Last of Us Infected Types: 6 Terrifying Zombies Ellie and Joel Face

The Last of Us infected types plunge players and viewers into a chilling world where a mutated Cordyceps fungus transforms humans into grotesque, aggressive creatures. In Naughty Dog’s acclaimed games—The Last of Us (2013), Left Behind DLC, Part II (2020)—and HBO’s 2023 series, Joel and Ellie battle these fungal horrors across a post-apocalyptic U.S. From fast-moving Runners to the near-invincible Rat King, each infected type brings unique dangers, shaped by how long the fungus has ravaged its host. With season 2 of HBO’s show looming in 2025, let’s break down all six infected types, their traits, and how to survive them.

Table of Contents

• Understanding the Last of Us Infected Types
• Runners: The First Stage of Horror
• Stalkers: Stealthy Ambushers
• Clickers: Echolocating Nightmares
• Bloaters and Shamblers: Armored Titans
• Rat King: The Ultimate Abomination
• Conclusion

Understanding the Last of Us Infected Types

The Cordyceps brain infection, sparked by a 2013 outbreak from South American crops, infected 60% of humanity, per The Last of Us lore. Unlike traditional zombies, these living hosts mutate through stages, driven to spread spores or bite. Infection spreads via bites, tendrils (in the HBO series), or spores (in games), with progression tied to time and environment, per SlashFilm. Ellie’s immunity drives the narrative, but Joel’s survival skills tackle the infected. Across Boston’s ruins, Seattle’s flooded streets, and HBO’s Kansas City, six distinct types emerge, each deadlier than the last.

Runners: The First Stage of Horror

Runners kick off the infected cycle, turning within hours to two days after a bite, per IGN. They’re the most human-like, with pale skin, bloodshot eyes, and thinning hair, but their speed and aggression make them lethal in packs. In the HBO premiere, Joel dodges Runners sprinting through Austin, their moans hinting at trapped consciousness—a haunting trait, per Polygon. They rely on sight and hearing, swarming recklessly.

How to Beat Them: Runners are weak individually. A headshot, melee strike, or stealth takedown works, per GameRant. In Part II, bricks or bottles stun them for quick kills. Avoid groups—Joel and Ellie often sneak past hordes to conserve ammo.

Stalkers: Stealthy Ambushers

After two weeks to a year, Runners become Stalkers, sprouting fungal growths and losing partial vision, per The Loadout. These cunning infected hide in shadows, croaking softly before ambushing, as seen in Part II’s Seattle subway. Their speed matches Runners, but their guerrilla tactics—peeking from cover—make them unpredictable. HBO’s season 2, airing April 2025, will introduce Stalkers, with showrunner Craig Mazin promising “smarter, scarier” foes, per Nerdist.

How to Beat Them: Stealth is key. Move slowly, use a flashlight to spot them, and aim for headshots with a silenced pistol or bow, per VG247. If spotted, dodge their lunges and counter with melee weapons. Molotovs work in tight spaces.

Clickers: Echolocating Nightmares

Clickers, infected for over a year, are iconic for their fungal-plated heads and chilling clicks, using echolocation due to blindness, per Collider. In Part I’s Boston museum, Joel, Ellie, and Tess face two, their strength and armor making them brutal—one hit can kill. HBO’s episode 2 captures their eerie croaks, with fungal blooms splitting their skulls. They’re durable, shrugging off body shots, per CBR.

How to Beat Them: Fire is ideal—Molotovs or flamethrowers weaken them fast, per GameRant. Stealth kills with a shiv are silent but risky. If forced to fight, use shotguns or rifles, aiming for the head, and keep quiet to avoid detection.

Bloaters and Shamblers: Armored Titans

Bloaters, infected for decades, are hulking tanks covered in fungal armor, appearing in Part I’s Pittsburgh and HBO’s episode 5, per MovieWeb. Slow but massively strong, they throw toxic spore sacks and kill instantly if they grab you. Shamblers, a Part II variant thriving in wet climates like Seattle, emit acidic spore clouds and explode on death, per Digital Trends. Both resist gunfire, making them rare but deadly.

How to Beat Them: Fire-based weapons—Molotovs, flamethrowers—are most effective, per The Gamer. Keep distance to dodge Bloaters’ spores or Shamblers’ acid. Shotguns or rifles can finish them once weakened, but ammo is precious. Run if possible.

Rat King: The Ultimate Abomination

The Rat King, unique to Part II’s Seattle hospital, is a grotesque superorganism of fused Stalkers, Clickers, and a Bloater, formed over 25 years, per NME. Encountered by Abby, it’s the series’ toughest foe, splitting into a Stalker-like fragment after heavy damage. Its strength, speed, and durability are unmatched, with no weaknesses to fire, per The Gamer. HBO’s season 2 may adapt it, given its narrative weight, per SlashFilm.

How to Beat Them: Use everything—pipe bombs, shotguns, traps, and flamethrowers, per VG247. Focus on mobility, dodging its charges, and hit weak points. When it splits, prioritize the Stalker fragment with heavy weapons. Survival demands resource management.

Conclusion

The Last of Us infected types—Runners, Stalkers, Clickers, Bloaters, Shamblers, and the Rat King—create a terrifying hierarchy of fungal horrors. From Runners’ frantic swarms to the Rat King’s monstrous fusion, each tests Joel and Ellie’s grit, shaping the series’ tense survival. HBO’s adaptation amplifies their dread, with season 2 set to unleash Stalkers and possibly more. Understanding these foes, from weaknesses to tactics, deepens appreciation for Naughty Dog’s world. For more on The Last of Us, visit IGN. As Cordyceps evolves, so does the challenge—will you survive the outbreak?