Defiler

[e][h] Defiler

Unit Information

Type:

Medium Ground Unit

Built From:

Larva

Requirements:

• Defiler Mound

Cost:

 50  150  31.5  2

Hotkey:

F

Unit stats

Defense:

80 1

Energy Maximum:

200 (+50 Metasynaptic Node)

Starting Energy:

50 (+12 Metasynaptic Node)

Sight:

10

Speed:

2.976

Description

The Defiler is a Zerg Hive tech unit requiring the Defiler Mound and morphed from Larva. It is one of the Zerg's most powerful spellcasters. It is most well known for its Dark Swarm and Plague abilities, which affect many units at once with a single activation, and can greatly influence the outcome of any battle.

It does not deal any damage directly, and moves slowly relative to the rest of the Zerg army, making it vulnerable to pick-off attacks. Defilers are most commonly used against Terran, against whom their spells are most effective.

Upgrades

Consume

100      100      63 (fastest) Unlocks the Consume ability on the Defiler.

Plague

200      200      63 (fastest) Unlocks the Plague ability on the Defiler.

Metasynaptic Node

150      150      104.58 (fastest) Defiler starting energy is increased by +12 to 62. Maximum energy is increased by +50 to 250.

Burrow

100      100      50 (fastest) Give Drones, Zerglings, Hydralisks, Defilers and Infested Terrans the ability to burrow. Researched at the Hatchery, Lair, or Hive.

Consume is typically the first upgrade obtained so that the Defiler is able to use its abilities without needing to wait for energy. It is typically started after the Defiler Mound finishes. The first Defiler is then morphed so that it hatches right as the upgrade finishes, and will be able to use Consume immediately. Usually, Plague and Metasynaptic Node are respectively the second and last upgrade obtained.

Abilities

Dark Swarm

Cost: 100 Range: 9 Effect-Radius: 6 Duration: 37.8 Dark Swarm casts an orange cloud on the map under which no units take direct damage from ranged attacks. Buildings are not affected (i.e. They are dealt damage by all units). Ranged attacks that are unaffected by Dark Swarm include Reaver Scarabs and Lurker spines. For units whose attacks do splash, such as the Siege Tank, only the splash damage is done to the target. Workers also cannot attack under Dark Swarm.

Plague

Cost: 150 Range: 9 Casts red toxic spores on units within the effect radius. These units subsequently begin to take 11.74 damage per second, ignoring armor, until a total of 295 Hit Points is lost or until the unit's health falls to 1-3 Hit Points.

Consume

Consume sacrifices a friendly Zerg unit, taking its life and giving the Defiler 50 more energy. All units give 50 energy, so Zerglings are ideal units to consume, but any Zerg air or ground unit (besides Larvae, but including Eggs) can be sacrificed. It is common to see the Zerg Consume Overlords (preferably when empty) and Hydralisks, as well, when Zerglings are not readily available in the midst of battle as these units are usually in the vicinity.

Competitive Usage

Zerg players usually use the Dark Swarm spell to defend against an army that is composed mostly of ranged units. The Dark Swarm does not block spells such as Psi Storm and certain attacks such as those from melee units like the Zealot. Under the Dark Swarm, the attack of all ranged units are shifted to the front of their intended target (i.e. falling short), so splash damage will still deal damage.

The Defiler is frequently sniped by enemy units due to its potent spells and slow movement speed, so it's common to see the Zerg player hide the Defiler in the center of its army force or using Overlords with speed/drop upgrade to quickly get the Defiler out. It is very similar to Reaver/Shuttle combo that Protoss players frequently employ.

versus Zerg

Almost never seen, as ZvZ rarely reaches the Hive stage. However, a Defiler can single-handedly swing the momentum in a player's favor with one well placed Plague over a group of stacked Mutalisks.

versus Terran

Defilers are most commonly used versus Terran because Firebats, Siege Tanks in Siege Mode, and Spider Mines are the only units capable of dealing damage to units protected by Dark Swarm. Siege Tanks will only deal splash damage.

The best time to use Dark Swarm is usually to protect a small area of the map, either offensively or defensively. This includes attacking enemy-controlled bases or choke points, or defending the Zerg player's own chokepoints. It is common for the Zerg to utilize Mutalisks to stall the Bio Terran in the early game as the player quickly advances to Defilers with Dark Swarm, which renders the Marine and Siege Tank army largely ineffective. Although it is also effective in more neutral engagements (such as two armies clashing in the center of the map), Terran players will often move their troops from under the Dark Swarm to minimize damage. Lurkers under Dark Swarm are extremely powerful. Because they are burrowed, Siege Tanks can not damage them, and Firebats' concussive damage makes them very weak against Lurkers.

Plague is also very useful against tightly packed units like Marines or against Science Vessels. Plague is best used when the Zerg player's army is located away from the Defiler while the Terran opponent's army can be targeted. Any Zerg units hit by the Plague spores will also see their health severely damaged. A Plagued infantry army becomes immensely fragile since their Hit Points will sit at 1 for a while even as any nearby Medics attempt to heal them. When used on clumps of Science Vessels, this either leaves them extremely vulnerable, or forces the Terran to retreat and repair them. Plague amplifies the power of Hydralisk/Lurker against SK Terran as the Hydralisks are very effective at picking off a Plagued Terran army as it retreats. These troops will each only require one Hydralisk or Mutalisk attack to complete be destroyed.

Because of their potent spell casting abilities, Defilers are often the first priority for Science Vessels to Irradiate. One Irradiate is sufficient to kill the Defiler, but the Zerg player will have a few seconds to cast a last Dark Swarm or Plague for defensive or offensive purposes before expiring.

versus Protoss

Defilers are somewhat popular versus Protoss, although players will usually wait until they have about four mining bases until they start producing them. Generally, they are more popular in the professional scene than among amateurs as they require additional multitasking and micro management to properly control.

Dark Swarm is particularly effective when used against a Protoss army consisting heavily of Dragoons or Archons, as the Dragoons get nullified due to its range attack and Archons are reduced to splash damage as its most potent attack is its short-range fire. Dark Swarm is also very effective at destroying isolated expansions. In the mid-game, Protoss often rely on Photon Cannons alone for defense for the Nexus, but they deal zero damage to units under Dark Swarm, so even a small group of Zerglings can destroy a large group of cannons if the Protoss has nothing else to defend with.

Plague is powerful against tightly packed ground units with high Hit Points, such as Zealots and Dragoons. Note the Plague is not effective against Archons, as most of their health is composed of its Plasma Shields.

If the Protoss elects to build Carriers, the Defiler's Plague is an effective counter, as Carriers are usually stacked. Additionally, Plagued Interceptors will stay in the Carrier until Plague wears off. This is because Interceptors will return to the Carrier to heal. Carriers are also countered by Dark Swarm with Hydralisks, as Hydralisks can fire from under the Swarm without incurring damage from Interceptors.