Hydralisk

The hydralisk is a ranged-attack zerg warrior.

Overview
The hydralisk is a zerg evolution of the slothien. While slothiens were peaceful herbivores, the hydralisk is noted as being one of the most fierce and sadistic of the zerg strains. Hydralisks commonly reach 5.5 meters in length and can draw themselves up to over 2.4 meters in height. Since hydralisks move relatively slowly over open terrain, it is common for hydralisks to burrow and await their prey to enter killing range before attacking, destroying their enemies in a deadly crossfire. Despite their relatively sluggish nature, hydralisks can climb vertical surfaces and continued evolution of the strain through muscular augmentation has resulted in faster hydralisks.

Attacks
Hydralisks may attack directly with scythe-like arms or strike from a distance with volleys of armor-piercing spines, the latter being the more common method of attack. Hundreds of spines are stored in the upper carapace plates; when the hydralisk attacks, it must fold back the carapace flaps. These spines have been specifically evolved from the defensive urticating (stinging) hairs of the slothien and may be "grooved" for increased range. They can penetrate 2 cm of neosteel even at maximum range, such penetrative force stemming from their remarkable muscle structure (4,000 muscles compared to a terran's 629). In addition, these spines are slightly poisonous, symptoms include interference in a terran's vision. Fortunately for their enemies however, a few seconds warning is given before a hydralisk launches such a volley, courtesy of the carapace folding back.

History
They hydralisk is descended from the slothien.

The first recorded encounter between terrans and hydralisks was aboard a cargo vessel. The hydralisk was recorded by the derelict ship's security cameras.

Prior to the beginning of the Brood War, hydralisks gained the ability to mutate into lurkers.

Current terran tactics for dealing with the creatures stress the need for siege tank support.

StarCraft
Hydralisks have a single ranged attack, unlike in the cinematics where they may melee attack. They are the only zerg ground unit able to hit air targets, making them one of the most important zerg units in the whole game. Hydralisk Dens are required to create them.

Hydralisks are cheap enough to be mass produced in a short period of time. Although hydralisks can deal huge damage in large groups, there are numerous counters; terrans benefit from large numbers of siege tanks, and marines paired with medics. Protoss can effectively counter mass hydralisks with, reavers with ground support and high templar using Psionic Storm, and which is especially effective. In competitive StarCraft, hydralisks are most often used against the protoss race because it is an effective counter to many protoss units such as the famous 3 hatch hydra opening. This is especially true if the zerg player is skilled at micromanaging his hydralisks. Against terrans, hydralisks do not see much usage because professional players are too skilled with their marines, medics and siege tanks which are also natural counters to the hydralisk. In zerg vs zerg competitive play, hydralisks are virtually unseen as are most zerg units because the game is usually dominated by zerglings and mutalisks.

StarCraft: Ghost


Hydralisks are featured as a player unit in StarCraft: Ghost, in addition to acting as enemies. Hydralisks maintain their StarCraft abilities but also gain a powerful claw attack. Their poison quills attack interferes with terran vision. They move more slowly than zerglings.

In Invasion mode, transforming a zergling into a hydralisk costs one point.

StarCraft II
Hydralisks will be featured in StarCraft II.

Their appearance have changed slightly in StarCraft II. The most notable difference is their scythes, which now boast more spikes than in StarCraft. Their face is also slightly different from what it was before.

Hydralisks move quickly, have a longer firing range than before (there is no need to research a range upgrade) and can devastate enemy buildings in only a few volleys, but are fragile. They are currently the strongest anti-air unit (in terms of damage per second) in the game.

As of October 2008, the hydralisk was moved back to tier 2 and made more "hardcore".

Strategies
Hydralisks are mainly anti-air units in StarCraft II and counter mutalisks. A combination of roaches and hydralisks can defeat a combo of zerglings and mutalisks.

Other Appearances

 * Main article: Hydralisk (Warcraft III)

A hydralisk unit is available in the World Editor of Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne.

Special Hydralisk Strains and Characters

 * Frayne the Feral
 * Hunter Killer
 * Specimen 16G
 * Zergrinch Warg