• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EST 18:24
CET 00:24
KST 08:24
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book5Clem wins HomeStory Cup 287HomeStory Cup 28 - Info & Preview13Rongyi Cup S3 - Preview & Info4herO wins SC2 All-Star Invitational14
Community News
Weekly Cups (Jan 26-Feb 1): herO, Clem, ByuN, Classic win2RSL Season 4 announced for March-April7Weekly Cups (Jan 19-25): Bunny, Trigger, MaxPax win3Weekly Cups (Jan 12-18): herO, MaxPax, Solar win0BSL Season 2025 - Full Overview and Conclusion8
StarCraft 2
General
How do you think the 5.0.15 balance patch (Oct 2025) for StarCraft II has affected the game? Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book Rongyi Cup S3 - Preview & Info Clem wins HomeStory Cup 28 HomeStory Cup 28 - Info & Preview
Tourneys
$21,000 Rongyi Cup Season 3 announced (Jan 22-Feb 7) Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament $5,000 WardiTV Winter Championship 2026 HomeStory Cup 28 RSL Season 4 announced for March-April
Strategy
Custom Maps
[A] Starcraft Sound Mod
External Content
Mutation # 511 Temple of Rebirth The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 510 Safety Violation Mutation # 509 Doomsday Report
Brood War
General
Recent recommended BW games BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ BW General Discussion Can someone share very abbreviated BW cliffnotes? StarCraft player reflex TE scores
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues Escore Tournament StarCraft Season 1 Small VOD Thread 2.0 KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
Strategy
Zealot bombing is no longer popular? Simple Questions, Simple Answers Current Meta Soma's 9 hatch build from ASL Game 2
Other Games
General Games
Diablo 2 thread Battle Aces/David Kim RTS Megathread EVE Corporation Nintendo Switch Thread Path of Exile
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Safe termination pills Johannesburg+27 63 034 8600
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread YouTube Thread The Games Industry And ATVI Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine
Fan Clubs
The herO Fan Club! The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Play, Watch, Drink: Esports …
TrAiDoS
My 2025 Magic: The Gathering…
DARKING
Life Update and thoughts.
FuDDx
How do archons sleep?
8882
James Bond movies ranking - pa…
Topin
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1515 users

HotS Balance Update - April 9

Forum Index > SC2 General
339 CommentsPost a Reply
1 2 3 4 5 15 16 17 Next All
The_Templar
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
your Country52797 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-04-09 20:21:31
April 09 2015 19:19 GMT
#1
[image loading]

In recent months, we’ve been testing the biggest balance changes yet for StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. After gathering and reviewing your feedback from the three separate Balance Test Maps that explored these changes, we are ready to move forward with a new balance update. You can expect to see the following adjustments applied to Heart of the Swarm multiplayer today.

Zerg

Swarm Host
  • Cost modified from 200 Minerals and 100 Vespene to 100 Minerals and 200 Vespene
  • Supply cost increased from 3 to 4
  • Movement speed increased from 2.25 to 2.95
  • Swarm Hosts now require the Burrow research in order to burrow
  • Swarm Hosts no longer collide with Locusts

Spawn Locusts – This ability has been reworked
  • Auto-cast removed, Spawn Locusts must now be manually cast.
  • Spawn Locusts cooldown increased from 25 seconds to 60 seconds
  • Casting Spawn Locusts no longer requires a Swarm Host to be burrowed

Locust
  • Weapon speed increased from .8 to .6
  • Locust duration increased from 15 seconds (+10 seconds with Enduring Locusts) to 25 seconds

Infestation Pit
  • Enduring Locusts – This upgrade has been removed
  • New upgrade: Flying Locusts - Allows Locusts spawned by Swarm Hosts to fly. Flying Locusts can use Swoop to land and attack
  • Requires Lair
  • Cost is 200 Minerals, 200 Vespene, 160 seconds
  • Allows Locusts spawned by Swarm Hosts to fly. Flying Locusts can use Swoop to land and attack
  • Swoop: Orders the Locust to land at the targeted location, allowing it to attack

Viper
  • Blinding Cloud range increased from 10 to 11


Terran

Raven
  • Point Defense Drone duration decreased from 180 seconds to 20 seconds


Protoss

Tempest
  • Bonus damage versus massive air units decreased from +50 damage to +14 damage.


Source
Facebook Twitter Reddit
Moderatorshe/her
TL+ Member
The_Templar
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
your Country52797 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-04-09 19:22:02
April 09 2015 19:20 GMT
#2
Poll: Opinion on Swarm Host/Locust Changes?

