Starcraft 2 Zerg Ground Units

Starcraft 2 Zerg Units and Structures --> Zerg Ground Units (you are here)

On this page you will find a list of the offensive Starcraft 2 Zerg ground units. I have detailed the strengths and weaknesses of each unit.

Note: Banelings, Infestors, and Queens are covered in the Starcraft 2 Zerg Support Units section.

Zerglings

Cost: 50 minerals, 1 supply (produces 2 Zerglings)
Requires: Spawning Pool

The Zergling is the basic Zerg melee unit. At 2 Zerglings for 50 minerals, these are the cheapest unit in game. Additionally, this is the only unit in game that costs half of a supply.

Due to its ease of production, the Zergling is best used to rush the opponent or mass up in small groups. Getting 24 Zerglings does not take much effort and can do a lot of damage early in the game.

The Zergling is strong against ground units, particularly larger ranged units like Stalkers and Marauders.

Zerglings are strong versus small groups of ranged units like Marines but ultimately suffer once these groups get too large. By the time they get in range, they will be killed. To increase their viability, it is necessary to upgrade their speed at the Spawning Pool.

You can also increase Zergling attack speed at the Spawning Pool. After getting a hive, an attack speed upgrade for Zerglings is available at the Spawning Pool as well.

One of the best uses for Zerglings is to use packs of Zerglings to attack enemy expansions. They are so cheap it doesn't matter if they die. Killing the enemy's expansion more than makes up for the cost.

After getting a Baneling Nest, Zerglings can be converted into Banelings.

Banelings

Cost: 25 minerals, 25 vespene gas, 1 Zergling
Requires: Baneling Nest

Banelings are self-destructing units that deal large amounts of damage as they explode. They must make contact with the enemy to work.

Banelings do not do much damage versus heavy ground units and cannot attack air units. They do bonus damage versus light units though and can take out swarms of Marines, Zerglings, and Zealots with ease.

This unit also does bonus damage versus Structures (80 damage total). A few Banelings can quickly take out Terran walls.

The major downside to this unit is that it is slow. The speed upgrade (Centrifugal Hooks) helps this unit out immensely.

This unit is not effective when the player has Siege units, as Siege Tanks and Colossi will take out masses of these units with ease.

Roach

Cost: 75 minerals, 25 vespene, 2 supplies
Requires: Roach Warren

The Roach is the basic Zerg combat unit. It has quite a bit HP and is strong against light units.

This unit is easily massed and is most effective in large numbers. A 30 Roach swarm can be a powerful force in the early game stage.

Roaches do have several shortcomings. Their damage type and short range make them most effective against light melee units and ineffective versus larger ranged units. They struggle against armored units like Marauders.

Secondly, they are of the armored class. Other races have units which deal bonus damage to armored troops such as the Marauder.

Finally, Roaches have no anti-air capability. They are short-ranged ground only units.

The Roach has 2 upgrades all available at the Roach Warren. The first is a speed upgrade which allows roaches to move faster. This is an important upgrade if you plan on using Roaches as it allows them to get to the front lines faster to soak up damage for your more powerful units.

Additionally, the Roach can get the ability to move while burrowed. This is an okay ability; it allows the Roach to sneak into enemy mineral operations and kill harvesters. The Tunneling Claws ability gives Roaches both increased regeneration and the ability to move while burrowed.

Roaches are a great unit early to mid-game but will ultimately need to be paired with another unit to be effective.

With that said, Roaches are surprisingly effective versus other Zerg players. They dominate Zerglings and most Zerg units. A Roach rush versus another Zerg player is often an easy way to win the game.

Hydralisk

Cost: 100 minerals, 50 vespene gas, 2 supplies
Requires: Hydralisk Den

Hydralisks are a staple unit of the Zerg. This unit is great versus both ground and air units.

Unlike other races, the first offensive anti-air unit requires several buildings (spawning pool, Lair, and then a Hydralisk Den). This makes Zerg players susceptible to an air rush.

The Hydralisk is a high power ranged ground unit that effectively attacks both land and air units. It is effective versus most units and its only major downside is that it has a low HP total. This makes it very weak versus high-power units like the Siege Tank.

With that said, you are unlikely to play a long game with a Zerg player and not see a few Hydralisks.

Ultralisk

Cost: 300 minerals, 200 vespene gas, 6 supplies
Requires: Ultralisk Den

The Ultralisk is the Zerg massive unit. It has a powerful ground attacks but can not hit air units.

The Ultralisk does bonus damage to buildings. However, due to its size, it is hard to use against buildings and has a hard time making it to the main harvesting center and up ramps.

The best use for Ultralisks is to break light ground units and Siege Tanks.

With full upgrades, the Ultralisk has +6 armor. This is an incredible amount of armor (highest of any unit) and significantly decreases the damage Ultralisks take against light units like Zerglings, Marines, and Zealots. With this armor upgrade, Ultralisks are practically immune to Zerglings!

The problem with Ultralisks is that many common units such Immortals do bonus damage against them. This unit is a powerful Ultralisk killers.

The Thor and the Ultralisk are an even match in combat, but the Thor has anti-air capabilities, so it is certainly not the ultimate unit, but it has some good functionality.

The Ultralisk is terrible in most Zerg vs Zerg battles and in Zerg vs Protoss battles. However, it is fantastic versus Terran players, and you will find that Ultralisks are the only Zerg unit which adequately counters Marines, Tanks, and Vikings (Vikings have to land to attack!).