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.
Heart of the Swarm Wings of Liberty
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:

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.
  • Can improve movement speed off of creep with the Muscular Augments 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.
  • Muscular Augments: Increases hydralisk movement speed when off of creep.

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 (447)

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Alexander #2442
Alexander
4 days, 15 hours ago
i need expo pack to have new units???!!!!!!!!
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Warhawk #776
Warhawk
5/7/2013
i hate these things when swarmed
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OROCHIMAURO #137
OROCHIMAURO
4/30/2013
Hydras replaces roaches at mid and end game?
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BudderQT #691
BudderQT
4/18/2013
guys the muscular augments make the hydra %25 faster OFF CREEP!!!!!!!!!!!OK??????????????
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Skywing #382
Skywing
5/10/2013
@BudderQT: When going a roach hydra build often time the entire army would go to the designated area, and the base would get bombarded by an aerial attack so if there was no creep, the hydras would usually not be able to make it back in time to defend. Since spore crawlers are really not that much of a deterant to air such as missle turrets, sometimes zerg have to rely on a hydra defense.
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itsmyroad #982
itsmyroad
4/8/2013
I'm no master, but I've had too many even trades, or losses, using hydras vs voids to consider them "strong" vs voids. I actually have more luck going mass muta, at least then positioning is less of a problem...
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Damy #413
Damy
3/1/2013
You made the unloading animation too "ball" like for the hydra, it's like you purposely tried made the Zerg cute....
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NinjaSquiral #880
NinjaSquiral
3/12/2013
@Damy: they dont have to try, the zerg are the cutest things to grace the universe.
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ultra #968
ultra
3/17/2013
@NinjaSquiral: um.
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ArkAngel #511
ArkAngel
4/1/2013
@ultra: uuhhhhhh i agree. ninja you say what?
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MechaGhidrah #666
MechaGhidrah
4/17/2013
@NinjaSquiral: I agree with you. Hydralisks are almost as cute as kittens.
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Doomrpg #308
Doomrpg
4/29/2013
@NinjaSquiral: i agree zerg are cuter then my cat
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LostHope #768
LostHope
5/3/2013
@NinjaSquiral: That's why people die to them... :)
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ZellBeast #960
ZellBeast
1/30/2013
I read the description... Looks like a joke...
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GeneralDuke #238
GeneralDuke
1/20/2013
You know Protoss has 5 spell casters, Zerg has 3, and Terran has only 2 Protoss is totally boss now!!!
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GeneralDuke #238
GeneralDuke
1/20/2013
@OfficerDuke: if you count the mothership and core as two units if not then 4
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MechaGhidrah #666
MechaGhidrah
1/18/2013
SOOOO ADOREABLE
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Espionage #831
Espionage
12/15/2012
Hydralisks need either more range or more hp because mine either die instanly or cant hit anything.
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Dagdraumur #657
Dagdraumur
1/15/2013
@Espionage: stick a handful of roaches in front of them, and make sure you get that range upgrade
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Zagara #534
Zagara
11/28/2012
I heard blizzard is considering making their speed upgrade in HOTS lair tech. I hope so!!! :D
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ZTPNoobZTP #168
ZTPNoobZTP
1/16/2013
@Contagion: they did :D
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Zasz #228
Zasz
10/5/2012
Hydralisks need an upgrade called 'Toxic Spines' that deal damage over time. This mixed with the muscular augment upgrade would make the Hydralisks a viable hit and run unit, being they're too slow and weak to be a good front line unit as they can't run away from a battle unless on creep.
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UltraNoob #746
UltraNoob
10/10/2012
@Squarewolf: Yes. This. Or give Hydras 90 hp instead. But this ability would be awesome. I'll be impressed if Blizzard decides to do anything with Zerg for now (Since most patches seem to focus on Terran and Protoss). At best, they move the Hydra back to T1 and the Roach up to T2 and modify both. I miss the old Hydra :( but I'm fine with keeping the roach.
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MutaStorm #481
MutaStorm
10/16/2012
@Squarewolf: maybe the toxic can slow bio units down to counter stimpacked marines. Like concussive shell for zerg. (another idea)
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Horkoss #310
Horkoss
11/22/2012
@Voltar: Well i hope they'll change a lot for the zerg since the second game turn around them.
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NinjaNoob #597
NinjaNoob
9/28/2012
need more HP, then they would be amazing
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MutaStorm #481
MutaStorm
9/29/2012
@NinjaNoob: They should add toxic spine, like when warfield complain about poison from the hydra. just an idea(or fact)
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THEBUB #434
THEBUB
8/26/2012
meh. harder to get in-game, but still kinda slow. only ground-to-air unit with adequate mobility. gets pwned by colossi( with thermal lance up), being light and all, but are still potent in groued up with other zerg(speedlings, roaches, etc.)
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Zidane #442
Zidane
8/9/2012
You know hydralisks admission cute have they same muscle build as maybe an army of marines maybe even more so technically speaking upgrading their grooved spines makes them (with support from other units) the best (my opinion) unitry of AA
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Ben #2881
Ben
8/8/2012
anyone else think that terranes and toss are op for getting teir 1 anti-air and zerg don't
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CoolGuy #279
CoolGuy
8/17/2012
@Ben: There are queens and cheaper spore crawlers as a plus side for Zerg to compensate. Corruptors mixed with roaches and hydras with roaches are classic combos! (both would be better with speedlings)
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defeatable #134
defeatable
8/7/2012
better than marine worst than zealot but still cool
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MappyTinfoil #727
MappyTinfoil
8/20/2012
@defeatable: Marines are better...
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ZardBrood #249
ZardBrood
8/22/2012
@Omicron: Anyone who knows that 1 Hydra=2 rines. Called creep and tank units. Hydras are very powerful if given the chance.
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defeatable #134
defeatable
8/29/2012
@Omicron: not in attack
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RavensShadow #676
RavensShadow
8/30/2012
@Omicron: I make Hydras, Own toss in 8 minutes and F*** you Bch!
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Thunderwing #487
Thunderwing
9/22/2012
@Omicron: I do, if an enemy Toss is going air. Other than that, I really only use these to be meat shields.
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MappyTinfoil #727
MappyTinfoil
11/28/2012
@ZardBrood: Marines can:
Stim
Receive Healing from medivacs
Split like bananas
"Every day I'm shuttering"
Combat shields

Hydras:
1-a
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MappyTinfoil #727
MappyTinfoil
11/28/2012
@defeatable: You mean in response to the immortal sentry 2 base?
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MappyTinfoil #727
MappyTinfoil
11/28/2012
@RavensShadow: Past meta game.