This is to explain how Flood bombardment works and how to use it [updated 2023]:

1. Flood bombardment is available to research at Tier 4 for any empire that picks up the Flood origin.

2. The bombardment will cause moderate damage to the planet but will have a high chance to kill pops.

3. Prolonged bombardment after 25% devastation will create a Flood Blightlands deposit on the targeted planet and a Marauding Flood modifier. This will eventually set off a series of events that will turn the planet into a hive without bombarding it with this stance:

- The deposit can be cleared if removed promptly from the opposing faction but if it stays on the planet for too long, it will trigger a small flood outbreak event chain that will create a host of Feral Flood armies that will attack the planet's defenders.

- Losing the ground battle will destroy the colony and cause the planet turned into a Flood Hive. Like Infested worlds from the Prethoyrn Scourge, you cannot invade Flood Hives so they must be bombarded from orbit to remove the infection. The planet will turn into a barren world with a terraforming candidate modifier after bombardment causes 75% devastation.

- If you win against the ground battle, your planet will be saved from future infection, removing the Flood Blightlands deposit and Marauding Flood modifier while receiving a moderate unity reward.

4. Prolonged bombardment using the Flood Pod Dispersal stance after 75% devastation will quickly turn the world into a Flood Hive and under the control of the bombarder. Organic pops will be converted into Infected Flood pops while non-organic pops will be killed. A Key Mind nest building will also appear on the planet along with a Flood colony building for the Flood player.

All of this is subject to change based on feedback.