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"Worms. It felt as if worms were burrowing through his brain...It was worse than any head pain he had experienced before."

- Dorian, suffering the early stages of mind control from a hybrid reaver(src)

Mind control is a type of psionic power.

Overview[]

NovaVorazunDonny NotB Comic1

Nova Terra and Vorazun psionically influence Donny Vermillion.

Protoss are able to use mind control. Judicators could use their powers to subtly influence the minds of other creatures. Dark archons however, through an immense expenditure of energy, are able to project a portion of their psychic essence into another being, gaining control over its actions and access to its memories.[1]

Sarah Kerrigan had mind control powers as well, and used these abilities to enslave Matriarch Raszagal.[2]

Mind control can be done in a more subtle manner as well, with powerful psionics able to reach out over long ranges to implant ideas and suggestions in a target's mind. However, those with stronger wills are able to resist such psionic suggestion.[3]

Mind control is considered to be one of the most highly sought after abilities among Terran Dominion ghost recruits. The indoctrination visor was designed to amplify these talents among terrans who posess the ability.[4] Nova Terra is capable of mind control.[5][6]

The Voice in the Darkness is also able to control terrans and protoss, effectively 'possessing' them.[7]

A special breed of spore from the planet Vygoire was able to mind control and telepathically link those infected by it. An ultralisk named the Great One assimilated a number of these spores, and the spread of the spore caused nearby infested terrans to worship it.[8]

The hybrid destroyer Maar could mind control protoss as well, subverting the Zhakul Guardians.[9] Hybrid reavers can exert mental control over both zerg and terrans.[10][11]

Plot option : The Raiders research the hive mind emulator

During the Second Great War, Egon Stetmann, a scientist working for Raynor's Raiders, isolated the DNA strand used to create the zerg Overmind. He applied this to design the hive mind emulator, a device that could mind control most zerg strains.[12]

Plot option ends here

During the End War, Amon and his hybrid demonstrated the ability to mind control terran[13] and zerg[14] , and through the Khala, mind control Khalai protoss.[15]

AlliedCommanders SC2-LotV Art1
This article or section contains information derived from Co-op Missions, and should not be considered part of the official StarCraft storyline.

Terrans have developed a number of tools to augment the mind control powers of their ghosts. The psionic motivator allows the ghost to increase the combat ability of those under their control, the neural disruption device causes enemies around the dominated target to attack one another, and the type-88 persuader increases the duration ghosts can mind control a target.[16]

Game Effect[]

StarCraft[]

If mind control is used on units from other races, the dark archon's controller will have access to the supply of that race. Terran and zerg units and buildings become available by mind controlling SCVs and drones; thus, protoss armies have the potential to expand their military powers dramatically should they have the resources to do so. For example, a protoss player with a large surplus of minerals and gas mind controls an SCV. While he/she had a potential of 200 protoss supply before, he/she now has a potential of 200 protoss and 200 terran supply. Such occurrences, however, are rare in higher-level competitive gaming due to the efficiency and speed at which players use up their resources.

MindCont Icon SC1
Mind Control

Transfers control of any enemy unit to the casting player. Using Mind Control will drain the dark archon's shields and leave it vulnerable.[17]

Mind controlling a transport will also transfer control of any units the transport is carrying, and mind controlling a unit that has researched upgrades or special abilities will transfer them to the dark archon's player.

The transfer is permanent and irreversible, even after the death or the transfer of control of the dark archon who performed it. Any unit can be subject to multiple Mind Control spells, effectively changing ownership every time.

Usage
Hotkey C
Cost 150 Energy All Shields
Range 8
Acquisition
Purchased from Templar archives
Hotkey E
Cost 200 Minerals 200 Vespene gas 120seconds

Development[]

Mind control was originally present in the StarCraft beta. It was removed due to balance issues, along with causing the game to crash.[18]

StarCraft II[]

Versus[]

If neural parasite is used on a protoss probe then the zerg player can build a nexus. Once a nexus finishes building, the zerg player can build probes that are permanently under their control and access the protoss tech tree.

If neural parasite is used on a terran SCV then the zerg player can build a command center. It is significantly more difficult to attempt than with a probe because the SCV must remain under the effect of Neural Parasite for the whole construction process, requiring several infestors to sustain the control. Once a command center finishes building, the zerg player can build SCVs that are permanently under their control and access the terran tech tree.

All units controlled by a single player (regardless of race) share the same supply cap.

SC2 Neural Parasite Icon
Neural Parasite

The infestor takes control of target enemy unit. Heroic units are immune.

Units maintain their upgrades and special abilities while controlled. Control reverts to the original player if the infestor is killed, when duration ends, or when the range between the infestor and the controlled unit grows too large.

Controlled probes and SCVs can build structures; the SCV will leave a structure unfinished if it reverts during the construction. Affected drones cannot mutate structures. Larva can be morphed, but hatched units return to enemy's control once the effect has worn off.

Affected units cannot be loaded into transports, and ability cannot be used on transports carrying units. Affected units can be recalled by a Nexus or Mothership.

Ability can be used on enemy infestors. Units mind controlled by affected infestors remain under player's control for normal duration, even after affected infestors revert to opponent's control. Heroic units (such as motherships) cannot be controlled.

This ability can be used while burrowed.

Usage
Hotkey E
Cost 100 Energy
Range 7[19] (unit can move up to 5 extra spaces away while still being controlled.)[20]
Duration 15
11 (LotV) seconds
Acquisition
Purchased from Infestation pit
Hotkey E
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 79seconds
ve

Wings of Liberty[]

The hive mind emulator can mind control all zerg units except heroic units and drones.

In Ghost of a Chance Nova can mind control single unit.

