The Pop-up Menu

In either game mode, activate your pop-up menu by holding your right mouse button (default setting). Releasing the button over an icon chooses that option. You can bind all commands on the pop-up menu to keys in the control menu. The pop-up menus for both game modes look a little different:

Pop-up Menu (CO)

In Combat game mode, the pop-up menu is where you can increase your level and purchase upgrades. It also allows quick communication with your teammates.

Pop-up Menu (NS)

In NS mode, the marines use the pop-up menu for quick and efficient communication between squads and their commander--asking for orders, urgent equipment requests, or reporting combat conditions. When you use the pop-up menu for these purposes, the message (like "need health!" or "enemy spotted!") appears on the commander's interface, with an icon at your location. He knows who it's from, and exactly where you are.

The Kharaa also use their pop-up menu to communicate with teammates (see "Hive Sight"); but it's mainly used to spend resources--to build, evolve new abilities, and change species (see the Kharaa sections below for more info.).

Experience (CO)

In Combat mode you get experience for kills, and you spend it to improve yourself. There are no team points, or resources to gather.

Acquiring Experience -- Ranks and Levels (CO)

You get experience for killing the enemy, or attacking their base. As your experience increases, you gain levels – which can be spent on upgrades (see the next section), and determine your rank. Your rank reflects your overall experience score. You can see the rank of everyone on both teams by hitting the TAB key (default). Your current experience is also drawn at the bottom of the your HUD, along with your current level and rank.

This table shows the amount of experience required to gain new levels, along with rank names:

The tougher the opponent, the more experience they are worth--as shown here:

Extra cumulative experience is awarded when friendly players are nearby. For each friend that's nearby when a kill is made, the experience awarded is increased by 10. The total experience is then split among all the players. For example, if a marine kills a level 3 alien, and there are four friendly marines nearby at the time, the experience given is
(80 [Level 3 kill] + 40 [4 x crowd award]) / 5 [number of players] = 24 for each marine regardless of who killed the alien.

Another way to look at it: a group of five players making five level 1 kills (one per person), would have 100 experience apiece, whereas one player making one level 1 kill would have 60 experience.

Besides killing enemy players, there is one other way to get experience: attacking objectives. As a player inflicts damage on the enemy hive or command station, that player gains experience. This experience is not shared with nearby players.

Spending Experience -- Upgrades (CO)

In Combat mode, every time you gain a level you can purchase a new upgrade. As your rank increases (see above), you'll have access to more and more powerful upgrades. Unlike NS game mode, upgrades are permanent -- they are not lost when you die and respawn. Levels can be spent at any time, and unspent levels are also not lost when dying and respawning.

Upgrades are purchased using the Pop-Up Menu (see above). The following are the upgrade paths for marines and aliens:

For descriptions, see the "Marine Technology & Upgrades" section, below.

Notes on alien upgrades:

Change Species -- you begin play as a skulk, and can choose to change into four different and unique species. See "Alien Species" for descriptions.

Unlock Hive Ability -- there are four levels of abilities: Hive 0, Hive 1, Hive 2, and Hive 3. In Combat mode, you always have Hive 0 and Hive 1 abilities. The upgrade gives you access to Hive 2, and Hive 3 abilities, regardless of your species. See "Alien abilities" for more info.

Evolve Ability -- gain enough experience, and you can evolve all these abilities. See "Alien Evolutions."

Ammo and Health

Marine Ammo and Health (CO)

See "Marine Upgrades", above, to learn how marines resupply in Combat game mode.

Marine Ammo and Health (NS)

Frontiersmen can get health and ammo two ways -- from an armory (see Marine Structures), or from health or ammo packs.

The armory replenishes the ammo and health of anyone "using" it ("use" key's default setting: "e").

Health and ammo packs can be dropped by the commander anywhere, anytime. A skilled commander can keep his soldiers alive and fighting in the fiercest of battles.

