Units

Hydralisk

The evolutionary matrix of the caterpillar-like herbivorous Slothien was supercharged by the original Overmind, who twisted the hapless creatures into nightmarish killers known as Hydralisks. Within the plates of their carapaces, Hydralisks house hundreds of armor-piercing spines that can be fired in volleys at enemies approaching from ground or air. The remarkable musculature of the Hydralisk (4,000 muscles compared to a Terran’s 629) can launch a Needle Spine at astounding speeds, easily penetrating 2 centimeters of solid neosteel even at maximum range. Under any circumstances, massed groups of Hydralisks should be approached with extreme caution, and preferably with Siege Tank support.
Unit Statistics

3D Model

Basic information

Race: Zerg
Life: 80
Armor: 0 (3)
Movement: Normal
Cargo Size: 2
Attributes: Light - Biological

Production

Producer: Larva
Hotkey: H
Requires: Hydralisk Den
Cost: 100 50
Supply: 2
Build time: 33

Combat

Upgrades:
Weapon:
Ability:

General Strategy

  • High-damage ranged unit.
  • Able to attack air and ground units.
  • Best paired with other unit types to protect their high damage output from enemies.
  • Can improve attack range with Grooved Spines upgrade.
  • Can burrow with Burrow upgrade.
  • Effective at attacking air units when grouped in large numbers.

Evolutions

  • Burrow: Allows the unit to take cover underground, rendering it unable to attack. A burrowed unit is invisible unless revealed by detectors or effects.
  • Grooved Spines: Increases hydralisk range by 1.

Countermeasures

VS Terran
  • Use vehicles such as Siege Tanks in Siege Mode to attack Hydralisks from range. Siege Tanks are especially effective when Hydralisks are grouped which can give you the opportunity to eliminate multiple Hydralisks at once.
  • Hellions with upgrades kill Hydralisks quickly. Make sure to approach the Hydralisk pack to maximize on the splash damage.
VS Zerg
  • Swarms of upgraded Zerglings are able to swiftly surround and destroy individual Hydralisks; similarly, Banelings get a significant boost to their detonation damage against Hydralisks.
  • Roaches’ armor and health pools allow them to efficiently defeat Hydralisks.
VS Protoss
  • Use Sentries equipped with the “Guardian Shield” ability to significantly reduce damage to your units when faced with large groups of Hydralisks.
  • The High Templar’s “Psi Storm” ability is extremely effective against stationary Hydralisks.
  • Zealots have the ability to cheaply soak up a large amount of damage from Hydralisks, while dealing a fair amount back. Research Charge to make sure Hydralisks can’t kite.
  • Colossus splash damage also destroys Hydralisk swarms.
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Comments (406)

