on the back of its neck like the T-0400TP, presumably for downloading programs. Even though it had a limiter equipped, its movements were actually the same as those of a Super Tyrant/Tyrant Reborn, and it was capable of running and jumping just as impressively. Its arms appeared to be elastic, similar to Thanatos, and its strength and resilience were greater than normal.
The Tyrant C was distinguishable by its red coat, sharp canine teeth, and horns protruding from the top of its head. These horns were possibly abnormal skull extensions that sprouted as a result of excess cell growth. Its body was surrounded by steam, which could indicate that it generated a large amount of heat, either from its power limiter or from its own body (which could have had an overheating issue due to excessive cellular activity). This heat could have harmed its long-term viability on the field, leading to it being scrapped as a product. The heat may also have actually helped it in combat by harming those who came into contact with it. It is unknown if the Tyrant C had a Super/Reborn form.
This Tyrant appeared to be based on the T-0400TP and may have been an experimental offshoot that sought to increase T-0400TPs combat abilities even further. It had a metal plate on the back of its neck like the T-0400TP, presumably for downloading programs. Even though it had a limiter equipped, its movements were actually the same as those of a Super Tyrant/Tyrant Reborn, and it was capable of running and jumping just as impressively. Its arms appeared to be elastic, similar to Thanatos, and its strength and resilience were greater than normal.
The Tyrant C was distinguishable by its red coat, sharp canine teeth, and horns protruding from the top of its head. These horns were possibly abnormal skull extensions that sprouted as a result of excess cell growth. Its body was surrounded by steam, which could indicate that it generated a large amount of heat, either from its power limiter or from its own body (which could have had an overheating issue due to excessive cellular activity). This heat could have harmed its long-term viability on the field, leading to it being scrapped as a product. The heat may also have actually helped it in combat by harming those who came into contact with it. It is unknown if the Tyrant C had a Super/Reborn form.
Tyrant C image scanned by BSAArklay and edited by Reen Hearst.
Hypnos-T Type - While the gigantic Umbrella factory at Sheena Island (or "UM26E") became dedicated to the mass production of the T-103, the local researchers became focused on trying to create and mass produce a new and improved Tyrant model at the same time. The Hypnos-T Type, also just called Hypnos, was a Tyrant prototype developed under the direction of Sheena Island's Commander, Vincent Goldman. Hypnos was the closest and final attempt by Umbrella to create miniaturized Tyrants that could be disguised as humans. It was created by introducing two special substances into gene culture: the Hypnos gene and a chemical called "β Hetero Nonserotonin".
Similar to the Kodoku Project, the Hypnos gene was discovered by pitting hundreds of thousands of different kinds of cells against each other. The cells that survived an encounter would be again forced to fight more cells, in a forced survival of the fittest. This was to discover a gene that promoted the development of the most powerful cells for B.O.W. development. This experiment went on for three weeks. The researchers overseeing the results of each cellular battle, who had no perception of the passing of day or night, became struck with sleepiness when the final cell was chosen. As such, the genes extracted from this cell were named Hypnos, after the Greek deity/embodiment of sleep. "Hypnos-T Type" literally means "a Tyrant with the Hypnos gene", similar to how "Nemesis-T Type" means "a Tyrant with the Nemesis Parasite".
The second ingredient, β Hetero Nonserotonin, could be harvested from human brains. The nature of this chemical and the method used to extract it is detailed in the following file:
Similar to the Kodoku Project, the Hypnos gene was discovered by pitting hundreds of thousands of different kinds of cells against each other. The cells that survived an encounter would be again forced to fight more cells, in a forced survival of the fittest. This was to discover a gene that promoted the development of the most powerful cells for B.O.W. development. This experiment went on for three weeks. The researchers overseeing the results of each cellular battle, who had no perception of the passing of day or night, became struck with sleepiness when the final cell was chosen. As such, the genes extracted from this cell were named Hypnos, after the Greek deity/embodiment of sleep. "Hypnos-T Type" literally means "a Tyrant with the Hypnos gene", similar to how "Nemesis-T Type" means "a Tyrant with the Nemesis Parasite".
The second ingredient, β Hetero Nonserotonin, could be harvested from human brains. The nature of this chemical and the method used to extract it is detailed in the following file:
RAW MATERIAL EXTRACTION METHOD
Regarding the Extraction Method of Raw Material β Hetero Nonserotonin
In order to establish the Tyrant's mass-production system, it is essential to infuse a large amount of high-purity β Hetero Nonserotonin during gene culture. Research has proven that this material is a substance most commonly secreted within the human brain from the pituitary gland of adolescents in the late secondary sexual period (healthy subjects between 16 to 19-years-old).
Furthermore, medical data has shown that that this substance reacts to excessive secretion of noradrenaline produced from the brainstem's locus coeruleus.
Noradrenaline is a substance within the brain secreted when a human is placed in excruciating states of stress or fear. β Hetero Nonserotonin cannot be extracted from a brain-dead human body because the substance only exists in stimulated cells.
Therefore, the best extraction method is to surgically remove the pituitary gland from adolescents being used as raw material after opening their skulls while still alive and without anesthetic, stimulating a superfluous secretion of noradrenaline due to the intense fear and pain of being killed.
