Zerg Hatchery

Jump to Top – Next Unit: Lair

This is the Zerg base building, the Hatchery. It is the foundation of your economy due to it’s ability to collect the resources workers gather, and is the requirement of the most basic buildings aside from Extractors. It must be built a short distance away from any nearby resources. Any Zerg player on a non UMS map should try to have at least one of these at all times.

Zerg Lair

Previous Unit: Hatchery – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Hive

The Lair is the upgrade to the Hatchery. You need a Spawning Pool to enable the Mutate Into Lair at the Hatchery. It allows you to build Hydralisk Dens, Infestation Pits, Spires, Nydus Networks, Queens, and Overseers.

The Lair keeps the same functions as the Hatchery so you there is information in the Hatchery section that isn’t covered here. It also enables 3 upgrades: Burrow Upgrade, Pneumatized Carapace, and Ventral Sacs.

Burrow allows ground Zerg units to burrow underground and cannot be seen by enemies unless they have a Detector nearby. Burrow gives bonuses to some units now such as the Roach recovering HP quickly underground, and Infestors can move underground. Pnemuatized Carapace increases the movement speed of Overlords and Overseers. Ventral Sacs allow Overlords to transport ground units.

Zerg Hive

Previous Unit: Lair – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Extractor

The Hive is the upgrade to the Lair. You need an Infestation Pit to enable the Mutate Into Hive at the Lair. It allows you to build Ultralisk Caverns and enables the Spire to Mutate Into Greater Spire.

The Hive keeps the same functions as the Hatchery and Lair so you there is information in the Hatchery and Lair sections that is not covered here. The 3 upgrades from the Lair are still available to be researched.

Zerg Extractor

Previous Unit: Hive – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Evolution Chamber

Extractors allow your miners to gather Vespene Gas. They can be built on Vespene Gas Geysers only. This is basically a required building if you want to get anywhere with the tech tree.

The only difference between the Extractor from StarCraft and StarCraft II is that in this one, Vespene Geysers can no longer be mined from once they are depleted.

Zerg Evolution Chamber

Previous Unit: Extractor – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Spawning Pool

The Evolution Chamber is your first research building and allows you to upgrade your Ground Armor and Weapons and mutate Drones into Spore Crawlers. It requires a Hatchery.

The building retains it’s original upgrades from StarCraft with no changes. It can upgrade Ground Melee Attacks, Missile Attacks, and Ground Carapace (armor).

Zerg Spawning Pool

Previous Unit: Evolution Chamber – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Spore Crawler

Spawning Pools are the research building for the Zergling, your first ground combat unit. Zerglings can be mutated from Larva, 2 Zerglings for each Larva. It requires a Hatchery, and enables Queens at the Hatchery/Lair/Hive, as well as Lairs, Roach Warrens, Baneling Nests, and Spine Crawlers.

Overall this is an important building, and it acts the same as in StarCraft. It has two upgrades to research. Metabolic Boost increases the movement speed of Zerglings and adds wings to their unit models. Adrenal Glands increases the attack speed of all Zerglings, but requires a Hive before you can research it.

Zerg Spore Crawler

Previous Unit: Spawning Pool – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Roach Warren

Spore Crawlers are a new version of the Spore Colony from StarCraft. You need an Evolution Chamber to mutate a Drone into a Spore Crawler. It is a defensive structure for Anti Air.

The Spore Crawler has two abilities: Detection and Uproot/Root. Detection is passive and allows you to see nearby cloaked or burrowed units (However only when it is in Root mode). Uproot allows you to move the Spore Crawler, it will be able to move around the map (And move faster than normal while on Creep) however it will not attack or detect. Root allows it to go back into Attack/Detect mode but it must be on Creep to do it.

Zerg Roach Warren

Previous Unit: Spore Crawler – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Baneling Nest

The Roach Warren is a new research building. It requires a Spawning Pool and enables you to mutate Larva into Roaches.

You can research three upgrades here. Tunneling Claws allows Roaches to move while Burrowed. Gilal Reconstitution increases the movement speed of your Roaches. While Organic Carapace allows Burrowed Roaches to greatly increase their HP regeneration rate.

The Tunneling Claws movement speed was reduced for Roaches in the 8th Patch of the Beta. The Organic Carapace Ability no longer increases the HP regeneration of Roaches that are not burrowed in the 7th Patch of the Beta.

