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Hydralisk

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Hydralisk
Unit
Race

Zerg

Role

Hatchery Evolved Ranged Unit

Armament
  • Needle spines (most common attack)
Properties
Hit points

80

Size

Medium

Transport slots

2

Production
Minerals

75 Image:Minerals Terran SC1.png

Gas

25 Vespene gas

Control

2 Control

Build time

28

Produced at

Larva

Requires

Hydralisk den

Hot key

H

Combat
Ground attack

10e

Air attack

10e

Cooldown

15

Armor

0

Attack range

4 (5 upgraded)

Sight range

6

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

Contents

[edit] Overview

Post-Brood War

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] During the initial zerg invasion of the Koprulu Sector, hydralisks commonly reached 5.5 meters in length and could draw themselves up to over 2.4 meters in height.[2] Since the Brood War hydralisks have evolved to be much larger.[3] Since hydralisks move relatively slowly over open terrain,[4] it is common for hydralisks to burrow and await their prey to enter killing range before attacking,[5] destroying their enemies in a deadly crossfire.[6] Despite their relatively sluggish nature, hydralisks can climb vertical surfaces[7] and continued evolution of the strain through muscular augmentation has resulted in faster hydralisks.[1]

They are sometimes colloquially called "hydras".[8]

[edit] Attacks

Hydralisks may attack directly with scythe-like arms or, more commonly, strike from a distance with volleys of armor-piercing spines.[5] Hundreds of spines are stored in the upper carapace plates[1] and covered by flaps. The flaps fold back before the spines fire[9], a process which gives a few second warning to an impending volley.[7]

The hydralisk has 4,000 muscles, compared to a terran's 629,[6] and a portion of these may be used to launch the spines with enough force to penetrate 2 cm. of neosteel.[1] The spines were evolved from slothien's defensive urticating (stinging) hairs;[6] they may be "grooved" for increased range[1] and are slightly poisonous.[10]

[edit] History

The hydralisk is descended from the slothien, a peaceful caterpillar-like creature.[1]

The first recorded encounter between terrans and hydralisks was aboard a cargo vessel. The hydralisk was recorded by the derelict ship's security cameras.[4] Current terran tactics for dealing with the creatures stress the need for siege tank support.[6]

Prior to the beginning of the Brood War, hydralisks gained the ability to mutate into lurkers.[11]

[edit] Game Unit

[edit] StarCraft

The hydralisk in StarCraft I
Hydralisk stat profile

Hydralisks have a single ranged attack, unlike in the cinematics where they may melee attack. They are the only zerg ground unit able to hit air targets, making them one of the most important zerg units in the whole game. Hydralisk dens are required to spawn them from larvae.

Hydralisks are cheap enough to be mass produced in a short period of time. Although hydralisks can deal huge damage in large groups, there are numerous counters; terrans benefit from large numbers of siege tanks, and marines paired with medics. Protoss can effectively counter mass hydralisks with reavers with ground support and high templar using Psionic Storm. In competitive StarCraft, hydralisks are most often used against the protoss race (e.g. the 3 hatch hydra opening) because it is an effective counter to many protoss units despite the easy counters against them. This is especially true if the zerg player is skilled at micromanaging his hydralisks. Against terrans, hydralisks do not see much usage because professional players are too skilled with their marines, medics and siege tanks which are also natural counters to the hydralisk. In zerg vs zerg competitive play, hydralisks are virtually unseen as are most zerg units because the game is usually dominated by zerglings and mutalisks.

[edit] Abilities

File:Burrow SC1 Able1.png Burrow
Acquisition
Minerals

100 Image:Minerals Terran SC1.png

Gas

100 Vespene gas

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.

Lurker Morph
Acquisition
Minerals

200 Image:Minerals Terran SC1.png

Gas

200 Vespene gas

Evolved at

Hydralisk den

Usage
Minerals

50 Image:Minerals Terran SC1.png

Gas

100 Vespene gas

Units

1 hydralisk

Notes

Allows a hydralisk to morph into a lurker. The control cost increases to 2.

