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Blizzard had already shown its current balance focus in PTR patch 1.4. The hydralisk is not on that list. Because of that reason I figured I would give the hydralisk some tries and see if there was some hidden way to make the unit more effective. In short - It did not - What I found was just flaws and problem with the unit.
I didn't find any recent discussion about the hydralisk so wanted to hear what other people think about the hydralisk and where they think it belongs in the grand scheme of things.
The problems:
Speed : Its insanely slow speed off creep making it not work in sync with other zerg units hit and run capabilities. Almost impossible to retreat. So the unit slow the army down much like the immortal and tank but is nowhere close as effective.
Upgrades : The hydralisk only gets +1 attack each upgrade like the marine and zergling even though it is a lot more expensive unit and higher tier. This makes the hydralisk lack in mid to late game.
Hps : Hydralisks hp/cost is I think the lowest in the game excluding the baneling. This should be made up with strength in some other area but I can not find that strength.
Rock Paper Scissors : The hydralisk en masse doesn't hard counter much at all. Marines eat them alive, marauders are actually cost effective when upgraded, even banshees are almost cost effective vs hydralisks. For protoss gateway units with blink and charge and same upgrades come out on top with guardian shield and equal in strength without one.
But this does not mean the hydralisk does decently to its counter. It's the opposite Colossus,high templar,siege tanks,battlecruisers all pretty much slaughter the hydralisk without them making much of a dent to the other side.
Conclusion : The hydralisk doesn't really have any role in zergs army. The few roles it can compete at are just barely effective and as soon as their hard counter comes in you feel so stupid even having them in your army comp. You want to just get rid of them since they are taking valuable supply but will vaporize in any big batter you will fight in.
Possible Fixes : They need to get either hps or speed. I think giving them hps might make the roach somewhat absolete so giving them speed for hit and run capability might be the correct answer. Also having them gain more then +1 attack per upgrade is essential for its mid to lategame performance.
Other possibilites : Complete rework on the unit. Making it even bigger so fewer get splashed. Giving it more hps. Increasing it's cost. and giving it +2 attack per upgrade.
Would like to hear what other people have found out with their hydralisk tryouts and if they did come to some other conclusions then me.
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Well
Vs terran the Hydralisk is unfortunately completely worthless
There's no unit that gets hard-countered by hydras, not even banshees cause hydras off-creep are simply way 2 slow
Vs protoss they can be good at certain timings but once a colossus is out they melt as well
and vs zerg they can be somewhat useful in the lategame but only then
they aren't even a counter 2 mutas cause they are 2 slow and have no hp
i feel like they really need more hp
they cost way more than 2 marines but have less hp and less dps
dont see any advantages they have compared 2 marines for that 50 gas =/
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IMO Hydras are great in ZvZ with roach support (They just shred everything, even Ultras if you have good attack upgrades) but have no place in other matchups except certain ZvP scenarios.
They need a speed boost IMO, HP buff would be a bit too much but if they had speed they would be far more viable.
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They're good for dropping against Protoss in the mid-late game. They're good in a 2-base all-in against Protoss before collosus pops. They're good anti-air early in the game. These are the only uses for Protoss at this stage. They need a speed boost to be more than they are currently.
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I think a speed upgrade is warranted.
I rather the Hydra not get the bonus creep movement speed and just have it transferred to normal speed.
maybe having two armor instead of 0 or something?
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On August 31 2011 10:27 schmutttt wrote:
IMO Hydras are great in ZvZ with roach support (They just shred everything, even Ultras if you have good attack upgrades) but have no place in other matchups except certain ZvP scenarios.
They need a speed boost IMO, HP buff would be a bit too much but if they had speed they would be far more viable.
I thought they're not used as much in ZvZ nowadays because players like to go Roach + Infestors.. (Fungals on Hydras are so sad  ).
They do wreck havoc on Gateway units but.