Sheena Island Tyrant Plant Commander
Vincent Goldman
Many healthy adolescents from around the world were brought to Sheena Island's prison, where they were dehumanized and treated like "raw materials". They would eventually have their heads cracked open to harvest β Hetero Nonserotonin. While large quantities of the chemical were used to make the Hypnos-T Type prototype, once it was completed the researchers would no longer need to keep extracting the chemical to create more Tyrants, as the finished specimen could just be cloned ("establish the Tyrant's mass-production system").
The Hypnos-T Type had pale, blueish skin. Its blood was green, although this could have simply been a result of censorship in Gun Survivor. It's height and size were equal to that of a human with above-average height, and it did not appear to be particularly bulky. It still grew a single claw and had darkened patches of skin similar to those on the T-002 and T-103 Super Tyrant along its left arm, part of its left side, and back. It was not equipped with a limiter coat and may have had a limiter surgically implanted instead. It was capable of running but seemed to be less durable than other Tyrants in its first form. It still had enough strength to impale a human being with its claw in a single strike.
While Hypnos' skin and claw made it stand out, its size and shape were otherwise very human, which is exactly what Umbrella wanted. Its more inhuman aspects were likely owing to its nature as a prototype, and subsequent Hypnos Tyrants would likely lack these traits (similar to how the T-103s based on the T-002 maintained a more human appearance than the first model). A finished Hypnos Tyrant, when clothed, would likely appear to be totally human, aside from it lacking human emotion. It therefore represented the possible completion of the Tyrant Project, or at least the disguise aspect of it.
Hypnos escaped from confinement during an outbreak late in the November of 1998 and went on a blind rampage. After being damaged by Ark Thompson, it underwent two separate mutations, unlike most Tyrants. The reason for this could have been due to:
In its second form, Hypnos grew in size, so that it resembled a more typical Tyrant. It developed small claws on its other hand and feet, and its original claw grew in size. Hypnos even developed sharp teeth in this form. Its dark patches of skin expanded to cover the lower half of Hypnos' head. Its agility and speed increased in this form, and it behaved in a more ferocious manner. Hypnos' vitality was also much greater in this form.
In its third form, Hypnos' muscle mass increased greatly. Its upper body increased in size until it was forced into a stooped posture, giving it a gorilla-like shape. All of its claws and sharp teeth grew in size, and its mouth expanded to form a permanent grin. Other muscles that grew included its tongue and heart, the latter of which emerged from its body from several flaps of skin. In this stage it entirely lost its human appearance, appearing and behaving more like a wild animal. It made growing and hissing noises, and leap at its prey like a carnivorous beast. Its strength, speed, and agility increased to such a degree in this form that it could grab onto a moving helicopter.
After being knocked unconscious in its third form, the Hypnos-T Type rose again moments later without mutating again. This indicates that either the Hypnos-promoted cells had already taken over its body, or that it had otherwise reached the end of the t-Virus' potential for mutation. It was soon after destroyed by Ark, who used missiles from an attack helicopter to obliterate it. Its destruction along with the destruction of Sheena Island forced Umbrella to abandon its goal of creating human-looking Tyrants.
While Hypnos' skin and claw made it stand out, its size and shape were otherwise very human, which is exactly what Umbrella wanted. Its more inhuman aspects were likely owing to its nature as a prototype, and subsequent Hypnos Tyrants would likely lack these traits (similar to how the T-103s based on the T-002 maintained a more human appearance than the first model). A finished Hypnos Tyrant, when clothed, would likely appear to be totally human, aside from it lacking human emotion. It therefore represented the possible completion of the Tyrant Project, or at least the disguise aspect of it.
Hypnos escaped from confinement during an outbreak late in the November of 1998 and went on a blind rampage. After being damaged by Ark Thompson, it underwent two separate mutations, unlike most Tyrants. The reason for this could have been due to:
- It disengaging a power limiter, with the second transformation exclusively being due to V-ACT.
- The second form only being an intermediary stage in-between its first and final form, with the damage it underwent in its second form being inconsequential to its final transformation.
- The Hypnos gene causing the new cells formed from regeneration to express only the best attributes, or rather the attributes that made it stronger and harder to kill.
In its second form, Hypnos grew in size, so that it resembled a more typical Tyrant. It developed small claws on its other hand and feet, and its original claw grew in size. Hypnos even developed sharp teeth in this form. Its dark patches of skin expanded to cover the lower half of Hypnos' head. Its agility and speed increased in this form, and it behaved in a more ferocious manner. Hypnos' vitality was also much greater in this form.
In its third form, Hypnos' muscle mass increased greatly. Its upper body increased in size until it was forced into a stooped posture, giving it a gorilla-like shape. All of its claws and sharp teeth grew in size, and its mouth expanded to form a permanent grin. Other muscles that grew included its tongue and heart, the latter of which emerged from its body from several flaps of skin. In this stage it entirely lost its human appearance, appearing and behaving more like a wild animal. It made growing and hissing noises, and leap at its prey like a carnivorous beast. Its strength, speed, and agility increased to such a degree in this form that it could grab onto a moving helicopter.
After being knocked unconscious in its third form, the Hypnos-T Type rose again moments later without mutating again. This indicates that either the Hypnos-promoted cells had already taken over its body, or that it had otherwise reached the end of the t-Virus' potential for mutation. It was soon after destroyed by Ark, who used missiles from an attack helicopter to obliterate it. Its destruction along with the destruction of Sheena Island forced Umbrella to abandon its goal of creating human-looking Tyrants.
Credit to CrimsonHead, Newsbot and Ridley for the first image
Bandersnatch - The Bandersnatch B.O.W.s were a prototype alternative to the T-103 Tyrant model. They were to abandon both of the Tyrant Project's main goals (perfection as a weapon and a B.O.W. that could be disguised as a human) in favor of being low-cost alternatives that only focused on practicality and versatility. This was almost certainly necessitated by the destruction of the Tyrant mass production plant on Sheena Island, and Umbrella suddenly gaining competition in B.O.W. development from its Rival Organization. Umbrella could no longer clone Tyrants in large numbers, and so needed to find a way to create cheap Tyrants instead. No power limiters were used in their creation.
In December of 1998, a group of Bandersnatches were sent to Rockfort Island to collect combat data and to test their practicality as weapons. If they showed promise as a weapon, Umbrella planned to continue to refine them and then approve them for mass production. All of the prototypes were released from captivity following a raid made by HCF, and they were all eventually destroyed when the island's self-destruct system went off. Umbrella most likely scrapped the Bandersnatch concept following this event, but the Rival Org used them as inspiration to create the Jabberwock S3.
The exact method used to create the Bandersnatches is unknown. A theory originally made by the Biology of Evil fits the best: that they were created by injecting a fertilized human ovum with the t-Virus. This would both avoid the expensive maintenance and surgeries required when making adult humans into Tyrants and could be done easily enough that cloning would not be necessary to replicate them. This is also largely supported by the physical appearance of Bandersnatches, which looked as if they diverged from normal human development as early as the embryonic stage.
In December of 1998, a group of Bandersnatches were sent to Rockfort Island to collect combat data and to test their practicality as weapons. If they showed promise as a weapon, Umbrella planned to continue to refine them and then approve them for mass production. All of the prototypes were released from captivity following a raid made by HCF, and they were all eventually destroyed when the island's self-destruct system went off. Umbrella most likely scrapped the Bandersnatch concept following this event, but the Rival Org used them as inspiration to create the Jabberwock S3.
The exact method used to create the Bandersnatches is unknown. A theory originally made by the Biology of Evil fits the best: that they were created by injecting a fertilized human ovum with the t-Virus. This would both avoid the expensive maintenance and surgeries required when making adult humans into Tyrants and could be done easily enough that cloning would not be necessary to replicate them. This is also largely supported by the physical appearance of Bandersnatches, which looked as if they diverged from normal human development as early as the embryonic stage.
The Bandersnatches were heavily deformed and repulsive looking. Certain parts of their bodies failed to develop properly, while other parts seemed to be overdeveloped, another indicator that they were infected long before birth. In particular, their left arms did not grow beyond a small stub. All of the biomass that was supposed to go into the left arm seemed to go into the right one instead, making it oversized. This arm also functioned as a respiratory organ, either complementing or replacing the lungs. Air could be accumulated and stored in the arm and exhaled through a hole in the shoulder (according to the (designer). While their legs did develop, more biomass went to their upper half than to their lower. Their facial skin did not grow correctly, causing much of their skulls to be exposed. Bandersnatches were otherwise characterized by their yellow skin, which was decayed in spots and covered in inflamed blood vessels. As they did not mutate when damaged, they almost certainly were not equipped with power limiters, making this their default form. While they were too disfigured to pass for humans, their horrific appearance could instill a sense of dread in their opponents.
While Bandersnatches mobility was extremely hindered by their small legs, their massive right arms made up for this shortcoming. The right arm of Bandersnatches was extremely elastic, even more so than the arm of Thanatos Reborn. They used their arm like a grappling hook, stretching it outwards to grab onto surfaces in the distance, and then retracting it, pulling their bodies forward in the process. The speed at which their arm stretched allowed them to drop in front of or behind targets in an instant, making them difficult to avoid. This was accomplished by the arm's functionality as a respiratory organ - the arm could use the compressed air it stored to launch itself like a bullet. They were efficient trackers and pursuers for this reason.
The Bandersnatch arm was an especially deadly weapon, at close or long ranges. Their elastic strengthened muscle tissue allowed them to swing this arm like a whip, or to grab distant targets by the head, gently lift them into the air, and crush their head by squeezing it in their massive hand. They could also use their arms to grab and catapult objects at prey, demonstrating that Bandersnatches were intelligent enough to use tools.
Bandersnatches were much less durable than any other Tyrants and lacked the regenerative potential to recover after being knocked unconscious. Yet they were still harder to destroy than most non-Tyrant B.O.W.s, and far more so than humans. Their heads were very vulnerable to damage like other Tyrants, a problem exasperated by their skulls being exposed. A Bandersnatch could use its enlarged hand to cover its face, protecting it from damage, but in so doing it could not simultaneously use its arm to move or attack targets. This forced them to entirely shift their focus from offensive maneuvers to defensive ones when they were shot at, limiting their combat abilities in situations where a combatant learns their behavioral patterns. Their lack of a developed left arm also made them vulnerable to attacks from their side, especially as their small legs could not turn their bodies quickly.
The Bandersnatch was named after a furious beast from Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There and The Hunting of the Snark. Caroll's Bandersnatch was said to be extremely quick, and possessed a long, extendable neck, like the arm of the Bandersnatch B.O.W.
