Spore carriers are reanimated dead humans, colonized by Beauveria mordicana, a mutated entomopathogenic fungus. They are creatures found in the Mojave Wasteland as well as Zion Canyon and Big MT in 2281.

Background

Beauveria mordicana was originally an entomopathogenic fungus designed for pest control. When a pest is exposed to the fungal spores, the fungus infests it and begins to colonize the host body. The host eventually dies due to failure of body functions, as the colony expands through its body. However, the dead body continues to be controlled by the fungal colony, allowing it to move around and infect more pests by spraying spores around the host body. While effective in the long term, it still takes between 10 to 20 days to kill its prey and achieves limited effectiveness when dealing with unsocial pests.[1] The fungus was originally developed at the X-22 botanical garden at the Big MT, though the technology was eventually shared with Vault-Tec, to enable botanical experiments at Vault 22.[2]

As with many technologies coming out of the Big MT, the fungus was a Pandora's box. Once the Vault scientists began experimentation with the fungus, they effectively signed their death warrant. While ostensibly designed to provide effective means of long-term pest control, the fungus was perfectly capable of infecting human bodies.[3] Fungal spores gradually spread through the Vault, slowly infecting the population. The first confirmed infection was Dr. Harrison Peters, who also provided insight into the development of the infection. It begins with pneumonia as the fungus invades the lungs, eventually transforming into chills, a fever, and a terrible racking cough. The fungal colony causes the body to actively reject anti-fungal treatments, leading to death due to organ failure. As with smaller pests, the fungal colony continues to grow and develop. Eventually, it spreads far enough to establish control over the deceased person's body, becoming a highly aggressive spore carrier, a mindless beast whose sole purpose is spreading the spores.[4][5][6][7][8][9] The widespread infection led to a collapse of the social order in the Vault. By 2096, it was abandoned and a party of 118 survivors made way for the Zion Canyon. The dead eventually mutated into spore carriers or became stationary colonies of the fungus.[10][11][12]

Characteristics

Biology

A body colonized by the fungus regresses to a feral state, as the colony warps it to make it a more effective spore carrier. This infection vector has green, wrinkled skin (reminiscent of a bark) with stiff, leaf-like protrusions on the back, allowing it to blend in with foliage. The hands and feet possess only four digits and no fingernails. The body is also incredibly flexible and agile.

The spore carrier will typically lay dormant among vegetation. However, once a threat is detected, it will rise out of its slumber and attack ferociously, exhibiting similar behavior to a feral ghoul. It may also spontaneously spray irradiated spores to further damage and infect the target of its attack.

It should be noted that spore carriers have a limited habitat, present only in areas where infected persons were present, such as Vault 22, the X-22 botanical garden, and isolated pockets in the Zion Canyon.

Gameplay attributes

In game terms, spore carriers are a melee enemy, focusing on closing in on the player and attacking at melee range. Their attacks deal large amounts of damage, with an increased chance of damaging and crippling limbs. Carriers may also explode, dealing a great deal of damage, or spontaneously attack with a spore burst.

The best counter is to use a weapon with a large spread, such as shotguns, once detected, or the flamer to check vegetation for carriers and destroy them effectively.

Variants

Notable spore carriers

Spore carrier

The basic, most common type. Will usually be found hiding in vegetation and attacking anyone who wakes them up (for example, by bumping into them).

Name Base ID) Statistics Behavior Abilities Items Spore carrier

000e5860 Level Experience points 60 Detection Health points 75 Damage threshold Damage resistance 0% Fist Very aggressive: Will attack enemies and neutrals on sight. Confidence Foolhardy: Will never flee or avoid anyone. Group Helps allies: Will help allies. Attack Damage Melee (25 Attack Poison Spore carrier burst (100 Dead

Spore carrier beast (Honest Hearts)

Spore carrier beasts are an exclusive variant found in the Zion Canyon (Honest Hearts). They are stronger, more dangerous, and usually accompanied by spore plants.

Spore carrier brute

Brutes are an advanced form of a spore carrier, being larger, tougher, more lethal, and, of course, more aggressive. They are usually mixed in with regular carrier populations.

Name Base ID) Statistics Behavior Abilities Items Spore carrier brute

000e5861 Level Experience points 90 Detection Health points 125 Damage threshold Damage resistance 0% Fist Very aggressive: Will attack enemies and neutrals on sight. Confidence Foolhardy: Will never flee or avoid anyone. Group Helps allies: Will help allies. Attack Damage Melee (32 Attack Poison Spore carrier burst (100 Dead

Spore carrier runt

Smaller than the typical spore carrier, runts are fast and may be dangerous if they aren't put down fast. They are perhaps the most horrifying type of carrier: They are children and infants infected, killed, and claimed by the fungus.

Name Base ID) Statistics Behavior Abilities Items Spore carrier runt

000e585f Level Experience points 30 Detection Health points 50 Damage threshold Damage resistance 0% Fist Very aggressive: Will attack enemies and neutrals on sight. Confidence Foolhardy: Will never flee or avoid anyone. Group Helps allies: Will help allies. Attack Damage Melee (10 Attack Poison Spore carrier burst (100 Dead

Spore carrier savage

Savages are the top dog when it comes to spore carriers, representing the most dangerous and resilient form of a carrier.

Name Base ID) Statistics Behavior Abilities Items Spore carrier savage

000fe034 Level 12 Experience points 120 Detection Health points 175 Damage threshold Damage resistance Fist Very aggressive: Will attack enemies and neutrals on sight. Confidence Foolhardy: Will never flee or avoid anyone. Group Helps allies: Will help allies. Attack Damage Melee (50 Attack Poison Spore carrier burst (100 Dead

Spore carrier scavenger (Old World Blues)

Savages are bodies overrun by the original version of the fungus developed at Big MT. Typically found in the X-22 botanical garden in the crater, they are extremely dangerous due to their speed, resilience, and level.

Name Base ID) Statistics Behavior Abilities Items Spore carrier scavenger

xx 012a22 Level 45 Experience points 450 Detection Health points 250 Damage threshold Damage resistance Fist Aggressive: Will attack enemies on sight. Confidence Average: Will avoid/flee from threats stronger than itself. Group Helps nobody: Will not help anyone. Attack Damage Melee ( Attack Poison Spore carrier burst (

Notes

The spore carrier appears to be a re-skin of the trogs from The Pitt , albeit with leaves on its back. It is very similar to the trogs because of their category names (brute and savage), appearance, animation and troglodytic nature.

, albeit with leaves on its back. It is very similar to the trogs because of their category names (brute and savage), appearance, animation and troglodytic nature. A dormant carrier it will be identified on the HUD as non-hostile. Usually, they wont even appear on the reticule, as they are usually hidden beneath foliage.

Sneaking up on a spore carrier in its dormant state will state that the spore carrier is unconscious.

With the Honest Hearts add-on, spore carriers will sometimes drop spore carrier sap.

add-on, spore carriers will sometimes drop spore carrier sap. When its head is shot, only the top may explode, rather than the entire head.

Appearances

Spore carriers appear in Fallout: New Vegas, and it add-ons Honest Hearts and Old World Blues.

Behind the scenes

Beauveria is a genus of fungi typically known to parasitically infect insects. Beauveria mordicana seems similar in effects to the endomopathogenic fungus Cordyceps unilateralis, which assumes control of the infected organism's immune system and continues to grow post-mortem.

Gallery

Spore carrier within flowers in Vault 22