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"I’m not sure if there’s anything more creepy in the galaxy folks, these guys are just plain weird."
Overseer SC2 Game1

The overseer

The overseer is a zerg unit evolved from the overlord.

Overview[]

Overseer SC2 Art1

An overseer

Overseers are genetically-altered overlords that have a mass of additional sockets filled with highly evolved optical receptors with hypersensitive retinas.[1] Unlike most other zerg breeds but like overlords, overseers have the ability to act with appropriate judgment, but are severely limited in their mental flexibility.[2]

Primal zerg packs have adapted overseers into their genome, but they are among the rarest breed of the primal zerg.[3]

Observation[]

"Evolved from the overlord, the overseer focuses its eyes toward scouting and revealing the presence of hidden enemies, wherever they may lurk."

- Unit description(src)

Overseer SC-FM Art1

An overseer

The zerg are obsessed with detecting subtler motions and more advanced camouflage techniques. The overseer's "eyes" have been through many iterations, each developmental cycle improving upon the preceding one's optical evolution.[1] That said, the first batch of overseers ended up crippled and blind when the arrays of microscopic filaments (relayers of sensory and spatial data) located on their vestigial legs gained sentience and became ravenous to the point of consuming the appendages that housed them. To correct this situation, the legs were excised and the filaments were transformed into long, fleshy tendrils grown from the overseer's carapace. Now, when the overlord is subjected to the overseer strain mutation, its eyes melt into a luminescent substance that floats inside a semi-transparent skull. Sensory tentacles and twin photoreceptors, capable of sight in any environment, sprout from said substance, in between the openings of their thick, armored "faceplate". To further enhance the creature's capabilities, the main body expands and grows six new hypersensitive optical receptors in strategic positions.[4] This latest evolution allows the overseer to detect any hidden enemy units, including those that are burrowed underground or cloaked.[1] Overseers are capable of hearing, processing and understanding terran speech.[5]

The fins and tendrils of the Leviathan Brood overseers are bred to specialize in reconnaissance, allowing them to cut through both air and water with minimal effort.

Overseers enslaved by the Cerberus Program were enhanced with void sensor technology designed by Dr. Rudolfo Subsourian, which allowed them to triangulate the exact position of a cloaking effect within 20 kilometers.[6]

Other Functions[]

By incorporating terran DNA into the overseer's genetic makeup (particularly during its later stages of pupation), the creature displays a peculiar evolution pattern. Its creep glands expand and turn into stores of sentient, unfertilized bio-matter, and its organs no longer liquefy into creep, but instead a nourishing paste. At the overseer's will, this paste bonds with the bio-matter in the sacs and quickly becomes an insidious infiltrator known as the changeling. Additionally, the bio-matter grows and solidifies at exponential rates when exposed to foreign atmospheres. The Swarm has capitalized on this trait, using its overseers to disable critical facilities in the midst of an invasion.[4]

Game Unit[]

The overseer loses the ability to excrete creep or transport units, but gains the ability to create changelings. It continues to provide control and has faster movement.

Versus[]

Upgrades and Abilities[]

Increases armor of zerg air units.

Acquisition
Purchased from
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Effect +1 armor
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Required Lair
Effect +1 armor
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Required Hive
Effect +1 armor
ve
PneumutizedCarapace SC2 Game1
Pneumatized Carapace

Increase speed of the overlord from 0.902 to 2.63, overlords with Ventral Sacs from 1.099 to 2.83, and the overseer 2.62 to 4.73.

Acquisition
Purchased from Hatchery (with at least 1 other lair or hive)/Lair/Hive
Hotkey P
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 43seconds
ve

This unit or structure can detect cloaked, burrowed, duplicated and hallucination enemies.

ve
Contaminate SC2 Icon1
Contaminate

The overseer disables a building, which becomes covered in slime. It cannot produce units, larva or research upgrades while contaminated.

Usage
Hotkey E
Cost 125 Energy
Duration 30 seconds
ve

The overseer can create a changeling, which can spy on enemy forces.

Usage
Hotkey C
Cost 50 Energy Almost immediate seconds
Range HotS only: siege range[7]
Duration 150 seconds
ve
MorphOversight Coop Game1
Oversight Mode

The overseer can switch to Oversight Mode. In Oversight Mode the overseer is immobile and gains 50% increased sight radius. Can switch back to Overseer Mode to move again.

Usage
Hotkey E (Oversight Mode)
T (Overseer Mode)
Cost 3 seconds
ve

Heart of the Swarm[]

Sarah Kerrigan's forces never create overseers. Detection was never required in the campaign.

Co-op Missions[]

Kerrigan, Zagara, Abathur and Alexei Stukov can mutate overseers. Stukov's overseers have an infested factory as a prerequisite. Zagara's overseers use the Leviathan's Brood skin.

Stetmann is able to get Mecha overseers, which are identical to Swarm overseers other than being mechanical rather than biological.

Kerrigan Upgrades and Abilities[]

This unit or structure can detect cloaked, burrowed, duplicated and hallucination enemies.

ve
MorphOversight Coop Game1
Oversight Mode

The overseer can switch to Oversight Mode. In Oversight Mode the overseer is immobile and gains 50% increased sight radius. Can switch back to Overseer Mode to move again.

