Template:Unitbox
- "I have returned"
- —Protoss Dragoon
The Protoss Dragoon is a mechanized assault and support unit.
The Dragoon is a Protoss ranged attack quadrupedal mecha that deals medium explosive damage. The Dragoon can be upgraded for longer range, higher damage and stronger armor and shields. The Protoss Dragoon possesses 100 hit points and 80 points of plasma shielding. It has a base armor of 1 and is considered a large unit. One Dragoon takes up four "slots" in a Protoss shuttle, which has eight available slots in total. Creating a Dragoon requires you to have a Gateway and a Cybernetics Core.
Role in Protoss Society
Dragoons are created from Zealots who have been crippled or mortally injured in combat and are thus unable to continue fighting in their preferred manner - with a pair of psionic blades. They continue to volunteer their services, however; their crippled or mortally injured bodies are placed within large exoskeletons which contain any life-support equipment required by the individual Protoss. The Dragoon is "made" at a sacred shrine on Aiur and "upgraded" at the Cybernetics Core.
Dragoons are somewhat ostracized by other Protoss, however, and they frequently see themselves as lesser units.
Until recently, the Dragoon has been the only ground Protoss unit that can fire ranged attacks. However, the Protoss Vindicator, also known as the Purifier, has appeared in StarCraft: Ghost.
Dragoon Technology
Dragoon weaponry consists of a psychically shielded bolt of antimatter, capable of being directed towards both air and ground units. The weapon is functionally similar to that of the Photon Cannon and Arbiter. The Dragoon itself is often used as a support unit for heavy ground attack units, or alternately as a multi-purpose assault unit capable of being massed and sent against enemy positions, especially against other Protoss opponents.
Within the Cybernetics Core, the structure required to warp Dragoons, are the mysterious essence translators that bond the spirits of fallen Protoss to the cold metal exoskeletons of the Dragoons. Eventually, by focusing through the Khala, the fallen warriors can control the movements of the quadrapedal Dragoon as naturally as if they were within their former bodies.
Practicallity
The Protoss Dragoon is one of the most versatile units incorporated by the might of the Protoss. Stalwart on their own, the Dragoon shines best as the ultimate partner to the Zealot, as does the Hydralisk complement the zergling very well. However, Dragoons are notably one of the only ground units successfully useable en masse by the protoss (the Archon being the other).
Terran operatives often had a vested interest in Zerg and Protoss alien technology, as evidenced by the Starcraft Map of the Month scenario Deception, in which Kimeran Pirates steal (among other things) a data file titled "Utilizing Dragoon Technology For Human Reconstruction" from a Confederate installation.
Upgrades
Singularity Charge
- Cost: 150 150
- Upgraded at: Cybernetics Core
Increases Dragoon range to 6.
Famous Dragoons
- Fenix
- Eredas (introduced in Enslavers: Dark Vengeance)
- Taldarin (introduced in Resurrection IV)
Fenix had said, of becoming a Dragoon: "There is no shame in defeat so long as the spirit is unconquered."
Dragoons in StarCraft II
The Dragoons of the past are all but gone. The sacred shrine that was dedicated to the creation of the Dragoons was infested by the Zerg along with the rest of the world of Aiur.
The remaining Dragoons have been transformed into Immortals, a StarCraft II unit.[1]
Dragoons will still be available in the map editor[2] but not in melee games.
The Dragoon was the inspiration for the new Dark Templar unit, the Stalker.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Blizzard Entertainment (2007-05-19). Starcraft II Protoss features, Blizzard Entertainment, Retrieved 19 May 2007
- ↑ Karune. 2007-08-10. StarCraft II Q&A - Batch 9. Battle.net StarCraft General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2007-08-10.
- StarCraft homepage at Blizzard Entertainment
- Battle.net StarCraft Compendium
- Underwood, Peter, Bill Roper, Chris Metzen and Jeffrey Vaughn. StarCraft (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.