The alien commander's own abilities are cast directly from the hive's ability menu and cost team resources. Several more come from structures: Drifter abilities, Heal Wave, Ink, Hatch and Echo.
| Ability | Needs | Cost | Cooldown |
|---|---|---|---|
 Nutrient Mist | – | 2 | 2 s |
 Rupture | Biomass 2 | 3 | 4 s |
 Bone Wall | Biomass 3 | 3 | 10 s |
 Contamination | Biomass 12 | 5 | 3 s |
Nutrient Mist#
A mist that lasts 15 s. Structures within 10 m mature much faster, and embryos inside gestate 66% faster. Mist unbuilt structures and newly evolving lifeforms; it is the cheapest way to speed up a new harvester or hive.
Rupture#
A blob that bursts 1.25 s after it is placed, parasiting every marine within 8.7 m for 10 s and briefly splattering the screens of marines looking at it. Use it before a fight so your team can see every marine through walls.
Bone Wall#
A wall of bone that rises out of infestation for 6 s with 100 health plus 100 per biomass level. It blocks a corridor, traps marines, or splits a push in half. Flammable.
Contamination#
At maximum biomass the commander can drop a patch of infestation anywhere, even in a marine base. It has 1500 health, lasts 20 s, and spews bile every 2 s. Alien structures that need infestation can be built on it while it lasts.