Upgrade Chambers are Alien structures that once built by the Alien Commander, imbue lifeforms with abilities such as enhanced speed, or invisibility.
Each chamber costs 15 Team Resources (TRes) and offer 3 different upgrades to choose from. The upgrade offered by these chambers will increase in effectiveness as more of them are built, up to a maximum of 3 chambers.
Upgrade chambers have no active abilities and are incapable of defending themselves. They are a very valuable resource and should be built in defendable areas. If a Chamber is destroyed, Lifeforms will instantly lose the associated upgrade, Unlike class Evolutions built at a Hive that are retained by the lifeform until death.
Upgrade Chambers require a Hive to be specialised to one specific trait in order to be built. A Crag Hive will unlock the Shell, a Shift Hive will unlock the Spur and a Shade Hive will unlock the Veil.
Only one trait may be evolved at any one time, but a lifeform can switch between them as necessary although at a cost of Personal Resources for all classes other than the Skulk.
Tactical Summary - Upgrade Chambers
- Unlike support structures such as the Crag, Shift or Shade, These structures cannot move themselves. However, they can be placed anywhere and still benefit every lifeform.
- These structures are a valuable target for Marines and should be placed in a defensible area. Consider using Whips and building them around a Crag or Shade for protection.
- Building more than 3 of any of these structures will offer no additional benefits to the team and will be a waste of resources.
Shell
| Shell | |
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 Kharaa
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Team Resources  15
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| Health 600 (700) |
Armor 150 (200) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Tech Requirements: Crag Hive, Build on Infestation |
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| Unlocks: Carapace, Regeneration, Vampirism |
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| Builds From: | Alien Commander |
| Buy From: | Advanced Tab |
| Hotkey: | Y / Z
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| Maturation Time: | 60 seconds |
The Shell is unlocked upon completion of a Crag Hive by the Alien Commander. The Shell is an Upgrade Chamber that is designed to give the Alien team enhanced defensive abilities.
Carapace, Regeneration, and Vampirism
Carapace, Regeneration, and Vampirism are the three lifeform traits unlocked by building Shells.
| Carapace Regeneration Vampirism | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Note:
- If an Alien structure or player is healed by more than 14%/sec any additional healing is reduced by 66%
Heal Wave
- Main article: Crag
Heal Wave is the active ability of the Crag, unlocked by evolving a Crag Hive.
Mucous Membrane
- Main article: Mucous Membrane
Spur
| Spur | |
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| Kharaa
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| Team Resources 15
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| Health 800 (900) |
Armor 50 (100) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Tech Requirements: Shade Hive, Build on Infestation |
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| Unlocks: Adrenaline, Celerity, Crush |
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| Builds From: | Alien Commander |
| Buy From: | Advanced Tab |
| Hotkey: | G
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| Maturation Time: | 60 seconds |
The Spur is unlocked upon completion of a Shift Hive by the Alien Commander. The Spur is an Upgrade Chamber that is designed to allow the Alien team to outmaneuver Marines and redeploy structures across the map.
Celerity, Adrenaline, and Crush
Celerity, Adrenaline, and Crush are the three lifeform traits unlocked by building Spurs.
| Celerity Adrenaline Crush | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Echo
- Main article: Shift
Echo is the active ability of the Shift, unlocked by evolving a Shift Hive.
Enzyme
- Main article: Enzyme Cloud
Veil
| Veil | |
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| Kharaa
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| Team Resources 15
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| Health 900 (1100) |
Armor 0 |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Tech Requirements: Shade Hive, Build on Infestation |
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| Unlocks: Aura, Focus, Camouflage |
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| Builds From: | Alien Commander |
| Buy From: | Advanced Tab |
| Hotkey: | X
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| Maturation Time: | 60 seconds |
The Veil is unlocked upon completion of a Shade Hive by the Alien Commander. The Veil is an Upgrade Chamber that is designed to give the Alien team abilities to confuse and deceive the Marine team.
Aura, Focus, and Camouflage
Aura, Focus, and Camouflage are the three lifeform traits unlocked by building Veils.
| Aura Focus Camouflage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Natural Selection 2 - Focus & Stab Demonstration
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Ink
- Main article: Shade
Ink is the active ability of the Shade, unlocked by evolving a Shade Hive.
Hallucination
- Main article: Hallucination
Base Abilities
Skulk - (Sneak • Wall Walking • Bite • Parasite) • Gorge - (Belly Slide • Spit • Heal Spray • Build Menu) • Lerk - (Flight • Roost • Poison Bite • Spikes) •
Fade - (Swipe • Blink) • Onos - (Gore)
Skulk - (Leap • Xenocide) • Gorge - (Bile Bomb) • Lerk - (Spores • Umbra) • Fade - (Metabolize • Advanced Metabolize • Stab) • Onos - (Charge • Bone Shield • Stomp)
Shift Hive - (Adrenaline • Celerity • Crush)
Shade Hive - (Aura • Camouflage • Focus)
Crag Hive - (Carapace • Regeneration • Vampirism)
Mechanics - Alien Commander • Biomass • Infestation • Maturation • Consume • Resource Model
Gorge - Babbler • Hydra • Clog • Webs
Build - Cyst • Harvester • Drifter • Tunnel • Hive (Egg) • Pheromones
Game Information - Options • Maps • Console Commands • Patches
In Game - Damage Types • Status Icons • Ranking System • Badges