Ammo and Health Items
	HEALTH PACK :: Adds up to 50 health to a wounded marine; won't cause the marine's health to exceed the starting value of 100. Health packs do not repair armor -- only a welder can do that. Cost: 2 resources per pack.
	AMMO PACK :: Adds one clip worth of ammunition to the marine's inventory. Automatically transforms itself into the appropriate ammunition type for the currently selected weapon. Only picked up if the marine can hold more and the weapon requires ammunition for use. Cost: 1 resource per pack.
	CATALYST PACK :: Boosts the metabolism of a marine. The marine gains a 25% bonus to speed and fires his weapons 25% faster. Cost: 4 resources Duration: 8 seconds

Alien Health and Energy (CO)

Since the Kharaa's weapons are biological, they don't have to worry about ammo. They do have to watch their energy bar, however (see "HUD") -- when it's depleted they are too tired to attack (though they can still run). Standing still replenishes energy. The adrenaline evolution, or standing next to a movement chamber increases how quickly energy replenishes.

Kharaa are healed by standing next to a hive, or if a gorge gives them a hit of healing spray. Also, the defensive evolution regeneration allows an alien to heal itself. Finally, the fade's metabolize ability can heal its wounds. Healing restores health first, then armor.

Alien Health and Energy (NS)

Since the Kharaa's weapons are biological, they don't have to worry about ammo. They do have to watch their energy bar, however (see "HUD") -- when it's depleted they are too tired to attack (though they can still run). Standing still replenishes energy. The adrenaline evolution, or standing next to a movement chamber increases how quickly energy replenishes.

Kharaa are healed by standing next to a hive or defense chamber, or if a gorge gives them a hit of healing spray. Also, the defensive evolution regeneration allows an alien to heal itself. Finally, the fade's metabolize ability can heal its wounds. Healing restores health first, then armor.

Marine Weapons & Equipment

Marines begin play with an LMG (Light Machine Gun), pistol, and knife; and standard armor.

You have four weapon slots:

Slot 1: Your primary weapon. You can only have one Slot 1 weapon at a time.
Slots 2 & 3: Your trusty pistol and knife. Don't underestimate their usefulness.
Slot 4: You can potentially have all three Slot 4 weapons at the same time.

Buying Weapons & Equipment (CO)

The following list describes the weapons and equipment available to marines. See the "Marine Pop-Up Menu (CO)" and "Experience (CO)" sections for more information on acquiring experience points and spending levels in Combat mode. All weapons, armor, and equipment are permanent when purchased. They are not lost when dying and respawning. Note that the "Cost" and "Requires" fields do not apply to Combat mode.

Researching Weapons (NS)

Your commander can equip you with new weapons and gear by researching the appropriate tech (which costs resource points) and then dropping a new weapon for you (which also costs). See the "Tech Tree" section for more info on researching. When you are killed, any weapons you've been given are dropped -- and if a marine doesn't pick them up, they vanish. In NS game mode, all equipment and armor is lost when respawning.

List of Weapons and Equipment (CO/NS)

Here's a list of the marine weapons and gear:

