Roach (Legacy of the Void)

This article covers the current multiplayer version of this unit. For other versions see Roach (Heart of the Swarm), Roach (Wings of Liberty) and Roach (Heart of the Swarm Campaign).

[e][h] Roach

Unit Information

Type:

Ground Unit

Description:

Assault unit. Regenerates health quickly when burrowed.

Requirements:

Roach Warren

Cost:

75 25 19 2

Attributes:

Armored, Biological

Attack 1:
(Acid Saliva)

Targets:		Ground
Damage:		16 (+2)
DPS:		11.2 (+1.4)
Cooldown:		1.43
Range:		4

Defense:

145 1 (+1)

Hotkey:

R

Sight:

9

Speed:

3.15 (+1.05)

Speed Multiplier on Creep:

1.3

Speed on Creep:

4.09 (+1.36)

Cargo Size:

2

Strong against:

• Hellion
• Zealot
• Zergling

Weak against:

• Marauder
• Immortal
• Ultralisk

Description

The Roach is an Armored-ground unit that can be produced after a Roach Warren has been built.

With the Tunneling Claws upgrade, the Roach becomes one of two units (the other being the Infestor) that is able to move while burrowed. This is also indicated by the appearance of crystals on the backs of the Roaches.

The Roach is useful in all three match-ups because it can absorb large amounts of damage. Roaches have very high HP values considering their cheap cost. This is augmented by its ability to regenerate its health at a tremendous rate of 7 HP/second while Burrowed. This allows for a full heal in just over 20 seconds. However, due to both of its slow attack and slow speed while unupgraded, it performs poorly in the early game compared to other units, such as speed Zerglings or defensive Queens.

Note that while the Roach also has a melee attack animation, it is affected by Range Attack upgrades, but not by a Guardian Shield.

Abilities

Rapid Regeneration

While burrowed, the Roach regenerates its health at an extremely fast rate of 7 hit points per second.

Morph to Ravager

Caster: Roach 25 75 1 Duration: 8.57-8.93 Hotkey: V Morphs the Roach into a Ravager.

Upgrades

Glial Reconstitution

100      100      79 Hotkey: G Researched from: Roach Warren Requires: Lair Increases Roach movement speed to 4.2 (+1.05) while unburrowed, and to 4.4 while burrowed under creep.

Tunneling Claws

100      100      79 Hotkey: T Researched from: Roach Warren Requires: Lair Gives Roaches the ability to move while burrowed at a speed of 2.8.

Competitive Usage

Vs. Protoss

Roaches are used to pin units in place, have a large amount of life, and are gas efficient. Their ability to morph into Ravagers, which have a longer ranged attack, allows the Zerg players to morph only the units they need instead of having to make dedicated units like Hydras that are more gas expensive. Storms are not very effective against these units (as opposed to Zerglings).

Vs. Terran

Roach-Ravager compositions, with the Roach as the backbone, are serious threats to Terran in the early game. When used correctly in timing builds that combine +1 missile and Roach Speed, this alone can often end the game right there before the 8-minute mark. Of course, the effectiveness of this unit depends on the player's skill and, in this case, macro. Large Roach-Ravager armies combined with other units to counter the Terran forces are still deadly and used by many in the late game, as well.

Vs. Zerg

Roaches are often acquired later than usual due to the presence of the bane/ling meta of early ZvZ. However, certain pros focus on larvae efficient Roach/Ravager timing pushes, which are more steady than the micro intensive baneling micro.

Gallery

Quotes

• Roach's sounds (video and sound) - YouTube video.

Patch Changes

Patch 3.14.0
Undetected burrow move visual effects are now more visible.

Patch 4.7.1
Tunneling Claws cost decreased from 150/150 to 100/100. Tunneling Claws no longer increases the health regeneration rate of Roaches from 7 HP/second to 14 HP/second.

External links

• 2016-12-10 | soO's Roach Control [ZvZ] by [[Shaft]] of [[Polygon Gaming]]
• Analysis of slow Roaches against Marines