What zombie carries a flag and leads a horde?

The zombie that carries a flag and leads a horde is the Flag Zombie. Its flag marks the arrival of a large wave of zombies, making it both a recognizable signal and an important warning during a level.

Flag Zombies are essentially standard zombies carrying a flag, rather than heavily armored enemies with a special defensive item. Their main significance comes from what their appearance announces: a wave is about to begin. Players often use the pause before or around a flag wave to collect sun, finish planting, and prepare for a heavier attack across the lawn.

The Flag Zombie is easy to mix up with other named enemies because Plants vs. Zombies has many zombies with obvious props. The Jack-in-the-Box Zombie carries a dangerous explosive toy, the Dolphin Rider Zombie rides a dolphin in the pool, and the Yeti Zombie is a rare, distinctive enemy with unusual behavior. None of those zombies serves as the game's standard flag-bearing wave leader.