Probe

The probe is the basic protoss construction unit.

Overview
Probes are robotic drones controlled by an artificial intelligence. They were originally designed by the Khalai Caste to lay the foundation for protoss colonies on hostile worlds where living workers would be at too great a risk. Even after the Brood War, it is not uncommon to see hundreds of probes lining the streets of a protoss settlement, performing one task or another.

The probe truly shines in its service to protoss military might, providing service to the nexus of any protoss base. They are also used to warp in structures, manufacturing and planting micro-beacons, allowing fully functional buildings to be warped in over interstellar distances. Although this is their primary function, probes can still construct facilities from scratch, along with harvesting resources, courtesy of their in-built particle beam.

Probes are occasionally used as scouts and if the situation calls for it, a last line of defense.

StarCraft
Probes construct building by starting the building's warp-in process. After that point the building "constructs" by itself and the probe is free to leave and pursue other activities. This is unlike the SCV and drone which are fully occupied when constructing buildings. Like other workers, probes float and do not trigger spider mines.

Some protoss early game rush strategies feature probes constructing pylons and photon cannons near or in an enemy base, known as cannon rushing. Probes may also warp in assimilators to frustrate an enemy's vespene gathering efforts.

Probes are more fragile than either SCVs and drones.

StarCraft: Ghost
The probe seemingly appears in StarCraft: Ghost, although its function(s) are unknown.

StarCraft II
The probe retains its role as the protoss worker unit in StarCraft II with no noticeable changes in function. However, as protoss shields regenerate faster than they did before, probes are more versatile scouts than they were in the original games.

Development
As of February 2010, the obelisk lost Argus Link and Proton Charge.

Known Probes

 * Probe 2553B