Raptor

The raptor is a variant strain of the zergling that appears in StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm.

Game UnitEdit

Raptors offer quality over quantity compared to swarmlings. Their leaping ability makes them much effective in battle, quickly closing the distance on enemies and surrounding them much more efficiently, as well as letting them leap up and down cliffs for superior manoeuvrability. In tandem with the Raptor's +2 damage upgrade due to their Aggressive passive ability, they are much more powerful than zerglings or swarmlings.

If the player finds themselves being attacked without defense frequently, the swarmling is a more effective response. Swarmlings are also more effective if the player prominently uses banelings, since swarmlings mutate faster and in greater numbers, in turn allowing for more banelings quicker. Otherwise, the raptor is universally superior.

Heart of the SwarmEdit

It becomes available with the swarmling after completing either "Shoot the Messenger" or "Fire in the Sky."^[1]

During Kerrigan's resurgence, Abathur discovered the raptor strain in feral karak native to the planet Calus. The karak essence were assimilated to produce the raptor. This enhanced the quadriceps of the zergling and mutated its wing function, allowing the raptor to traverse cliffs and leap at targets from a distance. However, as a side effect the raptors were also affected with a minor increase in aggression.^[1]

Legacy of the VoidEdit

Raptors appear as enemies in the Legacy of the Void prologue campaign mission "Dark Whispers."^[2] They appear as allies in the main campaign mission "Harbinger of Oblivion," and again as allies in the epilogue campaign mission "Into the Void."^[3][4]

Co-op MissionsEdit

Kerrigan's zerglings automatically upgrade to the raptor strain when she reaches Level 12.

Upgrades and AbilitiesEdit

Burrow

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

Usage
Hotkey R Cost 2 seconds to burrow, 1 second to unburrow Notes This ability is available initially.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.

v • e

Metabolic Boost

Increases zergling movement speed by 60%.

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.

Acquisition
Purchased from Spawning pool Hotkey M Cost 100 100 60

v • e

Adrenal Glands

Increases zergling attack speed by 40%.

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.

Acquisition
Purchased from Spawning pool Hotkey A Cost 100 100 60 Required Hive

v • e

Shredding Claws

Zergling attacks reduce the target's armor to 0 for 10 seconds.

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Kerrigan Level 4

Acquisition
Purchased from Spawning pool Hotkey R Cost 150 150 90 Required Hive

v • e

Hardened Carapace

Increases maximum zergling HP by 10.

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Kerrigan Level 4

Acquisition
Purchased from Spawning pool Hotkey C Cost 150 150 90 Required Lair

v • e

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 Level 2 Cost 150 150 190 Required Lair Level 3 Cost 200 200 220 Required Hive

v • e

Zerg 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 Level 3 Cost 250 250 220 Required Hive

v • e

DevelopmentEdit

The raptor used the model of the swarmling in development.^[5]

The raptor originally had an ability named "barbed talons" that dealt 10 damage to enemies upon leaping towards them. An upgrade for them named "hip extensors" extended their leaping range by 50%. A third upgrade gave them +10 life; an identical upgrade for the zergling that also affects the raptor is used in the final product.^[6]

ReferencesEdit