Insect Swarm

Insect Swarm is a Plasmid available in BioShock, BioShock 2 and the BioShock 2 Multiplayer. It is an active Plasmid which instantly releases a swarm of killer hornets/bees,Referred to as hornets: Gatherer Garden/Gene Bank Plasmid description in BioShock: "Nothing clears a room like swarms of stinging hornets. (Warning: not recommended for users with allergies.)"; The texture file for the insect in BioShock is named HornetLP_Diffuse and in BioShock 2 Multiplayer it is named Wasps_Diffuse, hornets being a type of wasp.Referred to as bees: BioShock 2's help captions: "The Insect Swarm Plasmid allows you to summon a swarm of deadly bees to seek out and attack nearby foes."; The texture file for the insect in BioShock 2 is named FX_P_Swarm_Bee_diffuse; Splicers being attacked by the Plasmid in BioShock (example: Pigskin#Quotes), BioShock 2 (example: Baby Jane#BioShock 2 Quotes) and BioShock 2 Multiplayer (example: Barbara Johnson#Quotes) will refer to the insects as bees. at the cost of EVE.
Once released, the swarm becomes a singular entity, circling an area and seeking out enemies. The swarm travels into different rooms and upstairs, making it useful in scouting. When a group of enemies is found, the swarm will pick a single target enemy and continuously attack it until it expires, or until the time limit on the swarm runs out, causing it to disperse. If the target dies before the swarm disperses, it will immediately move to attack a new target.
==History==
Insect Swarm is one of the few Plasmids that must have been a real head-scratcher for the general public when it first debuted, yet would prove to be an invaluable addition to the genetic arsenal of both beekeepers and workers of Arcadia, and therefore Rapture. After all, without bees, pollination would only occur via indirect air currents, and Arcadia's production of oxygen and food would be greatly hampered. As a result, Gatherer's Gardens near apiaries such as the Silverwing Apiary would stock the Plasmid to allow beekeepers and workers of Arcadia to help keep the ecosystem alive and produce fresh honey to be sold on the Farmer's Market.
Its specialized usage would not stop marketing departments though, and they soon marketed Insect Swarm as the solution against pesky salesmen.Advertisement for Insect Swarm.
==BioShock==
In BioShock, Insect Swarm has no effect on Security Bots or Turrets, but Splicers that are unaware of the player and neutral or friendly Big Daddies will be targeted indiscriminately. Only a single swarm may be active at a time. Unlike most Plasmids, Insect Swarm's manifestation does not change after each upgrade.
===Upgrade Path===
====Challenge Rooms====
In Worlds of Hurt, Insect Swarm 3 can be bought at the Gatherer's Garden in the central hub for 80 ADAM.
===Combat Strategy===
*Insect Swarm can help the player flush out enemies pretending to be dead. It also helps against Cohen's Plastered Splicers.
*Cyclone Trap, Incinerate!, and Sonic Boom should not be used in conjunction with Insect Swarm, as a group of attacking bees will disappear when enemies are hit with these Plasmids. Electro Bolt will not stun an enemy being attacked by bees.
*Two things make this Plasmid unique: First, it homes in on enemies. Second, it distracts enemies even in the middle of combat. This makes it particularly useful if the player is not very accurate, but also if they wish to use it for stealth and escape tactics. It is also a good choice when sniping faraway enemies, as they do not attack the player upon being swarmed.
===Recommended Tonics===
*EVE Saver will reduce the cost in EVE when casting this Plasmid.
*Natural Camouflage will help the player if they are using Insect Swarm as an escape tool.
*The Wrench Lurker line of Tonics will increase Wrench damage versus swarmed enemies, as they count as unaware.
===Appearance in BioShock===
Insect Swarm.png|Jack wielding Insect Swarm.
Insect Swarm 2.png|Jack wielding Insect Swarm 2.
Insect Swarm 3.png|Jack wielding Insect Swarm 3.
BioShock-R-hands-beez.jpg|Jack's hand models wielding Insect Swarm in BioShock Remastered.
