Zerg

The Zerg Swarm are a fictional collective of extraterrestrial insectoid species in Blizzard Entertainment's StarCraft franchise. They are characterized by biological adaptation, genetic assimilation, viral endemic infestation, expendable units and a hive minded organization. Competing and contrasting with the human Terrans and technologically advanced Protoss, the Zerg serve as major antagonists in much of the series. As with the other races of StarCraft, the Zerg are the subject of a full single-player campaign in the 1998 video game Starcraft and its expansion Brood War, and are the primary playable faction in StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. Zerg units are designed to be cost-efficient and fast to produce, encouraging players to overwhelm opponents through numerical advantage. New units are produced from hatcheries, while other structures unlock additional strains and upgrades. Several Zerg units also spread mutagens or use parasitic abilities, including the ability to assume control of enemy units or Terran structures and convert them into Zerg-controlled assets. The Zerg have been discussed as one of the central examples of StarCraft's asymmetric faction design, and are often used as examples in broader discussions and analyses of video game balance and design. The terms "Zerg rush" and "zerging" have entered gaming vocabulary to describe sacrificing economic development in favor of using many cheap, yet weak units to overwhelm an enemy by attrition or sheer numbers.