Creep Tumor

The Creep Tumor is a dedicated creep-generating building initially spawned by Queens. After a brief initialisation phase after placement, the structure automatically burrows and begins generating creep. The Creep Tumor must be placed on existing creep, and will generate new creep in a 10 square radius around itself. Upon burrowing, each Creep Tumor has the ability to create one additional tumor in a 10 square radius anywhere on the creep in sight and then lose the ability permanently. Creep generation increases with every building emplacing creep.

Creep Tumors do not count as structures for the purpose of losing a game but they do count for Stalemate Detection.

Competitive Usage

Because creep greatly increases the movement speed of many Zerg units, Creep Tumors are primarily used to create Creep ‘highways’ between expansions for faster reinforcements. Creep Tumors may also be extended out into the center of the map in the mid and late game to allow Zerg units to move across the map more quickly and engage enemies with greater speed. They also provide a large radius of sight, greatly enchancing the speed upon which raids can be reacted to upon the area they cover.

As long as one tumor that has not used its ability remains on the map, Zerg can continue creating new Creep Tumors and spreading creep indefinitely. It is advisable to avoid losing these ‘active’ tumors to enemy attack, as doing so can significantly slow Zerg’s ability to spread creep and require that 25 additional Queen energy be spent to generate a new tumor.

Creep Tumors can also be used in conjunction with the Overlord’s Generate Creep ability or a Nydus Worm to create areas of creep not connected to a Zerg base. Using a Queen to place the tumor on the initial creep generated by these units will keep the creep from disappearing, even if the Nydus Worm is killed or the Overlord ceases dropping creep. Possible uses for this non-contiguous creep may be establishing a defensive position or for certain offensive strategies such as a Spine Crawler attack.

Instead of using an Overlord (requires Lair) to Generate Creep, morphing a Drone into a Hatchery then canceling the Hatchery and immediately placing a Creep Tumor on the creep left by the cancelled Hatchery will work. This technique is usually for offensive Spine Crawler pushes.

Counter Strategies

All Creep Tumors are permanently burrowed once complete, meaning that opponents cannot see or target them unless the Creep Tumor is within the sight range of a Detector unit. It is advisable for Terran and Protoss players attacking a Zerg player to include a Detector unit in their army or use scans to destroy Creep Tumors; thereby removing both creep and the vision the Tumors provide from the map.

ZERG – THE SPAWN OF THE SWARM

WILD. FATIGUE. FLEXIBLE.

Once artificially created by the mighty Xel`Naga, the Zerg would eventually lead to their demise and become a threat to the entire galaxy. Because of their collective consciousness, this species is often referred to simply as “the Swarm.” In their quest for perfection, the Zerg adopt advantageous and superior gene strands into their own gene pool, wiping out “inferior” species in the process.

Zerg Buildings

While the Protoss rely on technological superiority and the Terrans on their adaptability, the savage Zerg rely mostly on pure mass. The mostly lightly armored creatures usually pounce on their opponents from all sides on the battlefield, leaving only a picture of devastation in their wake.