Zerg Baneling Nest

Previous Unit: Roach Warren – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Spine Crawler

The Baneling Nest is a research building for the Baneling. It requires a Spawning Pool and allows you to Mutate a Zergling into a Baneling.

The Baneling Nest has one upgrade: Centrifugal Hooks. It increases the movement speed of Banelings and changes their movement graphic from running into rolling.

Zerg Spine Crawler

Previous Unit: Baneling Nest – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Hydralisk Den

The upgrade to the Sunken Colony from StarCraft, Spine Crawlers are an Anti Ground building with a new ability. They require a Spawning Pool to be built.

Spine Crawlers have their normal attack, and now can use Uproot/Root. Uproot will allow the Spine Crawler to move around the map (They also get a bonus of faster moving speed on Creep) instead of being stuck in the place it was built but is unable to attack while uprooted. To root it back in the ground again, you must use the Root ability on an area where this is Creep and enough room. This gives the building more flexibility compared to stationary Bunkers and Photon Cannons.

Zerg Hydralisk Den

Previous Unit: Spine Crawler – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Infestation Pit

The next research building is the Hydralisk Den. It requires a Lair to be built by a Drone. When it is built, Larvae will be able to mutate into Hydralisks.

The Hydralisk Den has one upgrade available: Grooved Spines which increases the attack range of Hydralisks.

Zerg Infestation Pit

Previous Unit: Hydralisk Den – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Spire

The Infestation Pit is a new research building for a new unit. It allows you to mutate Larva into Infestors. It requires a Lair and allows you to turn your Lair into a Hive.

Peristalsis is the first of the two upgrades you can research here. It allows Infestors to move while being burrowed. The next is Pathogen Glands which increase the starting Energy Points of Infestors by 25.

You can also research the Neural Parasite ability for Infestors which allows them to control an enemy unit.

The Neural Parasite Ability must be researched at the Infestation Pit instead of automatically researched in the 11th Patch of the Beta.

Zerg Spire

Previous Unit: Infestation Pit – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Nydus Network

Another returning research building from StarCraft is the Spire. Larva will be able to mutate into Mutalisks and Corruptors after it is built. It requires you to mutate your Hatchery into a Lair first.

The Spire lets you upgrade Flyer Attack damage and Flyer Carapace (Armor) for your air units. Spires can also mutate into a Greater Spire once you have a Hive.

Zerg Nydus Network

Previous Unit: Spire – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Ultralisk Cavern

The Nydus Network is a replacement for the Nydus Canal from StarCraft. It requires a Lair and can build Nydus Worms.

The Nydus Network utilizes two abilities: Spawn Nydus Worm and Transport. Spawn Nydus Worm make a Nydus Worm anywhere on the map. Nydus Worms create a radius of Creep around themselves and are used in the second ability Transport. The Nydus Network allows you to transport up to 255 Zerg ground units with it from the Nydus Network to any Nydus Worm you have on the map. You can also use the Nydus Worm to move back to a connected Nydus Network.

Units stored in the Nydus Network or Worm will not be killed unless all the Nydus Networks and Worms are killed.

Zerg Ultralisk Cavern

Previous Unit: Nydus Network – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Greater Spire

Another returning StarCraft building is the Ultralisk Cavern. It requires a Hive, and allows Larva to Mutate into an Ultralisk. It also allows you to research two upgrades.

Anabolic Synthesis increases the movement speed of your Ultralisks, while Chitinous Plating gives a +2 level boost to the Ultralisks’ Ground Armor.

Zerg Greater Spire

Previous Unit: Ultralisk Cavern – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Creep Tumor

The last of the returning StarCraft buildings for the Zerg is the Greater Spire. It requires a Spire to mutate from and a Hive.

It carries over the ability to upgrade Flyer Attacks and Armor the Spire has, and enables the Corruptor to be able to mutate into a Brood Lord.

Zerg Creep Tumor

Previous Unit: Greater Spire – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Larva

The final Zerg building is constructed by a Queen. Creep Tumors spread Creep in a large radius.

They get one ability: Spawn Creep Tumor. It allows them to build another Creep Tumor on nearby Creep to spread the Creep around the map even further. However it must wait for a period before the ability can be used, and can only be used once. The Tumor will change it’s appearance so you can tell which have been used. This is a good way of spreading Creep without using up your Overlords and putting them in danger.

