StarCraft® II

In the years following the Brood War, Kerrigan became obsessed with the genetic codes of species with hyper-regenerative properties. The most impressive example was the unassuming acidic Zantar Slug living in the humid, mountainous depths of Garrxax. This tiny slug was capable of healing itself at rapid rates, and it also excreted mucus that could eat through neosteel. Consequently it was quickly assimilated into the Swarm. Thus the Roach was evolved, a creature that can heal itself rapidly and deliver deadly ranged acid blasts. In a one-on-one battle, not much can stand against this regenerating monstrosity.

Heart of the Swarm Wings of Liberty

Unit Statistics

3D Model

Basic information

Race:	Zerg
Life:	145 Regeneration: 0.273
Armor:	1 (4)
Movement:	Normal Acceleration: 1000 Turn Rate: 999.844
Cargo Size:	2
Attributes:	Armored - Biological

Production

Producer:	Larva
Hotkey:	R
Requires:	Roach Warren
Cost:	75 25
Supply:	2
Build time:	27

Combat

Upgrades:	Zerg Ground Carapace Level 1 Upgrades the armor of all Zerg ground units. Hotkey: C Cost: 150 150 Build time: 160 Zerg Ground Carapace Level 2 Further upgrades the armor of all Zerg ground units. Hotkey: C Cost: 225 225 Build time: 190 Zerg Ground Carapace Level 3 Maximizes the armor of all Zerg ground units. Hotkey: C Cost: 300 300 Build time: 220 Zerg Missile Attacks Level 1 Upgrades the attacks of all Zerg ground ranged units. Hotkey: A Cost: 100 100 Build time: 160 Zerg Missile Attacks Level 2 Further upgrades the attacks of all Zerg ground ranged units. Hotkey: A Cost: 150 150 Build time: 190 Zerg Missile Attacks Level 3 Maximizes the attacks of all Zerg ground ranged units. Hotkey: A Cost: 200 200 Build time: 220 Glial Reconstitution Increases the movement speed of Roaches. Hotkey: G Cost: 100 100 Build time: 110 Tunneling Claws Enables Roaches to move while burrowed. Increases the life-regeneration rate of burrowed Roaches. Hotkey: T Cost: 150 150 Build time: 110 Burrow Enables all Zerg ground units to use the Burrow ability. Burrow allows a unit to take cover underground, rendering it unable to attack. A burrowed unit is invisible unless revealed by detectors or effects. Hotkey: B Cost: 100 100 Build time: 100
Weapon:	Acid Saliva Target: Ground Range: 4 Speed: Slow Type: Disintegrate (Ranged) Damage: 16 (22)
Ability:	Burrow Buries the unit underground. Burrowed units are unable to move or attack, but they cannot be seen without detection. Hotkey: R Requires: Burrow Duration: 1 Rapid Regeneration The Roach regenerates life very quickly while burrowed.

3D Model

Basic information

Race:	Zerg
Life:	145 Regeneration: 0.273
Armor:	1 (4)
Movement:	Normal Acceleration: 1000 Turn Rate: 999.844
Cargo Size:	2
Attributes:	Armored - Biological

Production

Producer:	Larva
Hotkey:	R
Requires:	Roach Warren
Cost:	75 25
Supply:	2
Build time:	27

Combat

Upgrades:	Zerg Ground Carapace Level 1 Upgrades the armor of all Zerg ground units. Hotkey: C Cost: 150 150 Build time: 160 Zerg Ground Carapace Level 2 Further upgrades the armor of all Zerg ground units. Hotkey: C Cost: 225 225 Build time: 190 Zerg Ground Carapace Level 3 Maximizes the armor of all Zerg ground units. Hotkey: C Cost: 300 300 Build time: 220 Zerg Missile Attacks Level 1 Upgrades the attacks of all Zerg ground ranged units. Hotkey: A Cost: 100 100 Build time: 160 Zerg Missile Attacks Level 2 Further upgrades the attacks of all Zerg ground ranged units. Hotkey: A Cost: 150 150 Build time: 190 Zerg Missile Attacks Level 3 Maximizes the attacks of all Zerg ground ranged units. Hotkey: A Cost: 200 200 Build time: 220 Glial Reconstitution Increases the movement speed of Roaches. Hotkey: G Cost: 100 100 Build time: 110 Tunneling Claws Enables Roaches to move while burrowed. Increases the life-regeneration rate of burrowed Roaches. Hotkey: T Cost: 150 150 Build time: 110 Burrow Enables all Zerg ground units to use the Burrow ability. Burrow allows a unit to take cover underground, rendering it unable to attack. A burrowed unit is invisible unless revealed by detectors or effects. Hotkey: B Cost: 100 100 Build time: 100
Weapon:	Acid Saliva Target: Ground Range: 4 Speed: Slow Type: Disintegrate (Ranged) Damage: 16 (22)
Ability:	Burrow Buries the unit underground. Burrowed units are unable to move or attack, but they cannot be seen without detection. Hotkey: R Requires: Burrow Duration: 1 Rapid Regeneration The Roach regenerates life very quickly while burrowed.

General Strategy

Short-ranged anti-ground unit.
Can burrow with the Burrow upgrade, and move while burrowed with the Tunneling Claws upgrade.
Difficult to kill due to regeneration ability.
Regenerates hitpoints faster while burrowed.
Can upgrade their above-ground movement speed with the Glial Reconstitution upgrade.
Effective at skirmishing and blocking chokepoints due to regeneration.

Strong Against

Weak Against

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.
Glial Reconstitution: Increases Roach speed.
Tunneling Claws: The Roach can move while burrowed.

Countermeasures

VS Terran

Employ high-damage units such as Siege Tanks and Banshees. Their damage output will allow them to take the Roaches down quickly.
Use Ravens to help spot burrowed Roaches and prevent them from sneaking up on Siege Tanks in Siege Mode.
Utilize Marauders since they deal bonus damage against the Roach’s armor and also significantly outrange them. It’s possible to kite the Roaches using the Concussive Shells upgrade which slows down targets hit by the Marauder.

VS Zerg

Include an Overseer in your attack squadrons to help spot burrowed Roaches.
Utilize Mutalisks to attack Roaches from the air, where they won’t be able to fire back.
In open areas, upgraded Zerglings beat Roaches.

VS Protoss

Immortals take extremely minimal damage from Roach attacks, and kill them fairly quickly.
High-damage air units such as Void Rays also do well against Roaches.
Observers help spot burrowed Roaches and allow your army to kill them before they can regenerate their hit points.

Terran
Zerg
Protoss

* Requires Heart of the Swarm expansion pack

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