Zombots

Zombots are individuals that have been fully infected by the Metal Virus, their bodies still appear much how they did pre-infection, except their bodies are given a metallic sheen while retaining shades of their original colors; they are quite malleable, able to deform from sufficiently strong blunt impacts. They also possess dark red eyes with small, bright red pupils, but otherwise retain the general shape of their organic selves. Some Zombots may develop minor additional features, such as sharp claws, spikes, fangs, and more angular body markings.

Zombots are silent and devoid of personalities. They do not react emotionally to the environment around them and are completely unresponsive to verbal chatter; notably, taunts from Sonic that would have sent Tumble into a fury did not even register with a Zombot version of the skunk. This has led Amy to call them "soulless" and inspired Sonic to coin the name "Zombots" as a descriptor (zombie robots); however, some Zombots can apparently react to physical stresses, flinching or appearing dizzy when struck. Sonic also noticed that Zombots do not fight as efficiently as they normally would after their transformation; he was able to overwhelm a Zombot Shadow with a move that his uninfected self would have anticipated and countered.

Due to the Metal Virus, Zombots are also deprived of free will. Initially, they would instinctively obey the orders of Dr. Eggman alone. However - supposedly due to random mutations in the Metal Virus' coding created from spreading through exposure - the Zombots gradually became more disobedient and unresponsive to Eggman's commands. However, it was theorized by Starline that Zeti could control them using their electromagnetic powers. Zavok later reveals this to be true, but their powers could only control at least a dozen alone. Once empowered by the Chaos Emeralds, they can control up to thousands.

Idle Zombots display aggressive tendencies towards all uninfected living organisms, relentlessly attacking them in order to spread the Metal Virus - this is the only time they will show anything resembling emotion. However, they appear to be at least docile towards their own kind; if no uninfected beings are present, Zombots behave like they are in a mindless daze.

All Zombots possess increased strength compared to their original selves; Zombot Rough was able to crack a rock wall with a single punch and regular citizens were able to smash though a thick wooden door using only their fists. They also retain some, if not all, of the abilities they had as organic beings, but their simpleminded nature prevents them from using more specialized techniques. For instance, Shadow retained his super speed after being converted into a Zombot, but was unable to use his rocket skates to accelerate himself. Similarly, Charmy, Jewel and Flickies retain their ability to fly. Due to their robotic nature, Zombots are also immune to illnesses and have no need to eat, drink or sleep.

Following their transmutation, the Zombots become much more durable; even a sharp object thrown directly into their bodies will just bounce off without a scratch. If a Zombot does take damage, it can manipulate its own liquid body composition, allowing it to instantly reconstitute and restore its body from damaging blows. This makes them virtually unstoppable opponents.

Zombots are able to spread the Metal Virus to any living tissue, be it either flora or fauna, through the slightest physical touch. Once the virus has been passed onto a victim, the infection will slowly spread across the victim until it is fully converted; however, the infection rate can be accelerated by repeated or prolonged exposure to the virus. As such, Zombots will often attempt to pin down a target until they are fully transformed - or destroyed, in the case of inorganic foes.

According to Gemerl, He can't bond and control the Zombots because their infrastructure is incompatible.

Despite being able to spread the Metal Virus by touch, Zombots seem unable to infect Wisps. This may merely be a case of no one witnessing a Wisp succumb to infection, although it stands to reason that Wisps cannot be infected when they change into their energy forms, such as when they are equipped into Wispons.

Zombots cannot pass the virus onto processed or inorganic matter, like robots as shown with Omega, Gemerl, and Metal Sonic.

As previously stated, Zombots have no intelligence. They have no powers of reason or even any sense of self-preservation, mindlessly ambling into any hazards in their path.

Eggman later reveals that the Metal Virus becomes unsustainable as it mutates: it will infect any eukaryote cells to eventually suffer a form of apoptosis. In other words, those infected by the metal virus will eventually disintegrate, However, this process is extremely slow and would take 200 years. This also explains why, in Silver's future, the planet is uninhabited with metallic plants and ruins.