Zerg Larva

Previous Unit: Creep Tumor – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Egg

The basic form of all Zerg units and buildings is the Larva. It is created naturally from a Hatchery/Lair/Hive or through the Queen’s Spawn Larva ability. Larvae mutate into Zerg units both ground and air. They do not cost control and have no weapon.

Below is a list of what they can mutate into:

- Drone
- Overlord
- 2 Zerglings
- Roach
- Hydralisk
- Infestor
- Mutalisk
- Corruptor
- Ultralisk

Zerg Egg

Previous Unit: Larva – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Cocoon

The Egg is a form in the Zerg evolutionary process. It has no weapon or abilities.

Eggs are formed when a ground unit is mutating. For example, when a Larva mutates into a Drone or when a Zergling mutates into a Baneling an Egg is formed. During this period the unit is left helpless against enemy attacks until it finished its mutation. You can however cancel the mutation and the original unit will be available again (except in when the original form is a Larva, in that case it will simply die).

Zerg Cocoon

Previous Unit: Egg – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Broodling

The Cocoon is a form in the Zerg evolutionary process. It has no weapon or abilities.

Cocoons are created when an air unit is mutating into another form. In StarCraft II, Cocoons are only formed from when Overlords change into Overseers and Corruptors to Brood Lords. During this period the unit is left helpless against enemy attacks until it finished its mutation. You can however cancel the mutation and the original unit will be available again.

Zerg Broodling

Previous Unit: Cocoon – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Drone

The Broodling is a special unit in StarCraft II. They are created when most Zerg buildings are destroyed and vary in number based on the building (Extractors, Spore Crawlers, Spine Crawlers, and Creep Tumors do not have Broodlings pop out). The other way they are created is when a Brood Lord attacks, because the attack launches Broodlings at the target.

Broodlings have a short life span of a few seconds and low HP. They have a weak melee attack that hits only ground targets. Their main purpose is simply to weaken the enemy or distract them.

Zerg Drone

Previous Unit: Broodling – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Overlord

The Drone is the worker unit for the Zerg. They gather resources, can Burrow, and mutate into buildings (You lose the Drone unless you cancel the building during construction). You start with some along with a Hatchery at the beginning of each game.

Drones must follow the Zerg Tech Tree requirements when mutating into buildings and can only do so on Creep. After the Burrow upgrade is researched at the Lair/Hive, Drones can use that. And lastly, Drones have a weak melee attack that targets ground units.

Zerg Overlord

Previous Unit: Drone – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Zergling

Overlords are mutated into by Larva. They increase the maximum amount of Control and cost none themselves. They have a couple of upgrades and new abilities.

The two upgrades that boost them are Pneumatized Carapace and Ventral Sacs. The first gives a movement speed boost and the Ventral Sacs gives the Overlord the ability to transport ground units around.

Overlords get two other abilities now: Generate Creep and Overseer Morph. Both require the Lair/Hive. Creep now comes from a few sources since Creep Colonies are no longer in the game, so Overlords can be used to supply Creep in an area on the ground below them as long as they remain stationary. Overseer Morph turns the Overlord into the new Overseer unit. Information on them can be found in their section.

Zerg Zergling

Previous Unit: Overlord – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Queen

Zerglings are the basic ground combat unit for the Zerg. Larva mutate into 2 Zerglings which allows you to spawn them quickly. You will need a Spawning Pool first though.

Zerglings are basically the same unit as they were in terms of combat in StarCraft. They get the same Burrow, Movement Speed Upgrade (also changes their appearance to add their wings), and Attack Speed Upgrade (Hive required) from the Spawning Pool. The new thing with them though is that with a Baneling Nest you can mutate them into a Baneling. More information on Banelings can be found in their section.

Zerg Queen

Previous Unit: Zergling – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Roach

The Queen is a very different unit from what it was in StarCraft. You need a Lair to create one, and it is separate from the Larva Build Selection. Keep that in mind and look in the abilities for the Lair/Hive for the Birth Queen. This is because of the Queen’s Larvae related ability and their lack of using up your Larvae to make them.

The Queen now has two attacks and a few special abilities and the biggest change is she is now a ground unit as opposed to air. She also now gets a short range ground attack and medium range air attack.

Spawn Creep Tumor creates a building that spawns Creep all around it. After a cool down it can create another Creep Tumor itself. Spawn Larva will create 4 Larva at the selected Hatchery/Lair/Hive after a short period. Transfusion is another ability and gives 125 HP to a nearby unit/building for the cost of Energy Points. And lastly the Queen can also use Burrow like other ground units.