While Bandersnatches mobility was extremely hindered by their small legs, their massive right arms made up for this shortcoming. The right arm of Bandersnatches was extremely elastic, even more so than the arm of Thanatos Reborn. They used their arm like a grappling hook, stretching it outwards to grab onto surfaces in the distance, and then retracting it, pulling their bodies forward in the process. The speed at which their arm stretched allowed them to drop in front of or behind targets in an instant, making them difficult to avoid. This was accomplished by the arm's functionality as a respiratory organ - the arm could use the compressed air it stored to launch itself like a bullet. They were efficient trackers and pursuers for this reason.
The Bandersnatch arm was an especially deadly weapon, at close or long ranges. Their elastic strengthened muscle tissue allowed them to swing this arm like a whip, or to grab distant targets by the head, gently lift them into the air, and crush their head by squeezing it in their massive hand. They could also use their arms to grab and catapult objects at prey, demonstrating that Bandersnatches were intelligent enough to use tools.
Bandersnatches were much less durable than any other Tyrants and lacked the regenerative potential to recover after being knocked unconscious. Yet they were still harder to destroy than most non-Tyrant B.O.W.s, and far more so than humans. Their heads were very vulnerable to damage like other Tyrants, a problem exasperated by their skulls being exposed. A Bandersnatch could use its enlarged hand to cover its face, protecting it from damage, but in so doing it could not simultaneously use its arm to move or attack targets. This forced them to entirely shift their focus from offensive maneuvers to defensive ones when they were shot at, limiting their combat abilities in situations where a combatant learns their behavioral patterns. Their lack of a developed left arm also made them vulnerable to attacks from their side, especially as their small legs could not turn their bodies quickly.
The Bandersnatch was named after a furious beast from Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There and The Hunting of the Snark. Caroll's Bandersnatch was said to be extremely quick, and possessed a long, extendable neck, like the arm of the Bandersnatch B.O.W.
Credit ReenHearst for editing TALOS PNG's
T-A.L.O.S. - Codename T-A.L.O.S. (Tyrant-Armored Lethal Organic System: also called "Talos"), was the most advanced Tyrant created by Umbrella. It was produced as a result of the Talos Project, with Talos being the name of a mythological bronze giant automaton that served as guardian of Crete.
The development of T-A.L.O.S. actually began at the Arklay Mansion facility, in 1998. After the success of the T-002, the Talos Project was proposed by the Arklay B.O.W. Research Team. The project proposed the creation a B.O.W. that would take the Tyrant Project into the next generation, with an eye to the diversifying needs of Umbrella's clients. The Talos Project would involve the creation of a Tyrant that would be completely controlled via computer chip (an idea inspired by, or at least making reference to, the Nemesis Project) to avoid the instability of t-Virus-infected weapons. The resulting "T-A.L.O.S." bioweapon would also be given offensive and defensive capabilities making it more suitable to fighting AFVs (Armored Fighting Vehicles). If the project was successful, it was anticipated that T-A.L.O.S. would be "the strongest product in land-based combat weapons". The Talos Project was proposed to Umbrella HQ in the midst of the Mansion Incident, while the research team immediately began work on the project. Development of T-A.L.O.S. began around the same time the T-103 began development.
The eleventh of the initial T-00 Tyrant test subjects, the T-011, was used as the prototype for this project. It is unknown what happened to T-003 through T-010, but it is possible that they too were used in the Talos Project and died after rejecting their cybernetic implants. The T-011, officially called "T-A.L.O.S. body T-011", was eventually abandoned due to the ongoing chaos of the Mansion Incident. When it was decided by a majority of Umbrella's executives that the Mansion was to be wiped out and all remaining projects held there destroyed, the T-011 was one of the only projects that was not saved at an earlier date by William Birkin. Shortly before the Mansion was destroyed, Sergei Vladimir secretly recovered the T-011 after retrieving a confidential letter from Oswell E. Spencer. Spencer saw potential in the Talos Project and wanted to keep it under his own control, away from Umbrella's other executives, to both consolidate his power and to ensure he had a trump card in case the recent troubles brought financial ruin to the company. The T-011 was moved by Sergei to the Caucasus Facility in Russia, and the research ideas proposed by the Arklay Team were continued there. In just under five years, the T-A.L.O.S. prototype was finished.
The team that created the T-0400TP in Raccoon City also implemented the idea of using cybernetic implants to establish control. The developers of the T-0400TP were possibly directly inspired by the Talos Project, without the researchers knowing that the project secretly survived the Mansion and was actually still in ongoing development.
Unlike the T-0400TP, which was given was given orders using preset commands, T-A.L.O.S. was to be remotely controlled in real time by an AI system. T-A.L.O.S. had a "program chip" embedded in the base of its brain, which had a synaptic connection to the Tyrant's brain cells. This computer chip could be wirelessly connected to a computer via satellite. Using the synapse connection, an AI could "synchronize" with the Tyrant's brain, essentially bypassing the mind of the Tyrant in a manner similar to the NE-α parasite with the Nemesis-T Type. The AI would essentially act as the Tyrant's intelligence. It is also possible that T-A.L.O.S. could be controlled by a human user directly. The Arklay team considered this a more reliable and significant means of control and management than the usage of parasites and thought that it would circumvent intelligence decline and breakdown from cellular mutation. This enhanced the "assurance and stability" of the Tyrant.
