Can someone explain the Roach to me?

Are they ultimately going to be a ranged or a melee unit (well, we don't know, but has there been any indication?)

I think the unit design is really awkward, those weird blades coming out of their backs are:

1. Not even being used
2. How would they even be used if there were being used? They are on limbs that look very short.

Plus, their attack as it is now is a green spray?

I don't know, I'm just confused in general as to what is supposed to be happening with this unit on a purely lore/aesthetic level. I understand its function.

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Are they ultimately going to be a ranged or a melee unit (well, we don't know, but has there been any indication?)

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They've always been ranged. They've been ranged for over 2 years now. And they've kept the same basic overall design for that long.

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1. Not even being used

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They're used just as much as the Hydralisk's blades. Both the Hydra and the Roach have a melee animation used when in melee range.

They are an assault unit :]. They are ranged, but very short-ranged, meaning that they need to get quite close in order to inflict damage.

This is where they use their acid saliva - the green spray :].

When attacking enemy units/buildings at point-blank range, they'll use an animation whereby they lean forward and take a swipe with the blades on their back.

EDIT: Ninja'd by Bolas!

The very first roaches were melee. They were made ranged shortly thereafter.

If a roach hits a unit right next to them, the attack looks like a melee attack. (It is, however, still regarded as a ranged attack, except in terms of appearance.)

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Originally Posted by Nicol Bolas

They've always been ranged. They've been ranged for over 2 years now. And they've kept the same basic overall design for that long.



They're used just as much as the Hydralisk's blades. Both the Hydra and the Roach have a melee animation used when in melee range.

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Yeah I knew they've always been ranged, but for some reason in my mind that was a placeholder? I'm not sure why.

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The very first roaches were melee. They were made ranged shortly thereafter.

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No, that was misinformation at the time of the original Zerg reveal. The reveal itself was very sloppily handled, with conflicting information about all kinds of things.

I still don't know how Swarm Clutches worked.

The Roach is a pain in the ass. That's all you need to know.

Is there a vid where a roach does a melee animation attack?

edit: Found it, for anyone who's curious how it looks like here's the vid.

I think they look prettty cool personally, but im a bit tired of seeing them in ZvZ haha

I remember someone saying, long ago, there was debate whether to have them be melee or ranged. They've since settled it, I'd say.

Off-topic, but why do zealots explode in a flash of green now? Or is that just a team color?