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"Our forces are protected by their shields. They will regenerate quickly unless they take further damage."

- An executor(src)

Khastiana WhyWeFight Comic1

A plasma shield in action

The plasma shield (a.k.a. phase shield)[1] is a protoss defense method created by a blend of psionic power and technology. The technological aspect renders them vulnerable to EMP effects.[2]

Overview[]

Scout SC1 CineFuryXelNaga1

A scout protected by a plasma shield

During the Aeon of Strife, protoss warriors created personal shields by focusing psionic energy. The protoss later reproduced the effect using psi-field generators. These generators could be installed in machines giving protoss vehicles shields as well.[3] Psionically powerful protoss such as Khastiana can still enhance the power of their shields.[4] Shields must be dropped to make use of some physical contact-based psionic abilities.[4] Shields regenerate quickly after absorbing damage.[5] Shields are charged via a device named the shield capacitor, also referred to as a shield battery. These devices can be drained by extended use.[6]

Against terran weapons, plasma shields can resist infantry-based weapons, including fragmentation grenades,[7] laser pistols,[8] and even the C-14 rifle at point blank range. Terran Dominion tactics state that plasma shields are best overcome by mass fire.[4]

The Prisoner SC-Survivors Comic3

A Nerazim's plasma shield

After the Brood War, vast advancements were made to shield regeneration technology, which led to the phasing out of the shield battery as a means to recharge shields. However, improvements to the shield battery's ability to recharge plasma shields led to some factions reintegrating them.[9]

Game Effect[]

StarCraft[]

PlasmaShield SC1 Upgrd1
Plasma Shields
  • +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

Shields points act as another form of hit points and are usually lost first. Unlike regular HP, plasma shields always suffer full damage regardless of the type of attack used against them or the size of the shielded object. For example, a large-sized dragoon's shields will take full damage from concussive damage attacks such as from a vulture.

Shield points have a separate "armor" rating from regular hit points. The base "armor" is 0 and may be upgraded. This applies to both units and buildings. If an attack both depletes shields and damages HP, both shield armor and regular armor are subtracted from the attack's damage. Shield points regenerate slowly but a shield battery may be used to restore them faster. They regenerate at a rate of approximately ~1.5 points per second.[10]

Shields caught within the terran science vessel's EMP Shockwave are reduced to 0 points.

StarCraft II[]

SC2 ProShields
Plasma Shields
  • +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

Shields regenerate very quickly after 10 seconds out of combat,[11] but do not regenerate when taking damage. They regenerate at 2 points per second.

Shields take the same bonus damage as the unit they are protecting.

The widow mine deals extra damage to shields.[12]

The ghost's EMP Shot drains 100 shield points per shot.

Hybrids[]

Hybrid destroyers, dominators, and nemesis are protected by shields.[13]

Esoteric Uses[]

Shields protect the protoss from rip-field generators if they have at least 1 or more shield points.[14]

References[]

  1. Barba, Rick. StarCraft Field Manual (hardcover). Insight Editions, November 17, 2015.
  2. Karune. 2007-01-22. http://www.battle.net/forums/thread.aspx?fn=sc2-general&t=269104&p=1&#post269104 (archived 24 January 2008) StarCraft II Q&A - Batch 26. Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Q " If they are based on PSI energy, how can be possible for a Terran EMP attack to drain their energy?" A " the energy field projected by a pylon that powers Protoss structures cannot truly be called psionic in nature, just as the shields protecting a zealot are not purely technological constructs. Rather, the two processes are so closely interlinked that they are almost the same. As a result, Protoss power sources and particularly their shields are vulnerable to disruption by technological means such as EMP weapons. Similarly such power sources can be restored or recharged from artificially stored energy."
  3. Underwood, Peter, Bill Roper, Chris Metzen and Jeffrey Vaughn. StarCraft (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Elder, Josh and Ramanda Kamarga. "Why We Fight." In StarCraft: Frontline: Volume 1, pp. 6–47. Tokyopop, August 1, 2008. ISBN 1427-80721-3.
  5. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Retaliation (in English). 2016-06-20.
  6. Dayton, Cameron. "Cold Symmetry." (March 7, 2013). Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft Lore: Cold Symmetry Accessed 2013-03-07.
  7. Houser, Jody (w), Guzmán,Gabriel (p, i). "StarCraft: Survivors: Issue 3" StarCraft: Survivors 3 (24) (September 18, 2019) Dark Horse Comics.
  8. Houser, Jody (w), Guzmán,Gabriel (p, i). "StarCraft: Survivors: Issue 4" StarCraft: Survivors 4 (24) (October 23rd, 2019) Dark Horse Comics.
  9. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. Collections Tab: Skins. October 17, 2016
  10. Page about regeneration in wiki about StarEdit Accessed 2019-08-05.
  11. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II Map Editor. (Activision Blizzard) (in English). July 27, 2010
  12. Blizzard Entertainment. 2014-02-28. Heart of the Swarm Balance Update -- February 28, 2014. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2014-03-01.
  13. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Wings of Liberty, A Sinister Turn (in English). 2010-07-27.
  14. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Wings of Liberty, Maw of the Void (in English). 2010-07-27.
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