This Zagara guide would look at her and her abilities in a different perspective than usual.

The guide is about playing Zag as a pusher, a very mobile and map present pain in the *** and as a medium strength engager with the potential of dealing and even killing 2 heroes at the early stage of the game.
playing Zagara this way doesn't end with the talents (as you could say about all heroes),
you'd need to add some of my spice and in the end you'll have something nice.

I'll use some acronyms or names from Starcraft in this guide so if something's not clear you could always come back to this point of the guide:
CT - Creep Tumor.
Hydralisk - Hunter Killer.
Roachling - Infested Drop's units.
BA- Basic attack
RPS - Regeneration Per Second, referring to HP.

* Well I tried to make this look good, but it only looks (sorta) good when the browser's zoom is at 90%

Zagara is one of the strongest specialists when it comes to end game statistics, she has tons of damage (even without going DMG talents). In this guide I'll present two possible talent trees;
1. Would focus on CT, for total map-control.
2. Would focus on dealing tons of damage.

I would dare and say that the only specialist who tops her when it comes to statistics is Nazeebo.

Nydus Network allows travel from n' to Base/Lane/Boss/Objectives. The map dominator, she is the hero with the highest possibility of being anywhere, almost anytime. An extremely powerful pusher that would manage to handle even 2 laners. Can disperses wards ( Creep Tumor) all over the map (That last 4 frigging minutes). Not mana hungry, got good HP-RPS at the laning-phase and can always jump in and out of lane to regen HP/MP at Lvl-10. High siege and hero DPS especially for a Specialist. Very challenging, fun and intresting to play.

Color meanings;

Of course purple is the best, how can love CT and not love purple?

A very good skill which I usually don't play with.

Not that recommended yet I see why people use it.

Not recommended and I have no idea why it's even in the game.

IMO this talent is a must in this tier, giving Zagara and her units a great bonus of HP-RPS to help them sustain lane (in many games I find myself staying in lane until Lvl-10 by conserving MP and maintaining my HP as high as possible, between fountain sips). Tips Always stand on creep-tumor and try to make this stand for her units as well. If you manage to reserve MP, this skill allows you to reserve HP also, which grants you sick sustain in the lane (When played right you could stay in-lane until Lvl-10 and jump right back up in the lane with Nydus Network)

It is true that Roachlings are meant to be played so that they'd soak damage [instead of minions (by turrets for example)] but combined with Reconstitution and their low timer, before they burrow back into the ground they already don't lose all of their HP, they don't need more resistance. Take this if you want to be a stronger pusher but only if you're not going CT build, still not recommended.

This tier has 3 fantastic talents, from which I find it really hard to pick. Always add your play-style into account when picking your talents (Remember this is only a guide, just sharing some information with you about how I play Zagara).

With this talent you can spread your CT literally everywhere and it's a great early-game-creep-advantage. You could spam it without being concerned about MP and having it on 33% lower CD means you'd have 33% more CT, great for map domination not as good for Tips A very strong upgrade when going with the CT build. If you took it, never keep a stack of 3 Creep Tumors, spam your creep across the map otherwise you wouldn't be using this talent to it's fullest potential. Spread your tumor not only at your lane, do it where-ever you go, where-ever you think you might need vision, where-ever you think you'd need to escape to. Combined with Nydus Network (Lvl-10) this allows you total map domination, always roam between different lanes and spread your creep it is important for you when playing with this highly mobile build.

This skill allows you to deal more burst DMG Vs. enemy Heroes, if you think that you're not enough in shape to deal with enemy heroes 1v1 (mostly in-lane but this talent remains useful, late-game) than this in addition to Brood Expansion (Lvl-16) allows you to become a frightening burster, good if you're getting targeted by enemy assassins. Tips It's always good to have bonus skills, they don't take MP and they're a bonus to your kit. A very strong burst skill, which has a stronger effect early-game. Combined with Grooved Spines (Lvl-13) and Brood Expansion you have a very intimidating 1V1 power. Good for killing enemies or for dis-engaging, if you fear for your life cast this on who-ever is chasing you and they'd be scared ****-less. Always think if you'd be able to kill with it, if so, keep this skill for the end because other-wise you might scare them off.

in team fights dispersing BA buffed by Envenomed Spines to different heroes allows you to deal more total DMG compared to Envenom and as long as you aren't getting focused (and you shouldn't be since Zagara's a back-liner) this skill may be very efficient for annihilating the entire enemy team. This skill is a good combination with Battle Momentum (Lvl-7) for it allows you to land BA more easily to activate Battle Momentum's CDR. Tips Dispeers your BA to different enemies, this talent has an effect that lasts 3 seconds so in that 3 seconds window you can target other targets (since it doesn't stack, another BA would just restart the 3 seconds timer) if fighting camps try and circle your basics so that between skills all of the mercenaries would be under the effect of poison, same goes for team-fights, pushing waves... etc'. It also works on buildings, keep that in mind.

