Lets get this off the bat, I love the Lurker... but I also love the Swarm Host. The Lurker was just about my favorite unit to use in Brood War. I remember racing to demolish Fenix's base with them. And when I first started following Esports the pros use of Lurker micro (and marine counter micro) made me drop my jaw.

However, when I saw the unveiling of the Swarm Host this past year my mind was blown. Unlimited units? For me? A twisted monstrosity and its brood the very definition of swarmy. Not only that but could locust attack air too! Everything I want in zerg innovation.

And so I come to you Teamliquid. Help me decide which unit belongs in Starcraft 2. Ive compiled a list of advantages for each and would be happy to add any others you can think of. Then rank which unit is the best in the categories of aesthetics, fun, competitive gameplay and overall.

Lurker Stats:

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Lurker
Cost M/G/BT/S: 50 100 33 3
Attributes; Biological, Armored
Ground Attack: 15
Bonus: +15 vs armored
Range: 6 (+3 Seismic Spines)
Cooldown: 3.08 s
Health/Defense: 200 1

Lurker Advantages:

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Board Control
Area of Effect Damage (possibly helps break up deathball play)
Marine dodging Micro
Burst Damage
Anti-armor
Surprise gank (hold lurkers)
Turtling
Ramp camping
Containment
Slowing pushes

Lurker Videos

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Swarm Host Stats:

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Swarm Host
Cost M/G/BT/S: 200 100 40 3
Attributes: Armored, Biological
Ground Attack: Spawns Locust every 25 seconds
Health/Defense: 120 1

Locust
Life span: 15 (25 seconds upgraded)
Health: 65
Speed: 1.88
Attack Damage: 16
Attack Range: 2

Swarm Host Advantages

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Not Burst Damage (differentiates it from Siege Tank)
Can control the stream of unit production (constant vs all at once) by choosing when each burrows
A new unit (potentially new strategies)
Locust can attack air
Force engagements
Loooong range
Swarmy
Tier 2

Swarm Host Videos

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Poll: Which unit looks cooler?

Lurker (1235)

67%

Swarm Host (611)

33%

1846 total votes

Your vote: Which unit looks cooler?

(Vote): Lurker
(Vote): Swarm Host

Poll: Which unit is more fun to play with?

Lurker (1212)

83%

Swarm Host (248)

17%

1460 total votes

Your vote: Which unit is more fun to play with?

(Vote): Lurker
(Vote): Swarm Host

Poll: Which unit is better for spectators/ESPORTS?

Lurker (1200)

84%

Swarm Host (223)

16%

1423 total votes

Your vote: Which unit is better for spectators/ESPORTS?

(Vote): Lurker
(Vote): Swarm Host

Poll: Which unit would you rather see in HOTS?

Lurker (1291)

79%

Swarm Host (351)

21%

1642 total votes

Your vote: Which unit would you rather see in HOTS?

(Vote): Lurker
(Vote): Swarm Host

Stats from http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft2

NexCa

Germany954 Posts

July 11 2012 19:02 GMT

Lurker, Definitly !!!

Tedde93

Sweden169 Posts

July 11 2012 19:03 GMT

Which unit is more fun to play with is a pretty stupid questions since very few have tried it.

Greggle

United States1131 Posts

July 11 2012 19:03 GMT

People really think the Lurker model looks better? I always thought it looked lazy and shitty. It just looks like a blob of zergy shit. It looked much better in BW.

Archerofaiur

United States4101 Posts

July 11 2012 19:04 GMT

On July 12 2012 04:03 Tedde93 wrote:
Which unit is more fun to play with is a pretty stupid questions since very few have tried it.

Was gonna word it "which unit do you think will be more fun to play" but it just sounded weird.

Vindicare605

United States16055 Posts

July 11 2012 19:05 GMT

They aren't meant for the same role. The Lurker cannot be added back in because Zerg already has enough splash damage. Not sure why people haven't figured this out yet. You can't just add in whatever unit from SC1 you want at this point and expect it to fit without being imbalanced.

