SC2 | Zerg Infestor | Zerg Vs Defiler break down | Starcraft 2

[Kreeper]

In this description we will discuss if the Infestor is comperable or equal to how good of a caster unit the Defiler was for the Zerg in Starcraft.


The break down of the Defiler :

• The creature that made photon cannons and dragoons worthless.
• The creature that made control groups of marines, tanks(sorta), goliaths, and vikings worthless.
• The creature that allowed "cracklings" and ultralisks to overpower almost all static defenses.

It was the Defiler.


The zerg of SC2 are looking at a new creature for the ranks of their spellcaster. It is the infestor. However, is the infestor all that it was cut out to be as the replacement of the Defiler?

I think not.
For a tier 2 unit, and a spellcaster to boot, it is almost absurdly weak. Lets first look at what it can do.
tier 2, 100/150, 2 supply, 50 seconds build time, 90 HP, 200 energy, 0 base armor, armoured-bio-psi

Now for the Defiler :
tier 3, 50/150, 2 suppl, 50 seonds build time, 80 HP, 200 energy(both of these are without upgrades), 1 armor, medium

This doesn't seem that bad, the defiler higher on the tech tree but cheaper, has armor. both have the same supply but the infestor can move while underground and has more HP. when we get the abilities however, the creatures start to become rather different. the only thing rooting for the infertor is that it starts out with all of its abilities which allows it to immediately start to help the zerg n the game.

Infestor :
Neural parasite, 50 energy, can permanently take control of an enemy unit (non-air) but it can't move and the range is very small. infested terran, a ridiculus ability that is all but worthless when units are in tier 2. fungal growth, possibly the most useful ablity that prevents untis that are hit to move and deals them 36 damage.

Defiler:
Dark swarm, 100 energy, long range and its amazing power make it the best ability the defiler has. consume, 100/100, free, the other ridiculous piece of the puzzle that allows the defiler to munch on zerglings and then reuse dark swarm/consume over and over again. plague, 200/200, 250 energy, same range as dark swarm, not as useful but still very good against tanks when you have a few mutas lying around.

There are many things to compare when we line up these units, but to me it seems that the infestor is a lousy replacement to the defiler. it can come out earlier and use its abilities straight away, but the abilities are so pathetic when compared to dark swarm and consume.

Because of this, the zerg have no late game, heavy duty, spellcaster that they can fall back on. this should be remedied as soon as possible because of several reasons. first, why shouldn't the zerg have spellcaster unit that can turn the tide of battle? when you compare the infestor to the ghost and high temp, it falls flat on its bloated face. second, the zerg units are solid, but predictable and easily countered. if there were 1-2 spellcastors to round out the basic zerg units, it would help them immeasurably. and third, i like to play all the races and i felt cheated when i saw the infestor in action. i actually said, "come on Blizzard, you can do better than this." i was embarrassed by these units. they, to me, seem to serve virtually no purpose and i firmly believe that either their abilities should be changed, their abilities buffed, or bring them out and start over on the "true" zerg
spellcastor.


Source : Starcraft 2 Armory - Forums : Infestor, worthy replacment to defiler?

[Syl3ntFury]

Honestly, the infested terran ability sells this unit for me. 25 energy, 200 total energy. Thats 8 infested terran that are actually pretty lethal. Let me give you an example. Sent 3 Infestors behind my main attack line into a base, burrowed them then snuck them into the enemy base. My attack force was wiped. But I killed all his detectors and bigger units. minute or two later I pop up 3 infestors on his mineral line, spawning 24 infested terran, immediately wiping out 26 workers, a ton of units and almost his nexus giving me enough time to spawn 16 mutas to come finish him off. Its all in how you use the unit.

[BSOS]

Honestly, the infested terran ability sells this unit for me. 25 energy, 200 total energy. Thats 8 infested terran that are actually pretty lethal. Let me give you an example. Sent 3 Infestors behind my main attack line into a base, burrowed them then snuck them into the enemy base. My attack force was wiped. But I killed all his detectors and bigger units. minute or two later I pop up 3 infestors on his mineral line, spawning 24 infested terran, immediately wiping out 26 workers, a ton of units and almost his nexus giving me enough time to spawn 16 mutas to come finish him off. Its all in how you use the unit.

maybe that works, but its not practical use of the unit. That's like doing a storm drop with high templar.. but instead of needing 1... u need 3 to do the job.

what good enemy doesn't have at least some detection?

the article is right, the infestor is incredibly weak and almost a waste of a spellcaster. with these new buffs it may become a bit stronger but it still doesn't chalk up to where the defiler ever was. nobody will be bowing down to my fungal growth or neural parasite abilities.

the fact of the matter is this:

late game it is required to have a defiler to win the game... whereas lategame, you DO NOT need an infestor to win the game

plain and simple
defiler >>> infestor

[Arovien]

Blizzard is trying to make the infestor better in small increments since the last patch. They have increased neural parasite range back to 9 which is pretty nice in the terran MU when facing thors.

I can see them continuing to buff them. Maybe they will increase their HP.