Sergei had the T-A.L.O.S. prototype's program chip remotely connected to the RED QUEEN AI. RED QUEEN was a defense AI developed by Umbrella, contained within the company's main archive, the UMF-013 supercomputer. RED QUEEN was responsible for conducting information monitoring and could manage all of the company's networks simultaneously. It could even use its control over company defenses to eliminate hostiles with some degree of self-awareness. When connected to T-A.L.O.S., RED QUEEN was able to completely control the Tyrant's movements, and as long as they were synchronized T-A.L.O.S.'s combat abilities were utilized to their maximum potential by the AI, with a great level of precision and tactical behavior. T-A.L.O.S. was placed through a number of combat trials against live opponents, as RED QUEEN gathered data and information to both measure the Tyrants abilities and to further refine its behavior on the battlefield.
The development of T-A.L.O.S. actually began at the Arklay Mansion facility, in 1998. After the success of the T-002, the Talos Project was proposed by the Arklay B.O.W. Research Team. The project proposed the creation a B.O.W. that would take the Tyrant Project into the next generation, with an eye to the diversifying needs of Umbrella's clients. The Talos Project would involve the creation of a Tyrant that would be completely controlled via computer chip (an idea inspired by, or at least making reference to, the Nemesis Project) to avoid the instability of t-Virus-infected weapons. The resulting "T-A.L.O.S." bioweapon would also be given offensive and defensive capabilities making it more suitable to fighting AFVs (Armored Fighting Vehicles). If the project was successful, it was anticipated that T-A.L.O.S. would be "the strongest product in land-based combat weapons". The Talos Project was proposed to Umbrella HQ in the midst of the Mansion Incident, while the research team immediately began work on the project. Development of T-A.L.O.S. began around the same time the T-103 began development.
The eleventh of the initial T-00 Tyrant test subjects, the T-011, was used as the prototype for this project. It is unknown what happened to T-003 through T-010, but it is possible that they too were used in the Talos Project and died after rejecting their cybernetic implants. The T-011, officially called "T-A.L.O.S. body T-011", was eventually abandoned due to the ongoing chaos of the Mansion Incident. When it was decided by a majority of Umbrella's executives that the Mansion was to be wiped out and all remaining projects held there destroyed, the T-011 was one of the only projects that was not saved at an earlier date by William Birkin. Shortly before the Mansion was destroyed, Sergei Vladimir secretly recovered the T-011 after retrieving a confidential letter from Oswell E. Spencer. Spencer saw potential in the Talos Project and wanted to keep it under his own control, away from Umbrella's other executives, to both consolidate his power and to ensure he had a trump card in case the recent troubles brought financial ruin to the company. The T-011 was moved by Sergei to the Caucasus Facility in Russia, and the research ideas proposed by the Arklay Team were continued there. In just under five years, the T-A.L.O.S. prototype was finished.
The team that created the T-0400TP in Raccoon City also implemented the idea of using cybernetic implants to establish control. The developers of the T-0400TP were possibly directly inspired by the Talos Project, without the researchers knowing that the project secretly survived the Mansion and was actually still in ongoing development.
Unlike the T-0400TP, which was given was given orders using preset commands, T-A.L.O.S. was to be remotely controlled in real time by an AI system. T-A.L.O.S. had a "program chip" embedded in the base of its brain, which had a synaptic connection to the Tyrant's brain cells. This computer chip could be wirelessly connected to a computer via satellite. Using the synapse connection, an AI could "synchronize" with the Tyrant's brain, essentially bypassing the mind of the Tyrant in a manner similar to the NE-α parasite with the Nemesis-T Type. The AI would essentially act as the Tyrant's intelligence. It is also possible that T-A.L.O.S. could be controlled by a human user directly. The Arklay team considered this a more reliable and significant means of control and management than the usage of parasites and thought that it would circumvent intelligence decline and breakdown from cellular mutation. This enhanced the "assurance and stability" of the Tyrant.
Sergei had the T-A.L.O.S. prototype's program chip remotely connected to the RED QUEEN AI. RED QUEEN was a defense AI developed by Umbrella, contained within the company's main archive, the UMF-013 supercomputer. RED QUEEN was responsible for conducting information monitoring and could manage all of the company's networks simultaneously. It could even use its control over company defenses to eliminate hostiles with some degree of self-awareness. When connected to T-A.L.O.S., RED QUEEN was able to completely control the Tyrant's movements, and as long as they were synchronized T-A.L.O.S.'s combat abilities were utilized to their maximum potential by the AI, with a great level of precision and tactical behavior. T-A.L.O.S. was placed through a number of combat trials against live opponents, as RED QUEEN gathered data and information to both measure the Tyrants abilities and to further refine its behavior on the battlefield.
T-A.L.O.S.'s exposed spine
The effectiveness of ordinary Tyrants against armored vehicles (AFVs) such as tanks and helicopters left much to be desired, and its efficiency would begin to drop when dealing with any threat greater than a single division of armed soldiers ("an overwhelming kill ratio cannot be expected"). As such, T-A.L.O.S. was given enhancements and weapons to overcome this limitation. While Tyrants performed best when unburdened by accessory items like armor or weapons, it was decided that cybernetic enhancements would ensure no combat prowess would be lost in a Tyrant carrying heavy equipment. T-A.L.O.S. was therefore implanted with a Control Unit, Synapse Connector, Cranial Unit, Sensory Unit, Circulatory Unit, and a Structural Unit, which increased its abilities greatly.
The Synapse Connector and Control Unit likely involved the computer chip and its synaptic connection to the brain. The Circulatory Unit included artificial organs that strengthened the cardiovascular system of the Tyrant, giving it an enhanced cardiopulmonary function in the same way an exterior heart would. These organs gave T-A.L.O.S. "overwhelming mobility" "unthinkable in a living thing". Structural Unit was possibly the name of the implants within T-A.L.O.S.'s spinal cord - most if not all of the nerves within its vertebrae were replaced with wires and cables, possibly to enhance its nervous system and to carry power to its electrical parts.
