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Gateway SC2 Rend2

A gateway

The gateway is a protoss structure used to transport infantry.

Overview[]

Gateway SC-FM Art1

A gateway

Gateways create a swirling rift that warps in protoss warriors from their home territories to the location of the military colony housing the gateway. A phenomenal amount of energy is required for this operation and, as with most protoss structures, a gateway can only function if it is powered by the psionic matrix formed by a network of pylons.[1] Gateways can summon protoss warriors from light-years away, and the travel time is measured in mere seconds.[2]

Gateway SC2 Game1

A gateway and warp gate

Gateways are an inferior form of the xel'naga warp gate, the technology was upgraded, based on the ancient warp gate technology, following the Brood War, giving the protoss access to warp gates of their own. The protoss barely understand the technology behind it however, as it has been reverse engineered from ancient xel'naga structures found on both Aiur and Shakuras.[1]

Gateway SC2-LotV Art1

A pair of gateways

Deactivating a gate traps objects in mid-transport within the gate's energy matrix. Trapped travelers may be aware of what has happened. The suspended transport is completed upon gate reactivation.[3]

Tal'darim gateways can warp warriors from much further away than their Khalai counterparts. However, they are occasionally torn apart en route. The Ihan-rii utilize gateways that emit high amounts of dangerous void energy.[4]

Game Structure[]

StarCraft[]

Gateways warp-in protoss infantry such as the Zealot.

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

StarCraft II[]

The gateway is much the same in StarCraft II, though can now transform into a warp gate.

Warp Gate[]

Shakurus SC1 Art2
This article is about the StarCraft II structure. You may be looking for:
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

Any gateway can be transformed into a warp gate, any warp gate can be transformed back into a gateway.

Warp-In[]

A warp gate can warp-in protoss forces to any part of the battlefield that lies within the psionic matrix, created by pylons and by the very mobile warp prism. This enables protoss forces to be transported directly to the front lines, to beleaguered outposts, or even to launch ambushes.[1] Units can be warped-in on a cliff if the player can see the top of the cliff.[5] Warp-in does not function on allied or enemy psionic matrices.[6]

In Wings of Liberty, Heart of the Swarm and Co-op Missions, forces warp-in over 5 seconds, gaining hit points over time. If the units fall outside the psionic matrix during this process (for instance, if the supporting pylon or warp prism is destroyed) then they are destroyed.[7] In Legacy of the Void, the warp-in time is increased to 16 seconds, unless the pylon is in range of a nexus or gateway/warp gate, in which case the time is 2 seconds.[8]

If a warp prism is supporting the warp-in and it is destroyed, the warp-in is canceled and the player gets back the resources.[9]

The warp gate enters a cooldown before another unit may be warped in. The interval is equivalent to ten seconds less than the last unit's gateway build time.

The warp gate does not have the ability to queue units regularly, but can be quickly transformed back into a gateway. All warp gates can be selected by pushing the "W" key.

Putting a pylon in the central map area, known as "proxy pylon," in order to warp-in units nearer the enemy base is a commonly used strategy.[10]

To use warp-in, the player would first:

  1. Select one or more warp gates.
  2. Press the hotkey to create a unit.
  3. Select an area in the psionic matrix (either generated by a pylon or warp prism) and select that point.
  4. The unit begins to warp-in. This causes the closest warp gate to enter cooldown, during which it cannot begin to warp-in another unit.
  5. Repeat steps 3-4 for each warp gate and unit (this can be done very quickly, before any unit has completed warping in).
  6. Once all warp gates have begun warping in units, the player must wait for at least one warp gate to emerge from cooldown before they can use one again.

If the player has any idle warp gates, an icon will display showing how many are idle.

Unit Warp Time Train Time
Zealot 28 38
Sentry 32 32
Stalker 32 42
High Templar 45 55
Dark Templar 45 55

In Legacy of the Void, units become more vulnerable during the warp-in phase[11] taking 200% extra damage.[12] The goal of this change was to strengthen harassing tactics versus protoss, while also making a protoss player's army and warp-in positioning a more tactical decision.[11]

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

Legacy of the Void Campaign[]

When playing the single-player campaign in Legacy of the Void on Normal or Casual difficulty, warp gates have the passive ability Superior Warp Gates, allowing them to generate up to three charges over time. Warping in a unit consumes a charge, at which point the warp gate will generate a new charge, the time needed differing based on the unit warped in.

Co-op Missions[]

Artanis, Vorazun, Karax, Alarak and Fenix are able to build gateways in Co-op Missions. Artanis' gateways appear already transformed into warp gates, while Vorazun, Karax, Alarak and Fenix must research warp gate technology. At Level 3 Artanis gains the talent Superior Warp Gates, causing his warp gates to store charges that let him warp in multiple units from a single warp gate.

