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The hydralisk is the zerg basic front-line creature, forming the backbone of their onslaughts with its resistant carapace and ranged spine attack.

Overview

The hydralisk is a zerg evolution of the slothien. While slothiens were peaceful herbivores, the hydralisk is noted as being one of the most fierce and sadistic of the zerg strains.^[1] The average hydralisk in 2499 was 5.4m long and weighed 390 kg.^[2] Since hydralisks move relatively slowly over open terrain,^[3] it is common for hydralisks to burrow and await their prey to enter killing range before attacking,^[4] destroying their enemies in a deadly crossfire.^[5] Despite their relatively sluggish nature, hydralisks can climb vertical surfaces^[6] and continued evolution of the strain through muscular augmentation has resulted in faster hydralisks.^[1]

Hydralisks are sometimes supported by infestors.^[7]

History

Prior to the beginning of the Brood War, hydralisks gained the ability to mutate into lurkers.^[8]

The first recorded encounter between terrans and hydralisks was aboard a cargo vessel. The hydralisk was recorded by the derelict ship's security cameras.^[3] Since then, hydralisks have established themselves in terran culture to a notable extent. Sometimes colloquially called "hydras,"^[9] hydralisk skulls have been mounted akin to trophies in Joeyray's Bar^[10] and on an ore loader on Sorona.^[11] The Annual Hydralisk Derby has also become an established event.^[12] Current terran tactics for dealing with the creatures stress the need for siege tank support.^[5]

Attacks

Hydralisks may attack directly with scythe-like arms or, more commonly, strike from a distance with volleys of armor-piercing spines^[4] 30mm in length in 2503;^[13] by 2504 they were significantly larger.^[14] Hundreds of these spines are stored in the upper carapace plates^[1] and covered by flaps. The flaps fold back before the spines fire,^[15] a process which gives a few seconds warning to an impending volley.^[6]

The hydralisk has 4,000 muscles, compared to a terran's 629,^[5] and a portion of these may be used to launch the spines with enough force to penetrate 2 cm. of neosteel^[1] at a range of over 300 meters^[13] or even half a kilometer^[16] at a velocity greater than that of the C-20A rifle.^[13] The spines were evolved from the slothien's defensive urticating (stinging) hairs;^[5] they may be "grooved" for increased range^[1] and are slightly poisonous.^[17][18][19]

Game Unit

StarCraft

For StarCraft gameplay information see: Hydralisk (StarCraft).

StarCraft: Ghost

	This article or section contains information about StarCraft: Ghost, which has been declared non-canon. Elements may be taken as 'flavor lore' however. The content may be significantly out of date. Please do not add speculation to this article, and remember to cite a published source for details.

Hydralisks are featured as a player unit in StarCraft: Ghost, in addition to acting as enemies. Hydralisks maintain their StarCraft abilities but also gain a powerful claw attack.^[20] Their poison quill attack interferes with terran vision.^[21] They move more slowly than zerglings.^[22]

In Invasion mode, transforming a zergling into a hydralisk costs one point.^[22]

StarCraft II

For StarCraft II gameplay information see: Hydralisk (StarCraft II)

Warcraft III

Main article: Hydralisk (Warcraft III)

The hydralisk appears as an Easter egg unit in Warcraft III and its expansion, The Frozen Throne.

Known Hydralisks

Variant Strains

• Hunter Killer
• Hydolysk
• Primal hydralisk
• Zergrinch Warg

Evolutions

• Lurker
• Impaler

Individuals

• "Dennis"
• Frayne the Feral
• Specimen 16G
• Vaevictis (Hunter Killer)

Trivia

A hydralisk action figure was released in 1998.^[23]

The hydralisk is often nicknamed "hydra" in online culture.

References