"It was a small outpost: a nexus, assimilator, and a couple of gateways. Commander didn't want to risk marines against the cannons they had dug in on the cliffs so me and the boys got brought in for a little death from above. First raid, we got a bunch of them little worker probes and lit up the pylons powering the cannon. They tore us up pretty bad, though, so we headed back for repairs. By the time we came back, it'd all changed. Two big stargates were there, and protoss flyers were popping out of those big hoops like bees from a hive. We got hit every which way, and I only made it home on one engine and half a wing. Couple of minutes later, protoss air hit our base hard; I'm starting to think they only let me get away so they could follow me back..."
Stargates had been developed by the protoss prior to the Discord.[1] They are one of the most technologically advanced of protoss facilities.[2] The stargate provides a warp link strong enough to call ships to a planet's surface.[3] A large amount of electric (or similar) energy is generated just prior to the ship being warped in, showing itself visibly.[4] The process of warping in requires a vast amount of energy, and the stargate's excess light emissions can be witnessed from vast distances.[5] It also produces a sound when calling ships in. The range of which it can warp in ships has a limit, but the exact range has yet to be determined by the Terran Dominion. However, it is known to be in the range of light years.[6]
Current stargate design
The warships of the protoss fleet require a much stronger warp link in order to materialize than a standard gateway can provide. The immense stargate is capable of calling ships from high orbit or across immense distances to appear on a planet surface. The construction of one or more stargates at a protoss base is a sure sign that it has become a major staging point for an offensive.[7]
Tal'darim stargates are elongated to allow newly summoned ships to accelerate out of the bay directly onto the field of battle.[5]
Game Structure[]
StarCraft[]
The stargate is the production building for protoss combat air units. Although it is a floating structure in the concept, it requires an area to construct and ground units cannot go underneath it.
Stargates function exactly the same in StarCraft II.
When a stargate summons a unit, a shimmering silhouette of that unit appears within the stargate.
Stargates haven't been used by protoss players much over the course of Wings of Liberty, but Blizzard hopes to change this via the introduction of the tempest.[10]
In the single-player campaign, the player can upgrade their robotics facilities and stargates into warp robotics facilities and warp stargates, allowing them to warp-in units anywhere with pylon power identical to the warp gate.
Co-op Missions[]
Artanis, Vorazun, Karax and Fenix are able to build stargates in Co-op Missions. At Level 8 Artanis acquires the talent Warp Harmonization, transforming his stargates into warp stargates. They also benefit from the Superior Warp Gate talent, allowing Artanis to warp in multiple units from a single stargate.
Artanis Upgrades[]
Warp Harmonization
Warp Gate technology also affects Stargates and Robotics Facilities. Units can be warped in to any location with pylon power.
