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"Not pictured: unending piles of mutalisk crap."
Spire SC-G Cncpt1

The spire

The zerg spire is based on the towering spires of the mantis screamers, although altered to be sustained with creep. It holds the genetic code of the mutalisk.[1] The muscle stalks that make up its core section are flexible, and bend in strong winds. It can be considered the zerg equivalent of an aerospace complex. It retains vestigial air sacs, which were used by the mantis screamers as nests.[2]

A feral spire can support up to 60 mutalisks.[3]

Game Unit[]

StarCraft[]

The spire produces the genetic code that allows larvae to morph into mutalisks or split into pairs of scourge. It is capable of mutating into a greater spire after a hive has been developed, enabling the hive cluster to produce guardians and devourers.[1]

Researched Upgrades[]

Acquisition
Purchased from
Hotkey A
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 267seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 300seconds
Required Lair
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 333seconds
Required Hive

+1 bonus to armor per level for overlords, mutalisks, guardians, devourers, scourge and queen.

Acquisition
Purchased from
Hotkey C
Level 1
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 267seconds
Level 2
Cost 225 Minerals 225 Vespene gas 300seconds
Required Lair
Level 3
Cost 300 Minerals 300 Vespene gas 333seconds
Required Hive

Building Abilities[]

Greater Spire SC1 icon
Mutate into Greater Spire

Transforms a spire into a greater spire.

Usage
Hotkey G
Cost 100 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 120 seconds Spire
Acquisition
Required Hive

Development[]

Spire SC1Dev Game1

An alpha version of the spire

During the StarCraft alpha and beta, the spire possessed a different appearance from their final version which had its model borrowed from the scoria, a canceled zerg structure.[4]

StarCraft II[]

The spire appears in StarCraft II. It functions identically to its predecessor.

The spire can be transformed into a greater spire.

Researched Upgrades[]

Acquisition
Purchased from
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Required Lair
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Required Hive
ve

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

Building Abilities[]

SC2 Greater Spire icon
Mutate into Greater Spire

Transforms a spire into a greater spire.

Usage
Hotkey G
Cost 100 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 71 seconds
Acquisition
Required Hive
ve

Co-op Missions[]

The spire is usable by Kerrigan and Abathur in Co-op Missions. Both allow mutalisks to be spawned, and can be upgraded into a greater spire. Both commanders unlock additional upgrades upon reaching level 11.

Stetmann can morph a variant of the spire named the mecha spire.

Kerrigan upgrades[]
SC2 ZergAirWeap
Zerg Flyer Attacks

Increases the attack damage 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
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
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
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
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
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
ve
TissueRegeneration SC2-HotS Icon
Rapid Regeneration

Mutalisks regenerate 10 health per second when not in combat for 5 seconds.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available
Acquisition
Purchased from Spire/Greater spire
Hotkey R
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 60seconds
Mastery: -3 Minerals -3 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 -1.2seconds per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 60 Minerals 60 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 24seconds
ve
SC2 ViciousGlave Icon
Vicious Glave

Mutalisks attacks bounce three more times. Increases glave's search radius from 3 to 5.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Spire/Greater spire
Hotkey V
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 90seconds
Mastery: -3 Minerals -3 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 -1.8seconds per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 60 Minerals 60 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 36seconds
ve
SC2 SunderingGlave Icon
Severing Glave

Subsequent bounces no longer decrease in damage.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Kerrigan Level 11
Acquisition
Purchased from Spire/Greater spire
Hotkey R
Cost 200 Minerals 200 Vespene gas 120seconds
Mastery: -4 Minerals -4 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 -2.4seconds per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 80 Minerals 80 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 48seconds
Required Hive
ve
PorousCartilage SC2 Icon
Porous Cartilage

Increases brood lords movement speed by 1.406 and acceleration to 1.875, and increases health by 100.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Kerrigan Level 11.
Acquisition
Purchased from Spire/Greater spire
Hotkey R
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 60seconds
Mastery: -3 Minerals -3 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 -1.2seconds per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a maximum 60 Minerals 60 ZergVespene SC2 Game1 24seconds
Required Greater spire
ve
SC2 Greater Spire icon
Mutate into Greater spire

Transforms a spire into a greater spire.

Usage
Hotkey L
Acquisition
Cost 100 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 30seconds
Required Hive
ve
Abathur upgrades[]
SC2 ZergAirWeap
Zerg Flyer Attacks

Increases the attack damage 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
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
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
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
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
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
ve
TissueRegeneration SC2-HotS Icon
Rapid Regeneration

Mutalisks regenerate 10 health per second when not in combat for 5 seconds.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available
Acquisition
Purchased from Spire/Greater spire
Hotkey R
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 60seconds
Mastery: -1.2seconds per Structure Morph and Evolution Rate mastery point. Down to a maximum 24seconds
ve
SC2 ViciousGlave Icon
Vicious Glave

Mutalisks attacks bounce three more times. Increases glave's search radius from 3 to 4.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Spire/Greater spire
Hotkey V
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 90seconds
Mastery: -1.8seconds per Structure Morph and Evolution Rate mastery point. Down to a maximum 36seconds
ve
SC2 SunderingGlave Icon
Sundering Glave

Mutalisk attacks deal +100% damage to armored enemies. Flyer Attacks upgrade also increases damage for armored targets.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Abathur Level 11
Acquisition
Purchased from Spire/Greater spire
Hotkey R
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
CorrosiveSpray SC2 Icon1
Corrosive Spray

Devourer attacks deal splash damage.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Abathur Level 11
Acquisition
Purchased from Spire/Greater spire
Hotkey D
Cost 200 Minerals 200 Vespene gas 90seconds
Mastery: -1.8seconds per Structure Morph and Evolution Rate mastery point. Down to a maximum 36seconds
Required Greater spire
ve
ProlongedDispersion SC2 Icon1
Prolonged Dispersion

Increases the range of guardian attacks by 3.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Abathur Level 11
Acquisition
Purchased from Spire/Greater spire
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 Greater spire
ve
SC2 Greater Spire icon
Mutate into Greater spire

Transforms a spire into a greater spire.

Usage
Hotkey L
Acquisition
Cost 100 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 30seconds
Mastery: -0.6seconds per Structure Morph and Evolution Rate mastery point. Down to a maximum 12seconds
Required Hive
ve

Development[]

Spire SC2 DevRend1

An early render of the spire

The spire was a simple update of the original game's sprite artwork. The challenging aspect of creating the spire in 3D was conveying the height of the building. StarCraft II has height limitations for building models, especially for multiplayer artwork due to the altitude flying units move at. Buildings exceeding certain heights either require air pathing blockers so flying units don't clip through them, or height adjustments so they're lowered under the flight elevation. Air pathing blockers are not an option for multiplayer art, so the spire was lowered for the sake of functionality. Another consideration was making this building somewhat humble so the presence of a greater spire would be more significant.[5]

Variants[]

Images[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Underwood, Peter, Bill Roper, Chris Metzen and Jeffrey Vaughn. StarCraft (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.
  2. Barba, Rick. StarCraft Field Manual (hardcover). Insight Editions, November 17, 2015.
  3. Bogdanove, Kal-El. "Frenzy." (Feb. 28, 2013). Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft Lore: Frenzy Accessed 2013-02-28.
  4. [1]
  5. 2010, SC2: Zerg Spire. Deviantart, accessed on 2011-07-01
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