Lurker

The lurker is a zerg unit that may attack only when burrowed.

OverviewEdit

Evolved from the hydralisk, lurkers are powerful anti-ground ambushers.^[1] They serve as defense warriors for hive clusters and outlying zerg colonies.^[2] Lurkers emit waves of super-dense spines against their enemies, having a full width of damage of ten meters.^[3] However, lurkers must actually burrow underground to release these subterranean attacks. Any warriors on the surface who are caught by these spines are instantly impaled. These spines themselves are capable of tearing into flesh, steel, and even reinforced armor plating.^[2] The spines can even be directed downward into open spaces, provided the lurker is underground.^[4] As such, even a handful of lurkers can turn an inoccuous chokepoint into a nightmare.^[1] The only weakness of the lurker is that it is virtually defenseless while above ground.^[2]

HistoryEdit

The lurker had been developed from the hydralisk strain by the Brood War. The strain was first observed under the leadership of Kerrigan (although technically, it was their handiwork that was the first indication).^[3]

During the Second Great War, Abathur discovered a group of feral lurkers on Cavir, left over from the Tiamat Brood in the Brood War. The Swarm was able to find a lurker den and protect from the feral zerg long enough for Broodmother Kilysa to recover its essence.^[5]

Years later, the Defenders of Man used Nova Terra to plant psi-emitters to lure feral lurkers to Antiga Prime.^[6]

Game UnitEdit

StarCraftEdit

For StarCraft gameplay information see: Lurker (StarCraft).

StarCraft: GhostEdit

	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 The content may be significantly out of date.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.

The lurker was to appear in StarCraft: Ghost.^[7] Its form underwent an extensive redesign from its Brood War incarnation during development.^[8]

StarCraft IIEdit

For StarCraft II gameplay information see: Lurker (StarCraft II).

Heroes of the StormEdit

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

In Heroes of the Storm, Dehaka has the ability to gain a talent named "Lurker Strain," a reference to the unit.^[9]

TriviaEdit

The lurker is often nicknamed "lurk" in online culture.

ReferencesEdit