Baneling Evolution: Splitter and Hunter (Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm)

The splitter was developed on Nelyth, home to the mitoscarab, a creature with a decentralized nervous system that could split into two upon death. To harvest the appropriate sequences, the mitoscarab prime was killed. The banelings were morphed into splitters, which were then used to destroy the Protoss forces on the planet. On volcanic Scoria, banelings were subjected to lava tides, eventually resulting in some developing jumping abilities. These hunters were then used to attack a Terran Dominion mining camp... "Baneling Evolution" mission from 'Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm' PC game... ► Watch more Starcraft videos: bit.ly/1b1W2yY.
Baneling:
Splitter strain: Banelings split into smaller baneling spawns upon detonation, each baneling spawn does 5 damage.
Hunter strain: Banelings gain the ability to jump up and down cliffs as well as leap toward opponents.
Wiki:
Banelings are created from zerglings following a brief chrysalis phase. In the new form, the zergling's claws shrivel and become withered, and a swollen sac filled with volatile chemicals grows out of its back. The zergling's skin is repurposed, stretching over newly formed growths while its bone plates soften to hold bulbous, pulsating acid sacs in place. Though the remains of the carapace offer no real protection, they allow for unhindered delivery of the baneling's payload. The digestive and reproductory tracts are assimilated as nutrients to accelerate the process, and make room for the fleshy, mutated adrenal glands. These are re-purposed to produce and store large quantities of highly corrosive acid.
Because of its mass, the baneling's legs are thicker than the zergling's, in order to stabilize itself. Its feet are replaced by sharp spikes that allow them to navigate rough terrain, albeit at a slower pace. The Swarm was able to increase the baneling's speed despite these imperfections. Yet due to their bloated nature, banelings are barely able to walk. They have been observed to tuck into a ball and roll. Banelings also possess a rudimentary sonar system-Dominion scientists have theorized that this is a degeneration of the zergling's complex optical structure. This system consists of a transmitter in the center of the baneling's skull, along with two evenly spaced receivers to the sides. The transmitter emits pulses that map the baneling's surrounding area, and echoes back to the receiver, feeding the baneling with a continuous stream of spatial information.
As Soronan mold is part of banelings' genetic structure, they are capable of surviving on minimal oxygen and moisture.
When a baneling gets close enough to an enemy, it triggers a reaction within its volatile chemical payload, causing the creature to explode with a shower of searing acid. The explosion destroys the baneling but also inflicts terrible damage to its enemies, highly effective against both structures and ground forces. In fact, a clutch of them is capable of wiping out a group of vehicles and infantry in the blink of an eye. The banelings' lethality is further enhanced by the zerg predilection for burrowing. An apparently safe area can soon turn into a deathtrap as these monstrosities erupt beneath their foes, giving enemies virtually no time to react.

[@kuro456]

The banelings took "The floor is lava" so seriously, they evolved knees

[@inkedseahear]

I love how others were monster hunting for natural species to rip off from but the Hunter was just "let's force banelings to jump or die" a perfect example of the swarm cold, cruel, but adaptive and everlasting.

[@af2547]

It’s why they love char.

[@Zak-tk8wv]

Lol

[@TricksterPoi]

That's how IRL evolution applies. Mother Nature gives zero fk yo.

[@johnclement189]

I still don't understand how a species that explodes on contact have a evolutionary trait or even manage to survive long enough to adapt.

[@duytranuc4025]

If it make them protect the queen better, then there is a chance. Camponotus saundersi is an ant species that worker ants do self-destruction to spread pit poison (yes, poison, not venom, the ant die after this)

[@karlk7070]

They don't evolve naturally but with artificial manipulation I assume

[@RainAngel111]

It's not even the fact they explode that makes this dumb. The lava is too deadly to be a good driver of adaptation. If 100% of them die, there's nothing to adapt. Plus the Zerg attack units don't reproduce? They're spawned from larva. Any genetic changes would have to happen at the drone, hatchery or larva level.

[@wengchow3740]

😂😅gene manipulation same in nature there does some ants explodes or burns.

[@MyViolador]

those mini banelings are so cute

[@Russel.Idrive]

I wish I had one of em as pet

[@Russel.Idrive]

@ninjaspy You just defined my ex

[@dis_iz_tud]

* Whole planet shakes when nydus erupts * Don't let the protoss know we're here

[@DreadKiwi]

I picked the hunter strain and they were incredibly useful. A lot of the tricky optional objectives became trivial if you just sent in a big swarm of them directly over the cliffs that normally made them hard to reach.

[@markhunter3533]

I think it was one of the few cases where on evolution was clearly better. Hunter is the way to go.

[@BaulSDA]

@@markhunter3533 Hunter strain+corrosive acid is instawin on every mission where you have to destroy something specific.

[@bonzwah1]

hunter's gapclose makes it far better. the terrain thing is neat but the main attraction is quickly jumping forward onto the enemy. far more useful during the campaign because most defensive positions will kill the splitters and their spawn before they can get on the enemy and any position that doesn't have that tight defense doesn't require banelings in the first place.

