Mutalisk

The Mutalisk is an airborne Zerg breed.

Overview
Mutalisks are evolved from the Mantis Screamer from the desolate Dinares Sector. The Mutalisk has retained its predecessor's ability to travel through both air and space, although what other forms of propulsion it may have aside from its wings is unknown. The Mutalisk spawns small, voracious creatures called "Glaive Wurms", or "Glave Wurms", and projects these creatures to attack. Glave Wurms fly between multiple targets as they degrade explosively. A Mutalisk's fangs are also deadly and given that Mutalisk blood is acidic, able to melt through even CMC Armor, such close quarters are hardly favourable to a Mutalisk's intended victim(s). This being said, the Mutalisk is not without its vulnrabilities. Its own acidic blood is just as deadly to itself as it is to its foes and its wings are exceptionally fragile, able to be shreaded even by glass.

In battle, Mutalisks form the primary flying forces of the Zerg, making hit-and-run attacks against vulnerable installations and wheeling across the skies in prodigious numbers above zerg nests or land-based forces. Many attempted engagements with the Zerg have collapsed due to the rapid arrival of large numbers of Mutalisks before any meaningful air defense could be mustered. Under these circumstances the total loss of the forces involved is virtually guaranteed. Conversely powerful air defenses have succeeded in keeping Mutalisks at a distance, for the creatures are limited in vitality. However, they remain agile and dangerous opponents. In large numbers or against weak defenses, mutalisks will always be a deadly threat.

The Mutalisk is not an especially intelligent creature and exercises little initiative, preferring to drift lazilly through the air. Once engaged however, it demonstrates a blind bloodlust that makes it dangerous to all those around it, including itself. In addition, Mutalisks are able to trace Terran transmissions to their source.

StarCraft
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 weapons. On the other hand, the Mutalisk deals normal damage.

Abilities

 * Guardian Aspect
 * Starting ability
 * Requires: Greater Spire
 * Cost: 50 0 100
 * Morphs a Mutalisk into a Guardian.
 * Devourer Aspect
 * Starting ability
 * Brood War only
 * Requires: Greater Spire
 * Cost: 150 0 50
 * Morphs a Mutalisk into a Devourer.

Upgrades

 * Flyer Attack
 * Flyer Carapace

Pre-Release
The original version of the Mutalisk used an acid attack rather than a Glaive Wurm. This type of attack can be seen in the ending video of StarCraft Episode III, in which a Mutalisk flies inside Tassadar's Gantrithor and destroying the inside. The unit portrait of the Mutalisk is not the face of the Mutalisk, but rather the tail, which fires the Glaive Wurm.

StarCraft: Ghost
The Mutalisk would have made an appearance as a playable unit type in StarCraft: Ghost. It cannot regenerate like most other Zerg units; instead, it can "abduct" landbound Terran units, draining their life (which restores the Mutalisk's health). The Mutalisk's attack is a powerful bioplasma attack that does splash damage; the attack becomes more powerful if "charged up". This is probably similar to the acidic attack that Mutalisks were intended to have.

StarCraft II
The Mutalisk made an appearance in the WWI gameplay demonstration and have been confirmed as playable units. StarCraft II, its attack will still be able to strike multiple targets.

Special Mutalisk Strains
A special hero unit known as "Kukulza" (and its Guardian version) can be accessed in StarEdit and played in UMS maps but is never used in the campaign.

Cardis the Destroyer is a unique mercenary Mutalisk.