A normal human would not be capable of enduring the process of receiving so many implants, especially those involving the spine, but the enhanced vitality and regenerative potential of Tyrants allowed T-A.L.O.S. to not only survive, but thrive, following these surgeries. T-A.L.O.S.'s implants were powered by an organ capable of generating and displacing immense amounts of highly-condensed energy. This energy was directly connected to and transported by its nervous system.
The Synapse Connector and Control Unit likely involved the computer chip and its synaptic connection to the brain. The Circulatory Unit included artificial organs that strengthened the cardiovascular system of the Tyrant, giving it an enhanced cardiopulmonary function in the same way an exterior heart would. These organs gave T-A.L.O.S. "overwhelming mobility" "unthinkable in a living thing". Structural Unit was possibly the name of the implants within T-A.L.O.S.'s spinal cord - most if not all of the nerves within its vertebrae were replaced with wires and cables, possibly to enhance its nervous system and to carry power to its electrical parts.
A normal human would not be capable of enduring the process of receiving so many implants, especially those involving the spine, but the enhanced vitality and regenerative potential of Tyrants allowed T-A.L.O.S. to not only survive, but thrive, following these surgeries. T-A.L.O.S.'s implants were powered by an organ capable of generating and displacing immense amounts of highly-condensed energy. This energy was directly connected to and transported by its nervous system.
Scan and Translation from Umbrella Chronicles Art of Arts by BSAArklay: "The design is based on the two themes of "completed weapons" and "dangers hidden inside". The exterior is white and reminiscent of an industrial product, expressing the aspect of a completed weapon. The danger and ferocity hidden as a biological weapon are expressed by the mutated tentacles and restraints inside. The contradiction as an existence that has both sides is expressed by the imbalance of the silhouette."
T-A.L.O.S. was covered in an eight-piece set of white armor made from a special alloy that neutralized any firearm damage and provided a great deal of resistance to missiles. This armor also acted as a power limiter, suppressing out-of-control t-Virus tissue. A special, oversized rocket launcher was mounted on its right shoulder, with a long-range guidance functionality. The size of this launcher allowed it to carry many rockets at a time without needing to reload, and it could fire four rockets at a time. Thanks to its cybernetic enhancements, T-A.L.O.S.'s strength and athletic abilities were not hindered by its armor and weapon.
Besides having cybernetic augmentations, the biology of the base Tyrant was also altered. Its skin was a unique dark, violet-like shade, visible in the gaps between the pieces of its armor. In the novelization for The Umbrella Chronicles, its skin was described as dark grey with "a metallic gloss" giving it a mechanical look. T-A.L.O.S. had glowing red eyes, only one of which was visible when it was wearing its helmet (which served as a weak-point). While bio-luminescent red eyes is a common Progenitor Virus symptom, these eyes could also have been part of some implant, possibly its Sensory Unit. T-A.L.O.S.'s back was extremely large, due both to its spinal implants and the spine itself being enlarged, to the point it barely fit inside its body. The back of its spine was pronounced and clearly visible through the skin. Due to this, its head was forced downward, giving it a hunched posture.
T-A.L.O.S.'s left arm was gigantic and tree-trunk-like, with a square-shaped hand with four fingers tipped with black claws. T-A.L.O.S. used this arm like a leg when running, in order to supplement its smaller legs and to maintain its balance while it carried its massive gun on its right shoulder. T-A.L.O.S. would also plant the claws on its large arm into the ground to steady itself when it fired its gun with its smaller arm, in a manner comparable to a deployed turret. Because of this it is likely that T-A.LO.S.'s arm was intentionally made this way by researchers to support the Tyrant. This arm was extremely powerful, and when slammed into the floor it caused the ground to shake around it. The arm also had small, seemingly vestigial tentacles running along it. When comparing this to its Super Tyrant form, it seems that its arm was actually allowed to mutate before a power limiter suppressed additional mutation, similar to the T-002.
Openings in T-A.L.O.S.'s skin along its chest and arms revealed exposed, orange organs. These masses could possibly have been its artificial organs, with each supporting the Tyrant's heart. While T-A.L.O.S.'s armor protected these organs, they had a fault in that explosives, while not able to destroy the armor, could knock it off of the Tyrant's body.
T-A.L.O.S. appeared to be emotionless, both due to its Tyrant nature and due to it being controlled by an AI. In the novelization for The Umbrella Chronicles, it "roared like a wild animal".
Because of its equipment, augmentations, and AI-powered tactical behavior, T-A.L.O.S. had destructive power and defensive abilities unyielding to AFVs, despite it being a humanoid. It was essentially the B.O.W. equivalent of a land-based anti-aircraft and anti-armor weapon. Its overall vitality, even without its armor, was greater than that of a battle tank (something possibly achieved by injecting the host Tyrant with the Perfected t-Virus, similar to how t-Birkin may have been used to improve the cloned embryos of the T-002). In simulated battles scenarios, T-A.L.O.S. could defeat a Special Forces squad made up of 12 men in 3 minutes and 28 seconds, with a kill ratio of 100:0. In a battle with 2 Composite Armored Tanks, the fight would last 6 minutes and 40 seconds with a kill ratio of 89:2. In a battle with a Ground-Attack Helicopter, a battle could last as long as 32 minutes and 13 seconds, with a kill ratio of 48:10.
