Biomass is the alien team's tech level, shown as a bar on the alien HUD. It goes from 1 to 12.
Where biomass comes from#
- Every built Hive gives 1 biomass.
- Each hive can research 3 more levels (15, 20 and 40 team res), so one hive caps at 4.
- Three fully researched hives give the maximum of 12.
The team's biomass is the sum over its hives. A damaged or unbuilt hive counts only partly toward the bar, and a destroyed hive takes its biomass with it, which can switch off abilities the team was relying on.
What biomass does#
- Unlocks abilities and eggs. Each lifeform ability needs a biomass level, then the alien commander has to research it at a hive. Commander abilities and lifeform eggs also need biomass.
- Adds health to every lifeform: Skulk +3, Gorge +2, Lerk +2, Fade +5, Onos +50 per level above 1. Hydras (+16) and clogs (+4) too.
- Boosts Carapace, which adds armor per biomass level (see Carapace).
Unlocks by biomass level#
| Biomass | Unlocks | Type | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 |  Bile Bomb | Research | 15 res | 40 s |
| 2 |  Gorge Egg | Egg upgrade | 20 res | 45 s |
| 2 |  Rupture | Commander ability | 3 res | – |
| 3 |  Bone Wall | Commander ability | 3 res | – |
| 3 |  Metabolize | Research | 20 res | 40 s |
| 4 |  Leap | Research | 15 res | 40 s |
| 4 |  Lerk Egg | Egg upgrade | 40 res | 45 s |
| 5 |  Advanced Metabolize | Research | 20 res | 45 s |
| 6 |  Bone Shield | Research | 25 res | 40 s |
| 6 |  Spores | Research | 20 res | 60 s |
| 6 |  Umbra | Research | 30 res | 75 s |
| 7 |  Stab | Research | 25 res | 60 s |
| 8 |  Fade Egg | Egg upgrade | 80 res | 45 s |
| 8 |  Stomp | Research | 35 res | 90 s |
| 9 |  Onos Egg | Egg upgrade | 100 res | 45 s |
| 9 |  Xenocide | Research | 25 res | 60 s |
| 12 |  Contamination | Commander ability | 5 res | – |
Biomass research in progress shows in the alien research list ("BIOMASS 3"), with partial progress drawn on the biomass bar and on the ability icons it will unlock.