Zeratul has access to a variant of the gateway named the xel'naga passageway, which lacks the ability to transform into a warp gate.

Artanis Upgrades[]
SC2 Artanis AC - SuperiorWarpGates
Superior Warp Gates

Enables for Artanis warp gates the ability to hold up to 3 charges.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Artanis Level 3.
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
Vorazun Upgrades[]
SC2 Vorazun AC - UnlockDarkArchon
New Unit: Dark Archon

Allows Vorazun to warp in dark archons from the gateway. Requires a dark shrine.

Powerful attack caster. Can use Confuse and Mind Control abilities.

Can attack ground and air units.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Vorazun Level 5
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
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[]
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
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[]
SC2 Alarak AC - UnlockAscendant
New Unit: Ascendant

Allows Alarak to warp in ascendants from the gateway. Requires a ascendant archives.

Potent psionic master. Can use Psionic Orb, Mind Blast and Sacrifice.

Can attack ground units.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Alarak Level 8
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
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[]
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
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
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[]

The following section contains information from a previous version of StarCraft II which is no longer valid.
Gateway SC2 Game2

Early image of the gateway in StarCraft II

The gateway underwent a makeover during development, but the final result was "too mighty." It was thus reverted to the form currently seen.[13]

When Wings of Liberty was first released, a tactic in protoss vs. protoss games was the 4-gate rush. Alterations were made and the technique became less viable.[14]

Achievements[]

Warp in madness Warp In Madness
Points

10 Achievement SC2 Game1

Criteria

Warp in 100 units with Warp Gates in a single Unranked or Ranked game.

Edit

Heroes of the Storm[]

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

Visually modified warp gates appeared in early builds of Heroes of the Storm.[15]

Overwatch[]

A gateway (or similar structure) appears in the Blizzard World map in Overwatch. It forms part of the "Journey to Aiur" attraction.

Images[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Blizzard Entertainment (2007-05-19). Gateway, Blizzard Entertainment, Retrieved 19 May 2007
  2. Barba, Rick. StarCraft Field Manual (hardcover). Insight Editions, November 17, 2015.
  3. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Echoes of the Future (in English). 2010-07-27.
  4. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. Collections Tab: Skins. October 17, 2016
  5. Yes, with vision you'll be able to warp in on the cliff. Sight is a hugely important factor in timed strategies where players rush to a unit that can traverse cliffs. Karune. 2009-03-16. Warp in / pylon. Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forums. Accessed 2009-03-16.
  6. Quote:
    When you play as Protoss you can use to warp gate to warp stuff anywhere on the battlefield, provided that it is into pylon power. Ok cool. But what if you are playing another Protoss player? Can you then warp in on his/her pylons as well? And what about allied Protoss players?
    In other words:
    A: Can you warp in on an allied Protoss player's pylon power?
    B: Can you warp in on an enemy Protoss player's pylon power?
    Personally I think the answers should be:
    A: Yes
    B: No
    But can anyone confirm this or set the record straight?
    A: No
    B: No
    Cydra, Warlord1981nl. 2009-02-25. (QUESTION) Warp Gate. Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2009-03-02.
  7. Karune. 2007-09-20. StarCraft II Q&A - Batch 14. StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2007-09-21.
  8. 2015-08-20, Legacy of the Void Beta Patch 2.5.5. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2015-09-03
  9. Quote:
    Lets say you use the phase prism to start warping in some units in an enemies base. the enemy focus fires and kills the prism before the units are warped in. what happens to those units? do they finish warping in, pause, or just simply die?
    if anyone but cydra answers i will be very disappointed.
    Warp in will be canceled and you will get the resources back. Cydra, Rancid_death75. 2009-02-25. Warp in question for... Cydra! Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2009-02-25.
  10. Dustin Browder, Robert Simpson, Matt Cooper, David Kim. 2008-12-19. Battle Report (1). Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2008-12-19.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Blizzard Entertainment. 2015-03-18. Legacy of the Void Beta Preview. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2015-03-18.
  12. 2015-06-11, BlizzCon 2014 – StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void Multiplayer Panel Transcript. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2015-06-23
  13. 2011, SC2: Protoss Gateway. Deviantart, accessed on 2011-02-16
  14. 2011-08-01, StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Q&A With Dustin Browder. Gamespot, accessed on 2011-08-13
  15. 2014-05-21, Blizzard set out to make a StarCraft mod, and instead reinvented gaming's most popular genre. Polygon, accessed on 2014-05-22
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