Approve (379)
 
61%

Disapprove (178)
 
29%

Unsure/No opinion (61)
 
10%

618 total votes

Your vote: Opinion on Swarm Host/Locust Changes?

(Vote): Approve
(Vote): Disapprove
(Vote): Unsure/No opinion


Poll: Opinion on Viper Changes?

Approve (261)
 
45%

Disapprove (229)
 
40%

Unsure/No opinion (85)
 
15%

575 total votes

Your vote: Opinion on Viper Changes?

(Vote): Approve
(Vote): Disapprove
(Vote): Unsure/No opinion


Poll: Opinion on Raven Changes?

Approve (381)
 
66%

Disapprove (177)
 
30%

Unsure/No opinion (23)
 
4%

581 total votes

Your vote: Opinion on Raven Changes?

(Vote): Approve
(Vote): Disapprove
(Vote): Unsure/No opinion


Poll: Opinion on Tempest Changes?

Approve (284)
 
51%

Disapprove (191)
 
35%

Unsure/No opinion (78)
 
14%

553 total votes

Your vote: Opinion on Tempest Changes?

(Vote): Approve
(Vote): Disapprove
(Vote): Unsure/No opinion


Moderatorshe/her
TL+ Member
Shield
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
Bulgaria4824 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-04-09 19:25:32
April 09 2015 19:22 GMT
#3
Bye, awesome PvP late game. Welcome back mass colossi PvP.

Raven

Point Defense Drone duration decreased from 180 seconds to 20 seconds


As if mech wasn't bad enough. :D
OtherWorld
Profile Blog Joined October 2013
France17333 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-04-09 19:22:49
April 09 2015 19:22 GMT
#4
RIP Glorious, exciting and skillful late-game ZvP, 2013-2015. I'll miss you.
and there's a random center tag at the top of the OP Templar sniped
Used Sigs - New Sigs - Cheap Sigs - Buy the Best Cheap Sig near You at www.cheapsigforsale.com
The_Templar
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
your Country52797 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-04-09 19:23:22
April 09 2015 19:23 GMT
#5
On April 10 2015 04:22 OtherWorld wrote:
RIP Glorious, exciting and skillful late-game ZvP, 2013-2015. I'll miss you.
and there's a random center tag at the top of the OP Templar sniped

I made the OP in two minutes, give me a break
Moderatorshe/her
TL+ Member
Big J
Profile Joined March 2011
Austria16289 Posts
April 09 2015 19:25 GMT
#6
I guess they always need a "queen-patch" a year before the next expansion. Let's see if they are willing to balance this time or let the game rot like 2012.
Heyoka
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
Katowice25012 Posts
April 09 2015 19:26 GMT
#7
damn it's out, didn't realize the PDD duration change was so huge.
@RealHeyoka | ESL / DreamHack StarCraft Lead
ejozl
Profile Joined October 2010
Denmark3472 Posts
April 09 2015 19:26 GMT
#8
Swarm Hosts no longer collide with Locusts

This is the only thing I disagree with. I was already getting my passion back to go on the ladder, this patch furthers that
SC2 Archon needs "Terrible, terrible damage" as one of it's quotes.
BaneRiders
Profile Joined August 2013
Sweden3630 Posts
April 09 2015 19:29 GMT
#9
Looking forward to seeing flying swarm hosts next
Earth, Water, Air and Protoss!
sc2chronic
Profile Joined May 2012
United States777 Posts
April 09 2015 19:31 GMT
#10
i guess this helps us ease into lotv for the new units. still dont approve of anything regarding swarm hosts but beating a dead horse
terrible, terrible, damage
kaluro
Profile Joined November 2011
Netherlands760 Posts
April 09 2015 19:32 GMT
#11
On April 10 2015 04:26 Heyoka wrote:
damn it's out, didn't realize the PDD duration change was so huge.


It was well needed though.
Putting down PDDs infinitely with a 3 minute duration was way out of whack, it basically made a terran army completely invulnerable.
www.twitch.tv/kaluroo - 720p60fps - Remember the name! - Don't do your best, do whatever it takes.
ZeroCartin
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
Costa Rica2390 Posts
April 09 2015 19:32 GMT
#12
wtf that Viper buff is HUGE
"My sister is on vacation in Costa Rica right now. I hope she stays a while because she's a miserable cunt." -pubbanana
OtherWorld
Profile Blog Joined October 2013
France17333 Posts
April 09 2015 19:32 GMT
#13
On April 10 2015 04:29 BaneRiders wrote:
Looking forward to seeing flying swarm hosts next

I want ground-based Brood Lords too d:
Used Sigs - New Sigs - Cheap Sigs - Buy the Best Cheap Sig near You at www.cheapsigforsale.com
Spect8rCraft
Profile Joined December 2012
649 Posts
April 09 2015 19:34 GMT
#14
Well, it's still an end of an era.
stuchiu
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
Fiddler's Green42661 Posts
April 09 2015 19:34 GMT
#15
Poll: Best name for the patch?

