"Blah blah blah. They hide and they heal. And it sucks." - A Dominion marine mocking analysis of the roach.(src)

The roach is a zerg ground unit in StarCraft II.

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Overview Edit

The roach is a particularly tough, armored breed which possesses a high-speed regeneration ability when burrowed.[1] This quick regeneration is due to the constant breakdown to the roachs's own modified pharynx, a natural byproduct of the zerg's acid production, an intentional design by the Swarm in order to facilitate quicker regrowth.[2] A roach is slightly shorter than a terran wearing CMC armor.[3] In order to properly form, roaches require dark, humid conditions, such as those found in a roach warren.[4]

Roaches evolved from the fast-healing zantar slug of Garrxax[1] and were in use by 2501, taking part in a battle on Shi.[5] Their ranged acid saliva attack is capable of penetrating neosteel and armor, and violently dissolving flesh on multiple entry points. This saliva is derived from the zantar slug and is expelled with considerable force through the muscles that surround the roach's salivary glands—highly specialized striated ducts that produce a unique enzyme that weaponizes the creature's already corrosive saliva.[6] This acid contains viroids that propagate through their victim's nervous system, which can only be either addressed through heavy bachteriophage treatments or by removal of the affected limb. Due to their heavy armor, roaches are unable to aim their acid at aerial targets.[7]

If pressed into close quarters, roaches use scythe-like blades on their backs to dispatch the enemy. The hardness of these scythes allows roaches to scythe through neosteel and armor with ease. Roaches have the ability to evolve into ravagers, a fierce artillery strain that lobs corrosive bile at a long range.

The roach's metabolism is ten times greater than that of the zantar slug (increased through assimilation), and gained the ability to quickly regenerate even the most grievous wounds when burrowed.[1] This is through a process known as osmotic epithelium.[6] The absorption of soil compounds, especially rare earths and metals, has allowed roaches to develop extremely thick carapaces. Some Dominion scientists have theorized that the roach is not immune to the ravages of its acidic body fluids, and the creature's potent regeneration capabilities ensure tissue integrity in spite of constant corrosion.[1] The roach's thoracic acid bladder is similar to those organelles found in mutalisks. This bladder is triggered to erupt when penetrated.[2]

The Leviathan Brood roaches are known to be incredibly aggressive due to vespene exposure.

Roaches enslaved by the Cerberus Program were had their carapaces enhanced with a carbon fiber nanoweave, and their offensive capabilities improved with forged titanium blades. [8]

After the ascension of Zagara to supreme ruler of the swarm, Abathur was ordered to continue to experiment with the roach genome in a continuing pursuit of perfection. This resulted in variant strains of the roach.[4]

Sometime after the Second Great War, roaches gained the ability to evolve into ravagers.[4]

Tactics Edit

"Use heaviest weapons only and confirm kill shot. I repeat, be 100 percent sure of total kill! Those bastards heal real fast, so do not settle for injury! If they burrow, grenade them as they go down!" - Major Lee Treicher directing marines against roaches(src)

One on one, few are capable of taking on a roach and winning.[1] They are deployed when zerglings start to be thinned out and are sometimes supported by infestors.[9] When paired with zerglings, they can be nearly unstoppable against marines bereft of siege tank or bunker support.[10] Roaches are nearly impervious to small-arms fire, and nigh immune to flame-based weapons, and explosives and artillery are a must for terran forces when these creatures are deployed.[1]

Game Unit Edit

Versus Edit

The roach is a ranged unit, giving it added utility at choke points.[11] The roach rises slightly when it attacks.[12] It also has a melee attack that it, like the hydralisk, performs at close range for the same damage as the ranged attack.[13]

Roaches are strong against hellions, zealots, and zerglings, and weak against MMM, immortals, and ultralisks. Thors, stalkers, and siege tanks also pose a strong threat to roaches due to their bonus damage against armored targets.