Dominate SC2 Icon1
Dominate

Nova can dominate an enemy unit. As long as the unit is dominated, she cannot take control of another unit.

Usage
Hotkey D
Cost 75 Energy
ve

Heart of the Swarm[]

SC2 Neural Parasite Icon
Parasitic Domination

Target is permanently controlled by the Swarm.

Heroic units are immune.

Usage
Hotkey E
Cost 125 Energy
Range 7
Cooldown 5 seconds
ve

Legacy of the Void[]

Mind control is available as an ability for the dark archon in the Legacy of the Void campaign. Ultralisks, Motherships, Shadows of the Void, and heroic units cannot be mind controlled.

Permanently take control of targeted enemy unit. Heroic units are immune.

Usage
Hotkey R
Cost 100 Energy
Cooldown 10 seconds
ve

Nova Covert Ops[]

Mind control is available as an ability for Nova in Nova Covert Ops after acquiring the indoctrination visor in the level "In the Enemy's Shadow."

Allows Nova to take control of target enemy unit. Heroic units are immune. Only one enemy unit can be controlled at a time. Effect lasts until cancelled. Cooldown timer begins once the effect has been cancelled.

Usage
Hotkey D
Cost 25 Energy
Cooldown 30 seconds
Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Acquired during "In the Enemy's Shadow."
ve

Co-op Missions[]

Mind control is available as a researched ability for Vorazun's dark archons once she reaches level 9. It can be researched from the dark shrine. Heroic units are immune, and mind controlled units count towards the player's supply.

Tychus's elite ghost Vega also has the "dominate" ability, allowing her to mind control enemy units. Dominated units self-destruct after a time. Heroic units are immune.

Vorazun

Take permanent control of target enemy unit. Heroic units are immune. Mind Controlled units take up supply.

Usage
Cost 150 Energy
Range 9
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Vorazun Level 9
Acquisition
Purchased from Dark shrine
Hotkey C
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 90seconds
ve
Zeratul

Temporarily grants Zeratul control of a target enemy unit. Controlled units self-destruct after 120 seconds. Heroic units are immune.

Usage
Hotkey C
Cost 150 Energy
Range 10
Duration 120 seconds
Cooldown 15 seconds
ve
Tychus
Dominate Coop Game1
Dominate

Temporarily takes control of the targeted enemy unit and increases its damage by 50%. Heroic units are immune. Dominated units self-destruct after 240 seconds. Can store up to 3 charges.

Technical Recruiter: Reduces Dominate cooldown by 35%.

Usage
Hotkey Varies (W, E, R or T)
Range 10
Duration 240 seconds
Cooldown 30 seconds
20 (with Technical Recruiter) seconds
ve

References[]

  1. Underwood, Peter, Chris Metzen and Bill Roper. StarCraft: Brood War (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.
  2. Zeratul: "It's done, Kerrigan. The Overmind is dead as you wished. Now I demand that you release the Matriarch at once!"
    Kerrigan: "Of course. Raszagal, do you wish to return to your tribe?"
    Raszagal: "No, my Queen. I wish only to serve you and remain at your side."
    Zeratul: "What treachery is this, Kerrigan? This pathetic creature cannot possibly be Raszagal!"
    Kerrigan: "Ha ha ha. I promised that I'd allow her to return to you, Zeratul. But it looks to me like she doesn't want to go."
    Zeratul: "You have corrupted her! Somehow you have poisoned her thoughts. Restore her to her rightful self, or you will pay dearly for this offense, Kerrigan!"
    Kerrigan: "All right, Zeratul, you've got me. I made your Matriarch my slave long before I joined you on Shakuras. She made the mistake of underestimating my power just like everyone else did." StarCraft: Brood War. Vivendi Games. Level/area: To Slay the Beast (in English). 1998.
  3. Brian Alexander, Akex Acks (w), Carlos Rodríguez (i) and Sandra Molina (c). (April 2, 2022). StarCraft II: Nature of the Beast - The Complete Collection. Blizzard Entertainment. ISBN 978-1950366866
  4. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Nova Covert Ops, In the Enemy's Shadow (in English). 2016-11-22.
  5. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Wings of Liberty, Ghost of a Chance (in English). 2010-07-27.
  6. Ghost Profile: Nova. Ghost Profile: Nova, accessed on 2016-03-24
  7. Elder, Josh (w), Ramanda Kamarga (p). "Voice in the Darkness." In StarCraft: Frontline: Volume 4 (paperback binding), pp. 72-113. Tokyopop, October 1, 2009. ISBN 978-1427-81698-6.
  8. Irvine, Alex. "“Great One”." (April 11, 2013). Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft Lore: Great One Accessed 2013-04-11.
  9. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Wings of Liberty, A Sinister Turn (in English). 2010-07-27.
  10. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. Vivendi Games. Mission: For Aiur!. (in English). November 10, 2015
  11. Neilson, Micky. "Sector Six." (Oct 27, 2015). Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft Lore: Sector Six Accessed 2015-10-27.
  12. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Zerg research (in English). 2010.
  13. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Sky Shield. (in English). November 10, 2015
  14. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: The Spear of Adun. (in English). November 10, 2015
  15. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. Vivendi Games. Mission: The Growing Shadow. (in English). November 10, 2015
  16. Blizzard Entertainment. Co-op Missions. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Tychus Findlay (in English). 2018.
  17. Underwood, Peter, Chris Metzen and Bill Roper. StarCraft: Brood War (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.
  18. Hidden Pics, Angelfire. Accessed on 2018-06-06
  19. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty - Patch 1.4.0. Battle.net. Accessed 2011-09-20.
  20. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II Map Editor. (Activision Blizzard) (in English). July 27, 2010
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