==BioShock 2==
Insect Swarm is also available to the player in BioShock 2, but has been significantly upgraded. The hornets spawned by Subject Delta are smarter and more aggressive, seeking out hidden enemies and moving across several rooms. In more advanced versions of the plasmid, the swarms can target multiple enemies or inhabit dead corpses to build hives.
===Upgrade Path===
====Minerva's Den====
First available at a Gatherer's Garden in Minerva's Den for 60 ADAM.
====Minerva's Den====
First available at a Gatherer's Garden in Minerva's Den for 100 ADAM.
====Minerva's Den====
Can be purchased for 130 ADAM in Gatherer's Gardens onward the first machine in Operations.
===Combat Strategy===
*Insect Swarm is a highly effective EVE 'force multiplier' with improved versions of the plasmid. Unlike other plasmids which cause more damage through repeated casting (such as Incinerate), Insect Swarm has steady damage. 
**The chain effect for level 2 and the trap feature in level 3 creates an overall casting benefit to the player, as one 'cast' may impact a nearly endless chain of attackers without using any additional EVE.
*Insect Swarm has two main uses: a direct-fire offensive cast and an indirect-fire seeking or trap capability. 
**In direct fire, the player can simply point at an enemy and cast an insect swarm. The resulting swarm will cause steady damage and follow the target until the effect wears off or the target dies. 
**Alternately, the swarm can strengthen other direct-fire attacks, such as Telekinesis. Insect Swarm 3's "insect bomb" feature that creates a new swarm in a dead enemy. Players can pick up the aforementioned corpse (now an insect bomb), which will release a swarm of bees when in proximity with a nearby enemy -- or simply throw it directly into an enemy for immediate damage and further health damage while the swarm is active.
*However, Insect Swarm is equally, if not more useful, as an indirect-fire weapon. 
**Casting 'blindly' into a hostile area will cause the swarm to seek out enemies, outright killing weaker ones and substantially weakening stronger ones. As such, this Plasmid works well in conjunction with Hacking and Traps; weakened enemies may seek medical attention at a sabotaged aid station, or plunge into the player's mechanical, robotic, or plasmid traps under its influence. 
**Using Insect Swarm creates a continuous yellow cloud around enemies, which follows them everywhere. This is particularly useful against Houdini Splicers as it gives away their position. It can also flush out 'possum' enemies, such as splicers posing as dead bodies.
*There are additional benefits to using Insect Swarm in a build favoring stealth or the "Come-and-get-me" build.
**This plasmid synergizes extremely well in combination with Scout, and with the Fountain of Youth and Natural Camouflage gene tonics. Cautious players can simply park in a water supply to refill on Eve and Health, invisible to passing patrols, while the scout proxy can advance and both flush out or debuff enemies with Insect Swarm. While the Fountain of Youth and Natural Camouflage gene tonics take significant time to complete in research, they dramatically increase the viability of stealth builds in the late game, where enemies are tougher and deal more damage. 
**An entire build around this strategy can be further enhanced with investments in Hacking, trap rivets, mini-turret placement, and Cyclone traps.
*Using Insect Swarm 3 power evolution is very useful for defense. 
**The player has multiple opportunities to prepare for impending attacks, including: defending adopted Little Sisters during gathers, fighting off Big Sisters, and several plot-related "hold-this-position" segments. During these segments, Insect Swarm 3 is useful both on its own and in conjunction with other Plasmids and equipment. Players can:
***Use Telekinesis to move bodies with Insect Bombs to strategic locations, such as entrances, choke points, and around the gathering site. 
***Equip Cyclone Trap 2 and place several in similar strategic locations. This synergizes well as these traps weaken enemies when triggered and release a swarm simultaneously. 
****If the bees from any original trap kill an enemy, the dead body becomes another trap in the form of an "insect bomb". This continues to kill enemies and create a chain of traps, especially since the swarm will target multiple enemies each time. If defending with the chain strategy, players should:
***Launch a few Insect Swarms out in advance, just prior to initiating an ADAM gathering session through an adopted Little Sister. Swarms take a small amount of time to home in on an enemy. It is also wise to spawn more of them periodically, so that they may take out a few Splicers on their own.
**Security Command is another strong Plasmid choice for players using passive, enemy-seeking defenses, particularly in its third evolution. Insect swarms and security bots will actively search the battlefield and attack nearby threats. 