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killerfluffy #570
killerfluffy
3/3/2012
you should relly go mass hydras i win every time i do it!!!!!
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ZardBrood #249
ZardBrood
3/9/2012
@killerfluffy: so you do to isn't awesome usin it i had a guy say it was brood war all over again because of my hydra army
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OVERMIND #171
OVERMIND
3/12/2012
@killerfluffy: Your also bronze
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ZardBrood #249
ZardBrood
3/23/2012
@OVERMIND: hmmm im gold in it goin against high platniums and diamonds and still win
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ThePraetor #477
ThePraetor
4/17/2012
@killerfluffy: unless Someone goes mass (fully upgraded) Carriers.
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Mappy #580
Mappy
2/23/2012
roach shield required in front
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Mappy #580
Mappy
2/21/2012
too fat terriable positioning compared to marine maurader.
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WonderWaffle #253
WonderWaffle
1/25/2012
Did u even see in the campaign Horace beat the crap out of 2 Hydras + 1 zergling(or more)? SO OP!!
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TheInfestor #432
TheInfestor
2/14/2012
@WonderWaffle: LOL
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hasaboo #374
hasaboo
3/1/2012
@WonderWaffle: Actually Raynor killed the other hydra to save Warfield's butt.
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Mappy #580
Mappy
3/11/2012
@WonderWaffle: 3 words: hero units pwn
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ReconMarine #663
ReconMarine
3/14/2012
@hasaboo: Warfield could have snapped that Hydralisk's head clean off, but he decided that Raynor hasn't done alot through the campaign and decided to give him that one kill.
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marionette #368
marionette
12/13/2011
Hydras are damage dealer, so there's no point of being bulky. If you don't want them to die fast, protect them!! Mix them with Roaches, or Ultras for example.
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iTime #307
iTime
12/10/2011
You know whats odd, Marine are suppose to be affective against Hydralisk even through Hydralisk has higher life and shoots the same speed. Also who just only uses Hydralisk alone?
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Mappy #580
Mappy
1/11/2012
@iTime: hydra = 100min + 50gas = 150resources. that means you can get 3 marines for every hydralisk.
hydra damage = 12
marines damage = 6 ... 3 marines = "18" ... marines win ... and don't forget stim
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JDxenomorph #349
JDxenomorph
1/17/2012
@iTime: I use swarms of hydras and with roaches and zerglings and all but the hydras got owned. I tried using just hydras and owned a group of seige tanks and in another game beat an army of colossus.
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Mappy #580
Mappy
2/14/2012
@JDxenomorph: then they suck bad.
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ThePraetor #477
ThePraetor
5/2/2012
@JDxenomorph: must have been 2 colossi too 15 Hydralisks
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UltraNoob #746
UltraNoob
11/29/2011
Are you kidding? Hydralisk can take a Marauder 1 on 1.
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BomBarter #982
BomBarter
11/23/2011
Yes the hydras aren't bad with ups but still retarted how an 2nd tire unit is light.Hellions pown with the Infernal Pre-Igniter.
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AriA #750
AriA
11/22/2011
HYDRALISKS OP
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thecurrupted #246
thecurrupted
12/10/2011
your wrong
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Mappy #580
Mappy
2/21/2012
@AriA: he's right
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ShiningDraco #198
ShiningDraco
11/15/2011
as long as you get upgrades hydras aren't bad!!!!!!!!!
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Umbra #178
Umbra
3/25/2012
@ShiningDraco: Hydras are bad for the cost. Hydras also scale really really poorly in upgrades. A half priced marine gains 1 attack. So for the price two marines gain 2 dps per upgrade. Hydras should go up two not just one.
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JoWlbaBy #244
JoWlbaBy
10/17/2011
hydra is slow and ultr does not have pathing priority
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JVIoNsTer #314
JVIoNsTer
10/14/2011
lol hydra and ultra dont suk
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JoWlbaBy #244
JoWlbaBy
10/7/2011
why do both of zergs signature units, the hydra and the utra both suck so badly?
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Marine #590
Marine
10/4/2011
Hydralisk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Buster #743
Buster
9/24/2011
This is my fav unit of ALL zerg.there good anti-air(VERY true against void rays because people always get them.)and there ranged post. If you agree or not
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ThePraetor #477
ThePraetor
10/15/2011
@JetfirePrime: Nope he dosn't
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Umbra #178
Umbra
3/25/2012
@Buster: lol how often do you see voids? Sometimes but not always. Robo is the much preffered path. How are Hydras your favorite unit?? wtf??
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i see these things all da time, and all da time my carriers and mothership rip em t shreds
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pacifist #715
pacifist
9/17/2011
is using these with nydus worm a partially legitimate startegy? or broodlords or ultras?
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mowlord #711
mowlord
11/1/2011
@pacifist: yes it is. But you do need quantity and max upgrades.
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toecutter #810
toecutter
9/13/2011
Weak against marine, marauder,zealot, sentry, stalker,zergling, roach, and is slower then a limbless toddler when its off creep ... enjoy
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BcFluppuple #623
BcFluppuple
9/22/2011
@toecutter: it's the exact same speed as tank, unupped roach, Raven, Immortal, collosus, Maurader, Marine, ghost, VR, sentry, zlot (unupped)
oh and that analogy is hilarious
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Umbra #178
Umbra
3/25/2012
@BcFluppuple: the point is the strength of Zerg is speed
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Clarifyz #182
Clarifyz
9/10/2011
They should give the hydra at least 1 armor then zero when they are first made it just seems hydra are weaker in SC ll
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Yuyin #146
Yuyin
9/4/2011
I miss the LURKER ! on Hydras...