Zerg Roach

Previous Unit: Queen – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Baneling

The Roach is a new unit that can be mutated into using Larvae. You need a Roach Warren first though.

The Roach is a new combat unit with a short range ground attack similar to the Hydralisk. Their Burrow gets two advantages now. With an Upgrade from the Roach Warren (Tunneling Claws) you can move underground while burrowed, and you can use Burrow in conjunction with a new passive ability: Faster HP Regeneration. It will recover life faster than normal when it’s burrowed normally (Not faster unburrowed unfortunately), and with the Organic Carapace Upgrade you can increase the recovery rate much higher. This allows you to send a swarm of units at an enemy, pull the Roaches out when they get weak, and send them back in when they recover. Another Upgrade specifically for them, Gilal Reconstitution, increases their movement speed.

The Roaches underground movement speed was decreased in the 8th Patch of the Beta, The Organic Carapace Ability no longer increases the HP regeneration of Roaches that are not burrowed in the 7th patch, and the regeneration rate was slightly decreased in the 6th patch of the beta.

Zerg Baneling

Previous Unit: Roach – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Overseer

The Baneling is a new unit you can Evolve the Zergling into. Banelings require the Baneling Nest in order for this ability to be available.

The Baneling is a specialized Infested Terran from StarCraft like unit. It has no attack other than exploding to deal damage in an area when it gets very close. It’s three abilities help support this. Attack Structure makes it so that when you use the A button to order them to attack to a location, they will attack enemy structures as well instead of just enemy units. They do a lot more damage to buildings as opposed to enemy units. Explode allows you to control when the Baneling explodes instead of waiting for it to get to Melee range of the attacker. The third ability is Burrow, and takes advantage of Explode because it allows you to Explode Burrowed Banelings beneath enemy units as they cross over them. This makes the Baneling a new very deadly unit in swarms and base raids.

Zerg Overseer

Previous Unit: Baneling – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Changeling

A new form of the Overlord, the Overseer comes with a couple abilities. It requires the Lair in order to Evolve your Overlord into one. The Overseer has no attacks and provides the Control bonus Overlords give (And do not cost any Control themselves).

Spawn Changeling is the first of the abilities it has. Changelings created from this are special units (More info right below in the Next Unit section) that take the basic combat unit (Zealot, Marine, Zergling), Player Color, and Upgrades of an enemy race they encounter. They have no attacks, but act as spies. However like the Parasite ability from StarCraft, that player can find out the unit is a spy because they will not be able to select it groups since it’s not their unit and because selecting it causes them to see that it is a Changeling.

The second is the passive Detection that the Overlord no longer has. Detection allows you to see opponents’ nearby cloaked and burrowed units.

Aside from the Flyer Carapace, Pneumatized Carapace researched at the Lair gives the Overseer a movement speed upgrade.

Zerg Changeling

Previous Unit: Overseer – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Hydralisk

Changelings are a new unit created from the Spawn Changeling ability the Overseer has. They have no Control cost so you can have an infinite amount of them until the time limit on them runs out or they are killed by an enemy. Although they are ground units, they do not get the Burrow ability. They have very low HP but have a special passive ability called Disguise.

Changelings created from this are special units that take the basic combat unit (Zealot, Marine, Zergling), Player Color, and Upgrades of an enemy race they encounter. They have no attacks or abilities, but act as spies. However like the Parasite ability from StarCraft, that player can find out the unit is a spy because they will not be able to select it groups since it’s not their unit and because selecting it causes them to see that it is a Changeling.

Changelings may also take on upgrades that change their appearances, but do not have any effect. For example, the upgrade that increases the max HP of Marines and adds a shield, and while the Changeling will take this shield appearance too, it will not get any HP bonus.

Zerg Hydralisk

Previous Unit: Changeling – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Infestor

Hydralisks are a returning unit from StarCraft. You need a Hydralisk Den to mutate your Larva into one.

Hydralisks have a medium ranged attack that targets both ground and air units. They can use the Burrow ability from the Lair/Hive. The Grooved Spines upgrade at the Hydralisk Den increases their range slightly. They are pretty much the same from StarCraft except they no longer get the movement speed upgrade.

