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"Dimensional strings attuned."

- Oracle pilot(src)

The Oracle is an aerial protoss support vessel.

Overview[]

Oracle SC2 Head1

An oracle pilot

The Oracle is a psionic warship. They are agile support vessels, and feature some of the most advanced protoss technologies in existence.[1] Oracle pilots hail from an order of young Nerazim dedicated to understanding and controlling time. Their abilities allow them to calculate how and when to use their ships to most effectively win a battle. The order believes it can change the fate of the protoss race.[1] Among their abilities is temporal sight, a form of time manipulation that gives the pilots the means to detect hidden foes, without the need for specialized detection systems.[2]

Design[]

"A true monster against unarmored units, the Oracle’s Pulsar Beam will simply disintegrate any unit unfortunate enough to stand beneath its shadow."
Oracle SC2-HotS Game1

An Oracle firing its pulsar beam

Oracles bear the aesthetics of the Nerazim, with their silver-color and blue hulls, and their green glows. Their core generates a warp field of immense power to contain large amounts of chaotic energy, which is then funneled into an intricate network of miniature crystals and psionically receptive mono-filaments. The stream of raw energy splits and stabilizes as it ebbs through the network, supplying power to the Oracle's systems. Activation of the ship's weapon system creates an opening in the warp field. Raw energy flows through sets of simple focusing crystals, which shape each chaotic discharge into a coherent bolt. Shots from the pulsar beam simmer with violent power, and are designed to cause heavy damage to ground targets.

The oracle does not have a central computer to deal with the minutiae of navigation and targeting. Instead, it is equipped with a multi-node hub that links the pilot directly to the ship. The pilots rely exclusively on their temporal mastery to direct the deadly salvos of the vessel's pulsar beam.[2]

History[]

The technologies that would lay the groundwork for the oracle were researched during the Nerazim's exile from Aiur, as their exodus allowed them to experiment with new technologies.[3] The craft itself was developed by the protoss after the first phase of the Second Great War, in order to maximize the effectiveness of their war machine against their enemies.[4]A number of oracles fell under Amon's control during the End War and were deployed to attack the Daelaam defending the Keystone on Aiur.[5]

Envious of the Nerazim's temporal mastery, a number of oracles were stolen by the Tal'darim, and guarded jealously by the fleet lords that control them.[3] The Tal'darim were utilizing oracles by the End War.[6] By the Defenders of Man Insurgency, their oracles possessed a distinct design.[7][8] Meanwhile, clever Khalai phase-smiths were able to design their own versions of oracles, in spite of the many design challenges. Ihan-rii deployed their own variants of the oracle.

4

A Golden Age-styled oracle

During the rebuilding of protoss civilization on Aiur, Khalai began to redesign Nerazim technology such as oracles in the style of the Golden Age of Expansion, much to the ire of some Nerazim. Matriarch Vorazun declined to comment on this practice.[3]

Game Unit[]

The oracle is designed for reconnaissance, harassment and economic disruption.[9] It allows protoss players the option of more aggressive raiding tactics than in previous games.[10]

Versus[]

The oracle's revelation ability gives it some overlap with the observer, given how both unit/ability function as a form of detection. While the observer excels in general observation, revelation is a useful counter in specific circumstances, such as dealing with lurkers and speed-upgraded Banshees.[11]

Abilities[]

Revelation SC2 Icon1
Revelation

Enemy units and structures in an area grant vision to the player for 20 seconds.

Reveals cloaked or burrowed units or structures (LotV only).

Usage
Cost 25 Energy
Range 12[12]
Duration 20 seconds
Cooldown 10 seconds
ve
PulsarBeam SC2 Icon1
Pulsar Beam

Enables the casting oracle's pulsar beam weapon.

The ability is not smartcast.

Usage
Hotkey Activate pulsar beam: C
Deactivate pulsar beam: D
Cost 25 (+1.96 per second) Energy
Cooldown 4 seconds
ve
StasisWard SC2 Icon
Stasis Ward

This ability places a cloaked stasis ward on the ground which, upon detonation, will explode and trap nearby enemy units in stasis for 21 seconds. Frozen units cannot move or attack, nor can they be attacked. This ability cannot be manually activated.[13]

Usage
Hotkey T
Cost 50 Energy 5 seconds
Range 5
Duration 170 (Stasis Ward) seconds
21 (Stasis Field) seconds
Cooldown 5 seconds
ve

Upgrades[]

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
  • +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

Heart of the Swarm[]

Abilities[]

Envision SC2 Icon1
Envision

Makes the casting oracle a detector, allowing it to see cloaked and burrowed units.

