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"They fire bile from their backs. I say that counts as poop. Silva says it's puke. The debate rages on."
Ravager FieldManual Art1

The ravager

The ravager is a zerg artillery unit evolved from the roach, introduced into the Zerg Swarm at the eve of the End War.[1]

Overview[]

"Now they're sending ravagers our way. Watch out for their corrosive bile."
Ravager SC-FM Art1

The ravager

In use by 2505,[1] the ravager is the result of years of twisting and fine-tuning the genome of the roach far beyond its biological limitations.[2] Ravagers stand two to four times as tall as a terran wearing CMC armor, and hardened bone spikes protrude from their backs. Their eyes grant them a broad spectrum of vision.[1] Generating ravagers require dark, humid conditions.[3]

The ravager wields plasma fire both in close-quarters combat and as a wedge to crack open entrenched positions, something the Swarm has struggled with in the past.[2] As an evolution of the roach, the ravager developed a larger,[4] heavier[2] frame to store quantities of fiery fluid in its back. The ravager can launch a gob of corrosive bile from its back in a parabolic arc. This projectile is slow, best used against stationary targets, but can destroy protoss force fields,[4] and is effective against heavy units and structures. The Dominion has theorized that this ability was developed to boost the ravager's utility in assaulting entrenched positions. This mortar-like ability is slow moving however, and ground forces can move out of the way in time.[1]

Ravager SC2-LotV Art1

A ravager with a calcified exoskeleton

Occasionally the ravager's exoskeleton would calcify, allowing for more durable armor. Abathur considered the resulting intimidation factor of such armor to be an added bonus. Leviathan Brood ravagers have an even more monstrous appearance than standard ravagers, with its webbed carapace and more spikes jutting out from their bodies, in congruence with the rest of the brood.

The primal zerg have adapted a species of ravager known for being brutal and bloodthirsty, known for eating their own young should they not be strong enough to fight back. This nature has put the survival of their strain into question.

Ravagers enslaved by the Cerberus Program were enhanced with plasma spines that superheated the corrosive bile as it was launched.[3]

Game Unit[]

Ravagers do more damage than roaches. However, their effectiveness heavily relies on player micro due to their corrosive bile ability.[5] The ravager's corrosive bile hits from a long range, and impacts units in a small area around the target a few seconds after launching. The bile will hit both ground and air units in the target area. Corrosive bile also destroys the Force Fields of the sentry.

Ravagers are effective against key units that are otherwise difficult for the Zerg to deal with such as siege tanks, liberators, and deployed warp prisms. However they are relatively cost inefficient and can be dealt with using immortals or marauders with proper micromanagement to avoid corrosive bile. Ravagers have no Light or Armored attribute tag, and thus do not take bonus damage for their armor type, but still do best with zerglings and roaches in front to absorb enemy damage while they dish it out.

Ravagers appear in Nova Covert Ops mission "Sudden Strike."

Versus[]

Upgrades and Abilities[]

Corrosive Bile SC2-LotV Icon
Corrosive Bile

Launches a glob of bile into the air that descends on target point after 2 seconds, dealing 60 damage to enemies in an area of effect. Hits both air and ground units, destroys force fields.

Usage
Hotkey C
Range 9
Duration 2 seconds
Cooldown 7 seconds
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

Co-op Missions[]

Abathur is able to mutate his roaches into ravagers in Co-op Missions. Additional upgrades for them unlock at the roach warren once Abathur reaches Level 4. Biomass decreases the cooldown of the ravager's corrosive bile ability, 0.5% per biomass collected up to 50% at 100 biomass.

Stetmann has access to mecha ravagers, which are temporarily spawned from mecha infestors.

Ravagers are also used by Amon's forces.

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
Corrosive Bile SC2-LotV Icon
Corrosive Bile

Launch a missile at the target location, dealing 60 damage to all units in the area upon impact. Can destroy Protoss Force Fields.

Usage
Hotkey C
Range 12
Duration 2 seconds
Cooldown 10 seconds
ve
DeepTunnel SC2 Icon1
Deep Tunnel

Ravagers quickly burrow to a targeted location.

Usage
Hotkey D
Cost 2 seconds
Cooldown 30 seconds
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Abathur Level 9.
Tunneling Horror prestige
Acquisition
Purchased from Infestation pit
Hotkey D
Cost 200 Minerals 200 Vespene gas 120seconds
Mastery: -2.4seconds per Structure Morph and Evolution Rate mastery point. Down to a maximum 48seconds
ve
SC2 Abathur AC - Biomass
Biomass Gatherer

Ravagers gain +3% hit points, +1% attack speed, +0.5% Corrosive Bile cooldown and +1% Biotic Leech per stack of Biomass. Can stack up to 100 Biomass.
Passive: Heal 1% hit points per Biomass.

Essence Hoarder: Ravagers can collect an additional 25 Biomass (summary 125).

