The Queen is an essential unit for the Zerg base, capable of being spawned from any Hatchery after a Spawning Pool has been built. The unit provides light defense against both ground and air threats. Additionally, building a Queen allows the player to access the beneficial spells of Spawn Larva, Spawn Creep Tumor and Transfusion. Zerg players typically produce at least one Queen for every Hatchery because Spawn Larva substantially increases larvae production.

The Queen's combat AI prioritizes its stronger air attack against anti-ground airborne threats such as the Banshee, Oracle, or Colossus.