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	The Changeling short story

The changeling is a zerg spy produced by the overseer. It is a very weak and unstable creature with a short lifespan.

OverviewEdit

The changeling, composed of a protoplasmic substance, is capable of shape-shifting into a form resembling a terran. It can shift between specific appearances. It can even send out psionic impressions leading terrans to believe that everything is "all right".

It is intelligent, capable of operating computers. It possesses more strength than an unarmored human and can transform part of its body into a deadly bone blade, although its primary purpose does not appear to be combat.^[1]

HistoryEdit

The changeling was developed as late as 2503^[2] by the Queen of Blades, who was testing it against the terrans before war broke out. The Terran Dominion, learning about the new breed, also conducted their own tests.^[1]

Game UnitEdit

Changeling
Unit
Race	Zerg
Role	Spy
Properties
Life span	150
Sight range	8
Production
Energy cost	50
Control	0
Produced from	Overseer
Hotkey	C
Movement
Speed	2.25 (basic)
Acceleration	1000 (basic)
Lateral acceleration	45.0625 (basic)
Deceleration	0 (basic)
Creep multiplier	x1 (no effect; basic)
Collision radius	0.375 (basic)
Protection
Shields	0 (appears as replicated shields value)
Hit points	5 (appears as replicated hit point value)
Hit point regen/second	0.2734 (basic)
Armor	0
Type	Biological
Armor type	Light
Meta
Target priority	20
Kill score	50
Production score	25
Miscellaneous
Notes	The changeling's movement stats and collision radius vary depending on what form it is replicating. For instance, a changeling which resembles a zergling moves faster, and moves even faster if replicating a zergling with the Metabolic Boost upgrade.

The changeling has a limited lifespan, which is measured by a decreasing bar visible on the interface below the name, and it will die when the bar is zeroed. The changeling has its own wire-frame and portrait when not transformed. The changeling sometimes speaks, and its voice does not change when transformed.

The changeling game unit has no attack or abilities other than shape-shifting; any weapons it appears to carry are false. Changelings can easily be detected if you select your zealots/marines/zerglings, and use /dance. The changeling will not dance.

The changeling's maximum hit points do not change, but they appear as the duplicated unit's hit points. For instance, a changeling resembling a marine will appear to have 45 hit points, but will in fact still have five hit points.

When a changeling takes the shape of a zergling, it will have wings if the zerg it copied have the Metabolic Boost upgrade. These wings can be seen on the wireframe of the unit. The Galaxy Map Editor refers the changeling's zergling shape as "zergling with wings".^[3]

AbilitiesEdit

Shapeshifting
Notes
The changeling shifts upon approaching an enemy unit. It takes on the color of the nearby enemy, and the form and wireframe of the basic combat unit (marine, zealot, or zergling) of the nearby enemy's race. The transformation is permanent. The changeling appearance exactly matches the assumed unit's form at the time of transformation; the changeling gains only the visual effects of upgrades. Shapeshift may be autocast.
Edit

AchievementsEdit

Heart of the SwarmEdit

	This article or section contains information from StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm.
	The content may change substantially over time.

Overseers were briefly removed from multiplayer in Heart of the Swarm,^[4] effectively removing changelings as well. However, the overseer has been returned to the game as Blizzard examines how to make its abilities more interesting.^[5] As of April 2012, there has been no word as to whether the changeling has returned as well.

ReferencesEdit