Marine Weapons -- Slot 1
	LIGHT MACHINE GUN :: Default weapon. Fair damage and range. Versatile and effective, more so in groups. Marines spawn with 2 clips of ammunition. Damage: 10 hp/shot Rate of fire: 10.00 shots/sec Clip size: 50 bullets Max storage: 250 bullets Cost: N/A Requires: N/A
	SHOTGUN :: Deadly at close range. Fires 10 pellets per shot. Damage: 17 hp/pellet Rate of fire: 0.77 shots/sec Clip size: 8 shots Max storage: 40 shots Cost: 10 resources Requires: Armory
	HEAVY MACHINE GUN :: Not as accurate as the Machine Gun, but twice the punch and a bigger clip. Damage: 20 hp/shot Rate of fire: 9.09 shots/sec Clip size: 125 bullets Max storage: 250 bullets Cost: 15 resources Requires: Advanced Armory
	GRENADE LAUNCHER :: Used for groups of enemies or structures. Grenades explode on contact with an enemy or after 2 seconds with a radius of 350 units. Damage: 125 hp/shot Rate of fire: 0.83 shots/sec Clip size: 4 shots Max storage: 30 shots Cost: 20 resources Requires: Advanced Armory
Marine Weapons -- Slot 2
	PISTOL :: Default secondary weapon. Good accuracy and power, small clip. Marines spawn with 2 clips of ammunition. Damage: 20 hp/shot Rate of fire: 5.00 shots/sec Clip size: 10 shots Max storage: 30 shots Cost: N/A Requires: N/A
Marine Weapons -- Slot 3
	KNIFE :: Last ditch weapon when marines run out of ammo or want to conserve it. Damage: 30 hp/slash Rate of fire: 1.54 slashes/sec Clip size: N/A Max storage: N/A Cost: N/A Requires: N/A
Marine Weapons -- Slot 4
	WELDER :: Used to repair structures and armor, and to weld open or closed certain map features. Weldable objects are marked by special icons on the marine HUD (shown on the right) Damage: 4 hp/sec Repair rate: 50 hp/sec Clip size: unlimited Max storage: N/A Cost: 5 resources Requires: Armory
	HAND GRENADE :: You only get one grenade, so make it count. They take 1.00 seconds to prime and throw. In NS game mode, researching the grenade upgrade supplies all marines with one when they respawn. Damage: 125 hp Rate of fire: N/A Clip size: N/A Max storage: 1 grenade Cost: N/A Requires: Armory
	MINES :: Mines affix to any surface, and explode on contact with an enemy or after absorbing 20 hp of damage. Blast radius is 300 units. Combat mode note: once you upgrade to mines, you'll always respawn with one, and can be resupplied up to a full pack. Damage: 125 hp Rate of fire: N/A Clip size: N/A Max storage: 4 mines Cost: 10 resources for 4 Requires: Armory
Marine Armor and Equipment
	HEAVY ARMOR :: Raises the armor of a marine to 200 ap. The armor's extra bulk slows the marine slightly, causing him to move at 95% of normal speed. Armor upgrades from the arms lab are cumulative with the effect of the Heavy Armor suit. Cost: 15 resources
	JETPACK :: Allows sustained flight, until the energy meter hits zero. Must land to recharge. Handy for avoiding fangs and claws. Can't be worn with Heavy Armor. Cost: 15 resources

Marine Technology & Upgrades

Purchasing Upgrades (CO)

An "upgrade" is the catch-all name for anything marines can purchase with levels they gain through experience. See the "Experience (CO)" section to learn more. The "Marine Upgrade Path" (above) describes the order in which upgrades can be purchased.

Note on "Auto-Commander": these upgrades are unique to Combat game mode, and act like an automated version of the NS game mode commander.

COMBAT MODE MARINE UPGRADES
	DAMAGE UPGRADES :: Three levels of upgrade that provide 10%, 20%, and 30% increases to the standard damage of your weapons and mines.
	ARMOR UPGRADES :: Three levels of upgrade that give a 20%, 40%, and 60% boost to your maximum armor.
	MOTION TRACKING :: This upgrade reveals all enemy movement, anywhere on the battlefield, as "blips" automatically displayed on your HUD.
	WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT :: In Combat mode, new weapons and gear are purchased as upgrades, and become permanent additions to your arsenal. See "Marine Weapons and Equipment," above, for descriptions and details. All items in the "List of Weapons and Equipment" are available. The "Experience (CO)" section explains the order in which these upgrades can be purchased.
AUTO-COMMANDER UPGRADES
	RESUPPLY :: When you have less than 100% of your health, or less than 20% of the max ammo you can carry for your current weapon, there's a chance you will be resupplied automatically. Each resupply is the equivalent of a health or ammo pack (see "Health and Ammo" above). Note that resupply doesn't repair armor -- only a welder can do that.
	SCANNER SWEEP :: If there is a cloaked enemy nearby, there's a chance that the Auto-Commander will scan the area around you, forcing any hidden players to uncloak.
	CATALYST PACKS :: If, after making a kill, the Auto-Commander decides you are a competent fighter, it may drop a catalyst pack on you as a reward -- temporarily increasing your speed and rate-of-fire (see "Ammo and Health", above).

Researching Upgrades (NS)

In NS game mode, the commander can research the following upgrades that automatically affect all marines, or that allow for new structures and weapons (see also "Tech Tree").