They have no anti-air attack. Roaches inherit the roles of medium attacker and ambusher from the original StarCraft's hydralisk and lurker. To compensate for its lack of anti-air attack, it is common to see roaches combined with hydralisks. A common strategy is for roaches to absorb damage while hydralisks deal it.[14]

Upgrades and Abilities Edit

Glial Reconstitution Increases Roach movement speed to 4.2 while unburrowed, and to 4.4 while burrowed under creep. Acquisition Purchased from Roach warren Hotkey G Cost 100 100 70 Required Lair

Tunneling Claws The roach can move while burrowed. It moves faster when burrowed beneath the creep. Glial Reconstitution has no impact on burrowing speed.

While it can be researched earlier, Tunneling Claws cannot be used until burrowing has been evolved. Acquisition Purchased from Roach warren Hotkey T Cost 100 100 79 Required Lair

Missile Attacks Attack bonus for queens and zerg ground ranged units. Acquisition Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey A Level 1 Cost 100 100 114 Level 2 Cost 150 150 136 Required Lair Level 3 Cost 200 200 157 Required Hive

Carapace +1 bonus to armor per level for zerg ground units. Acquisition Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey C Level 1 Cost 150 150 114 Level 2 Cost 225 225 136 Required Lair Level 3 Cost 300 300 157 Required Hive

Ravager Morph The roach can morph into a ravager. Costs 1 supply. Usage Hotkey V Cost 25 75 9

Roach Regeneration Roaches regenerate at 5 hit points/second when burrowed.[15]

The rate of healing increases with the Tunneling Claws upgrade to a rate of 10 hit points per second.[15]

The regeneration doesn't stack with the medivac dropship's healing ability.[16]

Burrow Many zerg ground units may burrow, becoming invisible and revealed primarily by detectors, and may not move or attack while burrowed. Exceptions include:

Roach , which may move while burrowed



, which may move while burrowed Lurker, which may attack while burrowed



Infestor, which may move while burrowed



Baneling, which can detonate while burrowed. Some units can unburrow via autocast, causing them to emerge and attack when an enemy moves into range. The ability is not smartcast. Usage Hotkey R Cost 2 seconds to burrow, 1 second to unburrow Acquisition Purchased from Hatchery/Lair/Hive Hotkey B Cost 100 100 71 Required Lair (WoL)

Hatchery (HotS/LotV)

Heart of the Swarm Edit

In the Heart of the Swarm campaign, roaches may be evolved into either corpsers or vile roaches after completing the required evolution mission. They are unlocked through the mission "Harvest of Screams."

Upgrades and Abilities Edit

Hydriodic Bile Roach deals +8 damage to light units. Base composition of roach acidic saliva identical to that of zantar slug. Highly corrosive. Can alter chemical compound. Systematically evolve bile duct membranes, force production of hydroiodic bile. Upon contact, will melt tissue, flesh, bone. Dissolve poorly armored foes. Campaign Acquisition Heart of the Swarm

Adaptive Plating Roach gains +3 armor when below 50% HP. Roach carapace effective. Improvement difficult. Requires redesign, alternate carapace structure. Can use modular plates to protect roach, provide equivalent defense. When roach wounded, adaptive plates react to blood flow, thicken. Ensure survival. Campaign Acquisition Heart of the Swarm

Tunneling Claws Roach can move at full speed while burrowed. Doubles roach regeneration rate while burrowed. Can enhance roach utility, several key evolutions. Able to evolve tunneling claws, series of spiracles lining carapace. Will allow roach to tear through terrain while burrowed, draw additional nutrients from soil. Combination provides strategic advantage. Campaign Acquisition Heart of the Swarm

Co-op Missions Edit

Zagara is able to summon sacs of roaches with timed life in Co-op Missions. Otherwise, roaches are exclusive to Abathur. Abathur is able to evolve his roaches into ravagers, and they upgrade to the vile strain when he reaches Level 14. Additional upgrades for roaches and ravagers are unlocked when Abathur reaches Level 4.

Dehaka has access to primal roaches, which can evolve into primal igniters or primal guardians.

Stetmann has access to mecha roaches, which are temporarily spawned from mecha infestors.