Firekanin Patch (64)
 
42%

Firecake Patch (31)
 
21%

HotS April 9 Patch (26)
 
17%

Lillecakin Patch (22)
 
15%

Lillekanin Patch (8)
 
5%

151 total votes

Your vote: Best name for the patch?

(Vote): HotS April 9 Patch
(Vote): Lillecakin Patch
(Vote): Firekanin Patch
(Vote): Firecake Patch
(Vote): Lillekanin Patch


Moderator
UberNuB
Profile Joined December 2010
United States365 Posts
April 09 2015 19:37 GMT
#16
Might as well remove the SH completely, and tell Zerg players, "We don't care about your inability to combat death-ball armies; all-in, or GG."
the absence of evidence, is not the evidence of absence.
Dodgin
Profile Blog Joined July 2011
Canada39254 Posts
April 09 2015 19:37 GMT
#17
It's the end of an era!
Deleted User 137586
Profile Joined January 2011
7859 Posts
April 09 2015 19:37 GMT
#18
I can't imagine that we are going to have well-balanced months ahead of us. The game was in a nice state. But at least HotS games are going to be more exciting for a bit as everyone wants to observe the outcome of this major patch.
Cry 'havoc' and let slip the dogs of war
Solar424
Profile Blog Joined June 2013
United States4001 Posts
April 09 2015 19:40 GMT
#19
Probably going to be the last major balance patch for the next 6 months/until LotV release. Which is a shame, because this will absolutely destroy late-game ZvP. Zerg will have to end the game with the first push or just die to deathball.
gdarky
Profile Joined August 2014
Latvia78 Posts
April 09 2015 19:41 GMT
#20
Will GSL & SSL use old version of SC2?
1998-2003 ex-sc player under nickname SoL.Dark.wS
1 2 3 4 5 15 16 17 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Ladder Legends
19:00
Amateur Showdown #1
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
PiGStarcraft686
Nathanias 117
UpATreeSC 19
StarCraft: Brood War
Shuttle 49
ggaemo 20
NaDa 14
Dota 2
LuMiX1
League of Legends
JimRising 433
Super Smash Bros
hungrybox509
Mew2King67
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor338
Other Games
tarik_tv15026
gofns11572
summit1g7001
Grubby4372
FrodaN4029
ToD244
KnowMe212
Maynarde62
ViBE46
minikerr10
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick2312
BasetradeTV236
StarCraft 2
angryscii 45
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 20 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Hupsaiya 57
• HeavenSC 50
• RyuSc2 47
• musti20045 35
• IndyKCrew
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• sooper7s
• intothetv
• Kozan
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
StarCraft: Brood War
• Azhi_Dahaki53
• RayReign 30
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
• BSLYoutube
Dota 2
• masondota2764
League of Legends
• Doublelift5345
• Scarra857
Other Games
• tFFMrPink 16
Upcoming Events
Replay Cast
36m
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
12h 36m
WardiTV Winter Champion…
15h 36m
OSC
1d
Replay Cast
1d 9h
Wardi Open
1d 12h
Monday Night Weeklies
1d 17h
Sparkling Tuna Cup
2 days
LiuLi Cup
2 days
Reynor vs Creator
Maru vs Lambo
PiGosaur Monday
2 days
[ Show More ]
LiuLi Cup
3 days
Clem vs Rogue
SHIN vs Cyan
The PondCast
4 days
KCM Race Survival
4 days
LiuLi Cup
4 days
Scarlett vs TriGGeR
ByuN vs herO
Online Event
5 days
LiuLi Cup
5 days
Serral vs Zoun
Cure vs Classic
LiuLi Cup
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Acropolis #4 - TS4
HSC XXVIII
Underdog Cup #3

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
Nations Cup 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual
eXTREMESLAND 2025
SL Budapest Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 8

Upcoming

Escore Tournament S1: W8
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Bellum Gens Elite Stara Zagora 2026
RSL Revival: Season 4
WardiTV Winter 2026
LiuLi Cup: 2025 Grand Finals
FISSURE Playground #3
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League Season 23
ESL Pro League Season 23
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.