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This article concerns StarCraft/StarCraft: Brood War gameplay. You may be looking for:

The zergling is the least durable basic troop unit of the zerg. This is offset by cheap production, and high movement and attack rate. The zergling is useful throughout the game; it may be used for early game rushes, then as support for more powerful units in the late game (e.g. ultraling).

Zerglings should be used in swarms. This is especially important as the game progresses and attacks and abilities inflicting splash or AoE damage become more common. Surround and attack individual enemy units with multiple zerglings at once for quick kills.

If a zergling egg hatches after the controlling player is eliminated, one will spawn normally but the other will become blue and neutral.

Zerglings can be countered by massed firebats, marines (with medic support), reavers and zealots.

Zerglings become available to the player in the campaign with the mission "Among the Ruins" in Episode II and "Vile Disruption" in Episode VI.

Abilities[]

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

Usage
Hotkey U
Acquisition
Purchased from Hatchery/Lair/Hive
Hotkey B
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 80seconds

Upgrades[]

  • +1 bonus per attack per level for broodlings and zerglings.
  • +3 bonus per attack per level for ultralisks.
Acquisition
Purchased from Evolution chamber
Hotkey M
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 267seconds
Required Hatchery
Level 2
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 300seconds
Required Lair
Level 3
Cost 200 Minerals 200 Vespene gas 333seconds
Required Hive
Acquisition
Purchased from Evolution chamber
Hotkey C
Level 1
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 267seconds
Level 2
Cost 225 Minerals 225 Vespene gas 300seconds
Required Lair
Level 3
Cost 300 Minerals 300 Vespene gas 333seconds
Required Hive
MetabBoost SC1 Icon
Metabolic Boost
  • Increases zergling speed.
Acquisition
Purchased from Spawning pool
Hotkey M
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 100seconds
AdrenalGlands SC1 Upgrd1
Adrenal Glands
  • Increases the attack rate of zerglings by 20%.
Acquisition
Purchased from Spawning pool
Hotkey A
Cost 200 Minerals 200 Vespene gas 100seconds
Required Hive

Quotations[]

Quotes
Trained
Selected Confirming order
Repeatedly selected
Other lines


Zergling Heroes[]

Special Zergling Strains[]

Development[]

"Cinematics had a version, the game team had a version, and the portrait had its own thing going on, so when doing art for the manual, I just came up with my own version too. My concept spent a few months in the Smithsonian as part of a video game exhibit, so I think I won."

During development of StarCraft, four versions of the zergling were developed independently—one by the cinematics team, one by the games team, and a separate take as represented by its unit profile. Samwise Didier did his own, fourth version of the zergling for the game's manual. The concept art that appeared was later made part of a videogames exhibit at the Smithsonian.[1]

As with every other unit, the zergling received a visual upgrade for StarCraft: Remastered. Time was taken to ensure that its hands (barely visible in the original sprite) were able to be seen.[2]

The zergling was 'voiced' by Glenn Stafford. The chittering sound of the unit was formed by him grabbing his cheeks and flapping them open and closed quickly. This was processed with pitch and other effects afterwards.[3]

Images[]

References[]

  1. 2017-04-27, Rock and Roll Days of StarCraft: a Development Retrospective. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2017-04-29
  2. 2017-04-21, Remastering StarCraft's Art. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2017-04-21
  3. 2018-12-02, 20 YEARS OF STARCRAFT: AN IGN RETROSPECTIVE. IGN, accessed on 2018-12-03
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