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"A massive mechanical human-shaped robot that protects its pilot while it wreaks destruction in its path, the Thor is a master of devastation whether on the sky, or on the ground. With the survivability of a pile of rocks, you can always count on a Thor to take to the front lines and make a big ol' mess out there."

The thor is a huge and powerful terran mechanical siege walker. Despite the thor being smaller than the Odin, the thor is still heavily armed and armored, and known to be one of the most heavy and powerful mechanical units in the Dominion Armed Forces.

Overview[]

"These Thors are smaller than the Odin but they handle better -- and they still hit hard."

- Chief Engineer Rory Swann(src)

Named after the Norse god of thunder,[1] the thor is a class of siege-walker.[2] Those in service during the Second Great War were more maneuverable than the Odin incarnation.[3] Pilots of thors were referred to as "controllers."[1]

Design[]

"This siege-walker may not be unstoppable, but it is undoubtedly close."

- Technical specifications(src)

GhostThorMedicSiegeTankBattlecruiser SC2 Art1

The thor looms over infantry

Heavy composite neosteel-ceramic armor protects the thor. The plates are modular and can be replaced easily if damaged, or exchanged for thicker versions depending on battlefield conditions. Designed to defeat high-explosive armor piercing rounds, as well as disrupt the searing beams of energy-based weapons, the thor's plating offers unparalleled protection to the pilot and the mech's internal systems. Its innermost layer has a heat-resistant kinetic mesh that prevents damage from shrapnel, slugs, or even sheared armor fragments.[4] ATVX has also developed an "immortality protocol," allowing a thor to repair itself in the field as long as its hull remains intact.[2]

Thor Thundergod Comic1

Thor angles

The thor's cockpit is pressurized and protected by a military-grade steelglass canopy, as well as thick layers of composite neosteel-ceramic armor. At its center lies the pilot's seat, which helps prevent operator injuries through powerful inertial dampeners and a foam-padded six-point harness. Multiple gauges and screens monitor the mech's systems, and the main holographic display projects computer-generated imagery of the terrain. Were this screen to fail, the steelglass canopy has a fully integrated heads-up-display, a navigation screen, and a basic targeting system.[4]

Improving the Thor has become somewhat of an informal competition amongst Terran Dominion engineers. The Dominion's top brass is content to allow this trend to continue, as it results in more powerful siege walkers. Meanwhile, improvements in neosteel plating and innumerable upgrades made the thors of the Dominion Special Forces a signature achievement in weapons engineering. The Knights of Tyrador designed a thor variant with plutonium coating that deflected projectiles under a certain energy threshold, which also made them look good in parades.[5]

The Defenders of Man experimented with utilizing cloaking devices on thors in Davis's compound.[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.

Moebius Corps also experimented on giving stealth capabilities to thors.[7]

System[]

"The ultimate expression of terran military might, the Thor is outfitted with enough artillery to take down an army of enemy combatants on its own."

(src)

Thor SC2-LotV Game1

A thor under construction

The thor is equipped with different types of heavy weapons,[8] and has enough artillery to take down an entire enemy army by itself.[5] It is armed with four "Thor's Hammer" particle accelerators (two are fired from each arm). Originally, four 250mm strike cannons resided on its back,[8] but these have since been replaced by Punisher[4] cannons. These fire 250mm anti-aircraft shells fitted with advanced electronics to minimize wasted shots. Their depleted uranium cores allow them to punch through the plating of heavily armored aerial targets, causing serious damage. Each shell is individually chambered by a basic auto-loading mechanism that simplifies maintenance and repairs. The cannons' rate of fire is capped to avoid malfunctions and to extend the service life of the ordnance. Bypassing the limit is not recommended, as the cannons may melt or explode.[4]

Thor SC-FL1Thundergod Comic1

The thor

For aerial opponents, the thor is equipped with Javelin missile launchers.[8] These are located on both sides of the steelglass canopy, and fire four small, IFF fragmentation warheads that can rip through multiple, lightly armored aerial targets on a single salvo. Due to the missiles small size, the thor can carry a large payload, ensuring it will be fully prepared to deal with groups of flying bogeys even in drawn-out engagements.[4]

The thor can be optionally outfitted with 330mm barrage cannons that emulate the Odin's Barrage capability, available for purchase in Swann's Armory.[2]

History[]

"If there's one thing we've learned over the years, it's that sometimes you just need someone who likes to smash things."

