Creep


 * This article is about the substance. For the Frontline story, see StarCraft: Frontline: Creep.

"What the hell is that? Looks like the ground there is alive."

- Jim Raynor Creep is a substance relied upon by the zerg to support their structures and larvae.

Overview
As zerg structures are effectively giant organs and all of them rely on Creep for nourishment (apart from the hatchery, creep colonies and extractor, the first two providing creep), creep effectively makes any zerg colony a single living creature, sending its tendrils deep into the earth in order to absorb raw minerals and process it into a nourishing substance. In addition to being spread by these structures, creep is able to be spread by hive spores and more recently by overlords and creep tumors. Once established, the spread of creep can easily be observed in real time.

Creep itself is akin to a living organism, and an extremely durable one at that. It possesses a self-replicating cell structure, is extremely resilient and is capable of proliferating in any environment; even in a deoxygenated environment or over water. Despite this resilience, it is a rather brittle substance and if creep is over hollow ground, an individual is doomed to fall through. Its only vulnerability is extreme heat; it will not grow over hot material and high explosive rounds are able to set creep alight. However, since creep is capable of near instantaneous generation, incineration is not as effective as one may hope for. The only guaranteed method to dispose of creep is to destroy the hatchery and/or creep colonies fueling it. Confirming that all colonies are destroyed is not easy however and creep can look "dead" one second and begin moving the next.

Creep is of a purple coloration and feels thick and slimy. Like the zerg species as a whole, creep is sensitive to psionic powers; so sensitive that some psionically gifted individuals can even control it.

Game Uses
Most zerg structures can only be created upon the creep. Terrans and protoss cannot build structures on creep. Terran buildings may not land on the Creep, however they may lift-off. The Creep will expand to fill the immediate space over the course of a few seconds.

StarCraft II
In StarCraft II, creep is intended to be used as a resource, and zerg players will want to invade the map with creep. Creep dissolves in 30 seconds if not supported.

Most zerg units move 30% faster on creep. Drones are an exception along with air units.

Creep does not "climb" or "fall" down cliffs, but does flow down ramps. If a carefully positioned overlord drops creep on the edge of a cliff, it will expand on the hill and the lower ground simultaneously.

The Creep does not "belong" to any one player; it has no affiliation. Creep is creep.

Creating Creep
There are several ways of creating creep. The Overlord can generate creep. Creep tumors generate their own creep and make it easy to spread creep over the map. Creep can also be created by hatcheries. The creep grows faster if a special ability is researched at the Evolution Chamber.

Building Structures
Zerg structures not in the boundaries of the creep will slowly degenerate and eventually die, taking 2 damage per second.

Structures other than zerg cannot be built on the creep although can be surrounded by it.

Creep can be poured onto ramps.

Development
Creep used to cause damage to non-zerg buildings it came into contact with, and it might have opened up possibilities for new creep pushing strategies.

Non-zerg buildings used to take 3 damage per second and eventually would be destroyed. However, this was removed as it caused problems in allied games.