Zagara Upgrades and Abilities Edit

Burrow Buries the unit underground. Burrowed unit are unable to move or attack, but they cannot be seen without detection. Usage Hotkey R Cost 2 (burrow)

1 (unburrow) Campaign Acquisition Unlock Initially available.

Roach Regeneration The roach regenerates life very quickly while burrowed. Regenerates 5 health per second. Usage Passive Campaign Acquisition Unlock Initially available.

Zerg Ground Attacks Increases the attack damage of zerg ground units. Usage Passive Campaign Acquisition Unlock Initially available. Acquisition Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey M Level 1 Cost 100 100 160 Effect Damage: 18

Mastery: +0.33 attack damage per Roach Damage and Life mastery point. Up to a maximum 28 Level 2 Cost 150 150 190 Required Lair/Hive Effect Damage: 20

Mastery: +0.33 attack damage per Roach Damage and Life mastery point. Up to a maximum 30 Level 3 Cost 200 200 220 Required Hive Effect Damage: 22

Mastery: +0.33 attack damage per Roach Damage and Life mastery point. Up to a maximum 32

Zerg Ground Carapace Increases the armor of zerg ground units. Usage Passive Campaign Acquisition Unlock Initially available. Acquisition Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey M Level 1 Cost 100 100 160 Effect Armor: 2 Level 2 Cost 175 175 190 Required Lair/Hive Effect Armor: 3 Level 3 Cost 250 250 220 Required Hive Effect Armor: 4

Abathur Upgrades and Abilities Edit

Burrow Buries the unit underground. Burrowed unit are unable to move or attack, but they cannot be seen without detection. Usage Hotkey R Cost 2 (burrow)

1 (unburrow) Campaign Acquisition Unlock Initially available.

Roach Regeneration The roach regenerates life very quickly while burrowed. Regenerates 5 health per second. Usage Passive Campaign Acquisition Unlock Initially available.

Ravager Morph The roach can morph into a ravager, a large creature with the Corrosive Bile ability. Campaign Acquisition Unlock Initially available Acquisition Hotkey T Standart Cost 25 75 1 9 With Mutagenic Potential Cost 13 38 1 5

Deep Tunnel Roach quickly burrow to a target location. Usage Hotkey D Cost 2 Cooldown 30 Campaign Acquisition Unlock Reach Abathur Level 9.

Tunneling Horror prestige Acquisition Purchased from Infestation pit Hotkey D Cost 200 200 120

Biomass Gatherer Roaches gain +3% hit points, +1% attack speed and +5% armor per stack of Biomass. Can stack up to 100 Biomass.

Passive: Heal 1% hit points per Biomass.



Essence Hoarder: Roaches can collect an additional 25 Biomass (summary 125).



The Limitless: Roaches can collect an additional 100 Biomass (summary 200), but gain +1.5% hit points, +0.5% attack speed and +2.5% armor per stack. Usage Range 4 Notes The amount of collected biomass change based on difficulty and the amount of supply used by the killed enemy unit:

Collect 5 biomass per supply (Casual and Normal)

Collect 4 biomass per supply (Hard)

Collect 2.5 biomass per supply (Brutal) Campaign Acquisition Unlock Initially available. Acquisition Basic Effect Hit Points: +4.35 per Biomass. Up to a maximum 580

Attack Speed: +1% per Biomass. Up to a maximum 1

Armor: +0.05 per Biomass. Up to a maximum 6 With Essence Hoarder Effect Hit Points: +4.35 per Biomass. Up to a maximum 688.75

Attack Speed: +1% per Biomass. Up to a maximum 0.89

Armor: +0.05 per Biomass. Up to a maximum 6.25 With The Limitless Effect Hit Points: +2.175 per Biomass. Up to a maximum 580

Attack Speed: +0.5% per Biomass. Up to a maximum 1

Armor: +0.025 per Biomass. Up to a maximum 6

Evolve to Brutalisk Roach evolves into a Brutalisk. Can be set to autocast.



Essence Hoarder: Evolve to Brutalisk is unavailable.



