Starcraft 2 Armory - Unofficial Starcraft 2 Fansite

Thanks to Omega for this idea. Visit the other two tactical guides (links):
Protoss Tactical Guide by Knee of Justice
Terran Tactical Guide by Omega
Also thanks to Knee for the solid feedback and help on this. Enjoy ^^

NOTICE: This is a GUIDE and is expected to be used as such. It is meant to be a helpful tool when looking up strategies associated with certain units, NOT to give a detailed description of each unit's stats. Like an Encyclopedia, dont bother trying to read the entire thing, but instead, use it to investigate certain units individually.

As we are in the Beta phase, we thought it would be interesting to have a Strategy guide for the different races in SC2. This guide is not meant to replace the official Starcraft 2 Armory Guide, but rather, augment it by providing unit strategies, combos and roles down in one central location. This will help organize discussions when beta comes out as any new strategies and so forth can be posted to this guide so that all may have access to the new ideas and unit combinations being developed in SC2. Perhaps when Beta actually comes out, this may become a sort of Beginners guide to the units, strategies and micro/macro tactics being adopted in SC2.

Creep Mechanic:

In SC2, creep has become a much more involved tool for the Zerg. Creep is expanded with the completion of a Hatchery, Creep Tumor (an ability of the Queen), or the Overlords ability to drop creep. This is how the creep affects the game:
-All Zerg ground units EXCEPT DRONES travel 30% faster on creep
-Any Zerg structure besides the Hatchery or Extractor must be built on creep
-Spine Crawlers, Spore Crawlers, and the Queen travel significantly faster than on normal terrain
-Any Terran or Protoss structure cannot be built on creep
-Creep is neutral, which means an enemy Zerg player has the ability to create structures on creep produced from your Hatcheries, Overlords, or Creep Tumors
-The surface area of creep shrinks if there is no Hatchery, Overlord or Creep Tumor to support it

Burrow Mechanic:

Burrow has been moved to Lair tech as of Blizzcon 09.

Burrow requires an upgrade from the Lair/Hive. While a unit is burrowed, it is invisble to your enemies unless they bring a detector to the burrowed unit (or scans if Terran). Burrowing has come far since SC1 and now is a must have for some units:
-Ultralisks have acquired the burrow ability in SC2
-The Infestor and Roach has the ability to move while burrowed

How to use Burrow to your advantage:
-Flank your enemies with Roaches
-Manually explode your Banelings from underground
-Burrow a Zergling at an expansion so it forces your opponent to use detection

Nydus Worm Mechanic:

As of beta, the Nydus Worm may be spawned on any type of placeable terrain. The Nydus Worm morphs in as if it was a building. Units may be stored inside the Nydus Worm and unloaded at other Nydus Worms/Networks.

This is how the Nydus Network works:

1. Nydus Network is built by the Drone at Lair tech.
2. Units are loaded into the Nydus Worm.
3. The Nydus Worm may be spawned on any type of placeable terrain for 100 minerals each and takes 5-10 seconds.
4. Units can then enter a Nydus Worm or Nydus Network and exit through any other Nydus Worm or Nydus Network.
5. If there is at least one other Nydus Worm on the map and you are morphing in a Nydus Worm that is killed, the units inside the Nydus Network will not be killed.

To sum things up, the Nydus Network is basically just the Nydus Canal except you can travel between any number of points instead of just two.

Changeling Mechanic:

The Spawn Changeling is an ability that comes from the Overseer. When the Changeling comes in range of the foe, it changes into that race's first tier unit (ex: Marine, Zealot, Zergling). Once the Changeling has changed shape, it will not appear as an enemy to your foe. Your foe will have to manually target the Changeling themselves if they spot it.

The Changeling is a tricky unit to handle. For you to get the best out of it, you want to be sure that your opponent is not watching the army you send it to, and after it has transformed, you need to keep constant watch on the Changeling. All your opponent has to do to find a Changeling is move their army on purpose or by accident.

For max use of the limited time span of the Changeling, get the Overseer to spawn closer to the desired destination.

The Changeling in action




HATCHERY TECH UNITS



Minerals: 50
Vespene: 0
Health: 40
Damage: 5
Abilities: Gather, Morph to (advanced) structure, Burrow

Strengths: Able to morph into any Zerg structure, can gather resources.
Weaknesses: Always the first target for base raids.

