Primal roach

Primal Roach
Unit
Race	Zerg
Affiliation	Primal zerg
Campaign	Heart of the Swarm Co-op Missions
Base unit	Roach
Armament	Acid saliva
Properties
Life span	60 (Co-op Dehaka from Glevig) Mastery: +0.6 per Pack Leaders Active Duration mastery point. Up to a maximum 78 (Co-op Dehaka from Glevig)
Transportcapacity	2
Sight	9
Production
Minerals	75 (Co-op)
Gas	25 (Co-op)
Control	1 (HotS) 2 (Co-op)
Build time	24 (16 charge cooldown) (Co-op)
Produced from	Primal warden (Co-op)
Requires	Glevig's den (Co-op)
Hotkey	C (Co-op)
Movement
Speed	2.25 (2.95 with Glail Reconstruction, Co-op)
Protection
Hit points	HotS: 145 Co-op Dehaka: 175 350 (from Glevig with Primal Contender)
Hit pointregen/second	0.273 10 (when burrowed) (Co-op)
Armor	1
Type	Ground Biological
Armor type	Armored
Acid Saliva
Damage	HotS: 16 Co-op Dehaka: 16 32 (from Glevig with Primal Contender)
Targets	Ground
Cooldown	2
Range	4
Upgrade/level	+2
Function
Evolves to	Primal igniter (Co-op) Primal guardian (Co-op)

Primal roaches are primal zerg creatures based off the Zerg Swarm's roach strain.

Overview

Primal roaches were one of the first Zerg Swarm strains whose essences were stolen by the primals shortly after the Swarm landed on Zerus. They were later mutated by the chaotic essences of the primals to have the ability to evolve into primal igniters and primal guardians.

Game Unit

Primal roaches are similar in basic appearance to normal roaches, though they have different colors, have a slightly more bulbous carapace, and possess larger claws. They also have more health than normal roaches in the campaign and same as normal roaches in Co-op Missions.

Heart of the Swarm

Primal roaches appear as enemies on Zerus. They later appear as part of Dehaka's pack after Kerrigan's rebirth and also during her attack on Korhal.

Kerrigan, in her Primal Queen of Blades form, can summon sacs containing a group of primal zerg consisting of primal zerglings, primal hydralisks, and primal roaches. These units have a timed life and do not have any of the benefits normal roaches gain from the evolution pit.

Abilities

Roach Regeneration

Roaches regenerate at 5 hit points/second when burrowed.

The rate of healing increases with the Tunneling Claws upgrade to a rate of 10 hit points per second.

The regeneration doesn't stack with the medivac dropship's healing ability.

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Burrow

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

Acquisition
Purchased from Hatchery/Lair/Hive Hotkey B Cost 100 100 71 Required Lair (WoL) Hatchery (HotS/LotV)

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Co-op Missions

Primal roaches can be constructed by Dehaka in Co-op Missions. They regenerate health quickly while burrowed, and can mutate into a primal igniter or primal guardian.

Upgrades and Abilities

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) 1 (unburrow)

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.

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Roach Regeneration

The primal roach regenerates life very quickly while burrowed. Regenerates 10 health per second.

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.

v • e

Primal Combat: Primal Igniter

Two Primal Roaches battle and the survivor evolves into a Primal Igniter.

Assault unit with an area damage attack. Regenerates life quickly when burrowed. Can attack ground units.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Dehaka Level 2.

Acquisition
Hotkey V Cost Recover 1 8 Required Glevig's den

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Primal Combat: Primal Guardian

Two Primal Roaches battle and the survivor evolves into a Primal Guardian.

Long range anti-ground flyer. Can attack ground units.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Dehaka Level 6.

Acquisition
Hotkey G Cost 100 Recover 1 8 Required Murvar's den

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Glial Reconstitution

Increases the movement speed of primal roaches by 31% and primal igniters by 19%.

Acquisition
Purchased from Glevig's den Hotkey E Cost 100 100 60

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Primal Attacks

Increases the attack damage of all primal zerg units.

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.

Acquisition
Purchased from Primal hive Hotkey A Level 1 Cost 100 100 160 Effect Damage Basic: 18 From Glevig with Primal Contender: 34 Level 2 Cost 150 150 190 Required Glevig's den Effect Damage Basic: 20 From Glevig with Primal Contender: 36 Level 3 Cost 200 200 220 Required Murvar's den Effect Damage Basic: 22 From Glevig with Primal Contender: 38

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Primal Carapace

Increases the armor of all primal zerg units.

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.

Acquisition
Purchased from Primal hive Hotkey C Level 1 Cost 100 100 160 Effect Armor: 2 Level 2 Cost 175 175 190 Required Glevig's den Effect Armor: 3 Level 3 Cost 250 250 220 Required Murvar's den Effect Armor: 4

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Notes

• A primal roach skin is available in multiplayer for players who reach level 3 with the zerg Katowice 2018 War Chest.