Spire

[e][h] Spire

Building Information

Cost:

 200  150  75

Hotkey:

V → S

Defense:

600 1

Requirements:

• Lair

Morphs into:

• Greater Spire

Unlocked Tech:

• Mutalisk
• Scourge

Upgrades available:

• Level 1-3 Flyer Attack
• Level 1-3 Flyer Carapace

Animated:

No

The Spire is a mid-game Zerg tech building that allows the player to create Mutalisks and Scourge, both of which are built at the Hatchery. The Spire does not build any units directly.

The Spire also allows the research of two upgrades: Flyer Carapace for air unit armor and Flyer Attack for air unit attack. Once the Lair morphs into the Hive, Flyer Carapace and Flyer Attack can be upgraded to level 3 and the Spire can be upgraded to a Greater Spire, which allow hatching of two advanced Zerg air units, Guardians and Devourers.

The Spire is an extremely important tech option for Zerg in all three match-ups. The Zerg player may elect to build the Spire in a furtive location hidden from plain sight to gain the advantage of surprise against the opponent.

• In the ZvZ match-up, most games revolve around a race to build the Spire as quickly as possible while not losing to the opponent's Zerglings.
• In the ZvT match-up, Mutalisks are very useful for harassment and stalling while the Zerg advances to Hive technology. The Spire also permits Scourge, which are are essential for destroying Science Vessels.
• In the ZvP match-up, Mutalisks can be used for probe harass or for sniping High Templars, and Scourge are very useful for sniping Observers, which prevents the Protoss from being able to detect Lurkers. Scourge are also very useful against Corsairs and Shuttles. A Spire is a worthwhile addition, even if it is only used to counter enemy drops with Scourge, without getting Mutalisks.

The Spire has a high cost, a long build time, and fairly low health, so it is fairly vulnerable and a good target to be sniped in drop play by the opponent.

Upgrades

Flyer Attack

100 (+75)      100 (+75)      167.58 (+12.6) (fastest) Each upgrade adds +1 to the Flyer Attack for a total of +3 when fully upgraded. Requires Lair for Level 2 and Hive for Level 3 Upgrades.

Flyer Carapace

150 (+75)      150 (+75)      167.58 (+12.6) (fastest) Each upgrade adds +1 to the Flyer Carapace for a total of +3 when fully upgraded. Requires Lair for Level 2 and Hive for Level 3 Upgrades.