Zergling
Encyclopedia : Z : ZE : ZER : Zergling
} with
A Zergling is the first offensive unit the Zerg are able to build in the real time strategy game StarCraft, created by Blizzard Entertainment. The Zergling is quick, agile, small, and is most effective when produced en masse. The Zergling only requires one Zerg building beyond the Hatchery to create, has a very low mineral cost, and is produced in packs of two.
Individually, Zerglings are weak units with only 35 hit points that deal just 5 damage per attack, but this is made up for by their fast attack speed. Upgrades are available to increase the Zergling's killing power; unit movement can be quickened, rate of attack may be increased, the player can augment attack power and defense, and the Burrow ability allows the Zergling to hide unseen by the enemy. Once the Zergling obtains the attack speed upgrade, they are often referred to as "Crack
A Zergling rush is a tactic exploiting the low cost of creating Zerglings and the speed at which they can be created to build up a large attack force extremely early in the game to cripple or destroy the enemy before he or she is ready to counterattack or defend. This tactic has become so well-known, that in any strategic game, attacking early with a large number of weak units has generally become known as a "Zergling rush". Computer controlled zerg players operated by the zerg custom level or expansion zerg custom level AI script frequently spawn six zerglings very early on in the game. An inexperienced player (referred to as a "newb" in Starcraft gamer vernacular) who does not immediately construct basic defensive structures or units may be crippled or eliminated entirely by this zergling blitzkrieg. This is a prominent obstacle in the popular "comp stomp" games played on Battle.net (StarCraft's online service).
In StarCraft, they are bipedal creatures with Velociraptor-like legs. They have three webbed toes on the end of each. Protruding from below their head are two arms ending in scythe-like claws. When zerglings stand still these scythes fold down against their stomachs. They have large shield-like projections from the back of their heads, and two twin-clawed arms protrude from the sides of it. Zerglings run by hopping on all four lower limbs, and attack by extending their upper claws and slashing down, then quickly stabbing forward and slashing with the lower before the first motion ends. They can be upgraded to do this even faster, via adrenal glands. This design is based on the picture in the manual; in-game, they're slightly different (primarily in the upper claws).
In StarCraft's cinematics they look rather similar. However, they're much thinner, their head is more separate from the body, and they lack the upper arms. Their scythe-arms are more agile and do not tuck below the stomach, and they stand more upright. They hop the same way, and attack with quick alternating slashes from each claws. Their heads are more rounded in this form, and their chests are quite thin and have very visible ribcages; they somewhat resemble a hydralisk in this incarnation. Also, their rear legs have less joints, and simply go straight back then bend straight down when they stand still. They're more agile than the other forms, and have been seen rearing up and leaning to the side in order to dodge incoming fire. Despite having less pairs of weapons, these seem to be the most dangerous incarnation of the Zergling.
In Warcraft III, they look like dogs with chitinous silver armor on their backs. Scythes protrude diagonally about halfway between each set of limbs. Massive mandibles are found on their seemingly eyeless heads. They attack by slashing inward with their scissor-like claws.
In they look similar, but have sleeker armor, a more catlike form, and longer scythes. They attack with a 1-2 punch motion with their claws, and can also do a jumping double-slash.
In World of Warcraft, they look much like in Warcraft III, but are shorter, fatter, and solid brown, lack the spiked tail, and have wider mouths, giving them a cartoon-style appearance, though this is probably on purpose; their only appearance is as a special "pet", accompanied by a similarly cartoony Diablo and Panda. They can only be acquired if you purchased the Collecter's Edition of World of Warcraft.
Zz'gash is a planet on the edge of Protoss space, and it seems that Zerglings were only recently added to the Zerg Swarm. The world of Zz'gash is mostly covered with sand, and so in line with the amphibian theory, it is possible the Dune Runners originated from desert oases.
The Cerebrate Daggoth commands special Zerglings in his Tiamat Brood. These Zerglings are referred to as 'The Devouring Ones', and have 120 HP (more than 3.5 times that of a normal Zergling with 35), an attack power of 10, and are already upgraded for movement and attack speed.
Zerglings are often considered comical and unthreatening, probably from their frog-like movement and lack of detail as in-game sprites. Most "bounds" (non-standard player made maps consisting of mazes, puzzles or patterns of explosions that the player must get through)
use zerglings as the player's single unit. Zergling's common grisly death from their massing strategy or failure in difficult bounds have also given rise to the term "pra!!," an imitation of the zerglings in-game death noise. Zerglings are commonly used as "mop up" units and base destroyers. When the back of an enemy force is broken, the cheap zerglings are sent in to wipe out the rest while more expensive units concentrate on bigger matters. Zerglings are very useful in destroying bases, and particularly most effective on Terran buildings since Siege Tanks commonly cause collateral damage and the buildings have the lowest average HP out of the other races. A common nickname for zerglings are 'ling(s).
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
Please share your thoughts on the matter at [Articles for deletion/this article's entry] on the Articles for deletion page.
Feel free to edit the article, but the article must not be blanked, and this notice must not be removed, until the discussion is closed. For more information, particularly on merging or moving the article during the discussion, read the [Guide to deletionguide to deletion].
''Steps to : Zergling Stats
Armor:
Light
Supply Points:
.5
Hit Points:
35
Ground Attack:
5
Air Attack:
0
Attack Range:
0 (melee)
Minerals Required:
50 (for two)
Gas Required:
0
Attack Upgrade:
+1
Sight Range:
5
Game unit
Appearance
-->
The design of the Zergling varies from cinematics to in-game, and it changes again for its cameo in Warcraft III--this design is also used in . They also cameo in World of Warcraft, as a harmless pet for owners of the collectors edition, with another new design. This can often be attributed to and explained by the "natural" state of the Zerg. The creatures are ever evolving and changing due to assimilation of new species and traits that upgrade the zerglings effectiveness, and thus appearance.History
Zerglings are a modified form of the Zz'gashi Dune Runner, a creature assimilated into the Zerg Swarm. They are approximately one meter long, although they have been reported to have grown up to three meters long and one high. Zerglings are the most numerous zerg mutation, as their very simple DNA structure allows two zergling to spawn from a single larva. They require a 'spawning pool' to be formed, and this implies, with their webbed feet, that they may be partially aquatic. They are visually similar to frogs in their original design.Usage
References
StarCraft
StarCraft Universe Gameplay of StarCraft • StarCraft storyline • StarCraft units and structures • Psionic technology (StarCraft)>Psionic technology
Factions and Organizations Dark Templar • Judicator Caste • Kel-Morian Combine • Khalai Caste • Protoss • Protoss Conclave • StarCraft Pirate Militias>Pirate Militias • Raynor's Raiders • Sons of Korhal • Templar Caste • Terran • Terran Confederacy • Umojan Protectorate • United Earth Directorate • Xel'Naga • Zerg • Zerg Brood
Locations Aiur • Antiga Prime • Braxis • Char (StarCraft)>Char • Chau Sara • Korhal • Mar Sara • Moria • Shakuras • Talematros • Tarsonis • Umoja • Zerus
Characters Aldaris • Artanis • Admiral DuGalle>Gerard DuGalle • Edmund Duke • Samir Duran • Fenix • Sarah Kerrigan • Arcturus Mengsk • • Raszagal • Jim Raynor • Alexei Stukov • Tassadar • Zeratul • Zerg Overmind • Minor Characters
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.