Editing Skulk (Natural Selection 2)

<div style="float:right;">{{Skulk}}</div>
__noeditsection__
{{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]].
<br />

===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 [[Skulk (Natural Selection 2)#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]]s 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 (Natural Selection 2)#Jetpack|Jetpack]] with Leap and being able to kill or damage large groups of Marines with Xenocide.{{Clear}}

{{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.}}
[[File:LoMe's_Skulk_Tutorial_-Natural_Selection_2-|center]]

===Controls===

:''Main article: [[Options (Natural Selection 2)#Alien Controls|Key Bindings]]''

{{Skulk Controls}}
=== Movement===

:''Main article: [[Movement Techniques (Natural Selection 2)#Skulk|Movement Techniques]]''

{{Skulk Movement}}

==Abilities==
===Player Abilities===
{{Alien Player Abilities}}
===Wall Walk===
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 {{key|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 {{key|W}}. It is recommended to hold the detach button {{key|CTRL}} in order to maintain your speed better
**If you look upwards while jumping from a wall you will trade some horizontal momentum in favor of more vertical momentum.

You can Improve your Wall Walking skill in the [[Skulk Challenge (Natural Selection 2)|Skulk Challenge]] and get a [[Badges|Skulk Challenge Badge]] based on how well you do.
{|
|-
| colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:50%;" |
===Sneak===
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;width:25%;" |{{Skulk Sneak}}
| style="vertical-align:top;width:25%;" |Moving silently as a Skulk.

|-
| colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:50%;" |{{Tip1|tip=[[Marines]] can hear a Skulk from very far away. Keep that in mind when trying to set an ambush.}}
|-
| colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:50%;" |
===Bite===
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;width:25%;" |{{Skulk Bite}}
| style="vertical-align:top;width:25%;" |The Skulk's powerful Bite can rip through both flesh and metal with frightening speed.

|-
| colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:50%;" |{{Tip1|tip = Before Armor 1 upgrade is finished, [[Frontiersmen|Marines]] die to 1 [[#Parasite|Parasite]] and 2 Bites}}
|-
| colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:50%;" |
===Parasite===
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;width:25%;" |{{Parasite}}
| style="vertical-align:top;width:25%;" |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]].
|-
| colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:50%;" |{{Tip1|tip = You should try and Parasite '''every''' enemy you see, to give your teammates better awareness of the enemy forces!}}
|-
| colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:50%;" |
===Leap===
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;width:25%;" |{{Leap}}
| style="vertical-align:top;width:25%;" |Leaps toward the Skulk's current direction while on the ground or in mid-air. While leaping, the Skulk gains a move speed bonus.

|-
| colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:50%;" |{{Tip1|tip = Don't use Leap from the ground without moving. Always press Forward {{key|W}} and Jump {{key|Space}} before using Leap {{key|Mouse 2}} in order to get the best speed bonus.}}
|-
| colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:50%;" |
===Xenocide===
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;width:25%;" |{{Xenocide}}
| style="vertical-align:top;width:25%;" |Explodes the Skulk after a short delay to damage all nearby Frontiersmen units and structures.

|-
| colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:50%;" |{{Warn1|warning = 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 (Natural Selection 2)|skins]])'' that you may see in the game.<br />

{{Info1|info=&nbsp;&bull;&nbsp;Not all variants are available for purchase.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&bull;&nbsp;Skins are purely cosmetic and offer no augmented or additional stats in-game.}}

<gallery heights="200px" mode="packed-overlay" caption="Skulk Skin Variants">
Image:skulk.png|<span style="color:white; font-size:12pt; font-family:Agency FB, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial">Normal</span>
Image:shadow_skulk.png|<span style="color:white; font-size:12pt; font-family:Agency FB, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial">Shadow</span>
Image:kodiak_skulk.png|<span style="color:white; font-size:12pt; font-family:Agency FB, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial">Kodiak</span>
Image:reaper_skulk.png|<span style="color:white; font-size:12pt; font-family:Agency FB, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial">Reaper</span>
Image:abyss_skulk.png|<span style="color:white; font-size:12pt; font-family:Agency FB, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial">Abyss</span>
Image:nocturne_skulk.png|<span style="color:white; font-size:12pt; font-family:Agency FB, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial">Nocturne</span>
Image:toxin_skulk.png|<span style="color:white; font-size:12pt; font-family:Agency FB, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial">Toxin</span>
</gallery>
{| class="ns2table mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="background-color:#2a2a2a margin: auto;"
! colspan="4" style="align:center; background-color:#FF9933; color:#232323" |Camouflage variants & availability
|-
! style="align:center; background-color:#FF9933; color:#232323" |Variant
! style="align:center; background-color:#FF9933; color:#232323" |Description
! style="align:center; background-color:#FF9933; color:#232323" |Acquisition
! style="align:center; background-color:#FF9933; color:#232323" |Notes
|-
|'''Normal'''
|Default camouflage.
|Provided with game.
| N/A
|-
|'''Shadow'''
|Red eyes, dark blue/purple skin, extrusions on exo-skeletal features.
|Can be bought in the [[Options_(Natural_Selection_2)#Customization_Screen|Customization Screen]] in-game.
|Originally part of the Reinforcement Program for Shadow Tier & above, and completed with the Merry Gorgemas! update ([[Patches (Natural Selection 2)/Build 336|Build 336]]).
|-
|'''Kodiak'''
|Green eyes, jungle effect skin.
|Can be bought in the [[Options_(Natural_Selection_2)#Customization_Screen|Customization Screen]] in-game.
| Released with the [[DLC/Kodiak_DLC|Kodiak]] update, and completed with the Merry Gorgemas! update ([[Patches (Natural Selection 2)/Build 336|Build 336]]).
|-
|'''Reaper'''
|Red eyes, white skin, black exo-skeletal features.
|Can be bought in the [[Options_(Natural_Selection_2)#Customization_Screen|Customization Screen]] in-game.
| Released with the [[DLC/Reaper_DLC|Reaper]] update, and completed with the Merry Gorgemas! update ([[Patches (Natural Selection 2)/Build 336|Build 336]]).
|-
|'''Abyss'''
|Blue eyes, blue skin.
|Can be bought in the [[Options_(Natural_Selection_2)#Customization_Screen|Customization Screen]] in-game.
|Was originally awarded for playing on Caged at its release. The set was completed with the Merry Gorgemas! update ([[Patches (Natural Selection 2)/Build 336|Build 336]]).
|-
|'''Nocturne'''
|Purple eyes and tails.
|Can be bought in the [[Options_(Natural_Selection_2)#Customization_Screen|Customization Screen]] in-game.
|Release with the [[DLC/Nocturne_DLC|Nocturne DLC]] as part of the NS2 5 year anniversary update ([[Patches_(Natural_Selection_2)/Build_319|Build 319]]).
|-
|'''Toxin'''
|Green glowing eyes, green patches of skin and green belly.
|Can be bought in the [[Options_(Natural_Selection_2)#Customization_Screen|Customization Screen]] in-game.
|Released with the [[DLC/Catalyst_DLC|Catalyst]] update ([[Patches_(Natural_Selection_2)/Build 324|Build 324]]).
|}
{{AliensTabbedNav}}
[[Category:Alien]]
[[Category:Playable Lifeform]]
[[Category:Kharaa (Natural Selection 2)]]
[[Category:Natural Selection 2]]