- Dominion recruitment file.(src)

Thor SC-FM Art1

Thor schematics

The thor stemmed from the Terran Dominion Thor Project, a program that resulted in the creation of the Odin.[8] When the thor made its public debut, military analysts were stunned, and embedded UNN reporters described it as "a huge bipedal war machine armed with a dorsal artillery that wouldn't be out of place on a battleship."[9] Thors were being used in the field by 2502.[10][1]

During the Second Great War, the Terran Dominion utilized the thor in defending areas such as New Folsom Prison.[11]

The Odin, a particularly powerful prototype, was developed by 2503.[12][13] A Protectorate shadowguard stole intelligence on the Odin, which was later taken to Valhalla.[12]

After years of fervent exploration, the Umojan Protectorate finally came up with its answer to the thor. Its impressiveness is only matched by the number of Umojan symbols it sports.[5]

Criminal Acquisitions[]

Thor SC2-LotV Rend1

A mercenary thor

Mira's Marauders long sought a thor of their own, but construction routines regularly set them back.[5]

MattHornerMissions SC2 Icon1
This article or section contains information from the optional Rebellion Missions in StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty.

Chief Engineer Rory Swann reverse-engineered a schematic of the thor from examining the Odin prototype.[3] He refined a design that had millions of credits of R&D poured into it. His efforts focused on making it cheaper.[14] The Raiders received their first thors during the attack on the UNN Studios.[3] At the time, he stated that his design still needed some work on the chassis, but had some ideas for upgrades and variants. While still unavoidably expensive for Raynor's Raiders to produce, Swann considered the addition to their arsenal to be worth it.[15]

Game Unit[]

The thor can be transported by the Hercules dropship and medivac dropships. One thor fills up the medivac's entire capacity, transforming into a cube-like shape and hanging from underneath.

As of Heart of the Swarm, the thor can switch between Javelin missiles (which destroy light air units) and Punisher cannons (which are single-target attacks designed to take on powerful air units).

A thor's primary role is to act as the spearhead: a big tough unit that can push past an artillery barrage or fortified positions or push into an enemy base and lead marines into battle.

Its other primary role is to defend allied units from air attacks with its powerful anti-air weaponry. It works well against light air units like mutalisks, but the attack is not as effective against heavily armored air units such as battlecruisers. The thor is one of the only terran units that can withstand a single nuclear missile strike besides battlecruisers. Thors and Vikings is an unstoppable combo against any air power, thors focusing down on light air targets while Vikings destroy armored tougher targets.

The thor is countered by range, mobility, and certain anti-armor units. It doesn't deal splash damage to ground units, therefore, it cannot effectively deal with massed units such as marines, zerglings, and zealots. Thors should also avoid marauders, void rays and immortals due to their bonus damage against armored targets.

A popular strategy with the unit is the "thor harass" (sometimes called "thorship"), similar to the reaver harass of StarCraft. It involves pairing the thor with a medivac dropship, combining the thor's power and the mobility of the latter.

Some features that existed on the thor in previous builds led to a concern that its role was overlapping with that of the siege tank. Unlike the siege tank, the thor is an assault unit rather than a siege unit. Its ground attack has much less range than a siege tank's 180 mm cannon, so it is exposed to enemy fire while attacking.[16]

More recently in Legacy of the Void, the Thor's anti-air role has become more pronounced as its Javelin missiles devastate Mutalisks, and its 250mm Punisher Cannons have been reworked into an alternate anti-air attack with sufficient range and damage to destroy Brood Lords, Carriers, and Tempests. Note that the Thor defaults to its Javelin Missiles and must be ordered to switch to the Punisher Cannons in order to use them. In addition, the AI behavior of the Thor was modified so that it prioritizes air targets over ground targets unless given a direct attack order. This allows the unit to excel in its anti-massive-flyer role.

Thors, Vikings and siege tanks can become an unstoppable combo using long range to destroy anything that opposes them. Against Zerg in particular, a late-game Thor composition fears only the Abduct and Neural Parasite special abilities of the Viper and Infestor, respectively. Perhaps the greatest and most deadly enemy of the Thor, however, is a small gap it cannot fit through or a ramp it must climb single-file.

Versus[]

Upgrades and Abilities[]
HighImpactPayload LotVGame 1
High Impact Payload

Activates the Thor's 250mm Punisher Cannons, which strike a single air target for 35 damage.

Usage
Hotkey E
Cooldown 1.79 seconds
ve
ExplosivePayload LotVGame 1
Explosive Payload

Arms the Thor's Javelin missile launchers, which deal splash damage to nearby air units and additional damage to Light units.

Usage
Hotkey D
Cooldown 1.79 seconds
ve
TransformationServos SC2-HotS Icon
Smart Servos

Allows Hellions, