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The hydralisk is a zerg unit in StarCraft II.

Overview[]

Hydralisks counter mutalisks and banshees. Hydralisks in large numbers also counter phoenixes. They are, however, relatively fragile and are inefficient against large numbers of armored units. Hydralisks are also weak to units that do splash damage, such as siege tanks, hellions, hellbats, banelings, lurkers, and colossi.

Hydralisks have a melee attack in addition to their normal ranged attack, but it does the same damage as the ranged attack.[1] The melee attack is not cosmetic, as it has the advantage of not triggering point defense drone lasers and not being affected by sentry's guardian shield.

With a lurker den constructed, hydralisks can morph into lurkers, becoming a powerful siege attacker.

Strategy[]

Hydralisks work well paired with roaches, the hydralisks dealing damage while the roaches absorb it.[2] A combination of roaches and hydralisks can defeat a combo of zerglings and mutalisks.[3]

Hydralisks can excel against void rays, given the starship's weakness to mass units.[4] Burrowing for a short time will cause the void ray's attack to lose its charge, then resume attacking is the best tactic against void rays.

Game Unit[]

Versus[]

Upgrades and Abilities
GlialReconstitution SC2 Icon1
Muscular Augments

Increases hydralisk movement speed by 0.79 on creep and 0.98 off creep.

Acquisition
Purchased from Hydralisk den
Hotkey A
Cost 75 Minerals 75 Vespene gas 50seconds
Required Lair
ve
GroovedSpines SC2 Icon1
Grooved Spines

Increases hydralisk range by 1.

Acquisition
Purchased from Hydralisk den
Hotkey G
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 71.4seconds
ve
Acquisition
Purchased from Evolution chamber
Hotkey A
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 114seconds
Level 2
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 136seconds
Required Lair
Level 3
Cost 200 Minerals 200 Vespene gas 157seconds
Required Hive
ve
  • +1 bonus to armor per level for zerg ground units.
Acquisition
Purchased from Evolution chamber
Hotkey C
Level 1
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 114seconds
Level 2
Cost 200 Minerals 200 Vespene gas 136seconds
Required Lair
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 157seconds
Required Hive
ve

Many zerg ground units may burrow, becoming invisible and revealed primarily by detectors, and may not move or attack while burrowed.

Exceptions include:

  • Roach, which may move while burrowed
  • Lurker, which may attack while burrowed
  • Infestor, which may move while burrowed
  • Baneling, which can detonate while burrowed.

Some units can unburrow via autocast, causing them to emerge and attack when an enemy moves into range.

The ability is not smartcast.

Usage
Hotkey R
Cost 2 seconds to burrow, 1 second to unburrow seconds
Acquisition
Purchased from Hatchery/Lair/Hive
Hotkey B
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 71seconds
Required Lair (WoL)
Hatchery (HotS/LotV)
ve

Heart of the Swarm[]

Hydralisk SC2-HotS Story1

The hydralisk upgrade screen

In the Heart of the Swarm campaign, hydralisks are unlocked upon playing the mission "Shoot the Messenger." Hydralisks can transform into either lurkers or impalers after completing the appropriate evolution mission. Their visual design changes accordingly.

Upgrades and Abilities
SC2 Zagara AC - MassFrenzy
Frenzy

Temporarily increases hydralisk attack speed by 50%. Cannot be autocast.

Hydralisk aggression inhibited by cerebral cortex. Can enable hive mind to trigger impulses directly. Upon command, attacks frenzy for limited period. Cortex requires recovery time after use. Limbic system fragile.

Usage
Hotkey T
Duration 15 seconds
Cooldown 30 seconds
Campaign Acquisition
ve
SC2 AncillaryCarapace Icon
Ancillary Carapace

Increases hydralisk HP by 20.

Hydralisk carapace evolved primarily for offensive role. Thin, hollow. Allows increased movement potential at cost of fragile structure. Possible to evolve ancillary carapace, redundant plating. Will increase protection. Hinder exoskeletal rupture.

Campaign Acquisition
ve
SC2 HotSGroovedSpines Icon
Grooved Spines

Increases hydralisk attack range by 1.

Spine projectile, effective. Few alterations made since assimilation of slothien urticating bristles. Grooved spines, common evolution on battlefield. Can be introduced directly into hydralisk template. Will increase aerodynamic properties of spines, allow hydralisk to attack distant foes.

Campaign Acquisition
ve
BTN-HotS-Hydralisk-Impaler-Icon
Hydralisk Evolution: Impaler Strain

Can morph into an Impaler:

  • Attacks single targets while it is burrowed.
  • Effective against armored units.

Impaler colony essence evolved millennia ago. First mutated under Overmind's instruction. Ancestor strain of sunken colony. Powerful.

Can bond essence to hydralisk morph, create impaler. Attacks single foe. Tentacle shreds through armor, flesh, bone.

Campaign Acquisition
ve
BTN-HotS-Hydralisk-Lurker-Icon
Hydralisk Evolution: Lurker Strain

Can morph into a Lurker:

  • Attacks multiple enemies while it is burrowed.
  • Effective against light ground units.

Lurker evolved prior to inter-Swarm conflict. Essence abandoned by Queen of Blades in effort to assimilate new breeds. Almost lost. Now recovered.

Lurkers attack while burrowed. Spines strike multiple enemies at once. Effective against troops lacking sufficient armor.

Campaign Acquisition
ve

Co-op Missions[]

The hydralisk den and hydralisk strain are exclusive to Kerrigan in Co-op Missions. Kerrigan also has access to the lurker and lurker den. Additional upgrades for the hydralisk and lurker become available when Kerrigan reaches Level 6. Frenzy is also autocast.[5]

Zagara can deploy Hunter Killer hydralisks as a temporary summon from her hero unit.[6]

Dehaka has the ability to produce primal hydralisks, which can evolve into impalers or primal mutalisks.[7]

Stetmann has the ability to build mecha hydralisks, which specialize against air targets and can evolve into mecha lurkers.[8]

Mengsk can summon temporary enthralled hydralisks at the cost of Imperial Mandate as part of his Dogs of War calldown.[9]

Upgrades and Abilities
SC2ZergBurrow
Burrow

Buries the unit underground. Burrowed unit are unable to move or attack, but they cannot be seen without detection.

Usage
Hotkey R
Cost 2 (burrow)seconds
1 (unburrow) seconds
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
ve
Icon Zerg Lurker
Lurker Morph

The hydralisk can morph into a lurker, an anti-ground ambusher.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Kerrigan Level 5.
Acquisition
Hotkey E
Cost 50 Minerals 100 ZergVespene SC2 Game1
Mastery: -1 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 per Reduced Combat Unit Vespene Gas Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 70 Vespene gas
1 Control
15seconds
Required Lurker den
ve
SC2 Zagara AC - MassFrenzy
Frenzy

Hydralisks temporarily gains +50% attack speed. Can be set to autocast.

Usage
Hotkey T
Duration 15 seconds
Cooldown 30 seconds
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Kerrigan Level 4.
Acquisition
Purchased from Hydralisk den/Lurker den
Hotkey F
Cost 200 Minerals 200 Vespene gas 120seconds
Mastery: -4 Minerals -4 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 -2.4seconds per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 80 Minerals 80 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 48seconds
Required Hive
ve
SC2 AncillaryCarapace Icon
Ancillary Carapace

Hydralisks gain +20 maximum life.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Kerrigan Level 4.
Acquisition
Purchased from Hydralisk den/Lurker den
Hotkey C
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 90seconds
Mastery: -3 Minerals -3 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 -1.8seconds per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 60 Minerals 60 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 36seconds
ve
GroovedSpines SC2 Icon1
Muscular Augments

Increases hydralisks movement speed by 25% and attack range by 1.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available
Acquisition
Purchased from Hydralisk den/Lurker den
Hotkey A
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 60seconds
Mastery: -2 Minerals -2 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 -1.2seconds per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 40 Minerals 40 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 24seconds
ve
SC2 ZergMissileWeap
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 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Mastery: -2 Minerals -2 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 -3.2seconds per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 40 Minerals 40 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 64seconds
Effect Damage: 13
Level 2
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 190seconds
Mastery: -3 Minerals -3 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 -3.8seconds per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 60 Minerals 60 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 76seconds
Required Lair/Hive
Effect Damage: 14
Level 3
Cost 200 Minerals 200 Vespene gas 220seconds
Mastery: -4 Minerals -4 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 -4.4seconds per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 80 Minerals 80 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 88seconds
Required Hive
Effect Damage: 15
ve
SC2 ZergGrndCara
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 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Mastery: -2 Minerals -2 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 -3.2seconds per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 40 Minerals 40 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 64seconds
Effect Armor: 1
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Mastery: -3.5 Minerals -3.5 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 -3.8seconds per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 70 Minerals 70 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 76seconds
Required Lair/Hive
Effect Armor: 2
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Mastery: -5 Minerals -5 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 -4.4seconds per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 100 Minerals 100 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 88seconds
Required Hive
Effect Armor: 3
ve

Development[]

The following section contains information from a previous version of StarCraft II which is no longer valid.
Hydralisk SC2 DevHeadAnim1

Development portrait

Notes[]

The hydralisk's dance is based on Michael Jackson's Thriller.[10]

Images[]

Skins and Art
Portraits

References[]

  1. Correct. It really is the melee attack animation. :) But the damage is the same with the range attack. Cydra. 2009-04-21. HYDRALISK HAS MELEE ATTACK!!! (seriously). Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2009-04-21.
  2. 2012-06-08, StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm - Battle Report (Protoss vs Zerg). Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2012-06-21
  3. Karune. 2008-08-18. StarCraft II Q&A - Batch 43. Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2008-08-18.
  4. machinima. 2010-02-22. Machinima / Starcraft II Gameplay: Protoss Siege (Beta Game Footage Video). Youtube. Accessed 2010-02-26.
  5. Blizzard Entertainment. Co-op Missions. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Sarah Kerrigan (in English). 2018.
  6. Blizzard Entertainment. Co-op Missions. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Zagara (in English). 2018.
  7. Blizzard Entertainment. Co-op Missions. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Dehaka (in English). 2018.
  8. Blizzard Entertainment. Co-op Missions. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Egon Stetmann (in English). 2019.
  9. Blizzard Entertainment. Co-op Missions. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Arcturus Mengsk (in English). 2019.
  10. 2010, Starcraft 2: Zerg Hydralisk. Deviantart, accessed on 2011-07-20
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