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"The protoss are known to pair their elite fallen warriors with artificial bodies, granting them a second life in glorious combat. The cybernetics core plays a large role in developing this technology."

(src)

CyberneticsCore SC-FM Art1

The cybernetics core

The cybernetics core provides upgrades for protoss aircraft and protoss cybernetic units. It also allows access to the advanced tech tree.

Overview[]

CyberneticsCore SC2 Rend1

The cybernetics core

Within the cybernetics core are the necessary construction materials, automated factories and the mysterious essence translators that bond the spirits of fallen protoss to the cold metal exoskeletons of the dragoons and other such walker.[1] Eventually, by focusing through the Khala, the fallen warriors can control the movements of the quadrupedal dragoon as naturally as if they were within their former bodies.[2]

Cybernetic cores are famed for their ability to blend machinery with biological beings and psionics through the use of advanced essence translators. Cybernetics cores also provide protoss commanders with the necessary auto-fabricators and materials needed to stage successful battlefield operations. The structure itself is equipped with flux dissipators, photon stabilizer arrays, and phase alignment amplifiers that give protoss warriors a decided edge on the battlefield where numbers are typically in the enemy's favor.[3]

The Tal'darim utilize cybernetics cores much in the same way as the Khalai, to bind biological beings to machinery, but do so in an unimaginably painful way. The Ihan-rii utilize structures very similar to cybernetic cores in their settlements, but that produce a vastly different energy signature.[1]

Game Structure[]

StarCraft[]

The cybernetics core allows for the warp-in of the Protoss Dragoon and provides upgrades for Protoss aircraft.

Researched Upgrades[]

SingularityCharge SC1 Upgrd1
Singularity Charge
  • Increases dragoon attack range by 2 (from 4 to 6)
Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core
Hotkey S
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 166seconds
Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core
Hotkey W
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 267seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 300seconds
Required Fleet beacon
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 333seconds
Required Fleet beacon
Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core
Hotkey A
Level 1
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 267seconds
Level 2
Cost 225 Minerals 225 Vespene gas 300seconds
Required Fleet beacon
Level 3
Cost 300 Minerals 300 Vespene gas 333seconds
Required Fleet beacon

Building Upgrades[]

  • +1 armor bonus to shields per level for all units and structures.
Acquisition
Purchased from Forge
Hotkey S
Level 1
Cost 200 Minerals 200 Vespene gas 267seconds
Level 2
Cost 300 Minerals 300 Vespene gas 300seconds
Required Cybernetics core
Level 3
Cost 400 Minerals 400 Vespene gas 333seconds
Required Cybernetics core
ve

Development[]

During the StarCraft alpha, the cybernetics core was known as the "gencore."[4]

StarCraft II[]

The cybernetics core acts as a support structure in StarCraft II. It allows for the warping in of stalkers, sentries, and the mothership core.

Researched Abilities[]

Warpgate LotV Game1
Warp Gate Transformation

Enables gateways to transform into warp gates. This ability is autocast.

Usage
Cost 7 seconds
Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core
Hotkey G
Cost 50 Minerals 50 Vespene gas 100seconds
ve

Wings of Liberty[]

Hallucination
Hallucination

Sentries produce false copies of units to distract opponents. Duplicates have the same number of hit points as the original but take double the damage. The number of hallucinations created depends on the unit: gateway units spawn in twos, probes in fours, and all other units spawn one.

Hallucinations are instantly destroyed by psionic storm and are detected by detectors.

The sentry can create duplicates of units that the player doesn't meet the tech requirements for, but cannot make hallucinations of dark templar

As of Heart of the Swarm, hallucination no longer needs to be researched.

Usage
Hotkey C (archon: N; colossus: C; high templar: T; immortal: I; phoenix: X; probe: E; stalker: S; void ray: V; warp prism: A; zealot: Z; disruptor: D; adept: H)
Cost 75 Energy
Duration 43 seconds
Acquisition
Purchased from

Cybernetics core (WoL)

Automatically available (HotS/LotV)
Hotkey H
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 80seconds
ve

Researched Upgrades[]

Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core
Hotkey E
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 129seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 154seconds
Required Fleet beacon
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 179seconds
Required Fleet beacon
ve

Increases protoss air unit armor.

Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics Core
Hotkey A
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 129seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 154seconds
Required Fleet beacon
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 179seconds
Required Fleet beacon
ve

Building Upgrades[]

  • +1 armor to shields per level.
Acquisition
Purchased from Forge
Hotkey S
Level 1
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 121.6seconds
Level 2
Cost 200 Minerals 200 Vespene gas 144.6seconds
Required Twilight council
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 167.9seconds
Required Twilight council
ve

Co-op Missions[]

All protoss commanders can build a cybernetics core and research air weapon and armor upgrades at the cybernetics core. Karax, Vorazun, Alarak and Fenix gain the ability to research warp gates from the structure. Alarak does not research air upgrades, instead researching upgrades for the havoc here. Fenix has the ability to research an upgrade for the conservator.

Zeratul has access to an advanced cybernetics core named the core forge, which automatically gains research upon finding artifact fragments.

