Archon

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The archon is a protoss heavy assault warrior formed by merging two high templar.^[1] More recently the Nerazim have also learned the technique.^[2]

OverviewEdit

Archons are beings of psionic power and rage, and their presence on the battlefield inspires much fear in their foes.^[3] The creation of an archon is a serious affair^[1] and is never made lightly,^[3] for it requires the reluctant sacrifice of valuable Templars^[1] for a short-term gain.^[4] Archons radiate energy like stars and burn out when depleted,^[5] and only last for a brief time.^[4] The archon is, for the most part, a being of pure energy that hovers above ground by displacing gravity itself. Nonetheless, this embodiment of power has a nigh-intangible physical form with unmistakable protoss features; a remnant of the Templar who sacrificed their lives to bring it into being. Its purpose is to shape and anchor the psionic maelstrom, preventing the archon from burning out like a star as soon as the merging is complete.^[3] The merging results in the loss of self for the Templar who create the archon, and those who do so are bequeathed great honor and a place in the templar archives.^[1]

The loss of most of the psionic powers of the two merging templar is more than compensated for by the archon's formidable psychic gestalt. Archons can independently erect a resilient shield and direct psionic shockwaves.^[5] They may create rifts that draws in nearby matter, removing it and the archons from the battlefield.^[6] Emotionally, archons are manifestations of pure rage,^[7] though this may be "twisted" should the merging be in error.^[8] Archons are much feared by their enemies,^[2] and can wade through countless enemy troops;^[7] they are strong enough to engage ultralisks in single combat.^[6]

Originally, archons were formed through the merging of two high templar.^[1] After the Brood War and the reunification of the protoss, archons of a different kind can now be created by merging two Dark Templar or even a Khalai and Nerazim merging.^[2][9]

Other InformationEdit

	The following article or section contains lore from the StarCraft RPG, which is not regarded as canon. Elements may be regarded as 'flavor lore' however.

The first archon(s) was/were created unexpectedly and their formation was soon legally sanctioned by Khala.^[5] High templar who merge to form archons are said to have reached the final stage of the Warrior's Path.^[10]

Game UnitEdit

StarCraftEdit

For StarCraft gameplay information see: Archon (StarCraft).

For StarCraft in-game quotations see: StarCraft Archon Quotations.

StarCraft IIEdit

For StarCraft II gameplay information see: Archon (StarCraft II).

For StarCraft II in-game quotations see: StarCraft II Archon Quotations.

Heroes of the StormEdit

	The following section contains information from Heroes of the Storm and is not canon to StarCraft continuity

Archons appear in Heroes of the Storm as one of Tassadar's level 10 abilities. At level 20 can be further augmented to form a Twilight archon.^[11]

Known ArchonsEdit

• Aedus/Xerxes
• Mertick the Mauler
• Nannoth/Taeradun
• Tassadar/Zeratul (non-canon)
• Zeradar (non-canon)

VariantsEdit

	This article or section contains information derived from Co-op Missions, and should not be considered part of the official StarCraft storyline.

• Unbound fanatic

TriviaEdit

• An archon pet named Zeradar is available in World of Warcraft for those who purchase the digital deluxe or collector's edition of Legacy of the Void.^[12]
• A glow in the dark archon superball was available for purchase at BlizzCon 2014.
• The word "archon" derives from the Greek word "άρχων" meaning "ruler."

ReferencesEdit