The ability is smartcast.

The ability was removed in Legacy of the Void.[14]

Usage
Hotkey T
Cost 50 Energy
Duration 60 seconds
Cooldown 60 seconds
ve

Upgrades[]

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
  • +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[]

Oracles are exclusive to Vorazun in Co-op Missions. Because she cannot build observers, her oracles permanently act as detectors without needing to use Revelation. Unlike in multiplayer, their attack has no activation cost and its damage is increased with the air attack upgrade.

Oracles appear among Amon's Forces as well.

Abilities[]

This unit or structure can detect cloaked, burrowed, duplicated and hallucination enemies.

ve
PulsarBeam SC2 Icon1
Pulsar Beam

Enables the casting oracle's pulsar beam weapon.

Usage
Hotkey C (Activate)
D (Deactivate)
Cost 1.4 per second Energy
Cooldown 4 seconds
ve
StasisWard SC2 Icon
Stasis Ward

Places a cloaked Stasis ward at the target location. Once activated by an enemy ground unit, the ward traps nearby enemies in stasis for 15 seconds. Trapped units cannot be attacked or affected by abilities.

Withering Siphon: Reduces stasis duration by 75%. Stasis wards affect Heroic units and cause enemy units to lose 20 hit points per second, up to a maximum of 80. This effect cannot kill.

Usage
Hotkey T
Cost 50 Energy 5 seconds
Range 5
Duration 15 seconds
4 (with Withering Siphon) seconds
ve

Upgrades[]

StasisCalibration SC2-LotV Icon
Stasis Calibration

Enemies trapped in the oracle's Stasis Ward can now be attacked.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Vorazun Level 12.
Acquisition
Purchased from Fleet beacon
Hotkey A
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 90seconds
ve
StealthDrive SC2-LotV Icon
Stealth Drive

Corsairs and Oracles are now permanently cloaked.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Vorazun Level 12.
Acquisition
Purchased from Fleet beacon
Hotkey C
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 90seconds
ve
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
Effect Damage
Basic: 17 (+11 vs Light)
With Withering Siphon: 12.75 (+8.25 vs Light)
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Required Fleet beacon
Effect Damage
Basic: 19 (+12 vs Light)
With Withering Siphon: 14.25 (+9 vs Light)
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Required Fleet beacon
Effect Damage
Basic: 21 (+13 vs Light)
With Withering Siphon: 15.75 (+9.75 vs Light)
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
Effect Armor: 1
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Required Fleet beacon
Effect Armor: 2
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Required Fleet beacon
Effect Armor: 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
StasisWard SC2-LotV DevGame2

Stasis wards being activated

Development[]

The following section contains information from a previous version of StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm which is no longer valid.
Main article: Oracle/Development

Quotations[]

See: StarCraft II Oracle Quotations

Notes[]

A variant oracle portrait can be unlocked through Heart of the Swarm's leveling system.[15]

Images[]

Skins
Portraits

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Blizzard Entertainment. 2012-12-20. Oracle. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2012-12-21.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2015-02-05, Oracle Science. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2015-02-08
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. Collections Tab: Skins. July 19, 2017
  4. 2011-10-27, BlizzCon 2011: StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm – Units and Abilities. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2011-11-06
  5. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Salvation. (in English). November 10, 2015.
  6. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Rak'Shir. (in English). November 10, 2015
  7. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Nova Covert Ops, Trouble in Paradise (in English). 2016-08-02.
  8. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Nova Covert Ops, Night Terrors (in English). 2016-08-02.
  9. [1]
  10. 2012-06-11, Dustin Browder gives Slasher the scoop on Heart of the Swarm. YouTube, accessed on 2012-06-21
  11. 2015-08-28, Community Feedback Update - August 28. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2015-09-11
  12. 2015-09-03, Legacy of the Void Beta Balance Update -- September 3, 2015. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2015-09-06
  13. 2015-05-14, Legacy of the Void Beta Balance Update -- May 14, 2015. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2015-05-20
  14. Blizzard Entertainment. 2014-11-07. Legacy of the Void - Multiplayer Update: Protoss. Youtube. Accessed 2014-11-09.
  15. 25-10-2012, Heart of the Swarm Preview: Leveling. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2012-11-01
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