Besides having cybernetic augmentations, the biology of the base Tyrant was also altered. Its skin was a unique dark, violet-like shade, visible in the gaps between the pieces of its armor. In the novelization for The Umbrella Chronicles, its skin was described as dark grey with "a metallic gloss" giving it a mechanical look. T-A.L.O.S. had glowing red eyes, only one of which was visible when it was wearing its helmet (which served as a weak-point). While bio-luminescent red eyes is a common Progenitor Virus symptom, these eyes could also have been part of some implant, possibly its Sensory Unit. T-A.L.O.S.'s back was extremely large, due both to its spinal implants and the spine itself being enlarged, to the point it barely fit inside its body. The back of its spine was pronounced and clearly visible through the skin. Due to this, its head was forced downward, giving it a hunched posture.
T-A.L.O.S.'s left arm was gigantic and tree-trunk-like, with a square-shaped hand with four fingers tipped with black claws. T-A.L.O.S. used this arm like a leg when running, in order to supplement its smaller legs and to maintain its balance while it carried its massive gun on its right shoulder. T-A.L.O.S. would also plant the claws on its large arm into the ground to steady itself when it fired its gun with its smaller arm, in a manner comparable to a deployed turret. Because of this it is likely that T-A.LO.S.'s arm was intentionally made this way by researchers to support the Tyrant. This arm was extremely powerful, and when slammed into the floor it caused the ground to shake around it. The arm also had small, seemingly vestigial tentacles running along it. When comparing this to its Super Tyrant form, it seems that its arm was actually allowed to mutate before a power limiter suppressed additional mutation, similar to the T-002.
Openings in T-A.L.O.S.'s skin along its chest and arms revealed exposed, orange organs. These masses could possibly have been its artificial organs, with each supporting the Tyrant's heart. While T-A.L.O.S.'s armor protected these organs, they had a fault in that explosives, while not able to destroy the armor, could knock it off of the Tyrant's body.
T-A.L.O.S. appeared to be emotionless, both due to its Tyrant nature and due to it being controlled by an AI. In the novelization for The Umbrella Chronicles, it "roared like a wild animal".
Because of its equipment, augmentations, and AI-powered tactical behavior, T-A.L.O.S. had destructive power and defensive abilities unyielding to AFVs, despite it being a humanoid. It was essentially the B.O.W. equivalent of a land-based anti-aircraft and anti-armor weapon. Its overall vitality, even without its armor, was greater than that of a battle tank (something possibly achieved by injecting the host Tyrant with the Perfected t-Virus, similar to how t-Birkin may have been used to improve the cloned embryos of the T-002). In simulated battles scenarios, T-A.L.O.S. could defeat a Special Forces squad made up of 12 men in 3 minutes and 28 seconds, with a kill ratio of 100:0. In a battle with 2 Composite Armored Tanks, the fight would last 6 minutes and 40 seconds with a kill ratio of 89:2. In a battle with a Ground-Attack Helicopter, a battle could last as long as 32 minutes and 13 seconds, with a kill ratio of 48:10.
Once it was completed, it was hoped the raw power of T-A.L.O.S. would bring Umbrella enough success to revive itself following its financial troubles after the Raccoon City Destruction Incident. During a raid of the Caucasus Facility, Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine engaged the prototype Tyrant in combat. By destroying the rockets just as they ejected from the mouth of the launcher, they destroyed its armor and power limiter; and after showering it in explosions and gunfire the virus in its body when out of control and T-A.L.O.S. mutated into a Super Tyrant. In this form, the RED QUEEN's connection to T-A.L.O.S. was "terminated", causing the control function for the B.O.W. to be disabled. It was sent into a berserk state at this point, and a drop in tactical behavior was apparent, leading to its attacks following repetitive and predictable patterns.
The Super Tyrant form of T-A.L.O.S. was simply called "T-A.L.O.S. II". Its physical changes were much more severe than those of other Super Tyrants, and the speed of its tissue development was unpredictable by Umbrella (largely because it was the only instance of a T-A.L.O.S. II, so there was no precedent for it). The first apparent change in its biology was to its spine: already gigantic, its spine grew even larger into a form resembling a metal pillar. It ripped free of the Tyrant's body, as if it had a life of its own. It disconnected from T-A.L.O.S.'s pelvis (with the Tyrant's legs being abandoned in the process) and shot into the air, using claw-like tubing at its end to penetrate and attach to the ceiling. Its spine was then used to hoist its body into the air, where it was then left suspended.
T-A.L.O.S. II's body increased to an incredible size, comparable to that of a small house, with its suspended form comparable to a "living fortress". Its claws on its large arm extended into a hook-like shape, with secondary claws further up the arm, while its other arm mutated into an identical form, making its body symmetrical. When T-A.L.O.S. was forced onto the ground, it could use its arms like legs to walk, although its mobility was extremely limited. The Tyrant's mouth split and tore into a vertical shape, lined on both sides with sharp teeth. Its exposed organs turned red and pulsated in this form, as if beating - this is likely due to the creature requiring greater cardiopulmonary effort to move its large body. Additional organs became exposed due to tears forming in its skin. If these organs were destroyed, T-A.L.O.S. II could quickly reform them but would be left in a weakened state in the meantime, where it would lack the energy to keep holding itself above the ground.
