The Praetorian, also known as the Royal Guard, was a formidable stage in the life cycle of the Xenomorph species. These creatures served as the Queen or Empress' Royal Guard and army commanders when a hive population exceeded 300 individuals. Visually resembling a smaller Queen, Praetorians were over 10 feet tall, had a distinctive head crest, and were almost as fast and agile as their smaller counterparts, although they couldn't scale walls or ceilings due to their size.
Praetorians possessed incredible strength and nearly bulletproof skin, making them formidable opponents against human Marines and even the Yautja. They had the ability to spit acid, wield claws, and use blade-tipped tails for slashing and stabbing. Their larger size made them less reliant on stealth and tactical movement. Instead, they attacked threats directly, protecting the Queen without concern for their own safety.
When a hive grew beyond 300 individuals, the Queen selected adult Xenomorphs to become Praetorians. These chosen Xenomorphs underwent a transformation with the help of Workers and Royal Jelly. The transformation produced a pheromone that caused the rest of the hive to turn against and attack them. For those that survived and escaped, this ordeal served to strengthen them. Away from the hive, the pheromone initiated physical changes, causing them to grow into the Praetorian form.
There was mention of an intermediary stage called Royal Guards, which were similar to Praetorians but smaller and weaker, possibly representing a stage of molting for juvenile Praetorians. These changes in the Xenomorph life cycle made Praetorians a unique and dangerous aspect of this alien species.
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