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The defiler is a zerg breed that uses toxic substances to support other zerg forces.
Overview[]
The defiler is a relatively rare zerg breed, resembling a silverfish in appearance and acting akin to a 'cancer factory' in function.[1] Its core genus, if it has one, is unknown, as the defiler contains the DNA of all other zerg breeds.[2] It was created from festering, carcinogenic pathogens that were, in essence, leftover genetic chains from other zerg strains.[3] It uses this genetic material to synthesize virus-like biochemicals.[1] These biochemicals are extremely hazardous, resistant to the most effective anti-toxins, and, paradoxically, dangerous even to the zerg.[1] A large amount of energy is expended in the production of these chemicals,[4] and defilers are known to cannibalize other zerg to fuel the metasynaptic processes that generated the compounds,[2] often accompanied by zergling escorts for this very reason.[1] They can also recharge the metasynaptic processes through burrowing.[4]
The defiler's body is host to countless small organisms that live on the carapace, constantly feeding on each other.[2] The defiler can spontaneously launch a number of these creatures to swarm a location that make it difficult to target anything under the ensuing cloud. In addition, defilers can produce corrosive spores and hurl them at a target area, the spores exploding in a dense cloud. The highly toxic mist that results corrodes anything it touches.[2] However, these spores are also prone to igniting due to a flammable accelerant contained in them.[5]
Moving with a slow, intelligent slither, defilers are highly vulnerable to any form of counterattack (especially long-range or air assaults) and as such, usually stay at the rear of zerg formations.[4] The defiler evolved into obsolescence after the Brood War. However, with the need for a specialized support strain, the zerg revisited the defiler template and perfected it with genetic data from an unknown species, preserving its core functions while excising its unnecessary lethality.[3] The result was the viper.[6] Feral defilers still existed after the End War however, and the Defenders of Man used psi-emitters to lure a number of them to Borea.[7]
The following section contains information from StarCraft: Retribution.
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Defilers possess the ability to extract and process information from terran minds.[8]
Game Unit[]
StarCraft[]
StarCraft II[]
Defilers appear in the Nova Covert Ops mission "Sudden Strike."[7]
Known Defilers[]
Variant Strains[]
Individuals[]
References[]
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