Evolution chamber

An evolution chamber

The evolution chamber is a type of zerg structure.

Overview

The interior of an evolution chamber

The evolution chamber is the result of the Overmind's view that complacency is the road to defeat, causing it to spur zerg evolution constantly. The evolution chamber provides a testing ground for the genetic code of lesser breeds, helping to increase the offensive and defensive capabilities of the zerg ground-based breeds. It is also required in order for a creep colony to mutate into a spore colony.

The base of the evolution chamber forms from the genetic template of an unknown creature. During development, the "chamber" grows around a full skeleton with a skull, spinal column and ribs, that falls apart when the pit is destroyed. The biological roots of this creature is still unknown to terran scientists.

The evolution chamber contains a hardened skin that grants it near immunity to small arms fire, though can still be destroyed through mass C-14 rifle fire. In addition, it possesses genetic transmission appendages that allow it to transmit genetic information to other structures of the hive cluster.

Evolution chambers possess hyperadaptive tendencies, which made control difficult by the Cerberus Program. This was circumvented in their broods by pumping the arteries of the chamber full of command pheromones.

The evolution chamber, in the form of the evolution pit, is also found within leviathans.

Game Structure

StarCraft

Evolution Chamber
Structure
Race	Zerg
Affiliation	Zerg Swarm
Production
Minerals	75
Build time	40
Evolves from	Drone
Requires	Hatchery
Protection
Hit points	750
Armor	1
Function
Allows	Spore colony
Research	Melee Attacks Missile Attacks Carapace

Researched Upgrades

Melee Attacks

• +1 bonus per attack per level for broodlings and zerglings.
• +3 bonus per attack per level for ultralisks.

Acquisition
Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey M Level 1 Cost 100 100 267 Required Hatchery Level 2 Cost 150 150 300 Required Lair Level 3 Cost 200 200 333 Required Hive

Missile Attacks

• +1 bonus to attack damage per level for hydralisks
• +2 bonus to attack damage per level for lurkers

Acquisition
Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey A Level 1 Cost 100 100 267 Required Hatchery Level 2 Cost 150 150 300 Required Lair Level 3 Cost 200 200 333 Required Hive

Carapace

• +1 bonus to armor per level for broodlings, defilers, drones, hydralisks, infested terrans, larvae, ultralisks, and zerglings.

Acquisition
Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey C Level 1 Cost 150 150 267 Level 2 Cost 225 225 300 Required Lair Level 3 Cost 300 300 333 Required Hive

Development

The following section contains information from a previous version of StarCraft which is no longer valid.

Unlike its alpha appearance, the evolution chamber's sprite in the StarCraft beta was mostly identical to its end version, though had a distinctly more withered appearance. In earlier builds of the beta, the evolution chamber's sprite was used for the spore colony and then the fungal colony before ultimately becoming the evolution chamber. In the release version, it retains the placeholder name "cerebrate."

Evolution chamber in the StarCraft alpha

Spore colony in the 1997 beta

Fungal colony in the 1998 beta

StarCraft II

Evolution Chamber
Structure
Race	Zerg
Properties
Broodlingsproduced	6
Production
Minerals	75
Build time	25 40 (Co-op Missions) Mastery: -0.8 per Structure Morph and Evolution Rate mastery point. Down to a minimum 16 (Co-op Abathur)
Evolves from	Drone
Requires	Hatchery
Hotkey	V
Protection
Hit points	750
Armor	1
Type	Structure Biological
Armor type	Armored
Function
Allows	Aberration (Campaign and Co-op Zagara with lair)
Research	See below

The evolution chamber appears in StarCraft II. When attacked and destroyed it appears to have a basic skeleton structure that falls out; containing a head, spinal column, and ribs.

Researched Upgrades

Melee Attacks

• +1 damage for zerglings and broodlings
• +2 base damage，+5 building damage for banelings
• +3 damage for ultralisks

Acquisition
Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey M Level 1 Cost 100 100 114 Level 2 Cost 150 150 136 Required Lair Level 3 Cost 200 200 157 Required Hive

v • e

Missile Attacks

• +1 damage for queens，hydralisks and locusts
• +2 damage for roaches and ravagers
• +2 base damage and +1 bonus damage for lurkers

Acquisition
Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey A Level 1 Cost 100 100 114 Level 2 Cost 150 150 136 Required Lair Level 3 Cost 200 200 157 Required Hive

v • e

Carapace

• +1 bonus to armor per level for zerg ground units.

Acquisition
Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey C Level 1 Cost 150 150 114 Level 2 Cost 200 200 136 Required Lair Level 3 Cost 250 250 157 Required Hive

v • e

Heart of the Swarm

The evolution chamber, in the form of an evolution pit, appears as its own environment in Heart of the Swarm. Zerg evolution is driven here in regards to upgrades and unit choices.

