Primal ultralisk

Primal Ultralisk
Unit
Race	Zerg
Affiliation	Primal zerg
Campaign	Heart of the Swarm Co-op Missions
Base unit	Ultralisk
Role	Heavy frontal assault creature
Properties
Transportcapacity	8
Sight	9
Production
Minerals	300 (Co-op Missions)
Gas	200 (Co-op Missions)
Control	6 (Co-op Missions)
Build time	45 (16 charge cooldown) (Co-op Missions)
Produced from	Primal warden (Co-op Missions)
Requires	Dakrun's den (Co-op Missions)
Hotkey	C (Co-op Missions)
Movement
Speed	2.95
Protection
Hit points	400 (Heart of the Swarm) 625 (Co-op Missions)
Hit pointregen/second	0.2734 10 (Co-op with Healing Adaptation, while out of combat)
Armor	2
Type	Ground Biological Massive
Armor type	Armored
Kaiser Blades
Damage	25 35 (Co-op Missions)
Targets	Ground
Cooldown	0.86
Range	1 (melee)
Upgrade/level	+2 +4 (Co-op Missions)
Function
Evolves to	Tyrannozor (Co-op Missions)

Primal ultralisks are primal zerg lifeforms similar to ultralisks.

Overview

Primal ultralisk encompass a variety of primal zerg strains, and exhibit a high amount of variety in their appearance, with some closely resembling the ultralisks of the Zerg Swarm and others being better suited to life on Zerus.

Primal ultralisks first appeared during the first engagement on Zerus, as part of Brakk's pack. Later they appeared as part of Dehaka, Yagdra, Slivan and Zurvan's packs.

During Kerrigan's invasion of Korhal, several primal ultralisks assisted Dehaka in disabling Mengsk's Psi Destroyer. Primal ultralisks also participated in the final assault on Augustgrad.

Heart of the Swarm Game Unit

The primal ultralisk uses the same base model as the primal zergling of Heart of the Swarm, tyrannozor, ravasaur, Indomilisk Rex and Brakk.

Primal ultralisks are drastically different from their Zerg Swarm counterparts, being significantly smaller, possessing lower health, and lacking the large shield-like carapace above a normal ultralisk's head. They also attack differently, as their kaiser blades, instead of being mounted to their backs, are attached to their front legs in the form of large, retractable claws. They also look more similar to ravasaurs, Brakk and tyrannozor.

Primal ultralisks are encountered throughout the campaign of Heart of the Swarm as both enemies and allies.

Abilities

Frenzied

Immune to snare and stun effects.

v • e

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)

v • e

Co-op Missions

Primal ultralisks are available to Dehaka in Co-op Missions. They can evolve into tyrannozors. They appear as a re-skinned ultralisk rather than using the unique model in Heart of the Swarm.

Compared to regular ultralisks, primal ultralisks have 2 less armor due to lacking Chitinous Plating, but have 125 more HP. This means low-damage enemies like marines will do better against primal ultralisks, but heavy-hitting units such as immortals will require more shots to bring a primal ultralisk down.

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.

v • e

Frenzied

Immune to snare and stun effects.

v • e

Primal Combat: Tyrannozor

Two Primal Ultralisks battle and the survivor evolves into a Tyrannozor.

Heavy assault beast. Has a ground area-damage attack. Can attack ground and air units.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Dehaka Level 11.

Acquisition
Hotkey V Cost Recover 3 8 Required Dakrun's den

v • e

Brutal Charge

Primal ultralisks can charge to a target location, knocking back units in the area and dealing 25 damage. Can be set to autocast.

Usage
Hotkey Q Cooldown 10

Acquisition
Purchased from Dakrun's den Hotkey Q Cost 100 100 60

v • e

Healing Adaptation

Primal ultralisks and Tyrannozors regenerate life quickly when out of combat.

Acquisition
Purchased from Dakrun's den Hotkey W Cost 100 100 60

v • e

Impaling Strike

Primal ultralisks and Tyrannozors melee attacks have a 20% chance to stun.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Dehaka Level 13

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

v • e

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: 39 Level 2 Cost 150 150 190 Required Glevig's den Effect Damage: 43 Level 3 Cost 200 200 220 Required Murvar's den Effect Damage: 47

v • e

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: 3 Level 2 Cost 175 175 190 Required Glevig's den Effect Armor: 4 Level 3 Cost 250 250 220 Required Murvar's den Effect Armor: 5

v • e

Development

The primal ultralisk originally had a "Devour" ability, where it swallowed a non-massive enemy unit. The enemy unit would not be destroyed, but would be removed from battle and take damage over time as long as it remained swallowed. Destroying the primal ultralisk frees the swallowed unit.

Notes

Primal ultralisk concept art

• A primal ultralisk skin (similar to the version seen in Co-op Missions) is available in multiplayer for players who reach level 10 with the zerg Katowice 2018 War Chest.

Images

Unused model variants in-editor