Bungie Universe
This topic has moved here: Subject: Was Gravemind destroyed in Halo 3?
  • Subject: Was Gravemind destroyed in Halo 3?
Subject: Was Gravemind destroyed in Halo 3?

I haven't played Halo 3 since a month before Reach, so forgive me if I come off as a little stupid. I follow Halo a lot. I've read most of the books, except Glasslands and Thursday War, but I was wondering. In Halo 3, isn't Gravemind on Installation 04b when it fires, or on the Ark as as it's destroyed? Because if I remember correctly, the Halo Array firing per-maturely destroys both itself and The Ark. So, wouldn't Gravemind be destroyed/dead?


Again, I apologize if I sound stupid.

  • 10.11.2012 3:18 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Yep. But it's safe to assume if the flood are released on another installation it will only be a matter of time before they build another one.

  • 10.11.2012 3:27 PM PDT

Yes. But the Gravemind was also "killed" by the Halo Array (in reality the Flood starved). The Gravemind came back as soon as the Flood had sufficient biomass and brainpower. The Gravemind is the same it simply "respawns" per say.

So, the Gravemind cannot be truly destroyed until every single Flood spore is.

  • 10.11.2012 4:41 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

oops wrong gamer tag linked to my bungie.net account hehe...


Posted by: Spartan1995324
Yes. But the Gravemind was also "killed" by the Halo Array (in reality the Flood starved). The Gravemind came back as soon as the Flood had sufficient biomass and brainpower. The Gravemind is the same it simply "respawns" per say.

So, the Gravemind cannot be truly destroyed until every single Flood spore is.

Not really, the gravemind can be destroyed with the flood infection going on, but it will piece itself back together if there is a decent amount of flood to heal it.

  • 10.11.2012 5:26 PM PDT


Posted by: Crazy Elite12345

Posted by: Spartan1995324
Yes. But the Gravemind was also "killed" by the Halo Array (in reality the Flood starved). The Gravemind came back as soon as the Flood had sufficient biomass and brainpower. The Gravemind is the same it simply "respawns" per say.

So, the Gravemind cannot be truly destroyed until every single Flood spore is.

Not really, the gravemind can be destroyed with the flood infection going on, but it will piece itself back together if there is a decent amount of flood to heal it.
Well if it comes back...it's not really gone is it? That's the whole point of destroying it. Trying to get rid of it.

  • 10.11.2012 5:38 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Hey, uh, if you like vs threads, then check out this little group right here, if you have the time. It's pretty fun, just hop right in.

Posted by: Spartan1995324

Posted by: Crazy Elite12345

Posted by: Spartan1995324
Yes. But the Gravemind was also "killed" by the Halo Array (in reality the Flood starved). The Gravemind came back as soon as the Flood had sufficient biomass and brainpower. The Gravemind is the same it simply "respawns" per say.

So, the Gravemind cannot be truly destroyed until every single Flood spore is.

Not really, the gravemind can be destroyed with the flood infection going on, but it will piece itself back together if there is a decent amount of flood to heal it.
Well if it comes back...it's not really gone is it? That's the whole point of destroying it. Trying to get rid of it.


That Gravemind, the one seen in Halo 2 and 3? He's gone. Whatever new one they build, it'll have every thought and memory and ambition the old one had, but it won't be the same one.

So yes, he's dead, but he'll be replaced.

  • 10.11.2012 7:32 PM PDT

@accordingto343

Your one stop shop for all of 343's fabulous errors and ridiculous notions in the Halo lore.

Posted by: And Im Here Too


That Gravemind, the one seen in Halo 2 and 3? He's gone.


Judging by some of his last words, that is doubtful.

  • 10.11.2012 8:00 PM PDT

Gone or not 343 has confirmed we won't be seeing anything to do with flood in Halo 4 except for the new infection mode sadly.

  • 10.11.2012 10:00 PM PDT

This sig will Self-Destruct in 3.... 2.... 1.... Thank you for your time. Cookie?

'Gravemind' is an entity created from one of the later stages of Flood infection, usually spawning from large infestations. This particular Gravemind, the one prominently featured in Halos 2 and 3 as the de facto 'leader' of the parasite, is probably dead, or if it isn't, then the stage of infection has regressed far enough that it cannot maintain such a consciousness anymore. Installation 04-II's premature firing not only destroyed it, but also damaged the Ark, and, coupled with High Charity's destruction, led to the literal incineration of much Flood tissue. Coupled with the resulting Halo blast that would've wiped out any Covenant loyalists somewhere on the Ark, there would be literally nothing for the Flood to rebuild itself with. Whatever's left on the Ark is probably just a few infection forms, certainly nothing like the grand Cthulu-spawn that was present in the climax of Halo 3.

  • 10.11.2012 10:33 PM PDT

Rain, and Jazz.
Halo: Tactical

I'm either a fool or an inteligent man, depending on how sleepy or angry I am.

I originaly made an account on 07.27.2007 but I wanted to link my GT and made this account. Don't forget your passwords!

Halo 4 is going to be like Halo CE. You have a ship full of humans, tons of covies, some forerunner machines, and one of those three factions is going to accidentaly release the flood. Probably.

What I don't understand is why the replacement gravemind has the same memories and personality as the previous one. Are you sure about that?

[Edited on 10.12.2012 3:06 AM PDT]

  • 10.12.2012 2:46 AM PDT

In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.
-Douglas Adams

The Gravemind in Halo 3 is dead. But the flood (if they are still alive somewhere) can create a new Gravemind.

  • 10.12.2012 2:52 AM PDT

The answer is complicated.
Let me explain.

Yes, "the" Gravemind was destroyed.
That is; we destroyed this particular physical Gravemind.

