Alpha Zombies or simply Alphas are a variant of Intelligent Zombie, first introduced in Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead. They serve as the main antagonists and the ruling members of the zombie hordes infesting Las Vegas.
Army of the Dead (2021)[]
Alphas began with Zeus, a zombie within military custody, was in transit from Area 51, where his transport was hit by a civilian vehicle. Zeus was able to escape, infecting those in sight, mostly military personnel. He would then make his way to Las Vegas with his newly changed Alphas and would begin infecting the city. They made Vegas their own personal kingdom, following a failed military intervention and the government quarantining the city itself. Zeus and his alphas remained in charge of the numbers for the next 6 years following the quarantine. In that time, Zeus has taken a mate in the form of Athena, who rules alongside him. During the Götterdämmerung Heist, Burt Cummings was offered up as a sacrifice to the alphas, before the team planning to break into Bly's Casino could continue on their mission. Following the death of Athena and his child at the hands of Lilly and Martin Cruz, he orders them to hunt down the survivors, which leads to most of them being killed or infected in the process.
It was then that following the heist, a nuclear strike was authorized and most, if not all of the alphas and their shambler subordinates perished. Scott Ward was infected by Zeus, but was killed by his daughter Kate, following his transformation. Vanderohe was also infected, following his escape from Las Vegas, but didn't realize it until he was on a plane to Mexico City.
Biology[]
Alphas are relatively similar to normal zombies, which are referred to as Shamblers, but with major differences. Though they do possess a death-like appearance with no signs of decay, but their intelligence is probably their most well known aspect. They are capable of organizing, leading and even forming relationships with other alphas, as well as other means of decisive action. Alphas are capable of giving orders to other zombies, both shamblers and alphas alike, such as keeping shamblers back from human sacrifices they are offered and brought to their territory. Alphas are also capable of reproduction, as Athena was in fact, pregnant with Zeus' child prior to her death. This second generation fetus would not be born, as Athena was killed at the hands of the team apart of the heist. They are capable of feeling emotion, such as when Zeus lost both Athena and his child, he wept for both, then felt rage towards those responsible. Like shamblers, Alphas are capable of infecting humans and turn them into alphas as well. Zeus himself possessed the most potent bite of all the alphas.