Scout

The Scout is a protoss space superiority fighter.

Overview
The Scout is a versatile and powerful protoss fighter though are generally considered by the protoss to be more for scouting purposes. However, Scouts are easily a match for most other craft, employing anti-matter missiles against aerial targets and dual photon blasters against ground targets. The Dark Templar maintain(ed) their own Scouts and equipped them with technology to engage in FTL travel through the Void.

In their days of service, Scouts served as point guards for the protoss fleet, being maintained in the hangars of carriers, though were often called upon to engage hostile forces. Shortly before the war against the zerg, recent developments in enhanced sensor systems and high-power engines further increased its effectiveness.

Since the end of the Brood War, the Scout is steadily being phased out by the Phoenix. However, it is still used by the Tal'darim and Daelaam.

StarCraft
The Scout is optimized for the anti-air role. Compared to the Wraith, it has greater durability but no cloaking device, and is slower without the Gravitic Thrusters upgrade. Both have strong anti-air attack to counter heavily armored flyers, and weak ground attacks. Ground anti-air units counter the Scout.

The Valkyrie's diffused attack is less effective against the Scout.

The Scout is rarely used in competitive play due to its uneconomically high cost. Instead, niche roles are filled by the corsair.

Quotations

 * See: StarCraft Scout Quotations

Development
In the StarCraft alpha, Scouts were armed with disruptors. In the StarCraft beta, Scout engines produced green exhaust instead of their current blue. Scouts also used their anti-matter missiles against ground targets.

StarCraft: Ghost


Scouts were to appear in StarCraft: Ghost. There are indications that they could be flown in singleplayer.

StarCraft II
The Scout appears in the StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty campaign, operated by the Tal'darim and by Selendis's forces. They also appear in the Heart of the Swarm campaign in the Kaldir missions.

Development
The Scout's design for Wings of Liberty went through several phases, as while its new design was to have homages to its original form, designers had different features they liked about the original. Another concern was making it look more organic in accordance with the protoss units in StarCraft II having more flowing shapes and fewer geometric angles. A design was finally settled on, with the StarCraft-esque wings being replaced by more organic looking ones.

Known Pilots

 * Praetor Artanis
 * Praetor Mojo
 * Templar Aurioch
 * Judicator Kizrath
 * Scout Heroes
 * Xerana (Dark Templar)

Variants

 * Pathfinder Scout
 * Purifier Scout (cut content)