The Last of Us Season 2 Stalker: Does This Infected Mutation Appear in the Games?

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Season 2 of The Last of Us is already delivering tense moments, emotional character arcs, and of course—terrifying infected. One mutant in particular caught everyone's eye (and fear): the Stalker. If you're wondering whether this specific infected type actually appears in the original Last of Us games, you're not alone—and we’ve got the answers.

🧟 What Is a Stalker in The Last of Us HBO Series?

In The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 1, Ellie faces a new kind of infected—faster than a Runner, sneakier than a Clicker, and way more unsettling. This infected was:

  • Lurking in the shadows,

  • Ambushing without warning,

  • And making eerie groaning and croaking noises.

Yep, that’s a Stalker—a terrifying stage in the Cordyceps infection that exists between the Runner and Clicker phases.

🎮 Does the Stalker Appear in the Games?

Yes! Stalkers are absolutely part of the game series—specifically both The Last of Us Part I and Part II.

In the games, Stalkers:

  • Appear about a week to several months after infection.

  • Still retain some human features like sight and speed.

  • Are fast, stealthy, and tend to hide and ambush players.

  • Make signature croaking sounds as an audio cue before attacking.

Their behavior is unpredictable, making them one of the more unnerving infected types in the game—especially when hiding behind corners or blending into dark spaces.

The Last of Us, Season 2, Stalker
🧬 What’s Different in the Show?

The HBO adaptation seems to give the Stalker a bit more horror flavor:

  • We see stronger stealth mechanics, possibly emphasizing how dangerous they are in close quarters.

  • The show hints at underground Cordyceps roots, suggesting a possible link to their behavior—something we didn’t fully get in the games.

So while the Stalkers are very much from the source material, the show appears to be expanding their threat level and presence, which fans are totally here for.

🧠 Fun Fact: The Stalker Phase Is Often Overlooked

In the games, players often think in terms of “Runner > Clicker > Bloater,” but the Stalker is canonically the second stage of Cordyceps mutation. They don’t appear as often as Clickers or Bloaters, but they’ve always been part of the infection lore.

🤝 Join the Community Discussion

Want to talk tactics, theories, or share how badly a Stalker jump-scared you in the show? Here are some great places to connect with other fans:

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📝 Final Thoughts

The Stalker’s debut in the HBO series is a creepy reminder of how The Last of Us blends survival horror with emotional storytelling. Whether you're a veteran of the games or totally new, expect more of these terrifying mid-stage infected to show up soon—and probably in even scarier ways. 

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