Torrasque (StarCraft II)

The torrasque is a variant strain of ultralisk introduced in StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm.

Heart of the SwarmEdit

The players controls torrasques in the Ultralisk evolution mission and can choose to permanently upgrade their ultralisks to torrasques after completing the mission. They are a counterpart to the noxious strain. Torrasques are also available in the mission "Amon's Fall."

Upon death the torrasque ultralisk will enter a cocoon and rapidly regenerate, restoring the torrasque to full health. Reincarnate has a 60-second cooldown; if the ultralisk is killed while in the cocoon or while reincarnate is on cooldown, it will die.^[1]

Thanks to the reincarnation effect, the torrasque strain has far more staying power than the noxious strain, effectively forcing enemies to kill it twice, in addition to tanking damage in its cocoon form which will be healed once it hatches. It also has innately higher armor and HP. Combined with the Tissue Assimilation upgrade to afford it healing, the torrasque becomes very hard to kill. As a trade-off, the noxious deals far more damage to enemies than the torrasque.

When using the torrasque strain, players should take time to pause between engagements, to allow their reincarnation cooldown to wear off. Being too hasty in the attack will result in wasted torrasques.

AbilitiesEdit

Reincarnation

Upon death the Torrasque ultralisk enters a cocoon to regenerate, emerging at full HP upon hatching. The cocoon has 200 HP and 10 armor; if it is killed the torrasque dies.

Usage
Passive Cost 10 Cooldown 60

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Co-op MissionsEdit

Kerrigan's ultralisk automatically upgrade to the torrasque strain upon her reaching Level 14.

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 (burrow) 1 (unburrow)

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.

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Reincarnation

Upon death the Torrasque ultralisk enters a cocoon to regenerate, emerging at full HP upon hatching. The cocoon has 200 HP and 10 armor; if it is killed the torrasque dies.

Usage
Passive Cost 10 Cooldown 60

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Frenzied

Immune to snare and stun effects.

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Chitinous Plating

Ultralisks gain +2 armor.

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.

Acquisition
Purchased from Ultralisk cavern Hotkey C Cost 100 Mastery: -2 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 40 100 Mastery: -2 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 40 60 Mastery: -1.2 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 24

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Burrow Charge

Ultralisks burrow and quickly move towards target point, stunning enemies for two seconds on eruption. Can be set to autocast.

Usage
Hotkey C Range 9 Cooldown 10

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Kerrigan Level 13.

Acquisition
Purchased from Ultralisk cavern Hotkey B Cost 150 Mastery: -3 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 60 150 Mastery: -3 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 60 60 Mastery: -1.2 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 24

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Tissue Assimilation

Ultralisks heal 40% of the damage dealt with their attacks.

Usage
Passive

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Kerrigan Level 13.

Acquisition
Purchased from Ultralisk cavern Hotkey T Cost 150 Mastery: -3 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 60 150 Mastery: -3 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 60 60 Mastery: -1.2 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 24

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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 Mastery: -2 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 40 100 Mastery: -2 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 40 160 Mastery: -3.2 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 64 Effect Damage: 38 Level 2 Cost 150 Mastery: -3 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 60 150 Mastery: -3 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 60 190 Mastery: -3.8 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 76 Required Lair/Hive Effect Damage: 41 Level 3 Cost 200 Mastery: -4 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 80 200 Mastery: -4 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 80 220 Mastery: -4.4 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 88 Required Hive Effect Damage: 44

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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 Mastery: -2 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 40 100 Mastery: -2 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 40 160 Mastery: -3.2 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 64 Effect Armor: 3 (basic) 5 (with Chitinous Plating) Level 2 Cost 175 Mastery: -3.5 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 70 175 Mastery: -3.5 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 70 190 Mastery: -3.8 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 76 Required Lair/Hive Effect Armor: 4 (basic) 6 (with Chitinous Plating) Level 3 Cost 250 Mastery: -5 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 100 250 Mastery: -5 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 100 220 Mastery: -4.4 per Expeditious Evolutions mastery point. Down to a minimum 88 Required Hive Effect Armor: 5 (basic) 7 (with Chitinous Plating)

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DevelopmentEdit

Near the start of development for StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm the art team requested a concept of the original torrasque, the concept would be partially completed as a model during development but not make it into the final product.^[2] The model was to be able to scale cliffs, but was cut due to development on Heroes of the Storm.^[3]

NotesEdit

A torrasque skin is available to zerg players in Heart of the Swarm, provided they purchase the game's collector's edition.^[4]

A torrasque decal is available in StarCraft II upon reaching level 26 with zerg. The decal is the outline of an ultralisk head.^[5]

ReferencesEdit