Advantages over: Nothing.
Disadvantaged under: Colossus, Stalker, Viking, Reaper, Hellion, Sentry, Archon.

The Drone is the least efficient worker of the three races. This is because the Drone is lost when making the building. Luckily, the new Queen's mechanic, Spawn Larva, creates 4 larva which makes up for this. Drones can also burrow if a mid-game base raid takes place.




Minerals:100
Vespene: 0
Health: 200
Damage: 0
Abilities: Overseer Mutation, Transport, Excrete Creep

Strengths: Spawns creep, transports units.
Weaknesses: Slow, suceptible to anti-air, requires mutation for detection.

Advantages over: Nothing.
Disadvantaged under: Viking, Phoenix, Corruptor, Archon.

THE OVERLORD IS NOT A DETECTOR! It has gained the ability to create creep though.

Excrete Creep:
The Overlord now has the ability to spread Creep, making it much more essential to use than just transport and supply. Don't upgrade all of them to Overseers because you can use the creep to your advantage more than you could then in SC1. Also, don't let them wander too far without protection, because they also double as your supply.




Minerals: 100
Vespene: 0
Health: 175
Damage: 4x2
Abilities: Burrow, Transfusion, Spawn Creep Tumor, Spawn Larva

Strengths: Excelent base defence, economic boost.
Weaknesses: Slow off the creep, big target for base raiders, large in size.

Advantages over: Light units and base raiders.
Disadvantaged under: Cruiser, Thor, Void Ray, Reapers, Sentry, Archon, Hellions.

Spawn Larva:
The Queens main ability is Spawn Larva. This ability adds 4 extra larva to the Hatchary. This is not just an economic boost for you, but also a faster way to pump out an army. This ability costs only 25 energy and takes 40 seconds so having a couple Hatcheries at your base would do good if you took about a 20 second interval between each Hatchery to begin spawning more larva.

Transfusion:
This is where having more than one Queen is useful, since it always hangs around structures. Transfusion is generally a mix between Repair and Heal. It instantly heals 125 health of a selected unit/structure. This is probably best used on either on a critically damaged Hatchery, Nydus Network, or Spine/Spore Crawler. Ultralisks wouldn't be so bad either.

Creep Tumor:
The Creep Tumor ability extends the Creep. This ability can be used offensively because Zerg travel 30% faster on the Creep and the Spine/Spore Crawlers travel significantly faster on creep than off creep.




Minerals: 50
Vespene: 0
Health: 35
Damage: 5
Abilities: Burrow, Baneling Mutation

Strengths: Open areas, Fast, Small, 2 Zerglings per egg, ability to select any amount of units at once.
Weaknesses: Choke points, Splash attacks, the new clumping system.

Advantages over: Immortal, Stalker, Marine, Thor, Colossus.
Disadvantaged under: Disruptor, Marine, Reaper, Hellion, Archon.

Zerglings have barely changed from the first Starcraft. It's conventient to have a very massable unit with a morph ability. Aside from that, the ability to select any amount of units at once will do wonders for macroing with Zerglings. The new pathing system also makes Zerglings much more agressive in the heat of battle because they surrond their enemy much more easily now. The downside to this is that units bunch together now, making Zerglings much more suceptible to the Siege tank and other spalsh attacks.

Zergling/Hydralisk Combination:
The Zergling and Hydralisk are a force to be reckoned with. The Zergling's main role in this scenario is the primary fighting force against any ground units. Even though the Hydralisks are there for support, the Zerglings are also there for protecting the Hydralisks. Obviously the Zerglings should be in the lead of this attack.

Zergling/Mutalisk Combination:
This is a much more versatile approach than the Hydralisks. The Mutalisks have more speed than the Hydralisks, and the Zerglings have much more space to move about. The Zerglings main role is attacking the ground units again, but there are different variations that can occur, since the Mutalisk is an air unit.

Zergling/Brood Lord Combination
This combination is not as effective as the Ultralisk combo mentioned below, nut might call for more concentrated firepower. The Zerglings should be the main distraction in an attack like this. This will give the Brood Lords time to take down their targets. It is suggested that you have your Zerglings fully upgraded, as this is a late game force.

Zergling/Ultralisk Combination:
This is an extremely sharp approach to a late game assault, especially because it only consists of GtG units. This combination is almost useless without Zerglings upgraded to Cracklings (speed upgrade and attack rate upgrade). The reason why this works out so great is because you have your Ultralisks that blast through, and then the deadly Zerglings that spill through between each Ultralisk. This should probably be used as a final resort to a game, since your pooling your resources into vulnerable units.