Allows you to maintain map domination with your creep and it could help you cover it from top to bottom without leaving a gap, making your creep center harder to find/destroy making you spam less CT since each unit covers more ground and making sure you'd have more creep as is as long as it isn't destroyed. Tips I recommend trying to play with this (and all of the other CT talents for that matter) talent at least once, see how her real map-domination is like when she has creep all-over the map. I can not drag this any more than I already did but the advantages of having this purple slime everywhere are simply endless.

This skill allows you to summon your units much more often but if you see that it's hard for you to land basic attacks (As if when-ever you do a Warrior/ Assassin targets you) than I wouldn't recommend it as much as I would Endless Creep or another possibility is to combine this talent with Envenomed Spines to give you 20% more distance from your target. This skill scales good with Envenomed Spines since it allows you to be 20% further from the enemies you BA and activating Battle Momentum. Tips Combined with Nydus Network you never need to worry about MP since you can always go back to base and pop right back up where-ever you please Always land your BAs, if you've taken this talent and you don't use Basic Attacks than you're putting it to no good use. This skill also helps you regenerate your 'Heroic Ability' and CT faster, take that into account.

Might be a good talent but if you need to restore HP/MP you always have Nydus Worm and if you're mid-fight and need to restore HP quickly this skill isn't the best since it's a channeling skill and it takes 3 seconds to finish so I don't really think it's a good rescue.

95% of the time I play with this skill. IMO this skill is very under-rated, completing your map domination with Nydus worms at all corners of the map allows you to; Push W.E. lane you want. Group quickly to join fights, help bosses or objectives. Do camps and go back to base to heal up or escape. You're constantly on the map, no more wasting time walking from bot to top, from base to boss, the options are end-less.

As I mentioned above, I almost never play with this 'Heroic abillity'. This skill is VERY strong in team-fights when placed properly and the team follows up to clear who-ever isn't caught in it. It allows you to: Assure kills. Escape fights. Take out enemies from the fight to focus on those who aren't caught. Don't forget it's a CC so it can stop every channeling skill or a frighting opponent. Combos quite good with other heroes if your team has good synergy.

I don't feel as if there's any reason to go much in-depth when it comes to picking in this tier, I feel as if this skill is a must and not argue-able. Given the fact that your Hydralisk IS your hero damage, this skill that buffs him quite allot is simply the best in this tier. Tips This is a pure buff, bonus range, bonus DMG. I wouldn't be playing Hydralisk much differently with this talent. Works great with Brood Expansion (No need to explain why), and Metabolic Boost is good with it since not only you'd get the bonus range but your Hydra would be chasing faster.

Do you die too much, you might want to take this skill. I have come to realize that if I were to take Baneling Massacre than improving the Hydralisk might be less efficient than taking this talent, considering you're not suppose to be taking DMG this skill should most of the time be available for you. Tips Once again, if you don't take Brood Expansion and choose Baneling Massacare I'd recommend taking this talent since you've already given up on maximizing your Hydralisk Although if you are to take Metabolic Boost than Grooved Spines may still be a good choice (See tips for Grooved Spines. 30 Seconds CD between activation this skill may mean you could keep it for battles and when it's used you could; go back to base, heal up, and get back into the action with the Nydus Network and a new regenerated Shield Border. At the late game try and avoid any contact you can with an enemy like Zeratul, Kerrigan, Stitches, Arthas Etc'.. these encounters most of the time would mean your death if it's 1V1 and if it's possible to keep Spell Shield until a friendly hero comes along than you'd be in a good advantage.

After upgrading the Hydralisk with Grooved Spines having two of these in your kit allows you to deal much damage very quickly to any enemy target.This is a very strong upgrade to a very strong anti-hero skill. Tips If the enemy team has an invisible unit it might less of a threat when you have 2 Hydras. If afraid for your life keep your stacks always at least with 1 Hydralisk so that if you'd need it would be at your disposal. Goes well with Battle Momentum.

If you went with the full CT build this skill is pretty much a must, allowing you to be as fast as on a mount without channeling 'Z', Metabolic Boost allows you to; Have faster units, Hydralisk would chase down an enemy very efficiently, Banelings would reach the target in no time and Roachles would get to their target (if it's an enemy or pushing a wave) faster. Roam much faster, never need to be on a mount (unless you are going to un-creeped area). Chase kills. Escape fights.

Thinking about it, I've never taken this skill although when i'm looking into it more thoroughly I see that it has great potential. If you manage to land your Banelings good enough this can literally double your DMG with them.

Are you dying too much? Are you getting caught and drained out of your HP too often? this might be a good talent for you, yet you're not suppose to get into these situations as Zagara in the first place, you're supposed to be a back-liner who summons her Zerg units.

Very under-rated, this skill allows your minion wave to have a very violent addition with Broodlings; With Metabolic Boost their movement speed (Which is already fast) is even faster, they'd usually be attacking enemy minions/gates/forts/enemies and when it'd come to closing the gap between those enemies they'd do it in no time. They'd almost always be first in line so they'd be the ones taking the turret/minions/fort damage. That fact in addition to Reconstitution allows them to tank a lane and protect the minions behind them. Highly under-rated and un-common so people don't usually even focus them or even notice that they're taking damage by them. Tips You can leave them to push with the minion wave, it might be even better since they're violent pushers and they don't show up on the mini-map so they can do much damage on an empty lane. Try and give them creep routes before-hand since it'd give them their much asked for HP-RPS and movement speed. When summoned, sharp enemies can detect where they came from there-fore know where you are and where your Nydus-Worm is, always take that into account Take this talent into account when placing your Nydus-worm, if it's because of the reason I stated above or for a more efficient spawn-point for your Broodlings. Not ocne have I found myself going back to base through the Nydus Network to summon Broodling who wouldn't push anything since they'd disappear before even reaching enemy lines, use Hearthstone ('B') and go back to lane with the Nydus-worm {unless you've already used Broodling Nest in the last 20 seconds there-fore it wouldn't activate when tunneling through a Nydus-Worm (you have an indication near your portrait)}.

It's a good escape and a good initiator. This doesn't work like flash in League of Legends since it wouldn't activate as long as you're not in the appropriate distance and it has a far greater range. I would recommend this skill if you didn't take Metabolic Boost and wouldn't recommend it if you did, since she has to have at least one of those considering she has no escape what-so-ever (on account that you didn't take Devouring Maw, you could try and use Nydus Network as an escape but it's really hard, wouldn't work most of the time and as long as an enemy hero has an active CC he'd stop you before you could get in).

A very strong upgrade to a very strong skill, I would highly recommend it if you've taken Devouring Maw. For now I don't play much with Devouring Maw so I can't tell you really how it's benificial but it's basically a buff so I don't feel as if there's much depth to go into when explaining this, anyway.

First build, CT focused

• Map control (defending objectives, vision, HP-RPS, hyper speed on creep and the ability to pop-up where-ever you have vision with the Nydus Network)
• Creep routes that give her (and her units):
  3*(+0.3125 Per Lvl) HP-Regeneration Per Second (For example, bonus of 14 HP RPS at Lvl-15)
  with an extra 40% movemnt speed on creep ( Metabolic Boost)this also allows her and her units to kite much efficiently.
• Her Zerg units are (or at last should) always to be on creep for the bonuse from Reconstitution and Metabolic Boost
• CT isn't destroyed as easily since Endless Creep allows the creep to be less obvious as to where the center is and it's HP is doubled. You'd need to know how her creep works (which isn't that hard) to destroy it. Your goal is to cover EVERYTHING in creep, leave no gaps and by doing so people would have a harder time destroying it for they wouldn't know where the center is.
• Broodling Nest allows your pushes to be even more violent, they push a lane on their own very efficiently, also when fighting enemy champions if they're targeted by the Broodlings you're almost sure to win that fight.

Second build option, DPS focused

• Brood Expansion, Envenom and Battle Momentum allows her to have a very strong burst and lets the amount of skills you cast per the same period of time, grow drastically.
• Zagara still has her CT but it's much less efficient and can be distributed less often (although the Battle Momentum let's you spam more CT so you could say it makes up for not taking Tumor Clutch).
• Although being a squishy champion, you'd have Envenom and Brood Expansion which allow you to be a very fearsome opposer when it comes to 1v1 and if in need of escape, there's Bolt of the Storm and the Nydus Network.
• Significantly higher Hero/Siege DMG.

Let's start with my favorite Creep Tumor:
Giving vision for the entire team CT can act as vision wards and is extremely efficient when placed;
* Between lanes for countering ganks.
* Near objectives such as camps, shrines, mines Etc'...
* Inside enemy territory to know enemy players' location and direction.

