The Xel'Naga are an ancient, cosmic race from the StarCraft universe—a fictional universe in which a series of computer games and books are set. The Xel'Naga helped the Protoss and the Zerg races to evolve. In the end, the Xel'Naga were destroyed by their own creation, the Zerg, when the Zerg Overmind launched an attack against them from the planet Zerus. It is possible that members of the race still live and await the time for the universe to be ready to accept their guidance.^{[citation needed]} It is also possible that they assisted other races to reach a higher level in their individual evolutions. The StarCraft universe is a fictional universe in which the StarCraft series of computer games and books are set. ... A fictional universe is a cohesive imaginary world that serves as the setting or backdrop for one or (more commonly) multiple works of fiction. ... A computer game is a game composed of a computer-controlled virtual universe that players interact with in order to achieve a defined goal or set of goals. ... Artanis, a young Protoss Praetor in the StarCraft universe. ... A Zerg Hydralisk The Zerg are a vaguely insectoid race in the StarCraft universe. ... The Zerg Overmind, sometimes known simply as the Overmind, is a character in the StarCraft universe. ... Zerus is a planet in the StarCraft universe — a fictional universe where a series of computer games and books are set. ... This article is about evolution in biology. ...

It is improbable that the Xel'Naga will be playable in StarCraft II, as it has repeatedly been announced that the game will only feature the three main races: Protoss, Terran, and Zerg^[1][2][3]. It has been confirmed that the Xel'Naga will be featured in StarCraft II "in a rather epic tale."^[4] StarCraft is a real-time strategy game by Blizzard Entertainment. ... StarCraft is a real-time strategy game by Blizzard Entertainment. ... The StarCraft universe is a fictional universe in which the StarCraft series of computer games and books are set. ... StarCraft: Ghost StarCraft: Ghost is a tactical action game for video game consoles, currently under development by Blizzard Entertainment. ... StarCraft II is a sequel to the real-time strategy game StarCraft, announced on May 19, 2007, at the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational in Seoul, South Korea. ... Artanis, a young Protoss Praetor in the StarCraft universe. ... Artanis, a young Protoss Praetor in the StarCraft universe. ... A Zerg Hydralisk The Zerg are a vaguely insectoid race in the StarCraft universe. ... The Marines of the Terran Confederacy. ... The StarCraft Prequel is part of the StarCraft storyline -- the history of the in the fictional universe of StarCraft. ... Artanis, a young Protoss Praetor in the StarCraft universe. ... The Marines of the Terran Confederacy. ... A Zerg Hydralisk The Zerg are a vaguely insectoid race in the StarCraft universe. ...

History

The Xel'Naga came to the Milky Way Galaxy from beyond and were a psionically-attuned, highly advanced race. They had reached what they considered the ultimate stage of evolution, the creation and tending of lesser races. It has been suggested that Andromeda-Milky Way collision be merged into this article or section. ...

The Xel'Naga's primary intent was purity of form, and to this end they travelled the galaxy, altering many interesting species they had encountered to enhance the species with this purity of form. However, each time they were met by failure.

Involvement with the Protoss

The Xel'Naga journeyed to the edge of the galaxy and to the huge engineered world of Aiur. On this world, they discovered a psionic hunter race that would be known as the Protoss, who displayed amazing strength, speed and resilience. The Xel'Naga took this to be a sign of purity of form. The species also had a unique psionic link. Seeing them as a successful creation, they were named Protoss, meaning "first born". The Xel'Naga secretly cared for them, and eventually, when they deemed it ready, revealed themselves to them. The site where they first set foot on Aiur was marked by a Temple, which they had constructed over a nexus of cosmic energy. Illustration of Aiur, homeworld of the mighty Protoss. ... Artanis, a young Protoss Praetor in the StarCraft universe. ... Illustration of Aiur, homeworld of the mighty Protoss. ... The XelNaga are a race in the StarCraft universe which have vanished (or gone to sleep) countless ages ago. ...

The Protoss united, fascinated by these new "gods", and learned much from them. Eventually, however, splits developed among the tribes as they struggled on decisions of what they should think of themselves, their inventions, and the Xel'Naga. The Xel'Naga had worked to unite them in one organization, but instead the tribes split and distanced themselves from each other. Indeed, the split was so severe that it caused the disappearance of the psionic link. The Xel'Naga, knowing that they had pushed their creation too far and too fast, set off from the world, disappointed at their failure. The Protoss had just developed spaceflight, and many saw this retreat as a betrayal. The Protoss ships attacked, stopping a few Xel'Naga vessels. The majority of the Xel'Naga escaped, however. Artanis, a young Protoss Praetor in the StarCraft universe. ...

