Fast Zombie

Fast Zombies are the result of a human host under the control of a Fast Headcrab. As the name implies, Fast Zombies are extremely agile, and can be quite intimidating when faced in large numbers.

Appearance & Capabilities
Fast Zombies are much more leaner than other zombie variants, stripped of their outer skin, some body tissue, and most or all organs (revealing large parts of its skeleton). Fast Zombies also have longer claws than other zombies.

What distinguishes the Fast Zombie from other zombies is its ability to climb and move quickly, thus being able to confuse and surprise its prey. Fast Zombies also make loud wails while attacking and can be heard babbling while idle. Fast Zombies stand on two legs while slashing with its claws or standing up, but move on all four legs while running or climbing.

Like Standard Zombies, Fast Zombie torsoes can survive when seperated from the legs. The only difference is that Fast Zombie torsoes crawl and attack faster.

In Episode Two, in the chapter, [Riding Shotgun], a Fast Zombie at one point succeeds in latching onto the bonnet of the player's Muscle Car while the car is moving.

Fast Zombies, if needed, will lunge at its target to close any distance quickly, and will slash the target upon coming into contact. The attack does the same amount of damage as the normal slash attack.

In Episode Two, Fast Zombies will sometimes "play dead" in order to surprise unsuspecting prey that come to investigate its "corpse". Fast Zombies will also hide behind objects and jump out as a surprise attack.

Tactics
Fast Zombies, although intimidating, are really not much of a threat, and more of an annoyance. Their attacks are very weak, and can be dispatched without much effort. If suddenly facing a Fast Zombie, take out your Shotgun and shoot its head, which should be close enough to hit easily.

On the rooftops of Ravenholm in Half Life 2, your biggest threat is actually falling off by surprise when a Fast Zombie suddenly shows up.

Fast Zombies can be detected by the howling it emits almost every time you encounter one, or the loud noises it makes such as its babbling.

Fast Zombies can pretend to be dead but jump up and attack you once you get near. When investigating an area with zombie corpses, check on certain zombies and see if they still have a headcrab attached to its head. If there is one, then this is normally a sign that the zombie is still alive. Just stand back and shoot the head. If you miss or hit another part of the body, the zombie will wake up and try to attack you.

Fast Zombies also hide behind large objects. There is no real way to counter this. Simply stay alert, and be ready to fire when the zombie reveals itself.

Trivia

 * Despite the absence of most if not all the muscle tissue, a Fast Zombie is still able to jump great distances and move very quickly.


 * The Fast Zombie host is most likely dead, however, it is unknown how a Fast Zombie can still make its intimidating howls.