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Zealot SC2 Cncpt1

A zealot wielding psionic blades

A psionic blade (or psi-blade) is a type of energy blade manifested through the use of psionic powers.

Overview[]

Protoss Psi-blades[]

PsiBlade SC-FM Art1

A psi-blade focuser

Through a protoss generating psionic energy, psi-blade focusers[1] mounted on forearm units contain[2] and channel this energy, said units being located on power[3] and light armor suits,[4] used by zealots[3] and high templar respectively.[4] Executor Tassadar was able to channel his psionic powers into blades without the need for forearm units, as well as extend the length of his psionic blade become whip-like and hit distant targets.[2] Psionic blades would cauterize as they cut, making combat among protoss generally bloodless.[5]

Psi-blades are incandescent,[1] and are usually of a blue-white color.[2] Psi-blades can cut through almost any material regardless of density,[6] though can be parried by other psi-blades[7] and warp blades.[8] Over time, the Khalai have further refined psi-blade focuser construction, allowing psi-blades to increase in power as a zealot's fury mounts in the heat of battle.[1]

ArtanisSelendis SC2-LotV Cine2

Psi-blades locked

The Dark Templar have further refined psi blades into much more powerful warp blades[9] through infusing them with both Void energy and their burgeoning psionic power.[10] After the severing of his nerve cords, Artanis demonstrated the ability to wield a psi-blade and warp blade in tandem.[8]

After the fall of Aiur, some Khalai protoss adopted the way of the Nerazim and returned to the planet to wage a secret war against the zerg. These avengers wielded psionic scythes, modified versions of psionic blades.[11]

The Zhakul Guardians manifested green psi-blades while under the control of Maar.[12] Post-End War, Templar trying to mimic the aesthetics of the Golden Age of Expansion have been seen wielding purple psi-blades.[13]

The Purifiers' psionic blades vary in color. The sentinels from the purifier revival program that were brought online by Karax via the Glacius technology vault were of a blue-white color,[14] while those of the original purifiers aboard Cybros were of a yellow color.[15] The sentinels that accompanied Karax in the final defense of the Xel'Naga keystone against Amon's zerg forces and the corrupted Golden Armada were of a yellow orange color,[16] as were those of the Purifier legionnaires under Talandar.

The Tal'darim possess red psi-blades, referred to as bane blades,[11] which are pure Void energy drawn from Amon's realm, as apposed to pure psionic energy like Khalai protoss's psionic blades or a mixture of both Void and psionics like the Dark Templar's Warp blades. Ancient Tal'darim legends speak of masters who could use them to tear planets in half.[17] Khalai protoss possessed by Amon, including Artanis[18] and Selendis,[19] were able to manifest red psi-blades, as could Emil Narud.[20] The Tal'darim under Narud's command at Skygeirr Station wielded psi-blades of a blue-white color though,[21] as did the Tal'darim under Executor Nyon.[22]

Protoss reanimated by an advanced strain of zerg creep retained the ability to manifest psi blades.[23]

Terran Psi-blades[]

Gestalt soldiers of Project Gestalt, which were terran/protoss hybrids, demonstrated the ability to use psionic blades.[24]

The monomolecular blade utilizes its wielder's psionic energy to hone an edge that has been sharpened to a microscopic degree, allowing it to cut through both physical armor and energy shields.[25]

StarCraft Ghost Logo2
This article or section contains information about StarCraft: Ghost, which has been declared non-canon. Elements may be taken as 'flavor lore' however.
The content may be significantly out of date. Please do not add speculation to this article, and remember to cite a published source for details.
Psyblade SC-G Game2

Nova using a terran psi blade

Terran Dominion scientists have developed similar devices for use by ghosts and similar soldiers using protoss technology.[24][26]

Notes[]

"They [the protoss] had their armor, they had their honor, and they had their psi-blades."

