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"I am Dehaka. One-who-collects. I kill, I take essence."

- Dehaka introduces himself to Sarah Kerrigan(src)

Dehaka is a primal zerg pack leader from Zerus. He was among the last of the primal zerg pack leaders.

Dehaka is bipedal with two pairs of arms, one large and one small, though he is missing his right large arm and left small one.

Biography[]

Zerus[]

Dehaka'sRightArm HotS Game1

Dehaka's right arm on Zerus

Dehaka lost his large right arm prior to the Swarm's return to Zerus; it was later to be found in the same area where Sarah Kerrigan defeated the other primal pack leaders.[2] It was noted to still be "bleeding profusely," implying he had only lost it very recently.

When the Zerg Swarm returned to Zerus, Dehaka initially opted to simply observe the Swarm and Kerrigan. He witnessed the newcomers awaken Zurvan[3] and the primal-infestation of Kerrigan.[4]

Dehaka perceived Kerrigan as the strongest zerg. He and his pack welcomed the new power by allying with the Swarm, believing Kerrigan would lead them to new essence.[5] Dehaka correctly predicted that the other pack leaders would refuse to similarly adapt;[6][7] the other pack leaders were destroyed by Kerrigan, including Zurvan. Dehaka sent some of his pack to assist Kerrigan in killing them. [2] Kerrigan confronted Dehaka afterwards, confirming that Dehaka had known that Zurvan would turn on her. He did not deny this—one zerg would grow strong, the other would fall. He claimed that as zerg, Kerrigan already knew it to be inevitable. Dehaka remained with the Swarm.[6][8]

Koprulu[]

The following section contains timeline information which isn't necessarily in chronological order.

Skygeirr[]

"A floating home in the sky. Wasteful."

- Dehaka upon observing Skygeirr Station(src)

DehakaKerrigan SC2-HotS Story1

Dehaka and Kerrigan at Skygeirr

The Swarm arrived at Skygeirr Station, a Terran Dominion base. Dehaka was perplexed at the structure, but was nonetheless content, and eager to sample terran essence.[6][9] Essence of another kind existed within the base however, that of protoss-zerg hybrids. While their essence was strong, Dehaka could not collect it. He knew the beings' creator served Amon, a being that would "devour all essence." Dehaka believed that if Amon succeeded, all change would stop, and all essence would be collected. And he was willing to fight to prevent that from happening.[6][10]

Working with Terrans[]

"There will be no essence here. I cannot collect if there is none."

- Dehaka(src)

The Swarm operated with Raynor's Raiders with the intent of retrieving Jim Raynor from Dominion custody. Dehaka was disgruntled by the lack of essence to be found, and exchanged verbal barbs with Broodmother Zagara. Kerrigan broke up the altercation, and forbid Dehaka from collecting essence in the area.[6][11] Raynor was successfully rescued,[12] but Dehaka noticed Kerrigan's silence afterwards.[6][13]

Korhal[]

"This planet has much essence."

- Dekaha, upon arriving at Korhal(src)

DehakaZagara SC2-HotS Game1

Dehaka and Zagara

Kerrigan took the Swarm to Korhal, intent on deposing Emperor Arcturus Mengsk. Dehaka noted the abundance of essence on the world, and how different it was from essences he had encountered in the past. He and his pack would collect it.[6][14]

With the deployment of the Psi Destroyer, Dehaka and his pack were at an advantage, as they lacked the psionic connection that Swarm zerg shared. This made him immune to the Destroyer's effects, and he and his pack were able to sabotage its power links, allowing Kerrigan's zerg to destroy the device, giving the Swarm access to Augustgrad.[15] Soon afterward, Dehaka and his pack participated in the final attack on Korhal Palace.[16]

End War[]

AlliedCommanders SC2-LotV Art1
This article or section contains information derived from Co-op Missions, and should not be considered part of the official StarCraft storyline.
Dehaka SC2-LotV Art1

Dehaka during the End War

After Korhal, Dehaka strengthened his pack.[17] He returned to Zerus, where he incorporated three pack leaders, Glevig, Murvar, and Dakrun, into his pack.[18] During the End War, he led the primal zerg against Amon and his forces. He was aided by his new pack leaders, who followed him for his strength.[17]

Game Unit[]

StarCraft II[]

Dehaka is available as an announcer in StarCraft II.[19]

Heart of the Swarm[]

Dehaka's name is revealed when he joins the Swarm after "The Crucible." Before that, his unit is identified in-game as "Strange Creature." Dehaka is playable as a hero unit in "Death From Above."

Abilities[]
Abduct SC2-HotS Icon
Drag

Dehaka targets a unit and pulls that unit to his location, stunning it for a short time. This allows him to pull allies to safety, or pull enemy units out of position. The ability can pull units up and down cliffs.

Usage
Hotkey Q
Cooldown 3 seconds
ve
GenerateSpawn SC2 Icon1
Generate Spawn

Creates two Spawn of Dehaka at target location. Spawns have 50% HP but deal full damage. Spawns last 30 seconds.

Usage
Hotkey W
Duration 30 seconds
Cooldown 45 seconds
ve
Transfusion SC2 Icon1
Mend

User instantly heals self for 150 HP and nearby units for 50 HP. An additional 50% of the HP restored to affected units is rapidly healed over 15 seconds.

Usage
Hotkey E
Cooldown 10 seconds
ve
CliffJumper SC2 Icon1
Cliff Jumper

Dehaka can jump up and down cliffs.

