Smartcasting is a micromanagement tool. When multiple units are given the same spell order, only one of them will comply, preventing a serious waste of spellcaster energy.[1]
List of Smartcast Abilities
Not all unit abilities are subject to smartcasting.
For instance, the stalker's Blink ability does not use smartcasting. When a group of stalkers are ordered to Blink to an area, all the stalkers will blink.[2]
The following abilities are not smartcast:
- Battlecruiser Defensive Matrix
- Siege tank transformation
- Viking transformation[3]
The following abilities are smartcast:
References
- ↑ Karune. 2007-07-23. StarCraft II Q&A - Karune Briefings. StarCraft II General Discussion Forums. Accessed 2007-09-06.
- ↑ Blizzcon Video Archive (Sonkie vs Yellow). Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2008-10-19.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 As already mentioned in this thread, you’ll have to press the key only once and all the siege tanks will go in siege mode.
Some other examples, just to clarify things up:
Stalker’s Blink, Zerg’s Burrow, Battle cruiser’s Defensive Matrix, Baneling’s Explode, Viking’s switching from air-mode to ground-mode: you’ll only have to press the key once to trigger the ability for all the selected units at once (be careful with those Banelings!)
High Templar’s Psi Storm, Disruptor’s Force Field, Zerg’s mutations (Zerglings to Banelings, etc.): smart casting will kick in here and you’ll have to press the key for every selected unit. Zhydaris. 2009-12-15. Siege mode. Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2009-12-15.