The hive is the primary structure of the zerg^[1] and is the key that unlocks the final stages of their evolution. Protected by a dense exoskeleton and granted full access to the Overmind's pool of knowledge, it continues to provide the same functionality that it has since it was a hatchery (birthing larvae, maintaining creep, and digesting minerals/gas). Once the hive is present, the being commanding it has the potential to unleash the full fury of the zerg.^[2]

The genetic model for a hive is extremely complex, and would be indecipherable by any terran scientist.^[3]

Game StructureEdit

StarCraftEdit

Hive
Structure
Race	Zerg
Role	Advanced foundation building
Production
Minerals	200
Gas	150
Control	+1
Build time	120
Evolves from	Lair
Requires	Queen's nest
Protection
Hit points	2500
Armor	0
Function
Produces	Larva
Allows	Defiler mound Ultralisk cavern Nydus canal Adrenal Glands
Research	Burrow Ventral Sacs Antennae Pneumatized Carapace

Researched AbilitiesEdit

Burrow
Acquisition Minerals 100 Gas 100 Evolution time 80 Evolved at Hatchery/Lair/Hive Hotkey B	Usage Hotkey U
Notes
Many zerg ground units may burrow, rendering themselves invisible but incapable of moving or attacking.

Ventral Sacs
Acquisition Minerals 200 Gas 200 Evolution time 160 Evolved at Lair/Hive	Usage Hotkey V
Notes
Allows overlords to transport units.

Researched UpgradesEdit

Antennae
Evolved at	Lair OR Hive
Hotkey	A
Properties
Minerals 150 Gas 150 Evolution time 133
Notes
Increases overlord sight range to 11.

Pneumatized Carapace
Evolved at	Lair Hive
Hotkey	P
Properties
Minerals 150 Gas 150 Evolution time 133
Notes
Increases overlord speed.

Development GalleryEdit

The hive in StarCraft alpha

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StarCraft IIEdit

Hive
Structure
Race	Zerg
Role	Advanced foundation building
Properties
Broodlings produced	9
Production
Minerals	200
Gas	150
Control	Provides 2
Build time	100
Evolves from	Lair
Requires	Infestation pit
Hotkey	H
Protection
Hit points	2500
Armor	1
Type	Biological Structure
Armor type	Armored
Function
Produces	Larva Queen (with spawning pool)
Allows	Ultralisk cavern Greater spire Adrenal Glands Viper (HotS only)[4]
Research	See below

The hive reappears in StarCraft II. The hive can set two rally points, one ("Y") for most units and one ("G") for drones. The queen does not get a rally point.

Each individual egg can be separately rallied; this overrides rally points set for the hive.^[5]

Researched AbilitiesEdit

Burrow
Acquisition Minerals 100 Gas 100 Evolution time 100 Evolved at Hatchery/Lair/Hive Requires Lair Hatchery (HotS only) Hotkey B	Usage Activation/ Build Time 2 seconds to burrow, 1 second to unburrow Hotkey R
Notes
Many zerg ground units may burrow, become invisible and may be revealed primarily by detectors, and may not move or attack. Exceptions are the roach, who may move while burrowed, the infestor, who may move and cast Infested Terran,[6] and the baneling which can detonate while burrowed. Some units can unburrow via autocast, causing them to emerge and attack when an enemy moves into range. The ability is not smartcast.
Edit

Ventral Sacs
Acquisition Evolution time 130 Evolved at Lair/Hive Hotkey E	Usage Minerals 200 Gas 200
Notes
The overlord can transport units.
Edit

Researched UpgradesEdit

Pneumatized Carapace
Evolved at	Hatchery (with at least 1 other lair or hive)/Lair/Hive
Hotkey	P
Properties
Minerals 100 Gas 100 Evolution time 60
Notes
Increase speed of the overlord by 1.29 to 1.88 and the overseer by 0.875 to 2.75.
Edit

Queen AbilitiesEdit

Spawn Larva
Usage Energy 25 Activation/ Build Time 40 seconds Hotkey V
Notes
Queens can target a hatchery/lair/hive with Queen Ichor,[7] causing it to swell and grow green sacs which burst, producing four larvae. These join any already-present larvae. The larva-producing structure will not naturally produce any more larvae until the total falls below three. The larva count for any given hatchery/lair/hive does not exceed nineteen, no matter how many times spawn larva is cast. The ability is not smartcast.
Edit

DevelopmentEdit

The hive for StarCraft II was based off the lair in StarCraft, in order to make it look more 'evil'. There were also plans to change the middle maw portion more gradually as it evolved from a hatchery, but there wasn't enough time to do so.^[8]

ReferencesEdit