Usage
Passive
ve

There are also unfinished commands in the map editor for two additional abilities; Devour, where Dehaka bites an enemy to deal damage and heal HP; and Flurry, where Dehaka rapidly attacks around him dealing splash damage to nearby enemies.

Quotations[]
See StarCraft II Dehaka Quotations

Co-op Missions[]

Heroes of the Storm[]

Heroes DevLog2
The following section contains information from Heroes of the Storm and is not canon to StarCraft continuity

Dehaka appears as a character in Heroes of the Storm.[20]

Personality and Traits[]

"Essence is change. Change is survival. Collect and live. Stay still and die."

- Dehaka(src)

Dehaka SC2-HotS Cncpt1

Dehaka

Dehaka is a survivor first and foremost,[21] and possesses both cunning and a strong will to survive,[17] and believes that one must continuously evolve in order to stay on top.[19] He is fixated on collecting essence, but not for the sake of power. Power, in Dehaka's mind, is a trap, and one the other pack leaders fell into. For Dehaka, essence is survival.[6][22] He is willing to make alliances when it suits him.[23]


The following section contains information from StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm that is ambiguously canonical.
The following section contains information from Heroes of the Storm that is ambiguously canonical.
Dehaka Heroes Art1

Dehaka

Dehaka views primal zerg as the "true zerg" (as opposed to their Swarm counterparts).[24]

Dehaka reflected that he had changed much since joining Kerrigan's side. Cunning and wise,[25] he remains one of the strongest surviving primals.[26] Few primals have undergone as much change as Dehaka, and he intends to keep it that way.[25]

Notes[]

Dehaka SC2-LotV Art2

Dehaka

  • Dehaka might be named after Azi Dahaka, an evil figure in Persian mythology.
  • Dehaka's appearance is markedly different in Heroes of the Storm. His bioluminescent highlights now glow pink-purple, and the row of glowing bulbs running down his neck and chest have disappeared, with said neck and chest having become more broad and muscled. His tusks are replaced by more insect-like mandibles, the claws of his primary left hand are much larger, dark armoured-plates have grown down his back surrounding his spine spikes, his face armour is less bone-like and more like dark, overlapping plates, and finally his tail is no longer covered in spiky spine-like bones for armour and ending with a massive bone spearhead; instead it has become sleeker and scaled-covered, with a thin, slightly-curved bone stinger protruding from a hole at the tail's end. Like in Starcraft II, Dehaka is missing his primary right arm and smaller left arm, however upon selecting his ultimate ability, he regenerates both arms - this is a cosmetic change that has no effect on his gameplay. This version of his model is also used for his appearance in Co-op Missions.
  • Map editor files for Dehaka allude to a different personality intended during development: "Eager and not too bright. Loud, speaks in a yell."[27]
  • Dehaka was matched against Alexei Stukov on the StarCraft Twitter. 57% of voters claimed that Stukov would win.[28]
  • Dehaka is the only known zerg known to possess hair, having a shaggy goatee-like beard.

References[]

  1. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Credits. (in English).
  2. 2.0 2.1 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Heart of the Swarm, Supreme (in English). 2013-03-12.
  3. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Heart of the Swarm, Waking the Ancient (in English). 2013-03-12.
  4. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Heart of the Swarm, The Crucible (in English). 2013-03-12.
  5. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Cutscenes: Zerus Missions (in English). 2013-03-12.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Dehaka (in English). 2013-03-12.
  7. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Conversations after The Crucible. (in English). 2013-03-12.
  8. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Conversations after Supreme. (in English). 2013-03-12.
  9. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Conversations before Infested (in English). 2013-03-12.
  10. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Conversations after Hand of Darkness (in English). 2013-03-12.
  11. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Conversations after With Friends Like These... (in English). 2013-03-12.
  12. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Heart of the Swarm, Conviction (in English). 2013-03-12.
  13. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Conversations after Conviction (in English). 2013-03-12.
  14. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Conversations before Planetfall. (in English). 2013-03-12.
  15. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Heart of the Swarm, Death from Above (in English). 2013-03-12.
  16. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Heart of the Swarm, The Reckoning (in English). 2013-03-12.
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 2017-08-21, Preview: NEW Co-op Commander Preview: Dehaka. Youtube.com Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2017-08-21
  18. 2017-08-21, Patch 3.17 Preview: New Co-op Commander Dehaka.Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2017-08-28
  19. 19.0 19.1 2017-08-23, Patch 3.17 Preview: Dehaka Announcer. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2017-08-29
  20. 2016-03-16, Dehaka Abilities, Tips, and Concept Art. rgj.com, accessed on 2016-03-17
  21. Dehaka Announcer, Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed n 2017-08-31
  22. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Conversations before With Friends Like These... (in English). 2013-03-12.
  23. Dehaka Commander, Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed on 2017-09-01
  24. 2014-08-20, Unused HoTS Story Elements. StarCraft Legacy, accessed on 2014-08-30
  25. 25.0 25.1 Blizzard Entertainment. Heroes of the Storm (Blizzard Entertainment) (in English). June 2, 2015
  26. 2016-03-25, Dehaka Spotlight - Heroes of the Storm. YouTube, accessed on 2016-03-26
  27. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Map Editor. (Activision Blizzard) (in English). March 12, 2013
  28. 2016-12-13, StarCraft on Twitter. Twitter, accessed on 2016-12-15
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