Usage
Hotkey E (Oversight Mode)
T (Overseer Mode)
Cost 3 seconds
ve
PneumutizedCarapace SC2 Game1
Pneumatized Carapace

Increase speed of the overlord from 0.59 to 3.38 and the overseer from 1.88 to 3.38.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Hatchery/Lair/Hive
Hotkey P
Cost 50 Minerals 50 Vespene gas 60seconds
Mastery: -1 Minerals -1 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 -1.2seconds per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 20 Minerals 20 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 24seconds
ve
SC2 ZergAirCara
Zerg Flyer Carapace

Increases the armor of zerg air units.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Spire/Greater spire
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: 2
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: 3
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: 4
ve

Zagara Upgrades and Abilities[]

This unit or structure can detect cloaked, burrowed, duplicated and hallucination enemies.

ve
MorphOversight Coop Game1
Oversight Mode

The overseer can switch to Oversight Mode. In Oversight Mode the overseer is immobile and gains 50% increased sight radius. Can switch back to Overseer Mode to move again.

Usage
Hotkey E (Oversight Mode)
T (Overseer Mode)
Cost 3 seconds
ve
PneumutizedCarapace SC2 Game1
Pneumatized Carapace

Increase speed of the overlord from 0.59 to 3.38 and the overseer from 1.88 to 3.38.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Hatchery/Lair/Hive
Hotkey P
Cost 50 Minerals 50 Vespene gas 60seconds
ve
SC2 ZergAirCara
Zerg Flyer Carapace

Increases the armor of zerg air units.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Scourge nest
Hotkey M
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Effect Armor: 2
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Required Lair/Hive
Effect Armor: 3
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Required Hive
Effect Armor: 4
ve

Abathur Upgrades and Abilities[]

This unit or structure can detect cloaked, burrowed, duplicated and hallucination enemies.

ve
MorphOversight Coop Game1
Oversight Mode

The overseer can switch to Oversight Mode. In Oversight Mode the overseer is immobile and gains 50% increased sight radius. Can switch back to Overseer Mode to move again.

Usage
Hotkey E (Oversight Mode)
T (Overseer Mode)
Cost 3 seconds
ve
PneumutizedCarapace SC2 Game1
Pneumatized Carapace

Increase speed of the overlord from 0.59 to 3.38 and the overseer from 1.88 to 3.38.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Hatchery/Lair/Hive
Hotkey P
Cost 50 Minerals 50 Vespene gas 60seconds
Mastery: -1.2seconds per Structure Morph and Evolution Rate mastery point. Down to a maximum 24seconds
ve
SC2 ZergAirCara
Zerg Flyer Carapace

Increases the armor of zerg air units.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Spire/Greater spire
Hotkey M
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Mastery: -3.2seconds per Structure Morph and Evolution Rate mastery point. Down to a maximum 64seconds
Effect Armor: 2
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Mastery: -3.8seconds per Structure Morph and Evolution Rate mastery point. Down to a maximum 76seconds
Required Lair/Hive
Effect Armor: 3
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Mastery: -4.4seconds per Structure Morph and Evolution Rate mastery point. Down to a maximum 88seconds
Required Hive
Effect Armor: 4
ve

Stukov Upgrades and Abilities[]

This unit or structure can detect cloaked, burrowed, duplicated and hallucination enemies.

ve
MorphOversight Coop Game1
Oversight Mode

The overseer can switch to Oversight Mode. In Oversight Mode the overseer is immobile and gains 50% increased sight radius. Can switch back to Overseer Mode to move again.

Usage
Hotkey E (Oversight Mode)
T (Overseer Mode)
Cost 3 seconds
ve
PneumutizedCarapace SC2 Game1
Pneumatized Carapace

Increase speed of the Overlord from 0.47 to 3.38 and the Overseer from 1.88 to 3.38.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Infested command center
Hotkey P
Cost 50 Minerals 50 Vespene gas 60seconds
ve
SC2 TerrVehArm
Infested Terran Vehicle and Ship Plating

Increases the armor of infested terran vehicles and spacecrafts.

(Also affect Overlords, Overseers and Brood Queens)

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Infested armory
Hotkey V
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Effect Armor: 2
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Effect Armor: 3
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Effect Armor: 4
ve

Development[]

Main article: Overseer/Development

The overseer gained the Oversight Mode ability in patch 4.0. This was to ensure that overseers aren't unintentionally clumped with "F2" army commands.[8]

Achievements[]

Meet the spy Meet the Spy
Points

10 Achievement SC2 Game1

Criteria

Kill 5 Changelings in a single Unranked or Ranked game.

Notes

This achievement is a reference to Team Fortress 2's Meet the Spy video as an introduction to the class 'Spy', who could disguise as enemy players, but also instant kill via backstab and disable buildings (which aren't things the changeling is capable of)

Special Overseer Strains[]

Overseer SC2 Head1

The overseer

Images[]

Skins
Portraits

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Overseer, Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed on 2014-12-06
  2. Blizzard Entertainment. 2012-11-26. StarCraft II Creative Development Q&A - Part 6. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2012-11-26.
  3. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. Collections Tab: Skins. October 17, 2016
  4. 4.0 4.1 2014-12-04, Overseer Science. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2014-12-06
  5. Zahn, Timothy (November 8, 2016). StarCraft: Evolution. Del Rey Books. ISBN 0425284735.
  6. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. Collections Tab: Skins. July 19, 2017
  7. Blizzard Entertainment, Teamliquid. 2012-06-09. Heart of the Swarm Update. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2012-06-09.
  8. 2017-08-17, StarCraft II Multiplayer - Major Design Changes. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2017-08-20
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