ARMS LAB UPGRADES
	DAMAGE UPGRADES :: Three levels of upgrade that provide 10%, 20%, and 30% increases to the standard damage of all marine weapons, mines, turrets, and siege cannons. Cost: 20/30/40 resources Research time: 60/90/120 seconds
	ARMOR UPGRADES :: Three levels of upgrade that give a 20%, 40%, and 60% boost to the maximum armor of all marines. Cost: 20/30/40 resources Research time: 60/90/120 seconds
	CATALYST PACKS :: This technology allows the commander to drop catalyst packs anywhere on the map. These packs boost movement speed and weapon rate-of-fire by 25% Cost: 20 resources Research time: 40 seconds
TECH LAB UPGRADES
	JETPACK TECH :: Once researched, this technology allows jetpacks to be constructed within 300 units of any prototype lab. Cost: 35 resources Research time: 50 seconds
	HEAVY TECH :: This technology is required before heavy armor can be purchased. Once complete, heavy armor can be constructed within 300 units of any prototype lab. Cost: 40 resources Research time: 100 seconds
OBSERVATORY UPGRADES
	MOTION TRACKING :: This upgrade reveals all enemy movement, anywhere on the battlefield, as "blips" automatically displayed on the marine HUD. The Kharaa can counter this effect by standing still, or staying close to sensory chambers. Cost: 35 resources Research time: 100 seconds
	DISTRESS BEACON :: The distress beacon is the commander's last ditch SOS call for reinforcements. All marines, including those waiting to respawn, appear in the marine start -- even if there are no infantry portals left. Cost: 15 resources Time to activate: 3 seconds
	PHASE TECH :: Phase tech is a specialized nanite technology needed for the construction of phase gates (see "Marine Structures"). Cost: 15 resources Research time: 45 seconds
ARMORY UPGRADES
	ADVANCED ARMORY :: The armory must be upgraded to an advanced armory before heavy weapons can be purchased. When complete, heavy machine guns and grenade launchers can be dropped within 300 units of the armory. Cost: 30 resources Research time: 180 seconds
	HAND GRENADES :: After the commander has researched this technology, each marine respawns with a single grenade in weapon slot 4. Useful for countering lerks and destroying enemy buildings. Cost: 20 resources Research time: 45 seconds
TURRET FACTORY UPGRADES
	SIEGE UPGRADE :: Turret factories must be be upgraded, before siege cannons can be built. Once this upgrade completes, siege cannons can be built within 400 units of the structure. Cost: 15 resources Research time: 15 seconds
	ELECTRICAL DEFENSE :: An electric field that protects turret factories and resource nodes by shocking up to 2 enemies a second within a 200 unit range. Damage: 20 hp Rate of fire: 1.00 shock/sec Cost: 30 resources Research time: 180 seconds

Marine Structures (NS)

Researching new weapons and upgrades requires the building of structures. Structures also serve other functions -- see below. Structures are unique to the NS game mode, with the exception of the command console.

Building Structures (NS)

Your commander will place structures, but until you and your teammates build them, they won't do anything. To build, get within touching distance of the structure and hold down your "use" key ("e" default setting). You'll see a status bar around the structure, filling in as it is built (note: multiple marines can speed construction). When built, the structure will deploy -- usually with a particular sound and movement.

Basic Marine Structures
	COMMAND CONSOLE :: Allows one marine to connect to the command network and take the role of commander. The marine team always starts with a single command console. Cost: 20 resources Build time: 15 seconds Health: 10000 hp
	RESOURCE TOWER :: Allows the commander to tap a ship or base's raw nano-supplies. Can only be constructed over resource nodes. Each tower adds 1 resource every 4 seconds. Cost: 15 resources Build time: 15 seconds Health: 6000 hp
	INFANTRY PORTAL :: Allows marines to respawn after being killed. Infantry portals are the most crucial structure to defend, second only to the command console. Must be placed within 400 units of a command console. Note: the marines do not start play with any infantry portals. Cost: 20 resources Build time: 10 seconds Health: 2500 hp
	ARMORY :: Dispenses "free" ammo for a marine's active weapon, and allows weapon construction within 300 units. Can be upgraded to an advanced armory, to purchase heavier weapons (see Tech Tree). Cost: 10 resources Build time: 15 seconds Health: 2400 hp
	OBSERVATORY :: Reveals nearby enemies (even when cloaked), allows scanner sweeps, distress beacons, and research of motion tracking. Scanner sweeps allow the commander to see cloaked aliens and structures in a 800 unit radius from the origin of the sweep, for a duration of 10 seconds. Cost: 20 resources Build time: 15 seconds Health: 1700 hp
	PHASE GATE :: Allows marines to teleport instantly between any two gates. For more than two gates, the destination is randomly determined. To use a phase gate, stand next to it and press your "use" key ("e" default setting). Cost: 15 resources Build time: 12 seconds Health: 3000 hp
RESEARCH STRUCTURES
	ARMS LAB :: Taps local resources to allow three levels of weapons and armor upgrades. Cost: 25 resources Build time: 19 seconds Health: 2200 hp
	PROTOTYPE LAB :: Allows the research of advanced, cutting edge technology -- namely jetpacks and heavy armor. Cost: 40 resources Build time: 20 seconds Health: 4000 hp
DEFENSIVE STRUCTURES
	TURRET FACTORY :: Allows sentry turrets (automated gun emplacements) to be built for base and perimeter defense. Turrets must be placed within 400 units of a factory. The electrical defense upgrade protects turret factories. Cost: 10 resources Build time: 13 seconds Health: 3000 hp
	SENTRY TURRET :: Automatically acquires the nearest enemy target (players or chambers) and fires. If its turret factory is destroyed, it ceases to function. Damage: 10 hp/shot Rate of fire: 1.43 shots/sec Cost: 10 resources Build time: 7 seconds Health: 1300 hp
	AUTOMATED SIEGE CANNON :: Automatically acquires the nearest enemy structure (not player) it can "see" and focuses a devastating blast at its location. The siege cannon can fire through walls or obstacles at a range of up to 1100 units, but only if the target is "painted" by a marine spotter (any friendly who can see it) or a commander's scanner sweep (see above). Enemies caught standing next to a blast also take heavy damage. Damage: 165 hp/shot Rate of fire: 0.25 shots/sec Cost: 15 resources Build time: 10 seconds Health: 2000 hp

The Marine Tech Tree (NS)

Marines begin play with an LMG (light machine gun), pistol, and knife; and standard armor. In NS mode, their commander can spend resources to unlock more powerful weapons and abilities, and build strategic structures. But limited resources force tough choices -- the commander must set priorities, and pick a path through the tech tree. For descriptions of structures, weapons, equipment and upgrades see above.

Alien Species

The Kharaa match human weapons and upgrades with 5 powerful alien species, and amazing evolutionary abilities.

Changing Species

There are five species of Kharaa -- and each has distinct abilities, strengths and limitations. In NS game mode you can change to any species you can afford, as often as you like. In Combat mode you must evolve according to the Alien Upgrade Path (see "Alien Upgrades (CO)" above).

While changing to a new lifeform you are encased in a gestation sac, and are totally defenseless for a number of seconds (see the "Gestation Egg" under "Alien Species". Higher lifeforms require a longer gestation. If you're found while gestating, you are an easy target, so find a place to hide or be sure you have friendly aliens to protect you. Your resources (NS) or level (CO) are spent as soon as you start gestating, so if you're killed before you complete, your investment is lost. The following table shows gestation times in seconds:

When you change species, you keep the same percentage of health and armor (so if you're at half health before, you'll at half health after, etc.).

Abilities

Hive abilities include alien attacks (like the skulk's bite), and other combat affects (like the fade's blink, or the lerk's primal scream). There are four levels of alien abilities: Hive 0, Hive 1, Hive 2, and Hive 3.

In Combat mode, you always have access to Hive 0 and Hive 1 abilities. You can spend levels to unlock access to Hive 2 and Hive 3 abilities (see the "Experience (CO)" section).

In NS game mode, Hive 0 abilities are always available. To access Hive 1, Hive 2, and Hive 3 abilities, your team needs to have that number of hives active. For example: Xenocide is the skulk's Hive 3 ability. Until the aliens get all three hives up, skulks won't be able to use it. Note: aliens start play with one hive, but they can lose it, and have zero. In those cases, they lose all but their Hive 0 abilities, and start taking damage. If they can't get one built fast, the game is over.

Each species and their abilities, are described below.

