Larva
This article refers to the Zerg unit. For the progamer with the same name, see Larva_(Player).
Description[edit]
The Larva (Plural: Larvae) is a Zerg unit that automatically spawns on average every 342 frames, directly below every Hatchery, Lair, and Hive, with a maximum of 3 Larvae at any one of these buildings. Unlike Protoss and Terran buildings, which may only build one unit at a time, Zerg buildings themselves do not build units but rather delegate this task to Larvae. This allows simultaneous unit production by utilizing multiple larvae. Another unique feature of larvae is that, given the necessary tech, they can morph into the majority of Zerg units. The exceptions are Guardians/Devourers, and Lurkers, which must be morphed from Mutalisks and Hydralisks respectively.
Larvae are relatively difficult to kill because they have 25 hit points and 10 armor and are therefore not a priority target when attacking an enemy base. Larvae do not add to the supply count. When a Hatchery, Lair, or Hive morphs, one additional Larva instantly spawns. Although not ordered to do so, larvae move back and forth below their respective building. This movement increases the time required for melee units to kill them, though this is negligible.
When ordered to morph into another unit, the larva becomes an Egg until the unit fully morphs. Canceling unit production will kill the Egg and does not refund the larva. Larvae die after the last nearby creep-producing building (Hatchery, Creep Colony, Sunken Colony, or Spore Colony) has been destroyed, and the creep produced under the larvae by these buildings disappears.
Unit | Key | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Drone | 50 | 0 | 1 | 13 | D |
Zergling | 50 | 0 | 1 | 18 | Z |
Overlord | 100 | 0 | 0 | 25 | O |
Hydralisk | 75 | 25 | 1 | 18 | H |
Mutalisk | 100 | 100 | 2 | 25 | M |
Scourge | 25 | 75 | 1 | 19 | S |
Queen | 100 | 100 | 2 | 32 | Q |
Ultralisk | 200 | 200 | 4 | 38 | U |
Defiler | 50 | 150 | 2 | 32 | F |
Competitive Usage[edit]
versus All[edit]
- Stacking a Mutalisk group together.
- Moving a Larva closer to Minerals with the Larva Trick, resulting in a shorter path when a Drone morphs.
- Moving a Larva to a position with the Larva Trick and morphing it into an Egg to block a narrow passage.
- Morphing into an Egg to push a unit away from the Hatchery.
versus Terran[edit]
- Vulture mines will attack Larvae and can kill them in one hit.
- A Science Vessel's Irradiate will not damage Larvae.
Glitch[edit]
Due to the nature of Larvae dying when not on creep and the introduction of 3rd party map tile editors (and even just the edges of any map), some hatchery placements cause the larva to spawn and die before they can be utilized.
Additional Reading[edit]
Related Articles[edit]