The zerg are a race entirely unlike the terrans or the protoss. They are composed of many different species integrated into the Swarm via zerg infestation. These creatures are rapidly and selectively evolved into deadly and efficient killers to further the driving zerg imperative of achieving absolute domination. The zerg make no use of technology to create their weapons, armor, or starships. Instead, these functions are efficiently fulfilled through biological adaptation and planned mutation of the zerg strains. Even zerg buildings are in fact specialized organs within the living, growing organism of a zerg nest.

When the zerg first arrived in the Koprulu sector, they were unified by their absolute obedience to the zerg collective sentience known as the Overmind. The Overmind ultimately directed the actions of every zerg creature in the Swarm, functioning through a hierarchy of lesser sentiences. The first and most important tier of these consisted of the cerebrates, each entrusted with direct control of a sizable section of the Swarm. The cerebrates’ commands were disseminated in turn by the overlords, which directly ordered and controlled the mass of zerg creatures both in their nests and on the battlefield.

Although the Overmind was primarily driven by its desire to consume and assimilate the advanced protoss race, it found useful but undeveloped material in humanity. Taking a powerful terran psionic, Sarah Kerrigan, the Overmind evolved a new and unique creature: the Queen of Blades. When the protoss destroyed the Overmind during the invasion of Aiur, the Queen of Blades manipulated the dark templar into eliminating the surviving cerebrates. As a result, she came to dominate the Swarm.

The Zerg rely on numbers, especially early game, to succeed. Zerg units are cheap, build fast, and generally can be built more then one at a time. Zerglings for example are spawned two at a time for a cost of 25 minerals each. The downside to this advantage is that the Zerg generally have less hitpoints then respective units in other races. Queens (a unit that is quite unlike the Queen from Starcraft I), can assist with unit production immensely by adding more unit production potential via larva generation.

Most Zerg buildings must be built on ‘creep’. Creep is existentially a chemical ooze that spreads out from Hatcheries. In order for a Zerg building to be built, a drone must locate a free section of creep and mutate. The drone is lost in the process, however the construction of the building can’t be interrupted like the Terran’s construction can. Zerg buildings are all living structure, and they all regenerate hitpoints over time.

Zerg defensive structures can move, and all Zerg units move 30% faster on creep. However the Zerg remain a rather aggressive race to play with as more Hatcheries are necessary to keep up with the unit production of other races. Hatcheries are best placed at expansions so that more minerals can be gathered as well. This creates a pressure for Zerg players to expand early and fast: it allows them to bolster their forces quickly.