[@Dostoron]

the hunterlings have one major thing going for them, when roaches form a firing line, your little hopper bombs can go over them to get at the victim, or when the zerglings make a circle pit, the banelings can still join the fun.

[@k-leb4671]

I wish Ultralisks could move past Zerglings making a circle pit...

[@filipbitala2624]

@@k-leb4671imagine ultralisks moving over units same way colossi do, even if it was just smaller units like zerglings and banelings, even if hydras and roaches didnt count, just imagine the possibilites

[@Broockle]

Who could resist Bouncy Banelings? xD

[@NotARobot-sc3it]

It's over protoss i have the high ground

[@stormpants1638]

You underestimate my Colossi!

[@bursegsardaukar]

Errr. Wrong strain. It is the Splitter strain that fought the Protoss.

[@MyNameIsXYlp]

6:18 Terrans on the Battle Net Forums ~2012

[@ZenZudokai]

Splitter is useful for bunker busting as a prelude to sending in the rest of the Swarm. Hunter is useful for having them as part of the Swarm, as they don’t get caught behind Zerglings and such. Especially useful with Healing Acid and extending the life of your Zerglings and other melee attackers.

[@5deathburger]

Splitter= Extra damage Hunter= Improved mobility

[@Mrstmeesik1234]

Healing acid / support

[@maniacalcoast2742]

Literally go hunter with the healing upgrade, it’s so ridiculous

[@thekingnerd6639]

Splitter: potential 10 extra damage

[@af2547]

Splitter is also Extra hp technically

[@Zak-tk8wv]

Yes

[@alexmelik4030]

I thought only hunter strain is viable, but I recently tried brutal playthrough with "green-colored specimen only" for evolutions, and boy do splitter banes+corpser roaches kick butt. Little spawns swarm like crazy and divert enormous amounts of fire.

[@eaglehigh1307]

It’s over Mengsk! Zerg have the high ground!

[@Ambu570]

YOU ARE UNDERSTANDING MENGSK POWER!!!

[@miguellemir242]

The thing is that regardless of what strain of zergling you choose, they are still a hindrance to properly use your banelings. Hunter is therefore the most cost efective option as you can count that they will less likely to be gunned down due to being trapped behind a mass of zerglings

[@thekingnerd6639]

Unless... you get swarming to make cheaper banelings!

[@Zak-tk8wv]

Yes

[@decimatorentertainmentstud8523]

The banelings are very handy at tearing apart defenses.

[@Xtank425]

Mengsk probably saw footage of the experimental jumping Zerg and decided to keep his bases away from as many scalable ledges as possible.

[@travismontgomery1897]

Splitter: WE ARE LEGION Hunter: Rolling Rolling (say what?) *JUMP & EXPLODE* ROLLING ROLLING (say what?) *JUMP & EXPLODE*

[@mirahorner6277]

It's so funny when hunter baneling attacks running away marine

[@Moa_Smug]

For me Splitter Strain looks better if the Baneling dies u'll get another Baneling upon it's death though it deals lesser damage but it's best use for destroying enemy bases...U don't get maps with lots of cliffs all the time so Splitter Strain is ideal for overwhelming the enemies

[@kenyong1478]

Yeah, you were right about this, to effectively and efficiently pushing into enemy base defense, more units=easier but after all, the Hunter banelings are a lot scarier as they become "ranged" ground unit, they JUMP on you instead of rolling

[@lancelindlelee7256]

Zergling, Baneling and Roach choices amount to Increased numbers or increased mobility (reducing enemy mobility for Roach). You chose 1 side.

[@justindy2238]

on my opinion splitter strain can allow banelings to overwhelm enemies and their bases and the bad thing is when enemies turn micro there are no chances for this strain to apporach to hunter strain it allows banelings to hop into the enemies in order to get close into them and imagine having a combo of this strain and the raptor strain that hops into the enemy bringing their doom in air

[@Moa_Smug]

Justin Dy There's a friendly fire on banelings' explosion though so having Raptor Zerglings hop towards ground units will be problematic except if u push the Hunter Banelings first before the Raptor Zerglings

[@Broockle]

But.. but.... they're Bouncy Banelings! Watching them bounce just makes me smile. xD

[@migukmoonpark4312]

Swarmling + Splitter = Ragequit

[@m3ntal_c0re]

craziest mutation ever being able to actually jump... 😂

[@Immerayon]

I mean... That is a significant mutation.

[@WolfgerLion]

I always like the HUnter one. they jump towards enemies on the front lines. I think they had an extra perk where the explosions can heal ally zerg units

[@bursegsardaukar]

4:45 Lava rising. Remain on high ground. Anakin Skywalker: I know. I know.

[@deltor5849]

I picked the splitter cuz the tiny banelings looks so cute

[@Truck_Kun_Driver]

Cjacke used Hunter, combined with Swarmling, imagine a horde of jumping banelings spawn at the speed of light coming to you.