Minerals: 25
Vespene: 25
Health: 30
Damage: 15 (+20 light)
Abilities: Burrow, Attack Structures, Explode

Strengths: High Damage, no friendly fire, detonate button.
Weaknesses: Suicidal attack, slow without speed upgrade.

Advantages over: Light units, Structures.
Disadvantaged under: Hellion, Siege Tank, Reaper.

The Zerg Baneling is a first tier unit replacement for the old Infested Terran. It's high damage out-put plus splash affect other first tier units drastically. Burrow and the detonate button are a tough combo that will force your opponent to be over cautionous to where they step on your territory. The Banelings are also very accessible because it mutates from the Zergling which is a very massable unit. The Baneling is a unit that can be added into any other combination of units, but will be almost useless in mid-late game attacks, due to Siege Tanks.

Baneling sneak attack:




Minerals: 75
Vespene: 25
Health: 145
Damage: 16
Abilities: Burrow, Fast Regenerate, move underground

Strengths: Health restores fast underground, good vs biological units.
Weaknesses: Focus fire.

Advantages over: Zealot, Marine, Reaper, Hellion.
Disadvantaged under: Stalker, Immortal, Archon, Marauder, Siege Tank, Thor.

The Roach is the Zergs 'tank'. If used right, the Roach can absorb huge amounts of damage because it's health regenerates fast. If your opponent knows what he is doing, he will focus fire and wear each one down one by one. Be sure to always bring along some Zerglings or Hydralisks.

Supposedly in the current build, Roaches can regenerate above the ground, or burrowed. While burrowed, they regenerate twice as fast though.

The Commando Roach:
The Roach harasses the enemy workers and burrow when low on health. Since they regenerate faster than normal units (even faster while burrowed), this works much better.

Everlasting Roach:
This is a main idea used with the Roaches special ability. You need to switch between two control groups, one group burrowed and healing faster, and the other group fighting the enemy. When Roach group A starts becoming weak, burrow them and unburrow the fully healed Roach group B.

Roach/Zergling Combination
This is the earliest possible combination you can have in a game. The main idea for this is be treated as a watered down version of the Ultralisk/Zergling combination. The Roach's role is lead the force head on and take most of the damage first, then let the Zerglings charge in. In this case, the Roaches should try to create a distraction, because they can absorb most of the damage by using their fast regeneration.

Roach/Hydralisk Combination
This combo might be slightly more effective than the Zergling/Hydralisk combo because the Roaches don't outrun the Hydralisks, and they are better suited for holding the front line when paired up with the Hydralisk.

Roach/Ultralisk Combination
This combo compared to the Zergling/Ultralisk is much less effective of a force, but much sturdier. The Roach will be much more of a support to the Ultralisk than the Zergling was.


LAIR TECH UNITS



Minerals: 50
Vespene: 100
Health: 200
Damage: 0
Abilities: Detection, Spawn Changeling

Strengths: Faster, Designated Detector.
Weaknesses: Suceptible to anti-air, loses abilities after mutation.

Advantages over: Cloaked units.
Disadvantaged under: Viking, Phoenix, Corruptor.

The Overseer is now the new designated Zerg detector. It will be smart to always keep one handy for Dark Templars or Ghosts. This means that you will need to have a fair balance between your Overlords and Overseers. The Overseer's vision increases the longer it is left idle. Overlords won't be required for the Zerg because it depends on what build you will be using.

The Spawn Changeling mechanic can be found earlier in this thread.




Minerals: 100
Vespene: 50
Health: 80
Damage: 12 vs Ground, 10 (+6 armored) vs Air
Abilities: Burrow

Strengths: Good anti-air, excellent support.
Weaknesses: Now acquired at Lair tech.

Advantages over: Phoenix, Void Ray, Mothership, Banshee, Battle Cruiser.
Disadvantaged under: Reaper, Hellion, Siege Tank, Thor, Viking.

The Hydralisk has been made back into the old massable type from SC1 as of Blizzcon 09. Though they are Lair tech, they are extremely useful in almost any situation. The Hydralisk is your ideal backbone unit and supports any unit.

Hydralisk/Zergling Combination
The Hydralisk's primary role within this combo is for early air-tech support. If this does not apply, then the Hydralisk will be there for general support. The Hydralisk should be at the back of this force while the Zerglings go in for close combat. It is suggested that you upgrade the Hydralisk speed and carapace, because the Zergling and Hydralisk share this upgrade.

Hydralisk/Roach Combination
Like the Zergling combo, the Hydralisk will accompany the Roaches in case your opponent decides to fast tech to air. Depending on how you use your Roaches, that Hydralisks might be included in more combat than just support for the Roaches.

Hydralisk/Mutalisk Combination
This possibly the most flexible combo within the Zerg arsenal. Both the Hydralisk and Mutalisk can both rely on each other for support. Your Hydralisks might take the majority of the damage depending on whether you micro the Mutalisks or not. It is suggested that you upgrade Hydralisk speed, but you may have to pool more time into upgrading carapace or attacks.

Hydralisk/Corruptor Combination
This combination is more of a direct approach than other combos and should be used if your opponent chooses to tech and build air units. This will probably be a more popular choice than other Hydralisk combos, mainly because it occurs when your opponent techs to air. Hydralisks are more useful against armored units, which consists of the Terran's most common air unit, the Viking. Hydralisks will also be used to support against ground units.




Minerals: 100
Vespene: 100
Health: 120
Damage: 9
Abilities: Multiple Target Attack

Strengths: Great for harrasing, fast.
Weaknesses: Short range, suceptible to splash damage.

Advantages over: Colossus, Mothership, Marine, Banshee.
Disadvantaged under: Stalker, Thor, Viking, Battle Cruiser.

Nothing about the Mutalisk has changed much except for the fact that it does not mutate into anything now. This gives the Zerg's backbone air unit the freedom of it being it's own unit and not having to decide between AtA or AtG. The Mutalisk is best to have around in any situation for ground or air support. Mutalisk stacking is going to be even more effective due to the unlimited selection mechanic. They will not have to be controlled in seperate groups anymore.

Mutalisk/Zergling Combination

Mutalisk/Hydralisk Combination

Mutalisk/Corruptor Combination




Minerals: 200
Vespene: 150
Health: 200
Damage: 12 (+8 vs Massive)
Abilities: Brood Lord Mutation, Corruption

Strengths: Strong AtA, Corrupt units attack the enemy for a time.
Weaknesses: GtA units, light AtA units.

Advantages over: Void Ray, Banshee, Battle Cruiser, Colossus, Mothership.
Disadvantaged under: Marine, Thor, Phoenix, Hydralisk.

The Corruptor is a very strong AtA unit. When enemies are 'killed', they become an immonile turret that fires upon the enemies air units. The immobile turret has a range of 6 and a damage of 7. Be sure to bring Hydralisks in case you run into Vkings or Phoenixes because light air units will take Corruptors down in a flash. Best used as a counter late game to Motherships, Carriers, or Battle Cruisers. Also, Corruptors come in pretty handy if you run into ground units because they can morph into Brood Lords.





Minerals: 100
Vespene: 150
Health: 90
Damage: 0
Abilities: Burrow, Neural Parasite, Fungal Growth, Infested Terran (50 health, slow movement, 5 attack, duration: 20 sec.)

Strengths: Moves underground, provides fast anti-air support.
Weaknesses: No attack.

Advantages over: Any unit with high damage or special abilities, unit masses, units with high health.
Disadvantaged under: Detectors.

Sporting a nifty new design, the Infestor is a unique Zerg caster with the ability to move while burrowed.

Neural Parasite:
Neural Parasite is a version of SC1's Mind Control, owned by the Dark Archon. It takes control of one enemy ground unit at a time for as long as either the Infestor or the controlled unit can survive, and presents a very obvious visual effect that the unit is being controlled by an Infestor. This spell is best used against specialty units and spellcasters, such as Colossi and High Templar.

Fungal Growth:
Fungal Growth is basically a watered down combination of The SC1 Queen's Ensnare and the Defiler's Plague. It stops all unit caught within the radius for 6 seconds and damages them at the same time. This can be very useful when used in the right situation and can turn the tide of battle quickly. Probably best used on groups of Marines and Marauders.

Infested Terran:


HIVE TECH UNITS




Minerals: 150
Vespene: 150
Health: 275
Damage: 25
Abilities: Spawn Broodlings (30HP, fast movement, 4 attack)

Strengths: Spawns two Broodlings every attack, strong AtG
Weaknesses: AtA units, massable GtA units.

