View source for Skulk

<div style="float:right;">
{{Class 
| icon=[[Image:Alien_skulk_normal_front.png|300px|link=]]
| aliens=Skulk
| pres=0
| health=75 (+3 per [[Kharaa#Biomass|Biomass]])
| armor=10 ([[Carapace|17 / 23 / 30]])
| energy=100 ([[Adrenaline|110 / 120 / 130]])
| respawn=10
| respawnfrom=[[Egg]]
| airspeed=11 (Leap)
| landspeed=7.0 ([[Celerity|7.5 / 8.0 / 8.5]])
| crouchspeed=3.5
| wallspeed=7.25 (run), 8.0 to 11 (jump) 

| aliencat1=Abilities and Upgrades
| ability=[[Alien Vision]], Evolve Menu, Hive Sight, Sneak, Wall Walking (Wall Jumping), Bite, Parasite, Leap, Xenocide
| evolution=[[Carapace]], [[Regeneration]], [[Crush]], [[Aura]], [[Focus]], [[Vampirism]], [[Adrenaline]], [[Celerity]], [[Silence]]
| upgrade=[[#Leap|Leap]] at biomass 4, [[#Xenocide|Xenocide]] at biomass 9

| aliencat2=Miscellaneous
| buyfrom=[[Evolve Menu]]
| buy=Player
| gestate=3
}}
</div>
{{Rtoc}}

{{Quote|quote=Can attack with bite and track enemies with parasite. Can ambush enemies by climbing on walls and ceilings. Can evolve leap and xenocide.|source=In-game description.}}

== Introduction ==
The '''''Skulk''''' is the default [[Aliens|Alien]] lifeform that all Alien players will initially spawn as and respawn as after each death.

=== Background ===
The Skulk is a very agile yet delicate quadruped. It has the unique ability to [[#Wall_Walk|walk on walls and ceilings]], making it very effective for ambushing lone/unaware [[Marines]]. 

=== Tactics ===
Though Skulks are considered expendable, they are a very versatile lifeform and can perform a myriad of roles. 

An Early-game skulk should focus on tagging Marines with its [[#Parasite|Parasite]] ability and killing them wherever possible. Skulks should generally work as a pack of 2 or more and should always favour stealthy attacks over direct engagements.

Due to its speed and low-profile, the Skulk is able to traverse the map very quickly and should use this to its advantage to harass the Marine economy, by constantly destroying [[Extractor|Extractors]] and this becomes its primary objective in the mid-to-late game, though a Skulk is more than capable of killing Marines throughout the full length of the game, even being able to engage a Marine with a [[Prototype_Lab#Jetpack|Jetpack]] with Leap and being able to kill or damage large groups of Marines with Xenocide.

{{Tacticalsummary|Skulk|Parasite '''Everything'''|Ambush Marines, don't fight them head-on.|Move erratically, use the walls and ceilings and avoid the floor!|If you struggle to kill Marines, kill Extractors instead.}}


=== Controls ===

{{Skulk Controls}}

== Abilities ==
=== Wall Walk & Sneak ===
All Alien units have a movement mechanic that is unique to their class. The Skulk possesses the unique ability to ''Wall Walk''.

* When you are close to a Wall you can press Jump (Space) in order to gain speed.
** If you touch the wall too closely you will attach yourself and lose some speed even if you press Forward (W). It is recommended to hold the detach button (CTRL) in order to maintain your speed better
** If you look upwards while jumping from a wall you will gain height faster though lose some speed while jumping forward.

{{main|Movement_techniques#Skulk|Movement techniques}}

{{Skulk Movement|collapsed=true}}

{| 
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;width:50%;" |

=== Bite ===
{{AbilityTable
| alienname=Bite
| icon=[[File:Icon_bite.png]]
| hotkey={{key|1}} (slot), {{key|Mouse1}} (attack)
| energy=5.85
| damage=75
| type=Normal
| range=Melee
| firerate=0.45
| target=[[Marines]], Robots, Structures
}}

The Skulk's powerful Bite can rip through both flesh and metal with frightening speed.
| style="vertical-align:top;width:50%;" |
=== Parasite ===
{{AbilityTable
| alienname=Parasite
| description=Allows aliens to track the inflicted target
<ul>
<li>Parasite projectile travels in a straight line.</li>
<li>Parasited targets 
<ul><li>will appear on the [[Map]] as icons.</li>
    <li>can be seen through walls</li>
</li></ul>
</ul>
| icon=[[File:Icon_parasite.png]]
| hotkey={{key|2}} (slot), {{key|Mouse1}} (attack)
| energy=30
| damage=10
| type=Normal
| range=1000
| firerate=0.5
| duration=44
| target=[[Marines]], Robots, Structures
}}
Infects an enemy target with small Parasites, allowing all Kharaa players to track the target's position through walls using [[Aliens#Hive_Sight|Hive Sight]].

{{MessageBox|style=check|title='''Tip:'''|color=green|You should try and Parasite '''every''' enemy you see, to give your teammates better awareness of the enemy forces!}}

|-
| style="vertical-align:top" |

=== Leap ===
{{AbilityTable
| alienname=Leap
| description=Jump ability that even works mid-air
| icon=[[File:Icon_leap.png]]
| hotkey={{key|Mouse2}}
| energy=45
| speed=Base speed + 4
| prereq=[[Kharaa#Biomass|Biomass]] level 4, Research Leap ([[Hive]])
| tres=15 (research 40 seconds)
}}
Leaps toward the Skulk's current direction while on the ground or in mid-air. <br>While leaping, the Skulk gains a move speed bonus.
||

=== Xenocide ===
{{AbilityTable
| alienname=Xenocide
| description=
Self detonating ability
<ul>
<li>Changes to Bite attack after activation.</li>
<li>Player will respawn in 6 seconds instead of default spawn time.</li>
</ul>
| icon=[[File:Icon_xenocide.png]]
| hotkey={{key|3}} (slot), {{key|Mouse1}} (attack)
| energy=30
| damage=200
| type=Normal
| radius=14
| delay=2
| use=1
| target=Marines, Robots, Structures
| prereq=Biomass level 9<br />Research Xenocide
| tres=25 (research 60 seconds)
}}
Explodes the Skulk after a short delay to damage all nearby Frontiersmen units and structures. 

{{MessageBox|style=warning|title='''Warning:'''|color=red|''Xenocide cannot be cancelled'' once activated, unless the player hits the "Evolve Last Upgrade" button.}}
|}

== Variants ==
The following images show all the variations of Skulk camouflage ''(skins)'' that you may see in the game.<br />

{{#lst:Skins|disclaimer}}

{{#lst:Skins|skulk}}

{{AliensNav}}
[[Category:Alien]]
[[Category:Playable Lifeform]]