[edit] Upgrades

Missile Attacks
Evolved at

Evolution chamber

Hotkey

A

Properties
Level

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Minerals

100 Image:Minerals Terran SC1.png

150 Image:Minerals Terran SC1.png

200 Image:Minerals Terran SC1.png

Gas

100 Vespene gas

150 Vespene gas

200 Vespene gas

Required

Hatchery

Lair

Hive

Notes
  • +1 bonus to attack damage per level for hydralisks
  • +2 bonus to attack damage per level for lurkers
File:Carapace SC1 Upgrd1.png Carapace
Evolved at

Evolution chamber

Hotkey

C

Properties
Level

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Minerals

150 Image:Minerals Terran SC1.png

225 Image:Minerals Terran SC1.png

300 Image:Minerals Terran SC1.png

Gas

150 Vespene gas

225 Vespene gas

300 Vespene gas

Required

Lair

Hive

Notes
Muscular Augments
Evolved at

Hydralisk den

Hotkey

M

Properties
Minerals

150 Image:Minerals Terran SC1.png

Gas

150 Vespene gas

Notes
  • Increases hydralisk movement speed.
Grooved Spines
Evolved at

Hydralisk den

Properties
Minerals

150 Image:Minerals Terran SC1.png

Gas

150 Vespene gas

Notes
  • Increases the attack range of hydralisks by 1 (to 5).

[edit] StarCraft: Ghost

The hydralisk in StarCraft: Ghost

This article or section contains information about StarCraft: Ghost.
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.[12] Their poison quills attack interferes with terran vision.[13] They move more slowly than zerglings.[14]

In Invasion mode, transforming a zergling into a hydralisk costs one point.[14]

[edit] StarCraft II

This article or section contains information about a StarCraft II unit or structure.

The content may be significantly out of date as StarCraft II experiences a new build weekly and may change substantially as more information becomes available. Please do not add speculation to this article, and remember to cite a published source for details.

Hydralisk
Unit
Race

Zerg

Role

Ranged Attacker

Armament

Needle spines (most common attack), scythe

Properties
Hit points

80[15]

Type
Armor type

Light[16][17]

Production
Minerals

75[15] Image:Minerals Terran SC1.png

Gas

25[15] Vespene gas

Control

1[15] Control

Build time

33[17]

Produced at

Larva[17]

Requires

or *Lurker den[20]

Hot key

H[17]

Combat
Ground attack

8 (+4 vs armored)[15]

Air attack

8 (+4 vs armored)[15]

Armor

0[17][21]

Attack range

6[22] [23]

Hydralisks will be featured in StarCraft II.[6]

Their appearance have changed slightly in StarCraft II. The most notable difference is their scythes, which now boast more spikes than in StarCraft. Their face is also slightly different from what it was before.

Hydralisks move quickly, have a longer firing range than before (there is no need to research a range upgrade) and can devastate enemy buildings in only a few volleys, but are fragile.[22]

Hydralisks have a melee attack as well, but it does the same damage as the ranged attack.[24]

[edit] Researched Abilities

Lurker Morph
Acquisition
Requires

Lurker den[17]

Usage
Minerals

50[17][25][26] Image:Minerals Terran SC1.png

Gas

100[17][25][26] Vespene gas

Units

Hydralisk[27]

Duration

33[17][25][26]

Hotkey

L[17][26]

Notes

Allows a hydralisk to morph into a lurker.[27] The mutation costs 1 control.[26]

Edit
Burrow
Acquisition
Minerals

50[28] Image:Minerals Terran SC1.png

Gas

50[28] Vespene gas

Evolution time

50[29] time

Evolved at

Hatchery/Lair/Hive[26][30]

Hotkey

B[28]

Notes

Many zerg ground units may burrow, rendering themselves invisible but incapable of moving or attacking.