However:

No, because the Flood is a shared intellect. In other words: the thoughts, experiences and possibly "personal" characteristics (as in: emotions towards specific races etc) live on.
The Gravemind the Forerunners defeated lived on in mental form, came back in a new physical shape in the form of the Gravemind we fought (which is why he could talk about "his" past as if he really was there...while he physically wasn't), and the next one will include the H2/3 Graveminds traits and thoughts.

In short: a Gravemind can only be killed in a physical way, but is invincible due to their shared "being".
New ones always build upon the previous ones.

EDIT:
Also: there can be multiple Graveminds at once. We know "the" Gravemind is tens of thousands of years old, yet the Flood still formed proto Graveminds in Wars and CE.
My guess is every single isolated Flood outbreak will produce a single Gravemind, and once they can get out of their isolation, the most advanced (ergo: dominant) Gravemind will have any other lesser Gravemind merged with it.
Graveminds are nothing more than huge biological AI that, unlike "regular" Flood can think for themselves. That's why they are needed.

EDIT 2:
Also keep in mind that Halos "starve" the Flood in theory. Forerunners seem to have been spending a lot of time researching the Flood spores on the Halos. Why?
Well, because the Halos destroy anything organic that is big enough to be potential hosts. No hosts = no Flood.
But that also means this: spores have no "body". They're basically "dead" as in; they're no sentient beings.
Of everything we know of how the Halos work, the spores seem to be the hole in the maze, the escape plan of the Flood so to speak.
I believe they are not affected by the Halos, which means the Flood WILL always come back, no matter what.
In the end, unless the Precursors know something we don't (yet), the Flood do seem invincible due to Graveminds and spores.

[Edited on 10.12.2012 7:08 AM PDT]

  • 10.12.2012 6:53 AM PDT

Posted by: AngryBrute1
Oh yeah, since somebody does not believe what YOU believe; that makes us vapid...
I cannot grasp that what you call "Something happened to nothing, and that nothing became something, and it was smaller than than a period."

Yes, because the Halo array was fired and that starves the flood to death.

  • 10.12.2012 6:58 AM PDT

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

No because he states that we've only added to his 'sentence' and delayed his return. His physical body died on High Charity, but then starts to REBUILD on Installation 04B.

It's only a matter of time before we see him again.

  • 10.12.2012 7:04 AM PDT

My main xbox gamertag is Jrman16753
Do you like intelligent debating? Join secular sevens.
Do you love space and astormony join space explorers.
My name is Jordan, I like video games, books, films, history, science, politics, geography and religion.
Never stop learning and always question.
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
Sapere aude

Yes but a gravemind will repapare a lot like him.

[Edited on 10.12.2012 12:07 PM PDT]

  • 10.12.2012 12:06 PM PDT

Last I remember everything exploded in a giant fireball at the end - the Ark and the new Halo replacement.

  • 10.12.2012 12:10 PM PDT

Very informative. Thanks
Posted by: DonVinzone1
The answer is complicated.
Let me explain.

Yes, "the" Gravemind was destroyed.
That is; we destroyed this particular physical Gravemind.

However:

No, because the Flood is a shared intellect. In other words: the thoughts, experiences and possibly "personal" characteristics (as in: emotions towards specific races etc) live on.
The Gravemind the Forerunners defeated lived on in mental form, came back in a new physical shape in the form of the Gravemind we fought (which is why he could talk about "his" past as if he really was there...while he physically wasn't), and the next one will include the H2/3 Graveminds traits and thoughts.

In short: a Gravemind can only be killed in a physical way, but is invincible due to their shared "being".
New ones always build upon the previous ones.

EDIT:
Also: there can be multiple Graveminds at once. We know "the" Gravemind is tens of thousands of years old, yet the Flood still formed proto Graveminds in Wars and CE.
My guess is every single isolated Flood outbreak will produce a single Gravemind, and once they can get out of their isolation, the most advanced (ergo: dominant) Gravemind will have any other lesser Gravemind merged with it.
Graveminds are nothing more than huge biological AI that, unlike "regular" Flood can think for themselves. That's why they are needed.

EDIT 2:
Also keep in mind that Halos "starve" the Flood in theory. Forerunners seem to have been spending a lot of time researching the Flood spores on the Halos. Why?
Well, because the Halos destroy anything organic that is big enough to be potential hosts. No hosts = no Flood.
But that also means this: spores have no "body". They're basically "dead" as in; they're no sentient beings.
Of everything we know of how the Halos work, the spores seem to be the hole in the maze, the escape plan of the Flood so to speak.
I believe they are not affected by the Halos, which means the Flood WILL always come back, no matter what.
In the end, unless the Precursors know something we don't (yet), the Flood do seem invincible due to Graveminds and spores.

  • 10.13.2012 10:46 AM PDT


Posted by: And Im Here Too
Posted by: Spartan1995324

Posted by: Crazy Elite12345

Posted by: Spartan1995324
Yes. But the Gravemind was also "killed" by the Halo Array (in reality the Flood starved). The Gravemind came back as soon as the Flood had sufficient biomass and brainpower. The Gravemind is the same it simply "respawns" per say.

So, the Gravemind cannot be truly destroyed until every single Flood spore is.

Not really, the gravemind can be destroyed with the flood infection going on, but it will piece itself back together if there is a decent amount of flood to heal it.
Well if it comes back...it's not really gone is it? That's the whole point of destroying it. Trying to get rid of it.


That Gravemind, the one seen in Halo 2 and 3? He's gone. Whatever new one they build, it'll have every thought and memory and ambition the old one had, but it won't be the same one.

So yes, he's dead, but he'll be replaced.
Different body, same mind.

  • 10.13.2012 11:00 AM PDT