Advantages over: Archon, Ghost, melee units.
Disadvantaged under: Corruptor, Phoenix, Viking.

The Brood Lord is a mutation from the Corruptor. They have a powerful AtG attack that spawns 2 Broodlings upon each hit. Even though these Broodlings are weak and have a timer to their life, they create a great distracton and allow the Brood Lord to keep attacking. This unit is great for harrasing the enemy while preparing for an attack. Be sure to bring anti-air when using these powerful flyers.




Minerals: 300
Vespene: 200
Health: 600
Damage: 18 vs units, 60 vs structures
Abilities: Burrow

Strengths: Chokes, high damage and health.
Weaknesses: Open areas, large target, expensive.

Advantages over: Archon, Marine, Ghost, Hellion, Ultralisk, Thor, Structures.
Disadvantaged under: Any AtG unit, Immortal, Void Ray, Marauder, Zergling.

Be sure to keep your Ultralisks out of open areas, because they are MASSIVE. The new pathing system makes it a lot easier for Zealots and Zerglings to take down an Ultralisk in an open area much easier. Ultralisks have a special attack for attacking buildings which totals 60. If you need to take down an expansion of an opponent quick and efficiently, then build a couple Ultralisks and some support.


We are now in the beta phase! The guide will be completely fixed to the current build, sit tight.

Did Gigalisk get hacked or something? Or is he just on too many meds?

And thank you very much for finally putting a zerg one up, one question though about the nydus worms.

Do you move your units into the nydus network and THEN it comes out the worm you spawned for 100 minerals?

Thank you, Medavas. :)

*sigh of relief* the Zerg guide is finally up , Big thanks to MEDAVAS for this. I will take a better look at it later.

Yeah.. Thanks.. And your welcome. Well you get to choose which worm it comes out of. There's probably like an 'unload' hotkey or something.

Very nice guide. Needs more strategy though. And wtf Giygalisk. BANHAMMER. After 350 something posts its sorta sad.

HAHA Well... it looks like at least the spamming idiot isnt double posting.... hes at least waiting for someone else to post before continuing his immaturity.

But dont worry people, i have reported him, so dont say anything more.

@ MEDAVAS: lol, thanks for the shout out, but you can delete the last part of the ultra thing. hahaha Some things are best not said.

It looks pretty good. You could expand more if you have free time.

Also, i forgot that mutas dont evolve anymore, but you didnt so good work.

Well, I do spot a few things :)

1) Overlord, Transport and Speed are now a 1 upgrade package.
2) Queen costs 150 minerals, has 175 HP.
3) Ultralisk has 3 default carapace, no Chitinous Carapace upgrade.
4) Baneling counters Zerglings and other Banelings xD!

Great job, these tactical guides are awesome indeed!


-Psi

Quote by Kraziliak

Very nice guide. Needs more strategy though. And wtf Giygalisk. BANHAMMER. After 350 something posts its sorta sad.

Yeah I kinda got tired near the end. I'll be updating it to better quality over the days. There's probably a lot of things missing from the 'counters' and 'countered by'. I could also go into more detail on combos with the Roach..

EDIT: Lol at Knee, okay then.. Thanks Psi.

Nice guide medavas(considering yuor the first one) the only typo I see right now is you say the corruptor is countered by ATG units when it should say GTA, giygalisk whats the point in making a long pointless spam?

zerg has power now huh?

Quote by PsiWarp
1) Overlord, Transport and Speed are now a 1 upgrade package.
2) Queen costs 150 minerals, has 175 HP.
3) Ultralisk has 3 default carapace, no Chitinous Carapace upgrade.
4) Baneling counters Zerglings and other Banelings xD!

more to mass
less money to upgrade

well that 600 hp behemoth is more expenisve(100 more minerals) and costs 2 more supply(6) so it works out in the end.

Quote by Destroyer

Nice guide medavas(considering yuor the first one) the only typo I see right now is you say the corruptor is countered by ATG units when it should say GTA, giygalisk whats the point in making a long pointless spam?

>< Sorry, don't let the fact that I've been working on this for hours bother you. JK :) Wow I have no life.

@medavas ignore that I have no idea why it made 2 posts.

I think it always cost 6 supply. You can delete your own posts you know..