T-A.L.O.S. II sprouted six long, cable-like tentacles from its back, each of which had three claws strong enough to dig into metal and rock. In the center of each of these claws were cybernetic parts, seemingly repurposed by the monster's body. Each part was capable of forming red laser beams. These lasers were not a planned ability, as T-A.L.O.S.'s transformation was not something Umbrella was able predict the outcome of. Rather, T-A.L.O.S. II created these lasers by channeling the energy from its power source through its nervous system into beams of light. These lasers had an energy density millions of times stronger than sunlight, capable of turning a person into steaming plasma in a fraction of a second (The Umbrella Chronicles novelization). The incredible energy used by these lasers made them limited in how long they could be used - after barely twenty seconds they would break off, although T-A.L.O.S. II could use them again relatively soon afterwards, suggesting its energy organ could somehow recharge them or that they were simply overheating when the attacks stopped.
While T-A.L.O.S. II had incredible vitality, its power source became exposed in this form, appearing between its shoulder blades. Chris and Jill destroyed this organ, causing it to not only lose its source of energy, but causing a catastrophic chain reaction in its cybernetic parts. Its tentacles even seemed to strike at its own body, as if confused. Finally, T-A.L.O.S. II dropped dead.
In the novelization, the destruction of its power organ caused a huge explosion, turning T-A.L.O.S. into a fireball. Its skin blistered and its spine broke in half, dropping the Tyrant to the floor. In its effort to regenerate, some of its cells mutated into proliferating cancer cells that devoured the remaining healthy ones. Tennis ball-sized ulcers formed across its skin and spread until T-A.L.O.S. appeared to look like a thing made of "hundreds of grapes". Its skin melted inward, its body shrank, and soon the entire body of Umbrella's most powerful B.O.W. was reduced to bubbling, liquid meat.
Unnamed Tyrants - At least one new model of Tyrant was developed after the fall of Red Umbrella by an unknown group. These B.O.W.s were not given a specific name, and they were only referred to as "Tyrants".
These Tyrants had the general appearance of a T-103, but were much larger and had unique, black coats lined with metal restraints. They were 4.3 meters/just over 14 feet tall, making them the largest known Tyrants ever created. Their coats were hardened with high pressure gas, making them especially resistant to damage. Their power limiters injected their bodies with a static muscle relaxer. This relaxer could account for the fact that these Tyrants were capable of running in their first form, despite their incredible size. They were controlled by using a command program, perhaps like the cranial implant used with the T-0400TP.
When transformed into Super Tyrants, this species greatly resembled the T-078. They had no exposed organs in this form, and only a single small claw. Their enhanced strength was great enough that they could lift battle tanks and rip Lickers in half. Their skin was stretched tight over their enlarged muscles, with gaps in the skin in between the breasts and pecs, and along the arms.
At least three of these Tyrants were deployed by President Svetlana Belikova during the Eastern Slavic Republic's Civil War in 2011. They had numbers distinguishing them as "008", "013", and "016". All three Tyrants were destroyed.
These Tyrants had the general appearance of a T-103, but were much larger and had unique, black coats lined with metal restraints. They were 4.3 meters/just over 14 feet tall, making them the largest known Tyrants ever created. Their coats were hardened with high pressure gas, making them especially resistant to damage. Their power limiters injected their bodies with a static muscle relaxer. This relaxer could account for the fact that these Tyrants were capable of running in their first form, despite their incredible size. They were controlled by using a command program, perhaps like the cranial implant used with the T-0400TP.
When transformed into Super Tyrants, this species greatly resembled the T-078. They had no exposed organs in this form, and only a single small claw. Their enhanced strength was great enough that they could lift battle tanks and rip Lickers in half. Their skin was stretched tight over their enlarged muscles, with gaps in the skin in between the breasts and pecs, and along the arms.
At least three of these Tyrants were deployed by President Svetlana Belikova during the Eastern Slavic Republic's Civil War in 2011. They had numbers distinguishing them as "008", "013", and "016". All three Tyrants were destroyed.
Tyrant Inferior
The "Inferior Tyrant" was a scrapped idea for a monster for Resident Evil 3. They would have appeared in large crowds of Zombies and been able to run (with shards of glass stuck to their skin from smashing through windows). Credit to Nora for translating this information.
Based on available information, it seems that Inferior Tyrants were humans that had some compatibility with the t-Virus who became infected through secondary infection. These individuals either were not able to adapt all the way and therefore did not develop into legitimate Tyrants, or they became inferior creatures due to them being the result of wild infection. The latter possibility is likely, as the 1998 strains of the t-Virus (Resident Evil 3 is set in 1998) could only create Tyrants from hosts that were strengthened with surgeries and who had the virus regulated. In any case, Inferior Tyrants could be considered "Wild Tyrants", and possibly a middle ground between a Zombie and a Tyrant.
Based on available information, it seems that Inferior Tyrants were humans that had some compatibility with the t-Virus who became infected through secondary infection. These individuals either were not able to adapt all the way and therefore did not develop into legitimate Tyrants, or they became inferior creatures due to them being the result of wild infection. The latter possibility is likely, as the 1998 strains of the t-Virus (Resident Evil 3 is set in 1998) could only create Tyrants from hosts that were strengthened with surgeries and who had the virus regulated. In any case, Inferior Tyrants could be considered "Wild Tyrants", and possibly a middle ground between a Zombie and a Tyrant.