Zergling (StarCraft)

The individual zergling is the weakest of the basic troops in terms of strength and durability, but this is compensated by low cost and ease of production. Usage in swarms is critical, especially to ensure some survive to attack fortified targets or units that deal splash damage. Zerglings are also much faster than zealots and marines once fully upgraded and have a faster attack rate.

The zergling is used in every part of the game and is useful in all games like the zealot, befitting its status as the zerg basic unit. In later game, the zergling is used as cannon fodder(or other attack fodder for that matter) for more powerful units like the ultralisk or guardian. It is very useful with mutalisks and the ultralisk, and it spawned tactics like the Ultraling.

The zergling is useful for rushes in early game, able to quickly rip up defenses. When they are able to surround a unit they can do a significant amount of damage very quickly.

The fast cooldown of the zergling means it is devastating against long cooldown units such as dragoons.

It is particularly vulnerable to units that do splash damage, such as s or firebats, and units that can do exactly 35 points of damage in only a few hits, such as zealots with just one weapon upgrade. Marines paired with medics and siege tanks also make good counters against zerglings and to a lesser extent, groups of goliaths and vultures and dark templar. Spider mines are also capable of taking down numerous zerglings with ease.

In addition, marine and firebat-filled bunkers can shred zergling swarms with little trouble while spellcasters benefit from plague, psionic storm and irradiation.