Mutalisk (StarCraft)

Overview
The mutalisk's attack strikes three targets in succession, dealing 9 damage to the first, 3 to the second, and 1 to the last. Unlike many other air units, the mutalisk is small, making it more resistant to explosive damage, a common damage type found on anti-air units like dragoons and goliaths. The mutalisk deals normal damage and is only affected by the armor of the target. Large groups of mutalisks tend to clump together making them ideal targets against attacks with area of effect or splash damage.

Mutalisks in small groups are also fairly useless; their armor and size is easy for units that deal normal damage such as large groups of marines and battlecruisers. Compared to its terran and protoss counterparts (the wraith and scout), the mutalisk's attack is individually weaker and its attack is not as effective against capital ships. Mutalisks are also fragile against corsairs and valkyries due to their wide area-of-damage and marine-filled bunkers serve as fairly decent counters in defensive terms.

Pre-Release
Originally the mutalisk was armed with an "acid spray" attack rather than glaive wurms. References to the acid spray may be found in the StarCraft manual. It can also be seen in The Death of the Overmind, the final cinematic for StarCraft Episode III where mutalisks attack the Gantrithor.