Tonttu

Finland606 Posts

July 11 2012 19:05 GMT

Swarm host is a bit boring looking unit. Also it functions like a broodlord, but is a ground unit.. Lurker is cooler for a spectator, because lurker doesn't just sit there spamming little bugs, but actually attacks itself powerful attacks that can obliterate anything if not paying attention.

On July 12 2012 04:03 Greggle wrote:
People really think the Lurker model looks better? I always thought it looked lazy and shitty. It just looks like a blob of zergy shit. It looked much better in BW.

That may be because Lurker was scrapped like 2 years ago and since not being used anywhere.

EmperorKira

United Kingdom107 Posts

July 11 2012 19:05 GMT

How about, we wait till we get our hands on it?

KarneEspada

United States72 Posts

July 11 2012 19:06 GMT

Yeah the sc2 transfer makes it look so silly. Will always be the better unit though!

algorithm0r

Canada486 Posts

July 11 2012 19:06 GMT

#10

Sad to say that a BW vs SC2 thread is not really helpful. Blizz won't bring back the lurker so focus on ways to abuse the swarm host!

sOvrn

United States678 Posts

July 11 2012 19:06 GMT

#11

Lurker all the way. I mean the swarm host is just a bad imitation of the lurker and I have no idea why Blizz is so insistent on putting it in the game.

Vindicare605

United States16055 Posts

July 11 2012 19:06 GMT

#12

On July 12 2012 04:05 Tonttu wrote:
Swarm host is a bit boring looking unit. Also it functions like a broodlord, but is a ground unit.. Lurker is cooler for a spectator, because lurker doesn't just sit there spamming little bugs, but actually attacks itself powerful attacks that can obliterate anything if not paying attention.

It actually doesn't function anything like a Brood Lord.

Try playing with it in beta like a Brood Lord. You'll only end up wasting it.

aRyuujin

United States5049 Posts

July 11 2012 19:08 GMT

#13

i think in game the current (sc2)lurker model looks terrible.
Lurker is still way more fun though than what the swarm host looks like.
Also, the swarm host just feels like a copy of the lurker, so most of us would just be annoyed regardless of how good it actually is

zhurai

United States5660 Posts

July 11 2012 19:08 GMT

#14

broodlord, swarmhost, infestor -> too many things that make more units ......

Berceno

Spain401 Posts

July 11 2012 19:09 GMT

#15

this unit with the broodlord are gonna make me think that i'm playing DOTA2/LOL, and it's boring compared to the lurker , lurker attacks fast and with splash all the time, swarm host just burrow and throw shit every 35 seconds

ProxyKnoxy

United Kingdom2576 Posts

July 11 2012 19:10 GMT

#16

I feel like they wanted to just have the lurker, but didn't want to just completely copy a BW unit.

Toastie.NL

Netherlands232 Posts

July 11 2012 19:10 GMT

#17

What I like about the lurker is it's ability to control space. Though its attack overlaps with the infestor. On the other hand, I'd rather ser the lurker and fungal becoming a root spell AND get the swarmhost.

Antylamon

United States1981 Posts

July 11 2012 19:12 GMT

#18

The Lurker would NOT break up deathball play. Toss would just use obs to detect and Colossi to outrange.

Plus, Lurker would be Hive tech, ruining its BW purpose of delaying the game until Hive tech. Ultralisks and Brood Lords overshadow it completely, and the Lurker would barely see any use except for containing, harassing, etc.

Nobody seems to understand what it means for Lurkers to be Hive tech -.-

MNdakota

United States512 Posts

July 11 2012 19:15 GMT

#19

Why not have the Lurker back but with the Swarm Host model? Would look pretty sick. Spines coming out of those holes on their backs. Ew, gross. I like it!

desarrisc

Canada226 Posts

July 11 2012 19:16 GMT

#20

Swarm Host is the midgame-brood lord. Fungals control space + Locusts nibble on the units/tank damage for the infestors. Better combo than Lurker + infestor imo.