• CT should also be used as routes, towards existing forts, Nydus Network's worms and if losing than the base.
  These routes give you high HP-RPS and with Metabolic Boost bonus of 40% movement speed (mount speed).
  
• Your top priority (especially with the #1 build) is to cover everywhere on the map at which you are active, at first it's your lane and it's proximity, and later on it should be every-where you and your team go.
• Put a single CT in your base to regenerate HP even faster.

* Play on creep the entire game and not you nor your enemy would notice it but you'd get a big advantage, this includes your units they are effected by your CT buffs.



* Artist's Deviant-Art is linked in the image.

Baneling Barrage is a very powerful burst DMG skill, when it comes to doing AoE damage it's your best, if it's on a minion wave, a quick push, a burst on an enemy or on a cluster of enemies.

- Never use this skill before your other skills, you'd be wasting your DPS and kit over spitting out those rolling bastards, use it only after you summoned Hydralisks and Roachlings.

-Aim this skill properly, for it is one of your only 2 skill-shots.
it's not an easy skill and you'd learn how to use it properly with more games on Zag, here are a bit tips about how to angle this skill;

• If you want to push a wave with Banelings than go to the center of the minion wave and aim for the caster minion, usually it'd cause most if not all of the minions to get hurt.
• If you attempt to finish a hero with this skill (which you mostly would considering you should use it last in a combo) than aim so that the wall of Banelings would block their escape route and if they attempt to cross it they'd be punished by green explosives.
• Although it's supposedly a hard skill-shot you are not suppose to miss it, if you are bad with it keep practicing until you perfect it.

* Artist's DeviantArt is linked in the image.

Hydralisks:
Your highest DMG Vs. 1 target (Not including Banelings if you manage to hit most of 'em), this skill is meant for heroes, bosses, camps, buildings. After the target is eliminated the Hydralisk burrows back to take a nap so don't cast it on a mercenary with half HP.

When to use this powerful skill;
* Especially at lower levels people would almost never target an Hydralisk neither would they notice it damaging them, use these facts to your advantage;

• Are you getting harassed by a melee champ? cast a Hydralisk on him at the right moment and attempt to keep him in a distance where he wouldn't hurt you much (You wanna bait him for the Hydralisk's damage and keep basic hitting him yet obviously don't eat too much damage).
• If you see you are getting hunted before you start running towards safety (base, fort, other team-matez) summon a Hydralisk, not once it's damage saved me from a chase or even helped me get a kill out of it.
• Don't use Hunter Killer if you see that the enemy hero can run away fearing for his life or if you know in advance that the Hydralisk would not deal much DMG, it has a rather low movement speed, keep it for situations when you are certain that it would lay out most of it's damage.
  * Take down these turrets, at a later stage a Hydralisk and a minions wave could take down a (estimated) 40% turret. Knowing that, don't aim basics/skills on a turret that this mega-snake is attacking for it would disappear once the turret is down.
  
  
  
  Infested Drop is a skill-shot that you could either use when pushing a wave, to tank minions/mercs/buildings or a boss (For example you could solo the Garden Terror quite easily), as far as I care Roachlings are meant to soak damage since they burrow back quickly and can take the most amount of hits from your units.
  
  • When I want to push a wave {and not do it right there and then (Which is when I'd use Banelings)} I'll drop down Roachlings, mostly I'd let them be front-liners, even before the warrior minions since I'd rather have them tank than the minions since they'd burrow anyway and they have HP-RPS from creep and Reconstitution.
  • If you land/want to land your Infested Drop somewhere where there isn't CT if possible I'll recommend going to wherever that spot is and put creep in there, they would love the bonus HP-RPS.
  • Could supply you or your team with a quick vision, always take that into account.
  • After lacking a target in their proximity they'd start heading towards the nearest lane, most of the time it wouldn't matter since they'd disappear before being able to reach somewhere and do something.
  
  
  * Link to the artist's DeviantArt is embedded in the image.
  This is a queen unit from the fantastic game Stacraft II, Zagara is a Brood-Mother which is basically a queen which has evolved, as Abathur had said;
  "Added muscle density, expanded brain matter. Now able to Hypothesize multiple scenarios. Cognitive flexibility, also increased independence. This contradicts imperative: all Zerg must present no threat to the leader of the Swarm".
  
  
  
  Heroic Abilities

I only accidentally published this guide, it's still in works and it'd take some time to take form.

For now I feel as if I've finished it's basic look, still furbishing it, daily.

*if you're reading this I'd love to have some feed-back about anything related to this guide, it's my first one and I wanna perfect it (besides I'd love up-votes, it'd make me happy :)