The Limitless: Ravagers can collect an additional 100 Biomass (summary 200), but gain +1.5% hit points, +0.5% attack speed, +0.25% Corrosive Bile cooldown and +0.5% Biotic Leech per stack.

Usage
Range 4
Notes

The amount of collected biomass vary, based on difficulty and the amount of supply consumed by the killed enemy unit:
Collect 5 biomass per supply (Casual and Normal)
Collect 4 biomass per supply (Hard)
Collect 2.5 biomass per supply (Brutal)

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Basic: Initially available.
Biotic Leech: Reach Abathur level 15.
Acquisition
Basic
Effect Hit Points: +4.35 per Biomass. Up to a maximum 580
Attack Speed: +1% per Biomass. Up to a maximum 0.8
Corrosive Bile cooldown: -0.05seconds per Biomass. Down to a minimum 5seconds
Biotic Leech: +1% per Biomass. Up to a maximum 100%
With Essence Hoarder
Effect Hit Points: +4.35 per Biomass. Up to a maximum 688.75
Attack Speed: +1% per Biomass. Up to a maximum 0.71
Corrosive Bile cooldown: -0.05seconds per Biomass. Down to a minimum 3.75seconds
Biotic Leech: +1% per Biomass. Up to a maximum 125%
With The Limitless
Effect Hit Points: +2.175 per Biomass. Up to a maximum 580
Attack Speed: +0.5% per Biomass. Up to a maximum 0.8
Corrosive Bile cooldown: -0.025seconds per Biomass. Down to a minimum 5seconds
Biotic Leech: +0.5% per Biomass. Up to a maximum 100%
ve
Icon Zerg Brutalisk
Evolve to Brutalisk

The Ravager evolves into a Brutalisk. Can be set to autocast.

Essence Hoarder: Evolve to Brutalisk is unavailable.

The Limitless: Evolve to Brutalisk is no longer limited to 3, but requires 200 stacks of Biomass.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Abathur Level 2.
Acquisition
Basic
Cost -1 Control 5seconds
Required Collect 100 Biomass
Cannot have more than 3 at the same time.
With The Limitless
Cost -1 Control 5seconds
Required Collect 200 Biomass
ve
SC2 Abathur AC - BiomassRecovery
Biomass Recovery

When killed, your units have a 50% chance to drop all their Biomass.

Essence Hoarder: Increases the Biomass Recovery chance from 50% to 100%.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Abathur level 7.
ve
PotentBile SC2 Icon1
Potent Bile

Increases the damage done by Corrosive Bile by 40.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Abathur Level 4
Acquisition
Purchased from Roach warren
Hotkey E
Cost 200 Minerals 200 Vespene gas 120seconds
Mastery: -2.4seconds per Structure Morph and Evolution Rate mastery point. Down to a maximum 48seconds
Required Hive
ve
BloatedBileDucts SC2 Icon1
Bloated Bile Ducts

Increases the radius of Corrosive Bile by 200%.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Roach warren
Hotkey C
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 90seconds
Mastery: -1.8seconds per Structure Morph and Evolution Rate mastery point. Down to a maximum 36seconds
Required Lair/Hive
ve
SC2 ZergMissileWeap
Zerg Missile Attacks

Increases the attack damage of zerg ground ranged units.

(Also affects Broodlings)

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Evolution chamber
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 Damage: 18
Level 2
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 190seconds
Mastery: -3.8seconds per Structure Morph and Evolution Rate mastery point. Down to a maximum 76seconds
Required Lair/Hive
Effect Damage: 20
Level 3
Cost 200 Minerals 200 Vespene gas 220seconds
Mastery: -4.4seconds per Structure Morph and Evolution Rate mastery point. Down to a maximum 88seconds
Required Hive
Effect Damage: 22
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: -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

Development[]

The following section contains information from a previous version of StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void beta which is no longer valid.

An upgrade existed[6] that allowed the range of corrosive bile to be increased to 13. It cost 100 minerals and vespene gas. This required a lair.[7]

Variants[]

Images[]

Skins
Portraits

Trivia[]

Ravagers similarly exist in the Warcraft universe.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Barba, Rick. StarCraft Field Manual (hardcover). Insight Editions, November 17, 2015.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Blizzard Entertainment. Ravager (archived), Internet Archive: Wayback Machine. Accessed on 2022-07-08.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. Collections Tab: Skins. October 17, 2016.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Legacy of the Void Units, Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed on 2015-04-18.
  5. Blizzard Entertainment. 2015-03-18. Legacy of the Void Beta Preview. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2022-07-08.
  6. 2015-10-02, Legacy of the Void Beta Balance Update -- October 2, 2015. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2022-07-08.
  7. 2015-09-03, Legacy of the Void Beta Balance Update -- September 3, 2015. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2022-07-08.
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