The Last of Us: All Infected Zombie Types Explained

If you’ve wandered into the haunting world of ‘The Last of Us,’ you know it’s packed with infected zombie types that make your skin crawl. Each creature brings its own brand of terror, turning every encounter into a fight for survival. From the fast-moving early stages to the grotesque giants of later infections, these monsters define the game and show’s grim atmosphere.

I’m diving deep into what makes these infected tick, breaking down their types and behaviors. Whether you’re a player dodging them in the game or glued to the HBO series, knowing these creatures helps you appreciate the stakes Joel and Ellie face. Let’s explore the nightmare fuel that keeps us on edge.

How Many Infected Zombie Types Are There in ‘The Last of Us’?

The world of ‘The Last of Us’ throws six distinct infected zombie types at you, each more unsettling than the last. They evolve based on how long the Cordyceps fungus has been twisting their bodies and minds. Here’s the lineup:

• Runners
• Stalkers
• Clickers
• Shamblers
• Bloaters
• Rat King

Every Infected Zombie Type in ‘The Last of Us’ Explained

Each infected type in ‘The Last of Us’ feels like a new layer of dread. They’re not just zombies—they’re living people warped by a fungus that takes over bit by bit. Below, I break down what makes each one tick, from their first wild sprints to their final monstrous forms.

Runners

Runners hit you early in the infection cycle, usually within a day or two of getting bitten. They’re still human-looking, with bloodshot eyes and jerky movements, which makes them extra eerie. These guys sprint at you full speed, often in packs, relying on raw aggression over strategy.

Their speed is what gets you—they’re not tough to kill, but they overwhelm if you’re not careful. A quick melee hit or a single shot can drop them, making them the least durable infected. In the HBO show, we see them in the chaotic opening, tearing through streets as the outbreak begins.

Stalkers

Stalkers show up after a couple of weeks, when the fungus starts sprouting from their bodies. They’re sneakier than Runners, hiding in shadows or sticking to walls, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. Their half-human faces, with fungal growths creeping in, are pure nightmare material.

What makes them tough is their cunning. They don’t just charge—they stalk you, using basic tactics to catch you off guard. In ‘The Last of Us Part II,’ they’re rare but deadly, especially in dark, cramped spaces. The HBO series hasn’t shown them much yet, but we’ll probably see more of them in season two.

Clickers

Clickers are what you get after a year of infection, and they’re the stuff of legends in ‘The Last of Us.’ Their heads are completely overtaken by fungal blooms, splitting their faces open and leaving them blind. They shuffle around, using eerie clicking sounds to echolocate, which makes every step near them a gamble.

They’re stronger and tougher than earlier stages, with hardened skin that shrugs off light hits. You need heavy firepower or a stealthy approach to take them down. In the HBO show, their museum scene in Boston is a heart-pounding highlight, showing just how relentless they are.

Shamblers

Shamblers appear in ‘The Last of Us Part II,’ thriving in wet, swampy areas after years of infection. They’re bulky, with fungal growths so thick their mouths are locked open, stopping them from biting. Instead, they spew clouds of acidic spores that burn anything close.

Killing them is a chore—they’re slow but soak up damage like sponges. When they finally go down, they explode in a final spore burst, so you’ve got to keep moving. We haven’t seen them in the HBO series yet, but their gruesome design would fit right into the show’s gritty vibe.

Bloaters

Bloaters are the tanks of the infected world, forming after a decade or more of fungal takeover. They’re massive, covered in thick fungal armor that makes bullets nearly useless. Slow but stupidly strong, they can rip you apart or chuck spore-filled chunks as makeshift bombs.

Fire is your best bet against them—nothing else cuts through their defenses reliably. In the HBO series, one Bloater in season one’s fifth episode steals the show, shrugging off attacks and crushing anything in its path. They’re rare, but every encounter feels like a boss fight.

Rat King

The Rat King is a one-of-a-kind horror from ‘The Last of Us Part II,’ found in a Seattle hospital. It’s a grotesque mashup of multiple infected—Stalkers, Clickers, and a Bloater—fused into a single, hulking beast after decades of infection. Think of it as a living nightmare with too many limbs and zero mercy.

Fighting it is brutal. It takes everything you’ve got—bullets, bombs, fire—and even then, it can split into separate infected to keep coming. The HBO show hasn’t tackled this beast yet, but if it does, it’ll be a jaw-dropping moment. For now, it’s a game-exclusive terror that haunts players long after.