Small Insectoid

Small Insectoid
A fast zombie that explodes when it dies.
Main Stats
Health 50 Melee Damage 20
Crit. Chance	0%
Speed	16
Rage Drop	1
Behavior Stats
Agility	100
Aggression	50
Morale Stats
Charisma	-24
Charisma Radius	100
Abilities
Knockback Strength	15
Resistances
Fire	100%
Knockback	60%

Small Insectoid (SI) is a nude infected. It has gray exposed flesh, two appendages on its back, and brightly glowing blue eyes with signs of blue energy emanating from its torso.

Overview

Small Inscetoid is a mid-to-late game runner type enemy. Its attacks apply guaranteed knockback on struck units, and it possesses significant resistance to it itself. Additionally, it's immune to fire damage.

Strategy

SI is one of the most dangerous runner type enemies in the entire game, only losing out to the likes of Locust. It can be considered a stronger Monk thanks to its higher stats, especially damage. Unlike Monks, however, methods of dealing with SI are slightly different because of its fire immunity and its tendency to appear in massive swarms, which makes them a huge threat even for seasoned players.

Despite SI being a dangerous enemy to face, tanky melee units can still deal with it rather efficiently in small quantities. However, unless supported by ranged units, a few more SI can easily overwhelm and destroy them.

Ranged units with spread damage are very efficient and recommended against SI swarms as they can greatly harm them when formed in both closely-packed groups or ones that are further spread out. Policeman Diaz is a great option as he can tank a lot of melee damage and has knockback resistance, promptly destroying it in one shotgun blast if it ever gets close. Ranger is similarly a good choice, having faster attack speeds and decent damage, able to stun-lock them with his special ability if he fails to kill them outright. Farmer/Lester are also good choices since their preparation time is the shortest. Although they may be more vulnerable overall, unlocking their special ability can certainly give them a better edge when up against SI by giving more burst damage. Ranged units with the high rate of fire perk can also work well enough, but they will seriously struggle if Small Insectoids are not within their line of fire, unlike Shotgunners who can catch them with a stray pellet.

Since SI cannot be set on fire at all, Molotov and Red Barrel are unable to chip it over time. Damaging it with an explosion is exceedingly difficult unless timed very well. Grenadier is another option, as his grenade throw does significantly more damage, able to immediately kill Small Insectoids up to level 11, leaving the rest at critical health and vulnerable to any source of damage. His high melee damage and decent health also makes him suitable for fighting off one or two Small Insectoids that slip through, able to somnetimes kill it just as it spawns from Prisoner.

Trivia

• Despite being pointed out in its Zombiepedia entry, Small Insectoid's on-death explosion is barely even noticeable, being comparable to Energy Sphere's death animation where it just disintegrates into a splotch of plasma. The description might be a leftover concept that was absent in the final version.
• Internally, Small Inscetoid is referred to as "Pre-Alien".

Gallery

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  Journal entry.