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"Hits so hard you’ll remember what happened tomorrow, yesterday."

- Daxxarri on the effects of a psionic storm(src)

HighTemplar SC2-LotV Art1

A high templar using psionic storm

A psionic storm is a storm of raw psychic energy produced by a psionics user. It is a powerful technique wielded by high templar, ascendants, hybrid and the Queen of Blades.

Overview[]

HighTemplar SC-FL3 Art1

A high templar using psionic storm

Protoss who follow the Khala can produce such a storm by closing their mind to the outside world, sending out psychic "ripples" that are disruptive to other lifeforms,[1] tearing apart their brains.[2] Such storms can also damage vehicles[3] and the landscape itself.[4] Such is the power of a psionic storm that it can send shockwaves through the air around it.[3]

The storm is a physical display of a high templar's psionic power. It concentrates all the psionic energy over a given area, so overlapping storms have no greater effect than a single one.[5]

While Dark Templar can create psionic storms, only through the discipline of the Khala can it be controlled.[1] Khalai who have not mastered the use of the ability can try to control psionic storms unleashed by Dark Templar (and similarly-powered protoss, such as the Tal'darim) but it frequently results in the death of both participants as they burn out like a star. Individual protoss who have used both types of abilities (such as Adun) have faced a similar fate.[4]

Several hybrid breeds were shown to have the ability to channel psionic storms.[6]

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.

The Avatar of Form was able to cast a much more powerful version of the psionic storm, referred to as a "psionic gale."[7]

History[]

PsionicStorm Alternity Art1

Psionic storm unleashed on oncoming zerglings

During the Discord, Dark Templar lost control of their powers, creating storms across Aiur[1] which killed many protoss and destroyed parts of the landscape itself.[4] Storms appeared on other protoss colonies, such as Khyrador.[8]

During the End War, the loss of the Khala deeply impacted the high templar. Nevertheless, in their races darkest hour they continued to hone their skills, allowing their psionic storms to last longer and recharge the shields of their allies.[9]

Game Effect[]

PsionicStorm SCR Rend1

The psionic storm effect (StarCraft: Remastered)

StarCraft[]

Psionic storm is a high templar ability in StarCraft, and is their primary combat ability since regular high templar do not have a regular attack.

In addition, Infested Kerrigan is also capable of creating psionic storms after completing The Amerigo.

The high templar can create a storm of raw psychic energy. This is achieved by one closing their mind to the outside world, sending out psychic "ripples" that are disruptive to other lifeforms.

Inflicts total 112 damage to all units within a target area over 3 seconds (14 damage in 8-frames intervals, starting from the 16th frame after cast, resulting in 8 damage instances over 64 frames).

The storm does not harm structures or units within bunkers. Psionic storm ignores armor and armor types.

It does not prevent units from moving into or out of the affected area. Only one storm may affect an area at a time; overlapping storms does not increase damage output.

Usage
Hotkey P
Cost 75 Energy
Range 9
Duration 3 seconds seconds
Acquisition
Purchased from Templar archives
Hotkey T
Cost 200 Minerals 200 Vespene gas 120seconds


StarCraft II[]

Good use of Psionic Storm grants the Psionic Death achievement.

Versus[]

PsiStorm SC2 Icon1
Psionic Storm

Psionic Storm deals 80 damage in the target area in small packets over 2.85 seconds, and hits both air and ground units. It injures friendly units caught in the area of effect of 1.5.[10]
Psionic storm is smartcast.
Psionic Storm is subject to a short delay before striking; during this brief period there is a visual indicator for where it will strike.

Usage
Cost 75 Energy
Range 9
Duration 2.85 seconds
Cooldown 1.43 seconds
Acquisition
Purchased from Templar archives
Hotkey T
Cost 200 Minerals 200 Vespene gas 79seconds
ve

Legacy of the Void[]

PlasmaSurge SC2-LotV Icon1
Plasma Surge

Psionic storm restores 50 shields to friendly units in its area of effect over 4 seconds.

Usage
Passive
ve

Co-op Missions[]

Artanis possesses high templar with the ability to use psionic storm. When reaches Artanis level 6 in Co-op Missions, he unlocks several upgrades for psionic storm in the templar archives. At level 7, Artanis's archons gain the ability to use psionic storm.

Artanis Upgrades

Psionic Storm deals 80 damage to enemy units in the target area over a short time. Friendly units are not damaged.

Valorous Inspirator: Increases the Psionic Storm damage from 80 to 160.

Usage
Cost 75 Energy
Duration 4 seconds
Cooldown 2 seconds
Acquisition
Purchased from Templar archives
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 60seconds
ve
PlasmaSurge SC2-LotV Icon1
Plasma Surge

Increases Psionic Storm's radius by 50% and range by 2, allows it to stack more than once on the same enemy units, and restores 50 shields to friendly units in its radius for 4 seconds.

Valorous Inspirator: Increases the Psionic Storm shield restoration from 50 to 100.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Artanis Level 6.
Acquisition
Purchased from Templar archives
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 90seconds
Required Research Psionic Storm
ve
KhaydarinAmulet SC2 Game1
Khaydarin Amulet

Increases the starting energy of high templar and archons by 150.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Artanis Level 6.
Acquisition
Purchased from Templar archives
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 60seconds
ve
SC2 Artanis AC - HighArchon
High Archon

Enables Artanis' archons to use the Feedback and Psionic Storm abilities. Also gives archons an energy bar to use these abilities.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Artanis Level 7.
ve


The Avatar of Form is able to cast a more powerful version of the psionic storm in the form of the psionic gale.

PsionicGale Coop Game1
Psionic Gale

Creates a storm of psionic energy that lasts 4 seconds, dealing 160 damage to all enemy units in a large target area. Does not damage friendly units. Can be set to autocast (Avatar of Form will automatically cast, when if it find 3 valid enemies).

Usage
Hotkey T
Duration 3 seconds
Cooldown 10 seconds
ve

Heroes of the Storm[]

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

Psionic storm appears as an ability for Tassadar in Heroes of the Storm.[11]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Underwood, Peter, Bill Roper, Chris Metzen and Jeffrey Vaughn. StarCraft (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.
  2. Kindregan, Brian T. "Mothership." (January 15, 2010). Blizzard Entertainment. Mothership Accessed 2010-01-15.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Mesta, Gabriel (July 1, 2001). StarCraft: Shadow of the Xel'Naga. Simon & Schuster (Pocket Star). ISBN 978-0671-04149-6.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Golden, Christie (November 27, 2007). StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga #2: Shadow Hunters. Simon & Schuster (Pocket Star). ISBN 978-0-7434-7126-8.
  5. Blizzard staff. High Templar. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2009-03-22.
  6. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Heart of the Swarm, Hand of Darkness (in English). 2013-03-12.
  7. Blizzard Entertainment. Co-op Missions. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Zeratul (in English). 2018.
  8. Blizzard Entertainment. 2010-07-24. Koprulu Sector Systems: Braxis. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2010-07-24.
  9. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. War council (in English). 2015.
  10. Nethaera. 2010-03-30. Patch Notes - Beta Patch 7. Battle.net StarCraft II General Beta Forum. Accessed 2010-03-25.
  11. Blizzard Entertainment. Heroes of the Storm (Blizzard Entertainment) (in English). June 2, 2015
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