Zerg Infestor

Previous Unit: Hydralisk – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Infested Terran

Another new unit is the Infestor. Infestors require a Larva to mutate into them, and an Infestation Pit. They are mainly attack ability units and have no weapon.

Their first ability is Spawn Infested Terran. Infested Terrans are covered in the next part. The ability creates an egg at the target location and an Infested Terran is created shortly after but only last a short time before they expire. This is good for quick strikes due to the sneakiness of the Infestor and the low cost of the Infested Terran.

Neural Parasite is a new ability that causes the target unit to be under your control for a short period of time. This ability can be channeled though, which allows you to keep the unit until it or the Infestor dies or the ability is no longer channeled. It must be researched at a Infestation Pit first.

Fungal Growth is a new attack ability that hits an area causing the afflicted units to be damaged, immobilized, and unable to burrow. Since it’s an area attack it can effect Cloaked units and Burrowed units and will reveal them.

The last ability is a twist on a classic. Burrow for the Infestor allows it to move underground. It can only travel the same terrain it normally could, gets a vision decrease, and moves at half speed. However there is an upgrade to help with that.

The Peristalsis upgrade increases the movement speed when burrowed, and Pathogen Glands increase their starting energy by 25 points. These can be researched at the Infestation Pit.

In the 11th Patch of the Beta the Neural Parasite ability can now target air units, but must be researched at the Infestation Pit. In the 5th Patch of the Beta The Neural Parasite Ability no longer targets air units, had a range decrease, and no longer has the 10 seconds only of controlling an enemy unit.

Zerg Infested Terran

Previous Unit: Infestor – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Mutalisk

Infested Terran are a returning unit from StarCraft, except now they are very different. They are created by the Infestor’s Spawn Infested Terran ability.

Infested Terran no longer have the exploding attack from StarCraft. Instead they have an attack which is comparable to the Marine: Mid Range fast rifle. It targets ground and air. They can also use the Burrow ability researched from the Lair/Hive.

After 20 seconds the Infested Terrans spawned by the ability will die.

Zerg Mutalisk

Previous Unit: Infested Terran – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Corruptor

The Mutalisk is a returning unit from StarCraft. Mutalisks require a Spire, and must be mutated from Larva.

Mutalisks are a fast air unit that target both ground and air with their attack. This attack bounces from that target to the closest target from that target, and then bounces one last time to the next closest target to that unit dealing reduced damage with each bounce.

Zerg Corruptor

Previous Unit: Mutalisk – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Nydus Worm

The Corruptor is a new Zerg air unit. You will need a Spire and a Larva to build it.

The attack it has will only target air units at a medium range. It also has a new ability, Corruption, which increases the damage the target unit (non building) takes by 20% for 30 seconds.

With a Greater Spire you can mutate a Corruptor into a Brood Lord.

The Corruption Ability was redesigned in the 11th patch. Before it would target buildings and cause them to not function for 30 seconds.

Zerg Nydus Worm

Previous Unit: Corruptor – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Ultralisk

Nydus Worms are a new unit that is almost like a building, it is created by the Nydus Network. When created, it will radiate Creep around it.

Nydus Worms act as the exit of the Nydus Network System and can use the Transport ability to load units and transport them between them and the Nydus Network. If all of the Nydus Networks and Nydus Worms are destroyed the units stored in the Nydus Network System will be destroyed as well.

Zerg Ultralisk

Previous Unit: Nydus Worm – Jump to Top – Next Unit: Brood Lord

The Ultralisk is the final returning unit from StarCraft and requires an Ultralisk Cavern and a Larva to be created.

Ultralisks act as tanks with their large HP count. They have two melee attacks: One does moderate damage to an enemy (and splash damage). The other deals massive damage against enemy structures.

These units now get the Burrow ability from the Lair/Hive. They also have two upgrades from the Ultralisk Cavern. Anabolic Synthesis increases their movement speed, and Chitinous Plating gives a +2 boost to their Carapace (Armor) level.

Zerg Brood Lord

Previous Unit: Ultralisk – Jump to Top

Brood Lords are the final Zerg unit. You will need a Greater Spire and a Corruptor to Mutate from in order to get one.

Brood Lords attack enemy ground units and structures with a Broodling Strike, shooting a Broodling at the enemy. The initial strike does a good deal of damage and then the Broodlings can try to get away with some hits before they are destroyed or expire. This is great against miners and Seige Tanks as they have little defense against even the pesky Broodlings.