*The same strategies used in defense may also be used offensively to structure ambushes for Big Daddies; provided that the player does not attack the Big Daddy by mistake or get too close to the Little Sister, players can set up similar traps prior to engaging. 
===Recommended Tonics===
*EVE Saver will reduce the EVE cost when casting this Plasmid.
*Fountain of Youth restores Health and EVE when in water, which can allow constant (and free) use of this Plasmid without using any EVE Hypos.
*Drill Specialist will greatly decrease the casting cost of this Plasmid, although it will significantly reduce the player's weapon selection.
===Appearance in BioShock 2===
BioShock2-2010-12-07-22-58-21-30.jpg|The Insect Swarm Plasmid being equipped by Delta.
Swarm.png|A clean render of Insect Swarm.
==BioShock 2 Multiplayer==
Insect Swarm is the last Plasmid received by the player in the multiplayer. Unlike Incinerate!, Electro Bolt or Winter Blast, the Plasmid has to physically move from the caster to the target to take effect.
===Combat Strategy===
*If hit by this Plasmid, performing an Aero Dash will instantly dispel its effects.
*Although Insect Swarm will blur the target's vision, they can still partially see their surroundings. Avoid getting too close, as moving makes it easier for the victim to see the player.
*Enemies hit by this Plasmid usually tend to become much more aggressive. Try shooting them from a distance to avoid bearing the brunt of their shooting frenzy.
*Insect Swarm takes a little time to hit its target, and a little more to take effect. Don't attack them too soon.
*Moving around the victim in circles after hitting them with this Plasmid will disorient them, preventing them from hitting the player effectively.
*This Plasmid is particularly effective against enemies who use the Elephant Gun, as it'll prevent them from landing any accurate shots, let alone a headshot.
*When cast, the swarm will head straight towards the nearest enemy in the player's vision but will disappear if the player misses.
*Using Insect Swarm creates a continuous yellow cloud around enemies, which follows them everywhere. This is particularly useful against enemies who use the Houdini Plasmid, which reveals the invisible enemy's location.
===Recommended Tonics===
*EVE Saver will reduce the EVE cost when casting this Plasmid.
*Metabolic EVE will allow the player to regenerate EVE after casting this Plasmid.
===Appearance in BioShock 2 Multiplayer===
InsectSwarmMulti.PNG|Player wielding Insect Swarm.
InsectSwarmMulti Cast.PNG|Player casting Insect Swarm.
==Videos==
==Gallery==
Insect trailer.jpg|Insect Swarm viewed in the BioShock X06 teaser trailer.
Insect swarm carttons.jpg|A person being attacked by bees in the Insect Swarm introductory video for BioShock 2 Multiplayer.
==Bugs/Glitches==
;BioShock
* When the player uses Insect Swarm from a distance in an area with Splicers that are playing dead (areas from Hephaestus onward) the Swarm will attack the Splicers but they will not stand up, merely twitching and yelling until they die.
;BioShock 2 Multiplayer
*Using Insect Swarm on an enemy player near death and scoring a kill with it will give the player the "Heat Stroke" Trial as if the player had used Incinerate! instead.
*If there is an enemy standing directly up against a wall another player can stand on the opposite side of the wall and use Insect Swarm to send the swarm through the wall.
==Behind the Scenes==
*The Insect Swarm Plasmid was first developed to appear in the BioShock X06 teaser trailer.BioShock X06 Trailer on GameTrailers.com Afterwards, the developers decided to include it in the game itself, due largely to its popularity with the fans."Introducing Irrational Behavior" podcast by Shawn Elliott on IrrationalGames.com
*There appear to be no general consensus within the games on what insects are summoned by the Plasmid, as they are referred to as both hornets and bees.
*This Plasmid may be a reference to Insect Swarm from Thief: The Dark Project, a game co-created by Ken Levine.
==References==
de:Insektenschwarm
es:Nube de insectos
fr:Nuée d'insectes
it:Sciame
ru:Рой насекомых
Category:BioShock Plasmids
Category:BioShock 2 Plasmids
Category:BioShock 2 Multiplayer Plasmids