- Samwise Didier, commenting on the early development of the protoss(src)

  • Psi-blades were conceptualized early in the development of StarCraft. One of the touchstones of the protoss was the idea of "space samurai." This applied to psi-blades, namely the idea that as no samurai would be found without their sword, psi-blades would similarly be integral to the protoss. Inspiration was also taken from other light-based sword weapons that were well established in sci-fi.[27]
  • A psi-blade prop was created by Scrap Shop Props and Henwench. The work was spotlighted by Blizzard.[29]

StarCraft II[]

Zealot SC2 Rend2

A Zhakul zealot with green psi-blades

  • In StarCraft II, psi-blades are colored in accordance with player color in multiplayer games. Some fans reacted negatively, but a compromise was never reached.[30]
    • Exceptions within the campaigns of StarCraft II are the yellow psi-blades of Karass's zealots,[31] and the green psi-blades of the Zhakul Guardians.[12] In the case of the Guardians their team color (black, not available in multiplayer) is separate from their psi-blade color.
  • The ghost model has an unused animation for using a psi blade.[32]
  • Concept art was created for a terran scout, which would utilize protoss psi blades.[33]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 2014-10-30, Zealot Science. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2014-11-01
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Rosenberg, Aaron (May 23, 2006). StarCraft: Queen of Blades. Simon & Schuster (Pocket Star). ISBN 978-0-7434-7133-6.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Underwood, Peter, Bill Roper, Chris Metzen and Jeffrey Vaughn. StarCraft (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Bill Slavicsek, David Eckelberry, Shawn F. Carnes. Alternity: StarCraft Edition. Wizards of the Coast, March 1, 2000. ISBN 0-7869-1618-4.
  5. Acks, Alex. "One People, One Purpose." (July 28, 2020). Blizzard Entertainment. One People, One Purpose. Accessed 2020-07-28.
  6. Barba, Rick. StarCraft Field Manual (hardcover). Insight Editions, November 17, 2015.
  7. 2015-11-06, StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void Launch Trailer – Legacy. YouTube, accessed on 2015-11-07
  8. 8.0 8.1 2014-11-07, StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void - Oblivion. YouTube, accessed on 2014-12-02
  9. Underwood, Peter, Chris Metzen and Bill Roper. StarCraft: Brood War (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.
  10. 2015-04-09, [Dark Templar Science]. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2015-04-11
  11. 11.0 11.1 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. War council (in English). 2015. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "SC2-LotV_StoryWarCouncil" defined multiple times with different content
  12. 12.0 12.1 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Wings of Liberty, A Sinister Turn (in English). 2010-07-27. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "WoL_SinisterTurn" defined multiple times with different content
  13. War Chest: BlizzCon® 2018, Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed on 2018-08-13
  14. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void (Activision Blizzard). PC. War council (in English). 2015.
  15. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard).PC. Mission: Purification (mission). (in English). November 10, 2015
  16. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard).PC. Mission: Salvation. (in English). November 10, 2015
  17. Brooks, Robert. "Ascension." (Oct. 01, 2015). Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft Lore: Ascension Accessed 2015-10-01.
  18. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Cinematic: Chains. (in English). 2015.
  19. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Cinematic: Liberation and Legacy. (in English). 2015.
  20. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Cinematic: Shifting Perspectives (in English). 2013-03-12.
  21. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Phantoms of the Void (in English). 2013-03-12.
  22. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Maw of the Void (in English). 2010-07-27.
  23. Furman, Simon (w), Tomás Aira (p). "Creep." In StarCraft: Frontline: Volume 2 (paperback binding), pp. 26-67. Tokyopop, January 1, 2009. ISBN 978-1427-80831-8.
  24. 24.0 24.1 Elder, Josh (w), Ramanda Kamarga (p), Angie Nathalia (i), Junadi (i). "Do No Harm." In StarCraft: Frontline: Volume 3 (paperback binding), pp. 48-89. Tokyopop, July 14, 2009. ISBN 978-1427-80832-5.
  25. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Nova Covert Ops, Enemy Intelligence (in English). 2016-03-29.
  26. Blevins, Tal. 2002-09-19. StarCraft: Ghost: Exclusive first details of Blizzard's big console shooter. IGN. Accessed 2007-09-01
  27. 27.0 27.1 Neilson, Mickey. Forging Worlds: Stories Behind the Art of Blizzard Entertainment (hardcover). Blizzard Entertainment, January, 2022.
  28. 2015-08-19, Get a BlizzCon® Goody Bag with the Virtual Ticket. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2015-08-27
  29. 2018-04-09, How to Make a Psi-Blade. StarCraft Facebook, accessed on 2018-04-16
  30. 2010, Starcraft 2: Protoss Zealot. Deviantart, accessed on 2011-07-20
  31. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Wings of Liberty, Whispers of Doom (in English). 2010-07-27.
  32. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Map Editor. (Activision Blizzard) (in English). March 12, 2013
  33. 2022-12-17, Phill Gonzales - StarCraft 2 Concept Gallery. Google Photos. Accessed on 2022-12-17
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