The zergling is the least durable basic troop unit of the zerg. This is offset by cheap production, and high movement and attack rate. The zergling is useful throughout the game; it may be used for early game rushes, then as support for more powerful units in the late game (e.g. ultraling).
Zerglings should be used in swarms. This is especially important as the game progresses and attacks and abilities inflicting splash or AoE damage become more common. Surround and attack individual enemy units with multiple zerglings at once for quick kills.
If a zergling egg hatches after the controlling player is eliminated, one will spawn normally but the other will become blue and neutral.
"Cinematics had a version, the game team had a version, and the portrait had its own thing going on, so when doing art for the manual, I just came up with my own version too. My concept spent a few months in the Smithsonian as part of a video game exhibit, so I think I won."
During development of StarCraft, four versions of the zergling were developed independently—one by the cinematics team, one by the games team, and a separate take as represented by its unit profile. Samwise Didier did his own, fourth version of the zergling for the game's manual. The concept art that appeared was later made part of a videogames exhibit at the Smithsonian.[1]
As with every other unit, the zergling received a visual upgrade for StarCraft: Remastered. Time was taken to ensure that its hands (barely visible in the original sprite) were able to be seen.[2]
The zergling was 'voiced' by Glenn Stafford. The chittering sound of the unit was formed by him grabbing his cheeks and flapping them open and closed quickly. This was processed with pitch and other effects afterwards.[3]