The Limitless: Evolve to Brutalisk is no longer limited to 3, but requires 200 stacks of Biomass. Campaign Acquisition Unlock Reach Abathur Level 2. Acquisition Basic Cost 5 Required Collect 100 Biomass

Cannot have more than 3 at the same time. With The Limitless Cost 5 Required Collect 200 Biomass

Biomass Recovery When killed, your units have a 50% chance to drop all their Biomass.



Essence Hoarder: Increases the Biomass Recovery chance from 50% to 100%. Campaign Acquisition Unlock Reach Abathur level 7.

Glial Reconstitution Increases the movement speed of roaches by 33% Campaign Acquisition Unlock Initially available Acquisition Purchased from Roach warren Hotkey G Cost 150 150 110

Tunneling Claws Allows roaches to move while burrowed. Increases HP regen rate of burrowed roaches by 100%. Campaign Acquisition Unlock Initially available Acquisition Purchased from Roach warren Hotkey T Cost 100 100 110 Required Lair/Hive

Adaptive Plating Roaches gain +6 armor when below 50% health. Campaign Acquisition Unlock Reach Abathur Level 4 Acquisition Purchased from Roach warren Hotkey D Cost 100 100 110 Required Hive

Hydriodic Bile Roaches gain +8 damage vs light units. Campaign Acquisition Unlock Initially available Acquisition Purchased from Roach warren Hotkey G Cost 100 100 110

Zerg Missile Attacks Increases the attack damage of zerg ground ranged units.



(Also affects Broodlings) Usage Passive Campaign Acquisition Unlock Initially available. Acquisition Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey M Level 1 Cost 100 100 160 Effect Damage: 18 (basic)

18 (+8 vs Light) (with Hydriodic Bile) Level 2 Cost 150 150 190 Required Lair/Hive Effect Damage: 20 (basic)

20 (+8 vs Light) (with Hydriodic Bile) Level 3 Cost 200 200 220 Required Hive Effect Damage: 22 (basic)

22 (+8 vs Light) (with Hydriodic Bile)

Zerg Ground Carapace Increases the armor of zerg ground units. Usage Passive Campaign Acquisition Unlock Initially available. Acquisition Purchased from Evolution chamber Hotkey M Level 1 Cost 100 100 160 Effect Armor: 2 Level 2 Cost 175 175 190 Required Lair/Hive Effect Armor: 3 Level 3 Cost 250 250 220 Required Hive Effect Armor: 4

Roach Evolution: Vile Upgrades Abathur's Roaches to the Vile Strain.



Assault unit. Regenerates life quickly while burrowed. Attacks debilitate the target, slowing its attack and movement speeds.



Can attack ground units. Usage Notes Replace default skin to vile strain Campaign Acquisition Unlock Reach Abathur level 14.

Roach Strategies Edit

On normal and rush maps, roaches are well suited for the early and mid-game.[17]

Zerg vs Terran Edit

A roach/baneling combo is very powerful against terrans, as the roaches will soak damage, enabling the banelings to get close to the enemy and deal their high damage attacks.[18]

Zerg vs Zerg Edit

Roaches and zerglings are used early in ZvZ matches. Roaches are a more defensive unit compared to zerglings. Cost for cost, roaches win against zerglings at chokepoints but lose in open areas. Later in the game, numerous roaches can defeat numerous zerglings even in open areas.[19]

Zerg vs Protoss Edit

Roaches are a great way to defend an early expo against 2 Gate zealot push. Mass overwhelming roaches is also quite strong against a fast teching opponent, even one who goes air. Use roaches to soak up colossus damage until ultralisks or air units can support.

General Edit

Roaches, coupled with their speed and burrow move upgrades, make great harassment units at exposed bases.

Roaches are a great staple unit and have great value for cost, but take up control quickly. In direct encounters with enemy armies of equal supply, mass roach is more likely to lose.

Development Edit

Achievements Edit

A Roach's Life Points 10 Criteria Regenerate 500 life on a single Roach without taking friendly fire in an Unranked or Ranked game. Edit

Special Roach Strains Edit

Images Edit

Skins

Portraits