Kharaa Species
	SKULK :: All players (re)spawn as skulks. Capable of blurring speed and leaps of near limitless height, skulks are equally adept at combat and scouting. They can run up walls and ceilings, and often ambush marines from unexpected directions. Special Ability: Wall Running: Just look and run, and you can automatically climb any flat surface. Cost: 2 resources Gestation time: 7 seconds Health: 70 hp Armor: 10 hp Speed: 290 units/sec
A savage melee attack, and the skulk's primary weapon. See "Hints" for tips. Damage: 75 hp/bite Rate of fire: 1.25 bites/sec Energy cost: 5%/bite Hive Level: 0 Projectile that marks an enemy player (or structure). They now appear on your team's hive sight. Bon appetite! Damage: 10 hp/shot Rate of fire: 2.00 shots/sec Energy cost: 30%/shot Hive Level: 1 The speed and height of a skulk's leap is amazing. They lead with their blades, so it can be deadly too. Just aim and click to launch yourself. Damage: 80 hp/sec Rate of fire: N/A Energy cost: 25%/leap Hive Level: 2 The skulk becomes a marine-seeking missile with a short fuse. The fire button activates a chemical reaction -- then, after a 2 second delay, the skulk explodes, doing heavy damage to everything in a 500 unit radius, and obliterating itself in the act. If killed before it can explode, the xenocide does not activate. Damage: 200 hp Rate of fire: N/A Energy cost: 70% Hive Level: 3
	GORGE :: Belligerent and obese, gorges serve mainly a support role -- though they can dish out damage when they must. In NS game mode gorges are the only species that can build. Special Ability: Build: (NS) Gorges can build chambers (including resource towers), and trigger the growth of new hives. Use the pop-up menu to choose what to build. Standing next to a chamber and holding down the "use" key (default "e") speeds building. Cost: 10 resources Gestation time: 17 seconds Health: 150 hp Armor: 40 hp Speed: 170 units/sec
Wads of corrosive, pulpy matter hucked impressive distances by the gorge's stomach muscles. Damage: 25 hp/shot Rate of fire: 1.25 shots/sec Energy cost: 12%/shot Hive Level: 0 Restore health to players and chambers, and make friends, by using your healing spray. Limited range. Damage: 16 hp/spray Rate of fire: 0.63 sprays/sec Energy cost: 15%/spray Hive Level: 1 Heal amount (players): 16 hp/shot Heal amount (buildings): 64 hp/shot This lobbed, grenade-like attack may be harmless to marines, but its disruptive chemical burst really hurts their structures. Bursts on impact in a 200 unit radius. Damage: 200 hp/shot Rate of fire: 0.67 shots/sec Energy cost: 22%/shot Hive Level: 2 Webs are nasty -- they slow marines, make them unable to attack, and really mess up jet packs. Shoot the first anchor point, then the second, to place a web. A team can have up to 30 webs. Damage: N/A Rate of fire: 2.00 shots/sec Energy cost: 18%/shot Hive Level: 3
	LERK :: Wiry, fast, and fierce, lerks attack on the wing -- harassing marine squads and supporting other Kharaa. Low armor and health means they usually keep their distance. Their vicious bite makes it a good idea for marines to, as well. Special Ability: Flight: Tap your jump key to fly. Hold down to glide. Watch your energy bar! Cost: 30 resources Gestation time: 28 seconds Health: 125 hp Armor: 30 hp Speed: 175 units/sec
Where skulks uses their jaw muscles, the lerk relies on its powerful neck to thrust its razor teeth into its target. Damage: 60 hp/bite Rate of fire: 1.56 bites/sec Energy cost: 5%/bite Hive Level: 0 This area affect dissolves organic matter -- specifically, marines. Lasts 6 seconds with a 225 unit radius. Heavy armor blocks spore damage. Damage: 7 hp/second Rate of fire: 0.50 shots/sec Energy cost: 35%/shot Hive Level: 1 A cloud of particles that deflects 2 of every 3 bullets. Ineffective against grenades, mines, and knives. Lasts 3 seconds in a 225 unit radius Damage: N/A Rate of fire: 1.00 shots/sec Energy cost: 30%/shot Hive Level: 2 The rallying cry of the Kharaa -- boosts the power of nearby teammates. Aliens within 500 units gain 30% increased attack speed, 30% increased damage, and 60% more energy for 4 seconds Damage: N/A Rate of fire: 0.20 screams/sec Energy cost: 45%/scream Hive Level: 3
	FADE :: The shocktroopers of the Kharaa, fades can take and give heavy damage, up close and at a distance. Their blink ability can be downright spooky. Cost: 50 resources Gestation time: 23 seconds Health: 300 hp Armor: 150 hp Speed: 240 units/sec
Lightning swipes of their muscled arms shred metal and marines. Damage: 90 hp/swipe Rate of fire: 1.11 swipes/sec Energy cost: 7%/swipe Hive Level: 0 Teleportation? Space distortion? However it works, a blinking fade moves nearly too fast to see, or shoot. To use, point and hold down your left mouse button [default]: the space between you and your destination will rapidly narrow. Hitting the jump key while blinking allows impressive leaps. Damage: N/A Rate of fire: 20.00 blinks/sec Energy cost: 5%/blink Hive Level: 1 With this ability, the fade converts its energy into health, gaining 20 hp per use. Damage: N/A Rate of fire: 1.00 uses/sec Energy cost: 25%/use Hive Level: 2 The symbiotic organism on the fade's shoulder, once awakened, can spit pods of acid long distances. Upon impact, they splash a 165 unit radius. Damage: 25 hp/shot Rate of fire: 1.00 shots/sec Energy cost: 10%/shot Hive Level: 3
	ONOS :: The dreadnoughts of the Kharaa, the onos are tanks -- highly armored and very powerful. Only the best-equipped marine squads can hope to defeat them. If the onos doesn't swallow them whole first. Cost: 75 resources Gestation time: 38 seconds Health: 700 hp Armor: 600 hp Speed: 240 units/sec
Tons of alien muscle, pointy tusks … who needs subtlety? Damage: 80 hp/hit Rate of fire: 1.05 hits/sec Energy cost: 6%/hit Hive Level: 0 Mmm, marine … the onos swallows its victim whole and slowly devours him, gaining health as the marine is consumed. If the onos is killed, the marine is freed. Damage: 3 hp/sec Rate of fire: 0.50 attempts/sec Energy cost: 20%/attempt Hive Level: 1 With a slam of its heavy feet, the onos sends a shock-wave along the ground, stunning nearby enemies. Effects last in a 250 unit radius for 1.00 seconds. Damage: N/A Rate of fire: N/A Energy cost: 30%/stomp Hive Level: 2 Knock marines around like bowling pins. Charge works in a straight line. Damage: 320 hp/hit Rate of fire: N/A Energy cost: 7%/hit Hive Level: 3
	GESTATION EGG :: When gestating to a new species or gaining a new evolution, the Kharaa surround themselves with an organic "egg" sack. Eggs have little health/armor, so choose carefully where you gestate. See "Changing Species" above, or "Alien Evolutions" below.

