Zergling

Zergling

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Type	Ground Unit
Description	Fast melee creature. Can morph into a Baneling.
Cost	25 0 24 0.5
Attributes	Biological, Light
Attack	Ground Attack:     5(+1) Ground DPS:     7.2(+1.4) 8.5 (+1.7) (Adrenal Glands) Range:     0.1 Cooldown:     .696 (-0.109)
Defense	35 0 (+1)
Hotkey	Z
Sight	8
Speed	2.9531 (+1.746)
Speed Multiplier on Creep	1.3
Speed on Creep	3.83903 (+2.2698)
Morphs into	Baneling
Cargo Space	1
Strong Against	Marauder Stalker Hydralisk
Weak Against	Hellion Colossus Baneling

Description

The Zergling is a small and fast melee attacker and the backbone of the Zerg army. An individual Zergling is relatively weak, but as part of a group they can rapidly surround and damage enemy ground forces. In addition, their use in large numbers helps to soak up a considerable amount of incoming damage, and they provide a shield for more expensive units.

As an inexpensive "tier 1" unit requiring only a Spawning Pool, Zerglings can be spawned very early in the match. This means that the patented Zergling rush is a threat for which opponents must prepare.

Zergling have unique spawning attributes: two Zerglings hatch from a single Cocoon, with each Zergling taking only half of one supply point. Once a Baneling Nest has been constructed, Zerglings can be morphed into Banelings at any point, even while out on the battlefield.

The Metabolic Boost run speed upgrade gives Zerglings visible wings and makes them incredibly fast, especially while on creep. The Adrenal Glands upgrade, boosts Zergling attack speed by 18.6%. Zerglings with Metabolic Boost are often referred to as Speedlings, and Zerglings with the Adrenal Glands upgrade are often referred to as Cracklings.

Abilities

Morph to Baneling

25 25 Duration: 20 s Hotkey: E This ability morphs a Zergling into a Baneling. Requires a Baneling Nest.

Upgrades

Adrenal Glands

200      200      130 Hotkey: A Researched from: Spawning Pool Decreases Zergling attack cooldown to 0.587 (-0.109). Requires a Hive

Metabolic Boost

100      100      110 Hotkey: M Researched from: Spawning Pool Increases Zergling movement speed by 60% to 4.6991 (+1.746).

Competitive Usage

Zerglings are produced in nearly every Zerg matchup. If not used as part of an early rush, an initial set of Zerglings will often fan out across the map as scouts or early harassment. In the later stages of the game, Zerglings are components in several battle strategies. Zerglings often serve as readily-available reinforcements that can outflank an opponent's main army and swoop in for counterattacks.

The Metabolic Boost upgrade is considered essential in nearly all strategies, and it is often researched as early as possible. The Adrenal Glands upgrade, on the other hand, has seen relatively less competitive usage and is generally only used when Zerglings are a central component of a battle plan.

Vs. Protoss

Zerglings are relatively weak against their Protoss melee counterparts, the Zealot. Since it takes 4 Zerglings to take down a Zealot with no micro, Zerglings are often not useful in harassing Protoss in the early game. However, against a Protoss rushing Immortals, Zerglings are a very important unit as their attacks aren't affected by Hardened Shield. In the later stages of the game, Zerglings combined with a phalanx of Mutalisks can devastate a Protoss army, because Protoss will be forced into building Sentries and Stalkers to attack the Mutalisks.

Vs. Terran

Zerglings are very effective in ZvT thanks to their improved AI that allows them to easily surround their target. In the early game, Zerglings match up well against Marines and Marauders. When combined with Banelings, Zerglings provide good cover for to allow the Banelings to get up close to the Terran force and decimate them. Zerglings continue to be effective throughout the entirety of the matchup, but if the Terran player incorporates Hellions into his army, heavy use of Zerglings should be avoided because they melt extremely quickly to the Hellion's area-of-effect flame attack.

Vs. Zerg

Zerglings are useful against Zerg for very early aggression, and therefore they are often used to punish an early-expanding Zerg. With the Metabolic Boost upgrade they can easily run past Roaches and kill off Drones or snipe an isolated Queen. But as more and more Roaches come into play, Zerglings lose their offensive effectiveness toward the midgame. However, because of the Zergling's speed, they offer faster map control and scouting compared to Roaches.

External links

• Zergling's sounds (video and sound) - Youtube video.

Gallery