The overlord is a zerg flyer that provides control for lesser minions.

OverviewEdit

Overlords were evolved from the Gargantis proximae, a species of giant space-faring and semi-intelligent creatures. Once assimilated they were used to help cerebrates control and coordinate their broods and scout using their enhanced senses.^[1]

Overlords with the correct growth stimuli^[1] could carry other zerg within hollows in their hides.^[2] In this form they became deep-space transports^[3]; the importance of their function was underlined by the sheer number of overlords found accompanying zerg forces.^[1]

The overlord's cerebral structure was complex with neural pathways woven throughout the body; this made it a powerful psionic energy transmitter. To preserve this capability, the zerg only altered neurologically impotent parts, including the carapace and pulmonary chambers. As a result, the overlord's core genetic matrix was atypically homogenous: over 90%. The minimal alterations also preserved memories^[4]; ancient overlords, essentially assimilated Gargantis, regained their individuality upon becoming ferel.^[1] Overlords used helium-filled gas sacs and a weak telekinetic psi-ability for lift and motive power.^[5] Their exoskeletons were strong enough to resist a lightning strike.^[6]

Unlike most other zerg breeds, overlords had a greater capacity to act on their own judgement; their mental flexibility was still severely limited.^[7] Overlords typically only relayed orders. They were technically capable of directly controlling lesser zerg, but only with extreme difficulty.^[8]

Overlords were fairly docile. Additional duties included tending to young larvae^[3] and monitoring the progress of drones through a type of instinctive telepathy.^[9] By the Second Great War, overlords could disgorge creep to prepare the way for zerg conquests, and were used to metamorphosize into overseers. Overseers featured enhanced senses and could spawn changelings.^[1]

After Kerrigan's defeat at Char, some overlords attempted to form pockets of organized zerg in the same manner as broodmothers. However, this was a token effort, and most zerg regressed to a feral state.^[10]

Game UnitEdit

StarCraftEdit

Overlord
Unit
Race	Zerg
Role	Airborne Commander Transport
Properties
Size	Large
Transport capacity	8 (with Ventral Sacs upgrade)
Sight range	9 (11 with Antennae)
Detection range	9 (11 with Antennae)
Production
Minerals	100
Control	+8
Build time	40
Evolves from	Larva
Hotkey	O
Protection
Hit points	200

The overlord is a versatile zerg flier that provides control, detection and air transportation once upgraded. It is slower than other transport units even with Pneumatized Carapace.

AbilitiesEdit

UpgradesEdit

Flyer Carapace
Evolved at	Spire Greater spire
Hotkey	C
Properties
Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Minerals 150 225 300 Gas 150 225 300 Evolution time 266 298 330 Required Lair Hive
Notes
+1 bonus to armor per level for overlords, mutalisks, guardians, devourers, scourge and queen.

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.

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

DevelopmentEdit

During StarCraft alpha development, overlords had an attack value of 4.^[11]

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.

	This following section contains information from concept art that may not be canonical.

Overlords make an appearance in StarCraft: Ghost. Some have been locked into tanks or subjected to cybernetic surgery. The latter are known as brain spectres.

StarCraft IIEdit

Overlord
Unit
Race	Zerg
Role	Provides control
Properties
Transport capacity	8 (with Ventral Sacs upgrade)
Sight range	11
Production
Minerals	100
Control	Provides 8
Build time	25
Evolves from	Larva
Hotkey	V
Movement
Speed	0.586 (1.8749 with Pneumatized Carapace)
Acceleration	1.0625
Lateral acceleration	46.0625
Deceleration	0
Collision radius	1
Protection
Hit points	200
Hit point regen/second	0.2734
Armor	0
Type	Air Biological
Armor type	Armored
Function
Evolves to	Overseer
Meta
Target priority	20
Kill score	200
Production score	100

In StarCraft II, the overlord provides control but does not provide detection. The overlord may evolve into the overseer which is a detector and spellcaster. Against protoss, it is recommended to keep overlords surrounded with strong anti-air defense as they are highly vulnerable targets for phoenixes used in the harass role.

The reason for the changes and the split between the overlord and overseer in terms of detection was that the zerg "were somewhat 'detectorific'" in StarCraft.^[12]

AbilitiesEdit

Overseer Morph
Acquisition Requires Lair	Usage Minerals 50 Gas 50 Units Overlord Activation/ Build Time 17 Hotkey V
Notes
The overlord can morph into an overseer, which becomes a detector.
Edit

Excrete Creep
Acquisition Requires Lair	Usage Units Overlord[13] Duration 15[14] Hotkey Generate creep: G Stop creating creep: C
Notes
The overlord can create a 2x2 patch of creep through an activated ability, the radius steadily expanding.[15] A few overlords can create enough creep to cover a screen area.[16] The creep recedes in 30 seconds.[14] A zerg player will typically have many overlords, and so can create creep over much of the map.[16]
Edit

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

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

Flyer Carapace Evolved at Spire Greater spire Properties Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Minerals 150 225 300 Gas 150 225 300 Evolution time 160 190 220 Required Lair Hive Notes +1 bonus to armor per level for zerg air units. Edit

Heart of the SwarmEdit

A special overlord skin is unlocked via leveling in Heart of the Swarm.^[17]

DevelopmentEdit

Overlords used to have a slime ability, but that has been removed from the latest build.^[19]

• Slime (also known as "Corrupt Minerals")
  • The overlord could drop a non-attacking slime creature,^[20] temporarily disabling resource nodes and xel'naga towers.^[13][21] The minerals can be covered as they're being harvested, enabling raids which slow down an enemy's economy.^[20] The creature must be killed before the minerals can be accessed.^[20][12]
  • This ability took some time to "cast" and had a small cooldown timer.^[20]

Known OverlordsEdit

Variant StrainsEdit

• Brain spectre
• Mastermind Overlord
• Yggdrasill

EvolutionEdit

• Overseer

IndividualsEdit

• "Green Eyes"

ReferencesEdit