Co-op Missions

Kerrigan, Zagara and Abathur can unlock various upgrades at the evolution chamber. Zagara and Kerrigan upgrade themselves, Zagara also has aberration upgrades, and Abathur researches swarm queen upgrades. Zaraga's evolution chamber upgrades all her ground units with one upgrade. Stetmann uses a variant of the structure named the mecha evolution chamber.

Kerrigan Upgrades

Zerg Melee Attacks

Increases the attack damage of zerg ground melee units.

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.

Acquisition

Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey M Level 1 Cost 100 100 160 Mastery: -2 -2 -3.2 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 40 40 64 Level 2 Cost 150 150 190 Mastery: -3 -3 -3.8 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 60 60 76 Required Lair/Hive Level 3 Cost 200 200 220 Mastery: -4 -4 -4.4 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 80 80 88 Required Hive

v • e

Zerg Missile Attacks

Increases the attack damage of zerg ground ranged units.

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.

Acquisition

Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey M Level 1 Cost 100 100 160 Mastery: -2 -2 -3.2 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 40 40 64 Level 2 Cost 150 150 190 Mastery: -3 -3 -3.8 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 60 60 76 Required Lair/Hive Level 3 Cost 200 200 220 Mastery: -4 -4 -4.4 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 80 80 88 Required Hive

v • e

Zerg Ground Carapace

Increases the armor of zerg ground units.

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.

Acquisition

Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey M Level 1 Cost 100 100 160 Mastery: -2 -2 -3.2 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 40 40 64 Level 2 Cost 175 175 190 Mastery: -3.5 -3.5 -3.8 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 70 70 76 Required Lair/Hive Level 3 Cost 250 250 220 Mastery: -5 -5 -4.4 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 100 100 88 Required Hive

v • e

Heroic Fortitude

Increases Kerrigan's maximum HP by 200 and life regeneration by 100%.

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.

Acquisition
Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey F Cost 100 100 60 Mastery: -2 -2 -1.2 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 40 40 24

v • e

Ability Efficiency

Reduces the energy cost and cooldown of Kerrigan's abilities by 20%.

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Kerrigan Level 9

Acquisition
Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey E Cost 200 200 120 Mastery: -4 -4 -2.4 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 80 80 48 Required Hive

v • e

Chain Reaction

Kerrigan attacks bounce to subsequent enemies, dealing 10 damage to up to four more targets.

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Kerrigan Level 9

Acquisition
Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey R Cost 150 150 90 Mastery: -3 -3 -1.8 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 60 60 36 Required Lair/Hive

v • e

Zagara Upgrades

Zerg Ground Attacks

Increases the attack damage of zerg ground units.

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.

Acquisition
Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey M Level 1 Cost 100 100 160 Level 2 Cost 150 150 190 Required Lair/Hive Level 3 Cost 200 200 220 Required Hive

v • e

Zerg Ground Carapace

Increases the armor of zerg ground units.

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.

Acquisition
Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey M Level 1 Cost 100 100 160 Level 2 Cost 175 175 190 Required Lair/Hive Level 3 Cost 250 250 220 Required Hive

v • e

Heroic Fortitude

Increases Zagara's maximum HP by 200 and life regeneration by 100%.

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.

Acquisition
Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey F Cost 100 100 60

v • e

Medusa Blades

Zagara's attacks deal area damage, splashing to enemy units near her primary target.

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Zagara Level 9

Acquisition
Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey D Cost 150 150 90 Required Lair/Hive

v • e

Protective Cover

Aberrations reduce damage done to units beneath them (in a radius of 2.5) by 50%.

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Zagara Level 9

Acquisition
Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey B Cost 150 150 90 Required Lair/Hive

v • e

Abathur Upgrades

Zerg Missile Attacks

Increases the attack damage of zerg ground ranged units.

(Also affects Broodlings)

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.

Acquisition

Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey M Level 1 Cost 100 100 160 Mastery: -3.2 per Structure Morph and Evolution Rate mastery point. Down to a maximum 64 Level 2 Cost 150 150 190 Mastery: -3.8 per Structure Morph and Evolution Rate mastery point. Down to a maximum 76 Required Lair/Hive Level 3 Cost 200 200 220 Mastery: -4.4 per Structure Morph and Evolution Rate mastery point. Down to a maximum 88 Required Hive

v • e

Zerg Ground Carapace

Increases the armor of zerg ground units.

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.

Acquisition

Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey M Level 1 Cost 100 100 160 Mastery: -3.2 per Structure Morph and Evolution Rate mastery point. Down to a maximum 64 Level 2 Cost 175 175 190 Mastery: -3.8 per Structure Morph and Evolution Rate mastery point. Down to a maximum 76 Required Lair/Hive Level 3 Cost 250 250 220 Mastery: -4.4 per Structure Morph and Evolution Rate mastery point. Down to a maximum 88 Required Hive

v • e

Bio-Mechanical Transfusion

Increases the HP healed by swarm queens Rapid Transfusion by 10. Swarm queens can use Rapid Transfusion on mechanical units.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Abathur Level 6

Acquisition
Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey T Cost 100 100 60 Mastery: -1.2 per Structure Morph and Evolution Rate mastery point. Down to a maximum 24

v • e

Incubation Chamber

Allows hatcheries, lairs, and hives to mutate two swarm queens at once.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Abathur Level 6

Acquisition
Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey I Cost 100 100 60 Mastery: -1.2 per Structure Morph and Evolution Rate mastery point. Down to a maximum 24 Required Lair/Hive

v • e

Development

Development model.

The following section contains information from a previous version of StarCraft II which is no longer valid.

The evolution chamber has undergone numerous changes during the development of StarCraft II.

Variants

• Mecha evolution chamber (terran replicant)

Images

Project Simulant evolution chamber

Cerberus Program evolution chamber

SC1 building wireframe

SC Remastered building wireframe

References

Zerg Units and Structures of StarCraft/Brood War v • e

Ground units Larva Drone Zergling Hydralisk Lurker (BW) Defiler Ultralisk Air units Overlord Mutalisk Guardian Scourge Queen Devourer (BW) Infestation units Broodling Infested terran Transition units Egg Lurker egg Cocoon Basic buildings Hatchery Extractor Evolution chamber Spawning pool Hydralisk den Advanced buildings Lair Hive Spire Greater spire Queen's nest Nydus canal Defiler mound Ultralisk cavern Infested command center Defenses Creep Creep colony Spore colony Sunken colony Scrapped Fungal colony Mutation chamber Mutation pit Nydus pit Scoria

Zerg Units and Structures of StarCraft II v • e

Versus units and structures Terrestrial units Larva Drone Zergling Baneling Roach Ravager (LotV) Hydralisk Lurker (LotV) Infestor Ultralisk Queen Swarm host (HotS) Aerospace units Overlord Overseer Mutalisk Brood lord Corruptor Viper (HotS) Spawned units Broodling Changeling Infested terran Locust (HotS) Basic buildings Hatchery Creep tumor Extractor Evolution chamber Spawning pool Baneling nest Roach warren Automated defenses Spine crawler Spore crawler Advanced buildings Lair Hive Infestation pit Spire Greater spire Hydralisk den Lurker den Nydus network Nydus worm Ultralisk cavern Transition units Baneling cocoon Broodmother cocoon Brood lord cocoon Egg Impaler cocoon Infested swarm egg Lurker cocoon Overseer cocoon Ravager cocoon Ultralisk chrysalis Others Creep Campaign and Co-op Missions units and structures Terrestrial units Aberration Blightbringer Brutalisk Defiler Impaler cocoon Infested colonist Infested diamondback Infested marine Infested trooper Infested medic Infested SCV Infested siege tank Omegalisk Pygalisk Pygalisk cocoon Swarmling Volatile infested Aeropsace units Guardian Leviathan Sac Scourge Swarm guardian Infested banshee Infested liberator Buildings Impaler den Infested terran buildings Infested command center Omega network Omega worm Scourge nest Toxic nest Virophage Automated defenses Bile launcher Scourge cannon Spore cannon Sunken colony Impaler colony Infested bunker Infested missile turret Variant units Zergling Strains Enthralled zergling Raptor Swarmling Baneling Strains Hunter Splitter Baneling spawn Roach Strains Corpser Roachling Vile Queen Strains Aiur queen Broodmother Swarm queen Hydralisk Strains Enthralled hydralisk Hunter Killer Impaler Lurker Ultralisk Strains Enthralled ultralisk Noxious Stank Torrasque Swarm host Strains Carrion Creeper Locust Strains Flying locust Mutalisk Strains Enthralled mutalisk Brood lord Viper Guardian Strains Swarm guardian Canceled Zerg Units and Structures of StarCraft II v • e Scrapped Removed Units Bassalisk Behemoth chrysalis Bone wasp Cobra Dracolisk Fiend Fury Gigalisk Gorgeling Huge queen Incubus Infested protoss Klurken Large queen Larval queen Leech Lilev coccoon Magnasaur Magnathar Mantalisk Mantis Miasmalisk Morphalisk Nihilisk Primalisk Prowler Scavenger Siegeling Spore host Swarm Swarm guardian Swarm larva Terrorling Trichinella Removed Buildings Broodling nest Creep colony Creep tower Infested protoss buildings Nydus destroyer Nydus warren Shrieker Spore colony Swarm clutch Swarm infestation Underfiend