Edit

[edit] Upgrades

StarCraft II portrait
Missile Attacks
Evolved at

Evolution chamber[28]

Hotkey

A[28]

Properties
Level

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Minerals

10[28] Image:Minerals Terran SC1.png

150[28] Image:Minerals Terran SC1.png

200[28] Image:Minerals Terran SC1.png

Gas

100[28] Vespene gas

150[28] Vespene gas

200[28] Vespene gas

Evolution time

140[28] time

170[28] time

200[28] time

Required

Hatchery[28]

Lair[28]

Hive[28]

Notes
Edit
Carapace
Evolved at

Evolution chamber[28]

Hotkey

C[28]

Properties
Level

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Minerals

150[28] Image:Minerals Terran SC1.png

225[28] Image:Minerals Terran SC1.png

300[28] Image:Minerals Terran SC1.png

Gas

150[28] Vespene gas

225[28] Vespene gas

300[28] Vespene gas

Evolution time

140[28] time

170[28] time

200[28] time

Required

Hatchery[28]

Lair[28]

Hive[28]

Notes
Edit
Muscular Augments
Evolved at
Hotkey

M[28]

Properties
Minerals

150[28] Image:Minerals Terran SC1.png

Gas

150[28] Vespene gas

Evolution time

80[28] time

Notes
  • Increases hydralisk movement speed.[28]
Edit

[edit] Strategies

StarCraft II development portrait

Hydralisks counter mutalisks. A combination of roaches and hydralisks can defeat a combo of zerglings and mutalisks.[31]

[edit] Development

Hydralisks have constantly moved in tier from 1.5 to 2 and back over the development of StarCraft II. As of April 2009 the hydralisk has been moved back to tier 1.5, as part of an effort to prevent zerg vs zerg matches devolving into roach vs roach battles.[32] As of May 2009 they were moved back up to tier 2.[33] As of June 2009 they were moved back to tier 1.5.[34]

[edit] Other Appearances

Hydralisks attacking marines in Warcraft III
Main article: Hydralisk (Warcraft III)

A hydralisk unit is available in the World Editor of Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne.

[edit] Special Hydralisk Strains and Characters

[edit] Images

See: the image gallery.