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Yes a speed buff would be ok as well
Ever tried 2 micro a hydralisk off-creep?
ten times harder than stalker micro and the stalker is even way more forgiving
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As toss I typically do a void opening VS. fast expand. This will typically force some quick hydra/queen units. But even then, 2-3 Charged voids melt hydras so quickly I feel bad, and that;s without ground support. And if my harassment is uncsuccessful, I'm so far ahead in my economy I can EASILY switch to colossi, destroying any hydra comp.
It seems hydras cost a lot of resources to get, and made effective with range/armor, that by the time they are ready the opponent is already countering you. There's no "clutch" hydra like there are say roaches or lings for a fast counter attack or defense.
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if people would just CREEP harder the Hydralisk wouldn't be so dang bad. Not to mention people still don't use nydus' much, nor do they make use of overlords drop + creep spreading abilities.
The hydralisk is underrated. Yes, even in ZvT.
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Honestly i cant imagine ZvP without hydralisks. Hydra ling composes almost 100% of my mid game vs P and i find it devastates every protoss composition other than colossus. ZvZ hydralisks become more effective than roaches in the late game when pair with broodlords and infestors.
That being said i cant find a single use for them in ZvT even against Air builds because as you said banshees and BC's are more than cost effective against them and are more mobile. Without an answer to siege tanks though i don't think Hydras can be useful in an offensive capacity vs T.
If they make Hydras any faster off creep though i cant see it balancing vs protoss.
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For me, I make hydras purely as a quick life saver VS air-to-ground builds like mass muta. It generally puts me behind in econ and leaves me with worthless units (the hydras), but the hydra den builds quickly and gives time to get the proper counters out. I could probably get by without them and actually find myself making them less and less as I get better with spores and queens. It really makes me sad to see this staple unit from BW in such an unused state. Hopefully we get some changes in HoTS.
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Hydras with the range upgrade can't even kill stalkers without blink if they're off creep. They're just that bad.
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Ive been doing a hydra queen build vs terran on close position shattered temple. Works pretty well stole it from dimaga. Basically you just get mass hydra queen off two base and creep shit up to their base with spinecrawlers if you need it. engage often
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Also hydras need the acid bursting sound back 
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Just wondering...
If they do get a speed upgrade aren't they just gonna win every single game for Z against P? I mean how are you stopping hydras when they hit before collosi... Or before range. With the blink research being getting a 60 sec delay in next patch it will be hard to stop hydras... Hydras are great for some specific situations in ZvP... Against like a 5gate after expand all in at 9:10 ish they are the safest answer... They are brilliant for dropping in main after P takes 3rd. DPS and focus on key buildings and probes will ensure they are cost efficient if the protoss is distracted or has army a bit out of possion. Warpins wont kill them if it's 3+ overlords filled with hydras.
Against a P who does not go Collosi it will always be smart to have a few mixed in. I am not saying you should go half roach half hydra, but against gateway with HT and such they should be worth having maybe 20% of your army as hydra... As long as they are not too clumbed they will clean any chargelots before they hit hydra.
To use hydras efficient you need to creep like a madman. And you need to not stop creeping at any point really.
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On August 31 2011 10:33 PhiliBiRD wrote:
if people would just CREEP harder the Hydralisk wouldn't be so dang bad. Not to mention people still don't use nydus' much, nor do they make use of overlords drop + creep spreading abilities.
The hydralisk is underrated. Yes, even in ZvT.
Vs terran they simply can't stand up to any armies. Against standard terran comps, they aren't viable. Marines/medivacs shred them, tanks shred them, and blue flame hellions shred them. If a terran was going marauder/thor (which they never do vs zerg), then hydras wouldn't be so bad.
I do find uses for them vs protoss though.
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Something tells me they won't do anything with the hydralisk until HotS.
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I've started using tem a bit in ZvT. With my usual infestor style i lack of anti air to clean up medivacs so the've got their use against drops or cleaning up after won battles.
Other than that i can not see any use in Hydralisks, what a shame, i loved them in SC1, especially because of their voices and strength.
I'd rather have Blizzard remove the Roach and return the Hydra to Tier 1 than the current uselessnes.
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Bringing hydras back to BW status being t1 and swarmable would be interesting. Everybody knows right now they are less than useless.
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EPT