Alien Chambers (NS)

Chambers are alien growths that gorges build for offense, defense, and tactical purposes. With the exception of the hive, they are unique to the NS game mode.

Hives and Chambers (NS)

In NS mode, every active hive allows one kind of chamber to be built (with the exception of offensive chambers and resource chambers, which can always be built). Chambers are required to evolve (see section below). Only gorges can build them.

BASIC CHAMBERS
	HIVE :: The hive is the most important alien growth. It is a large organism, that hangs from the ceiling in special map locations. The Kharaa need a hive to spawn (see "Respawning," above). Any alien standing within 500 units of a hive is healed at a rate of ?? health points per second. In NS game mode, the gorges can build new hives (to a maximum of three), and they are crucially tied to evolutions (see "Alien Evolutions," below). Cost: 40 resources Build time: 180 seconds Health: 7000 hp Regen rate: 2 hp/second
	RESOURCE TOWER :: Draws resources from resource nodes at rate of 1 resource every 4 seconds. Cost: 15 resources Build time: 20 seconds Health: 2500 hp Regen rate: 5 hp/second
	OFFENSE CHAMBER :: Attacks nearest enemy in line-of-sight with deadly spikes. Cost: 10 resources Build time: 11 seconds Health: 1000 hp Regen rate: 5 hp/second Damage: 20 hp/shot Rate of fire: ~1 shot/sec
EVOLUTIONARY CHAMBERS
	DEFENSE CHAMBER :: Automatically heals up to 3 chambers or aliens within 400 units for 10 hp every 2 seconds. Allows defensive evolutions. Cost: 10 resources Build time: 20 seconds Health: 1200 hp Regen rate: 5 hp/second
	MOVEMENT CHAMBER :: Allows instant movement to nearest hive, or hive under attack. Also regenerates the energy of up to 3 aliens within 400 units for 10% of their total energy every 2 seconds. Allows movement evolutions. Cost: 10 resources Build time: 12 seconds Health: 1000 hp Regen rate: 5 hp/second
	SENSORY CHAMBER :: Any marine in line-of-sight of chamber is revealed on hive sight. Blocks the marine motion tracking technology. Cloaks aliens and chambers that have been within 750 units for 3 seconds. Allows sensory evolutions. Cost: 10 resources Build time: 14 seconds Health: 800 hp Regen rate: 5 hp/second