[@TheNotSoIrishGamer]

I always liked using the splitter one and then the spawn banelings ability with kerrigan for huge burst damage

[@voidangel6895]

I only watched for Abathur tbh. I love that little slug

[@ChoriDinawan]

Splitter: WAVE OF EXPLOSIVES!!!! Hunter: Good for Surprise assault

[@Navrable]

If you accidentally kill all the banelings in the lava..............Abather delivers some more and says ``More Banelings' ' in the most sarcastic voice ever.

[@TaigaShark-ij8oh]

After watching the vid twice and started reading the description of each strain and notice something about the last sentence in 8:06. I had mix feeling about the relationship between the banelings and zerglings. Either I should laugh cuz jumping baneling can finally escape from zergling's hunger chase after many years of being bullied or seen as food. Or be worried that jumping baneling can finally do dynamic entry attack on zerglings. It be a feast for zerglings if they ever see splitter baneling getting into the wrong place and right timing for zerglings to be.. In a appetite.. Makes me wonder whether banelings are the source of everyday food for all zergs when terrans, protoss or nature habitats is not around.

[@SuperHongTay]

Hafiz Rashid if it makes you feel better, they are all biological weapons used as pawns for the queen of blades, and are incapable of advanced social behaviour such as bullying unless directed by an over-riding will. Also, banelings are probably poisonous. Protoss do not eat food, they photosynthesize

[@nameoftheedgyvariety4988]

Avocado I think he was referring to zergs eating the bodies of dead ‘toss

[@Fyrebrand18]

Hafiz Rashid Zerg feed off creep.

[@Lorkanthal]

that last sentence is clearly referring to the wall of zerglings that forms between the banelings and the target whenever you use both of them together.

[@geebanhunter]

Good choice

[@SuperiorAmericanGuy]

Banelings are a real terror towards marines and hydralisks.

[@axechop]

4:44 Obi-Baneling

[@Qladstone]

6:18 Balance whining!

[@Bytheemperor]

6:18 yeah it ain't fair, its war dude :v

[@LamborghiniDiabloSVPursuit]

It took the Zerg thousands of tries to teach a baneling to jump. That is the single-most inefficient waste of resources I've ever seen, especially for a specie that can evolve on the fly.

[@stormpants1638]

0:39 Turn on captions. *My Toe scarab*

[@dtczyk8976]

The second test doesn’t make much sense because the Zerg don’t breed the way that form of testing would lead to success

[@thekingnerd6639]

Well, if we guess hive cluster, banes return to hive cluster andthe hive decided to take the jumpy strands and only make bouncy banes.

[@thewhitekingofn3580]

I will find a volcano. I neeeed to evolve.

[@AWriterWandering]

What happens if you just wait for the lava to kill the Terrans in the first part?

[@Ambu570]

Lava? High ground? Sounds familiar

[@TokiDesha]

miss those in MP :(

[@lollikabosso.w.n7153]

Everybody gangsta till the banelings start speaking general kenobi.

[@TheMightyNaryar]

This is not how evolution works, Abathur.

[@Immerayon]

I mean, kinda. It would just take more than a few generations for anything that isn't zerg.

[@Hat3M0ng3r]

Hunter is obviously better. When paired with raptors you got a hyper mobile army that essentially just teleports where it needs to go like scrin equiped with blink packs.

[@warchiefballer8809]

Only the Hunter strain

[@Ascetic817]

dang, bugs!!!

[@ZetsubouGintama]

Hunter might look useless. But you must remember they are handy when they must line up with zergling horde.

[@Dostoron]

the selling point: a roach line is not an obstacle to them.

[@DavidGlendaleArdenaso]

okay these two are kinda lazily designed like they're literally just recolors

[@gatagay1612]

Banelings banelings banelings ohh... banelings banelings banelings nnooo...

[@Trades46]

The hunter strain is nice as Banelings now become ranged & close the gap to Marines cluster rapidly. You lack the raw damage potential of the splitter but that's what the Roaches & Hydras are for right?

[@ColonelRosa]

Trades46 hunter 1 shot any infantry and 2 shot anything else, no need for extra dps, and they don’t get killed before they can actually hit like splitter

[@ignacioarmandugon2916]

5:39 zerg forces imba? Haha

[@NikSem65]

Why not both?

[@NICSU667]

THATS ILLEGAL!

[@Zak-tk8wv]

NOT SCIENTIFICALLY POSSIBLE!

[@gokercakr693]

Answer complex. Can branch evolution of fully evolved Baneling. Strains mutually exclusive. Will compete in sequence. One must be chosen. One must be discarded.

[@nrednred5524]

can you actually use it on pvp matches?

[@thebravegallade731]

Wish there was a mode where all sides can choose max benefits from campeign stuff.

[@thekingnerd6639]

@@thebravegallade731 mod

[@jackmion]

How do banglings bang?

[@RecoveringLoLAddict]

Hunter is so useless in Brutal Enemy units will kite them around and there's this garbage jumping delay that doesn't allow hunters to hit unless the enemy is cornered.

[@philiproe1661]

If you're good at micro and have high apm you can just manually detonate them.