Overlord

"Overlords provide control for your minions. As your forces grow in number, you must hatch more Overlords to control them."

- Daggoth

The Overlord is a versatile Zerg flyer that provides control, detection and air transportation.

Overview
Overlords were evolved from the Gargantis Proximae, a species of giant space-faring and semi-intelligent creatures. Once assimilated they were used to help Cerebrates control and coordinate their Broods and scout using their enhanced senses. Advanced strains may carry other Zerg within hollows in their hides. Despite resembling the Portuguese man-o-war of Earth, they are fairly docile creatures that in addition to their leadership dutues, tend to young larvae and transport other Zerg across the depths of space by carrying them within their shelled bodies, although in recent times, long range transport has largely been regulated to Behemoths.

Overlords fly using helium-filled gas sacs combined with a weak telekinetic psi-ability for lift and motive power.

StarCraft
Overlords are versatile units. Since they are in ample supply Zerg bases are difficult to infiltrate with cloaked units. Offensively, whether transporting troops or providing mobile detection, Overlords must wait for Pneumatized Carapace otherwise they are too slow. An interesting possiblity is to use Overlords to raid enemy bases with Infested Terrans in a manner similar to the Reaver drop.

Upgrades

 * Flyer Carapace
 * Ventral Sacs
 * Cost: 200 0 200
 * Upgraded at: Lair/Hive
 * Allows Overlords to transport units.
 * Antennae
 * Cost: 150 0 150
 * Upgraded at: Lair/Hive
 * Increases Overlord sight range to 11.
 * Pneumatized Carapace
 * Cost: 150 0 150
 * Upgraded at: Lair/Hive
 * Increases Overlord movement speed.

StarCraft: Ghost
Overlords make an appearance in StarCraft: Ghost. Some appear to be the subject of Terran experiments and have been imprisoned in cages or subjected to cybernetic surgery.

Concept art images of cybered Overlords being used to control Spectres have been located. This may have played a major role in StarCraft: Ghost (especially regarding the "Spectres'" true masters).

StarCraft II
The Overlord has made an appearance in StarCraft II. It functions in a manner similar to its StarCraft I predecessor, though now has an attack /,ref name = "Reveal">Rise. 2008-03-10. Behold The Culmination Of Your History. StarCraft Legacy. Accessed 2008-03-10. which consists of dropping green liquid upon opponents.

Overlords can evolve into Overseers.

Yggdrasill
Yggdrasill is an Overlord hero unit that appears in the StarCraft map editor. It has more hit points and armor than a regular Overlord, and automatically has access to the speed and ability upgrades. It provides 30 Control.

Mastermind Overlord
Mastermind Overlords are particularly powerful Overlords found in Gilson's Oppressors, a mercenary Brood. They provide 30 Control.