Welcome to Zerg Overflow.

Question

1

Clarify this for me. In some SC2 interviews and videos, etc. i've seen and heard all about the new Roach zerg unit. if i understand this unit correctly, it is a tier 1 light tank unit for the zerg with excellent regeneration capabilities. However i've been hearing back and forth from different sources that they keep taking the regeneration out, putting it back in, tweaking it, blah blah. According to Starcraft Wiki,

As of August 2009 roaches only regenerated when burrowed

and then tweaked again

although by November 2009 they appeared to regenerate at all times, but about twice as quickly after burrowing.

so, in theorycraft and assuming they kept it the way it is since Nov09, this unit can still be used in the proposed "commando roach" strategy and also to effectively tank. Has anyone heard anything of late about the development of the roach? Can we assume it will stay the way it is? And what variables do you see interfering with the balance of the roaches ability?

edited Jan 21 at 12:25

Travis♦♦
783●1●10

asked Jan 20 at 18:08

Forte
171●4

aths · Answer 1 · 2010-01-20 21:30:13Z UTC

I hate to say this, but the stats of the Roach will most probably change during beta anyways. Blizzard wanted this kind of unit, but then saw that the Roach's purpose overlapped with other units so the regeneration was nerfed.

Personally I always felt that the Zerg need another tier 1 unit. Blizzard now implemented one. We have to wait and see how it turns out. I guess it's save to say that lings will continue to administer close combat punishment, hydras will provide range attack while roaches will be able to withstand some serious melee damage.

If the roach in the final release will be able to move while burrowed we also can use it to scout or to sneak into bases. This adds some value since the tank purpose will probably get less usefull in tier 2 and tier 3.

tzenes · Answer 2 · 2010-02-19 05:33:45Z UTC

As of the current beta release:

Currently roaches only have increased regen while burrowed.

At tier 2 you can research the ability for roaches to move while burrowed

At tier 3 you can research the ability for roaches to regenerate while unburrowed.

Both of these upgrades can be found at the Roach Warren.

note: As burrowing requires tier 2, roaches do not get the increased regen at all until tier 2.

additionally you can research faster movement at tier 2. I know its unrelated but worth noting.

Starcraft 2: The Commando Roach & Regeneration

2 Answers