Artanis Upgrades[]
Researches[]
SC2 ProAirWeap
Protoss Air Weapons

Increases the attack damage of protoss air units.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core
Hotkey E
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Required Fleet beacon
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Required Fleet beacon
ve
SC2 ProAirArm
Protoss Air Armor

Increases the armor of protoss air units.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core
Hotkey G
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Required Fleet beacon
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Required Fleet beacon
ve
Purchases[]
SC2 ProShields
Protoss Plasma Shields

Increases the shield armor of all protoss units and structures.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Forge
Hotkey A
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Effect Shield armor: 1
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Required Twilight council
Effect Shield armor: 2
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Required Twilight council
Effect Shield armor: 3
ve
Vorazun Upgrades[]
Researches[]
SC2 ProAirWeap
Protoss Air Weapons

Increases the attack damage of protoss air units.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core
Hotkey E
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Required Fleet beacon
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Required Fleet beacon
ve
SC2 ProAirArm
Protoss Air Armor

Increases the armor of protoss air units.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core
Hotkey G
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Required Fleet beacon
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Required Fleet beacon
ve
SC2WarpGateUpgrade
Warp Gate Transformation

Enables gateways to transform into warp gates.

Usage
Cost 10 seconds
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core
Hotkey G
Cost 50 Minerals 50 Vespene gas 60seconds
ve
Purchases[]
SC2 ProShields
Protoss Plasma Shields

Increases the shield armor of all protoss units and structures.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Forge
Hotkey A
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Effect Shield armor: 1
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Required Twilight council
Effect Shield armor: 2
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Required Twilight council
Effect Shield armor: 3
ve
Karax Upgrades[]
Researches[]
SC2 ProAirWeap
Protoss Air Weapons

Increases the attack damage of protoss air units.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core
Hotkey E
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Required Fleet beacon
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Required Fleet beacon
ve
SC2 ProAirArm
Protoss Air Armor

Increases the armor of protoss air units.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core
Hotkey G
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Required Fleet beacon
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Required Fleet beacon
ve
SC2WarpGateUpgrade
Warp Gate Transformation

Enables gateways to transform into warp gates.

Usage
Cost 10 seconds
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core
Hotkey G
Cost 50 Minerals 50 Vespene gas 60seconds
ve
Purchases[]
SC2 ProShields
Protoss Plasma Shields

Increases the shield armor of all protoss units and structures.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Forge
Hotkey A
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Effect Shield armor: 1
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Required Twilight council
Effect Shield armor: 2
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Required Twilight council
Effect Shield armor: 3
ve
Alarak Upgrades[]
Researches[]
SC2 Alarak AC - BloodshardResonance
Bloodshard Resonance

Increases radius of Squad Sight and casting range of Target Lock and Force Field by 3.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Alarak Level 9
Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core
Hotkey A
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 90seconds
ve
SC2 Alarak AC - DetectWeakness
Detect Weakness

Increases the damage bonus to enemies targeted by Target Lock by 15%.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Alarak Level 9
Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core
Hotkey T
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 90seconds
Required Death council
ve
SC2 Alarak AC - CloakingModule
Cloaking Module

All havocs are permanently cloaked.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available
Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core
Hotkey E
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 60seconds
ve
CoopTaldarimWarpGate
Warp Gate Transformation

Enables gateways to transform into warp gates.

Usage
Cost 10 seconds
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core
Hotkey G
Cost 50 Minerals 50 Vespene gas 60seconds
ve
Purchases[]
SC2 ProShields
Protoss Plasma Shields

Increases the shield armor of all protoss units and structures.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Forge
Hotkey A
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Effect Shield armor: 1
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Required Death council
Effect Shield armor: 2
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Required Death council
Effect Shield armor: 3
ve
Fenix Upgrades[]
Researches[]
SC2 ProAirWeap
Protoss Air Weapons

Increases the attack damage of protoss air units.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core
Hotkey E
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Required Fleet beacon
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Required Fleet beacon
ve
SC2 ProAirArm
Protoss Air Armor

Increases the armor of protoss air units.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core
Hotkey G
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Required Fleet beacon
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Required Fleet beacon
ve
OptimizedEmitters SC2 Game1
Optimized Emitters

Increases the duration of the Conservator's Protective Field by 100%.

Usage
Duration 2 seconds
Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core
Hotkey T
Cost 50 Minerals 50 Vespene gas 60seconds
ve
CoopPurifierWarpGate
Warp Gate Transformation

Enables gateways to transform into warp gates.

Usage
Cost 10 seconds
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Cybernetics core
Hotkey G
Cost 50 Minerals 50 Vespene gas 60seconds
ve
Purchases[]
OperationalEfficiency SC2 Button1
Operational Efficiency

Production and tech structures no longer have tech requirements, have their mineral costs reduced by 50%, and have their gas costs reduced by 100%.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Fenix Level 10
ve
SC2 ProShields
Protoss Plasma Shields

Increases the shield armor of all protoss units and structures.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Forge
Hotkey A
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Effect Shield armor: 1
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Required Twilight council
Effect Shield armor: 2
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Required Twilight council
Effect Shield armor: 3
ve

Development[]

CyberneticsCore SC2 DevRend1

Early cybernetics core render

The cybernetics core had an uneventful creation and implementation in StarCraft II. After one slight cosmetic improvement, the team let it be.[5]


Images[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. Collections Tab: Skins. October 17, 2016
  2. Underwood, Peter, Bill Roper, Chris Metzen and Jeffrey Vaughn. StarCraft (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.
  3. Barba, Rick. StarCraft Field Manual (hardcover). Insight Editions, November 17, 2015.
  4. Renders, accessed on 2011-07-20
  5. 2011, SC2: Protoss Cybernetics Core. Deviantart, accessed on 2011-02-15
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