[edit] Videos


[edit] References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Underwood, Peter, Bill Roper, Chris Metzen and Jeffrey Vaughn. StarCraft (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.
  2. Back of the original StarCraft box, 1998.
  3. 2008-10-11. Starcraft II: BlizzCon 08: Opening Cinematic Teaser (CAM). Gametrailers. Accessed 2008-10-11.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Hydralisk. StarCraft Compendium. Accessed on 2007-11-27
  5. 5.0 5.1 Bill Slavicsek, David Eckelberry, Shawn F. Carnes. Alternity: StarCraft Edition. Wizards of the Coast, March 1, 2000. ISBN 0-7869-1618-4.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 StarCraft II-Hydralisk. Accessed on 2008-03-10
  7. 7.0 7.1 Hickman, Tracy (May 21, 2002). StarCraft: Speed of Darkness. Simon & Schuster (Pocket Star). ISBN 0-671-04150-9.
  8. Giffen, Keith and Simon Furman (w), Federico Dallocchio (p, i), Milen Parvanov (col). "StarCraft #1" StarCraft 1 (1) (May 27, 2009) DC Comics (Wildstorm).
  9. Hydralisks fold back their top carapace flap to reveal those spines, it's an attack animation. When they are out of battle, they fold in again to hide them. What he said. Cavez, PsiWarp. 2009-02-05. Karune: screenshot question about hydras. Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2009-02-05.
  10. Metzen, Chris & Samuel Moore (March 29, 1999). "StarCraft: Revelations." Amazing Stories 596 (Spring): 20-27.
  11. Underwood, Peter, Chris Metzen and Bill Roper. StarCraft: Brood War (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.
  12. Source: BlizzCon 2005 StarCraft: Ghost information. Zerg units. Artist: Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2007-09-08.
  13. 1up staff. 2005-10-28. StarCraft Ghost Previews from 1UP.com 1up.com Accessed 2008-11-09.
  14. 14.0 14.1 Park, Andrew. 2005-10-28. Starcraft: Ghost Updated Multiplayer Hands-On - Zerg Rush! Gamespot. Accessed 2008-11-09.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 Hydralisk. StarCraft Source. Accessed 2009-09-02.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 Onyett, Charles. 2008-03-10. StarCraft II Zerg Unit List: All the monsters in the game so far. IGN. Accessed 2008-03-11.
  17. 17.00 17.01 17.02 17.03 17.04 17.05 17.06 17.07 17.08 17.09 17.10 17.11 StarCraft Legacy staff. 2009-04-04. Zerg Unit Stats. StarCraft Legacy. Accessed 2009-05-09.
  18. Zerg Structure List. IGN. Accessed on 2008-11-03
  19. Hydralisk Den requires the Lair and you will need the Spawning Pool to mutate into Lair from Hatchery. Cydra. 2008-12-01. Does the Hydralisk Den... Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2008-12-01.
  20. StarCraft Legacy staff. 2008-03-13. Zerg - Buildings. StarCraft Legacy. Accessed 2008-03-22.
  21. StarCraft Legacy staff. 2008-03-11. Zerg - Units. StarCraft Legacy. Accessed 2009-06-23.
  22. 22.0 22.1 Karune, StarCraft Legacy staff. 2009-04-04. StarCraft: Legacy StarCraft II Exclusive Q&A with Karune. StarCraft Legacy. Accessed 2009-05-18.
  23. You can see each Unit's attack range in the game. For example, Hydralisk's both ground and air attack range are set to 6 right now. Cydra. 2008-12-01. Question on unit layout. Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2008-12-01.
  24. Correct. It really is the melee attack animation. :) But the damage is the same with the range attack. Cydra. 2009-04-21. HYDRALISK HAS MELEE ATTACK!!! (seriously). Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2009-04-21.
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 StarCraft Legacy staff. 2008-06-29. Zerg Unit Information. StarCraft Legacy. Accessed 2008-06-29.
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 StarCraftZine. 2008-10-18. StarCraftZine.com. StarCraft Zine. Accessed 2008-12-08.
  27. 27.0 27.1 Burnes, Andrew. 2008-03-10. -Unit-Images-Unit-Info StarCraft 2 - Zerg Attack: New Screenshots, Unit Images & Unit Info! IGN.com Accessed 2008-03-10.
  28. 28.00 28.01 28.02 28.03 28.04 28.05 28.06 28.07 28.08 28.09 28.10 28.11 28.12 28.13 28.14 28.15 28.16 28.17 28.18 28.19 28.20 28.21 28.22 28.23 28.24 28.25 28.26 28.27 28.28 28.29 28.30 28.31 28.32 28.33 28.34 28.35 28.36 28.37 28.38 28.39 StarCraft Legacy staff. 2009-04-04. Zerg & Protoss Upgrades. SCLegacy. Accessed 2009-06-18
  29. Zerg Drone. StarCraft II Armory. Accessed 2009-09-27.
  30. Dustin Browder, Robert Simpson, Matt Cooper, David Kim. 2008-12-19. Battle Report (2). Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2009-04-16.
  31. Karune. 2008-08-18. StarCraft II Q&A - Batch 43. Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2008-08-18.
  32. Dustin Browder, Lipton, Karune. 2009-04-22. The Official STARFEEDER Starcraft 2 Q&A. Starfeeder. Accessed 2009-04-22.
  33. StarCraft Legacy staff. 2009-05-30. StarCraft II Impressions Translations - May 21, 2009. StarCraft Legacy. Accessed 2009-05-30.
  34. Terran: Ghost's EMP + Stim Packed Marines + Medivacs would do very well.
    Zerg: Similar to the original StarCraft, Hydralisks (since they have been brought down to tier 1.5) counter Archons well and Zerglings can be brought in to clean up the rest of the Stalkers. Positioning would also be important as well - making sure the Zerglings flank and are able to hit the Stalkers without going through the Archon attack zone.
    Karune. How do you beat Stalker + Archon combo? Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2009-06-15.


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