Hybrid Reaver

The hybrid reaver was an extremely powerful, zerg-based type of protoss-zerg hybrid, the monstrous fusion of protoss and zerg genetics created in the service of the fallen Xel'Naga Amon. Where the hybrid destroyer drew most heavily on its protoss heritage, the reaver leaned to the zerg side and favoured brutal physical attacks. The creatures were capable of basic speech, and they could exert control over both zerg and terrans through the force of their minds. By the End War the hybrid reaver had become the staple unit of Amon's hybrid armies across the Koprulu sector.

Nature and powers#

The hybrid reaver was one of the more zerg-leaning of the protoss-zerg hybrids, and its strength was formidable. Unlike the hybrid destroyer, which fought largely through psionic force, the reaver focused on raw physical attacks, tearing into its foes with the brute power of its zerg-derived frame. Yet it was no mere beast. The reavers were capable of basic speech, and they wielded a darker gift as well: the ability to exert mind control over both zerg broods and terrans, bending lesser creatures to the will of Amon.

Origins at Castanar#

A hybrid reaver was created in a secret Terran Dominion facility at Castanar, part of the clandestine work into hybrid breeding carried out under Amon's distant direction. Raynor's Raiders discovered the creature there and destroyed its holding cell. Freed from confinement, the reaver turned on the facility itself and proceeded to tear it apart. The Raiders barely escaped aboard a Hercules dropship, and as they fled the reaver gave a terrible scream after them.

Skygeirr Station and the Swarm#

Many reavers were produced and placed in stasis tubes at Skygeirr Station, a laboratory operated by the shapeshifter Emil Narud. By the time Sarah Kerrigan and her zerg arrived to destroy the station, hybrids released from its stasis cells were already striking at her psionically. There Kerrigan's swarm encountered stronger hybrid reavers, which fought alongside a band of Tal'darim protoss under Narud's control.

The staple of Amon's armies#

During the End War, the hybrid reaver came into its own as the mainstay of Amon's hybrid legions across the sector. The creatures were encountered at Kherrisan during the Golden Armada's invasion of that planet, where they directed zerg against the Daelaam invaders before being slain. Reavers were met again at the ruins of Kor-shakal and Bennet Port, and on Shakuras, Ulnar, Cybros, Slayn, and on Aiur itself when the Daelaam returned to the world. A more powerful variant known as the hybrid behemoth was also fielded throughout the conflict. In an apocalyptic future foreseen by the Overmind and others through it, many hybrid reavers were deployed to help destroy the protoss during their final stand.