Alien Evolutions

Evolutions are advanced adaptive abilities that, when combined with different species, encourage a wide variety of play-styles. There are three categories of evolution: Defensive, Movement, and Sensory. Evolving a new ability requires gestation time -- during which you can see around you, but are helpless. Evolutions are purchased through your pop-up menu.

Purchasing Evolutions (CO)

In Combat mode, you can spend a level to purchase any of the nine evolutions. A highly ranked alien could potentially evolve them all. See the "Experience (CO)" and "Levels (CO)" sections for more on spending levels.

Evolutions are all gained at maximum power. They persist when you change species, or even when you die and respawn.

Purchasing Evolutions (NS)

In NS game mode, aliens must build chambers to get evolutions (see "Chambers," above). Each hive allows for one kind of chamber (Defense, Movement, or Sensory). Once a chamber is built, the corresponding evolutions become available to all players. Players can choose one evolution from each category. The number of chambers built determines the level of the evolutions -- up to a max of three. Evolutions cost 2 resource points. Evolutions persist when you change species. If you die, all evolutions are lost and must be re-purchased.

Example of evolutions and chambers (NS): at the start of the game, the Kharaa decide to go with Movement as their first type of evolution. A gorge builds a movement chamber, and the movement icon flashes on each player's screen. For 2 resource points, all players can now use their pop-up menus to choose either the celerity, adrenaline, or redeem ability. Whichever they choose, it will only be at level 1 until someone builds another chamber. Movement chambers can now be built anywhere, giving nearby aliens an adrenaline boost, and allowing them to teleport to active or threatened hives. When a second hive goes up, the team will then choose whether to go for Defense or Sensory chambers (and evolutions).

List of Evolutions

DEFENSIVE EVOLUTIONS
	CARAPACE :: A damage-soaking lattice of cartilage grows into the skin. Skulk armor bonus: 20 hp/level Gorge armor bonus: 50 hp/level Lerk armor bonus: 30 hp/level Fade armor bonus: 100 hp/level Onos armor bonus: 150 hp/level
	REDEMPTION :: For every second spent near death (below 40% health), there is a 35% per level chance of teleporting back to a hive.
	REGENERATION :: Damage slowly heals, giving back 3% of maximum health per level every 2 seconds.
MOVEMENT EVOLUTIONS
	ADRENALINE :: Energy recharges 33% faster per level, shortening the time between attacks, and the use of special abilities.
	CELERITY :: Each level increases movement speed, though some lifeforms gain more of an advantage then others. Also affects in-air (flight) speed. Increases the alien's movement speed by 25 units/second at level one, 50 units/second at level two, and 75 units/second at level three.
	SILENCE :: Movement and attacks are quieter -- the volume drops to 50% at level one, 15% at level two, and 0% at level three.
SENSORY EVOLUTIONS
	CLOAKING :: When standing still and not attacking, the alien fades to near invisibility. The time required drops with each level: 3.00 sec at level one, 1.50 sec at level two, and 1.00 sec at level three.
	FOCUS :: Each level slows rate of fire by 33%, but damage is increased by 0.50. Only affects the slot 1 weapon (bite, spit, spore, swipe, gore).
	SCENT OF FEAR :: Nearby enemies show up on hive sight (range increases with level: 600 units at level one, 1200 units at level two, and 1800 units at level three).

Scoreboard

Hold your [TAB] key (default) to bring up the scoreboard.

RANKING (CO)

The Combat mode scoreboard reflects ranking. See the "Experience (CO)" section.

POINTS (NS)

In NS mode, players are scored based on their contributions to the team. Players get points for advancing their team's cause: including building structures, destroying enemy structures, and killing enemy players.

Rules for Structures:

Killing a structure is worth the same amount of points as building it.
Points are given to the gorge that placed the structure, regardless of who helped.
The commander gets all points for building, not marines (keeps them at the top of the scoreboard).