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"Dominion military technology grows more sophisticated by the day, and a good example is our new cyclone. This innovative design combines speed and lethality in an efficient package. Originally designed as a robotic vehicle, the cyclone evolved over several iterations to become a human-piloted mech. The reason: even the most highly evolved AI cannot match the unpredictive creativity of a human driver."

The cyclone is a terran unit that appears in StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void.

Overview[]

Cyclone SC-FM Art1

The cyclone

The cyclone is armed with twin Typhoon missile pods that engage air and ground threats. The cyclone also features a sophisticated lock-on system, which allows it to concentrate fire on an enemy while on the move.[2] Cyclones are outfitted with all-terrain treads, clutchless transmission and an advanced target acquisition array.[1]

History[]

To keep personnel out of harm's way,[2] the Terran Dominion[1] developed the cyclone, a mobile assault drone.[2] Originally designed as a robotic vehicle, the cyclone evolved over several iterations to become a terran-piloted vehicle, due to the creativity of humans (or, as some would call it, insanity), that AIs cannot match,[1] though some variants piloted by an AI remained in use by the Kel-Morian Combine.[3]

Cyclone SC2-LotV Art1

The cyclone

The Dominion Special Forces extensively redesigned their cyclones for more maneuverability, adding exposed treads that could cross difficult terrain and small spaces more readily. Mira's Marauders modified their cyclones with extra armored plating and spikes, but their hasty engineering resulted in no improvement to their ability to absorb more damage. Umojan Protectorate engineers were able to copy the cyclone and incorporate it into the Protectorate's arsenal. The Knights of Tyrador used their cyclones for amusement park displays, and during the Battle of Tyrador IX, many were deployed to the battle armed with nothing but harmless fireworks.[4]

During the Defenders of Man Insurgency, cyclones were present in both Sharpsburg and General Carolina Davis' compound on Vardona to stop Nova Terra.

Game Unit[]

StarCraft II[]

The cyclone is a fast mechanical unit, able to focus on single enemy units and use its ranged attack on them while moving. It moves at the same speed as the protoss stalker.[5][6] It is intended as an early mechanical option for harassment and defense. Stalkers equipped with blink are a good counter to the unit.[7] In its current state, the cyclone is a front-line anti-armored damage dealer.[8]

Using the cyclone to its full potential and reacting to it well are both heavily dependent on micro.[9] The unit works similarly to the diamondback from the Wings of Liberty campaign.

Versus[]

The cyclone has gone through substantial changes, and can attack both ground and air, and deal heavy damage to single units at range with its Lock On ability.

Cyclones are a hit and run attack unit with frontline potential, and with proper kiting can help deal with a variety of threats. Zerglings, immortals, siege tank lines, and massed units such as marines can take them down.

Upgrades and Abilities[]
HurricaneThrusters Ability SCII
Hurricane Thrusters

Increases the move speed of Cyclones from 3.94 to 4.73.

Acquisition
Purchased from Tech lab attached to Factory
Hotkey R
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 100seconds
ve
  • +1 damage for cyclones
  • +1 base damage and +1 bonus damage for hellions
  • +2 damage for hellbats
  • +2 base damage and +1 bonus damage for siege tanks (tank mode)
  • +4 base damage and +1 bonus damage for siege tanks (siege mode)
  • +3 ground damage,+1/+3 air base damage and +1 bonus damage for thors (AoE/single-target)
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey E
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
ve
SC2 TerrVehArm
Terran Vehicle and Ship Plating

Increases the armor of terran vehicles and spacecraft.

Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey V
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
ve
LockOn SC2 Icon1
Lock On

Locks the Cyclone's weapons on the target unit, increasing the Cyclone's range to 9 and allowing it to move while firing. Canceled if the target moves out of range (9) or vision.

Can be set to autocast.

Usage
Hotkey C
Range 6
Duration 14 seconds
Cooldown 0 seconds
ve

Co-op Missions[]

Cyclones are exclusive to Rory Swann in Co-op Missions. Cyclones are also used by Amon's Forces in the Shadow Tech composition.

In the mission "Miner Evacuation," Kel-Morian cyclones are deployed to support the Eradicators. They use MULE portraits.

Upgrades and Abilities[]
LockOn SC2 Icon1
Lock On

Locks the Cyclone's weapons on the target unit, dealing 500 damage over 20 seconds. Can move while firing. Cancels if target moves out of range. Can be set to autocast.

Usage
Duration 20 seconds
Cooldown 6 seconds
ve
MagFieldAccelerator SC2 Icon1
Mag-Field Accelerator

Increases the damage of the cyclones Lock-On by 100%.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Swann Level 7
Acquisition
Purchased from Tech lab/tech reactor attached to factory
Hotkey O
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 100seconds
Required Armory
ve
TargetingOptics SC2-LotV Icon1
Targeting Optics

Increases cyclones Lock-on range by 3.

Usage
Passive
Notes

Does not increase Lock-on range as intended (bug).

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Tech lab/tech reactor attached to factory
Hotkey R
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 60seconds
Required Armory
ve
SC2 Lab BioSteel Icon
Regenerative Bio-Steel

All vehicles and ships regenerate health over time at a rate of 2 health per second.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Swann Level 9
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey B
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 90seconds
ve
AdvancedOptics SC2 Icon
Advanced Optics

All vehicles and ships gain +1 attack range.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Swann Level 9
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey B
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 120seconds
Effect Range: 6
ve
SC2 Swann AC - MechnicalKnowhow
Mechnical Know-how

Increases the life of Swann's SCV's, vehicles and starships by 20%.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Swann Level 15.
ve
SC2 TerrVehWeap
Terran Vehicle and Ship Weapons

Increases the attack damage of terran vehicles and spacecraft.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey E
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Effect Damage: 20
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Effect Damage: 22
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Effect Damage: 24
ve
SC2 TerrVehArm
Terran Vehicle and Ship Plating

Increases the armor of terran vehicles and spacecraft.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey V
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Effect Armor: 2
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Effect Armor: 3
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Effect Armor: 4
ve

Quotations[]

See: StarCraft II Cyclone Quotations

Development[]

Main article: Cyclone/Development

Heroes of the Storm[]

Heroes DevLog2
The following section contains information from Heroes of the Storm and is not canon to StarCraft continuity

Cyclones appear as catapult minion units on the maps Braxis Holdout and Warhead Junction in Heroes of the Storm.[10]

Images[]

Skins
Portraits

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Barba, Rick. StarCraft Field Manual (hardcover). Insight Editions, November 17, 2015.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Legacy of the Void Units, Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed on 2015-04-18
  3. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Co-op Missions, Miner Evacuation (in English). 2016-11-22.
  4. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. Collections Tab: Skins. October 17, 2016
  5. Blizzard Entertainment. 2014-11-08. Legacy of the Void: Multiplayer Preview. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2014-11-09.
  6. Blizzard Entertainment. 2014-11-07. Legacy of the Void - Multiplayer Update: Terran. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2014-11-09.
  7. 2015-06-11, BlizzCon 2014 – StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void Multiplayer Panel Transcript. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2015-06-23
  8. 2016-11-14, Patch 3.8 Preview: Major Patch for Multiplayer. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2016-28-11
  9. Blizzard Entertainment. 2015-03-18. Legacy of the Void Beta Preview. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2015-03-18.
  10. Blizzard Entertainment. Heroes of the Storm (Blizzard Entertainment) (in English). June 2, 2015
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