The Protoss, left behind, had only themselves to turn upon. This led to a stage of Protoss history called the Aeon of Strife. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

Involvement with the Zerg

Seeing the problems caused by a species with purity of form, the Xel'Naga now set out to create a race displaying a purity of essence.

The Xel'Naga settled over an ash-world named Zerus, located in the core of the galaxy, and chose the most insignificant lifeform on the planet—a larval creature known as the Zerg. While having no ability to affect their physical surroundings, the Zerg had just the traits the Xel'Naga were looking for: genetic versatility and psionic sensitivity. They nurtured these creatures, allowing them to affect their surroundings in almost parasitic ways. Eventually, they began infesting the creatures of the planet, turning them into monstrosities. The Zerg spread rapidly across the planet, infesting or slaying every living lifeform on the surface. In addition to this, they would absorb the creature into their gene pool, allowing the Zerg to replicate and then duplicate them, fueling their rapid growth. The Xel'Naga realized their mistake with the Protoss, and, instead of revealing themselves, created something to speak for them and contain their collected instincts and sentience. The Overmind was created in the Xel'Naga's fashion to watch over the swarm. The Xel'Naga wanted to centralize the intelligence in the Overmind as opposed to the entire species, like they did with the Protoss. The Overmind, however, was plotting to destroy its creators and spread across the galaxy. A surprise attack was launched against the Xel'Naga, wiping out most of the race's Worldships and the greater whole of the Xel'Naga in the first waves. The ancient ones who survived fled Zerus, and may have fled known space. Their location and survival rate is unknown. Zerus is a planet in the StarCraft universe — a fictional universe where a series of computer games and books are set. ... It has been suggested that Andromeda-Milky Way collision be merged into this article or section. ... A Zerg Hydralisk The Zerg are a vaguely insectoid race in the StarCraft universe. ... A Zerg Hydralisk The Zerg are a vaguely insectoid race in the StarCraft universe. ... A parasite is an organism that spends a significant portion of its life in or on the living tissue of a host organism and which causes harm to the host without immediately killing it. ... The gene pool of a species or a population is the complete set of unique alleles that would be found by inspecting the genetic material of every living member of that species or population. ... The Zerg Overmind, sometimes known simply as the Overmind, is a character in the StarCraft universe. ...

Legacies

The Xel'Naga left behind many legacies. On a nexus of cosmic energy on Aiur, they built a Temple to mark the spot where they first set foot upon Aiur. They did the same thing on Shakuras, where their marks (such as darkening the planet and a temple capable of destroying Zerg) are more obvious. Finally, there are prophecies relating to the planet Braken, a Protoss world with religious significance. Illustration of Aiur, homeworld of the mighty Protoss. ... The XelNaga are a race in the StarCraft universe which have vanished (or gone to sleep) countless ages ago. ... Illustration of Aiur, homeworld of the mighty Protoss. ... Shakuras is the homeworld planet of the Protoss Dark Templars in the StarCraft Universe, a fictional universe in which a series of computer games and books are set. ... A Zerg Hydralisk The Zerg are a vaguely insectoid race in the StarCraft universe. ... Artanis, a young Protoss Praetor in the StarCraft universe. ...

The prophecies claim that "he who harnesses this world will someday wield a great power, sanctified by the ancient ones". This could be a reference to the Xel'Naga.

See also

• Infested Duran
• Protoss-Zerg Hybrid

Samir Duran —better known as Duran or Lieutenant Duran— is a character in the StarCraft universe. ... The Protoss/Zerg Hybrid is a species in the fictional StarCraft universe. ...

Notes

2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... May 19 is the 139th day of the year (140th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... May 19 is the 139th day of the year (140th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... GameSpy, also known as GameSpy Industries, is a division of IGN Entertainment, which operates a network of game Web sites and provides online video game-related services and software. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... May 19 is the 139th day of the year (140th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... May 20 is the 140th day of the year (141st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

• StarCraft homepage at Blizzard Entertainment
• Battle.net StarCraft Compendium
• Blizzard Map of the Month - information on the prophecies of Braken
• Underwood, Peter, Bill Roper, Chris Metzen and Jeffrey Vaughn. StarCraft (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.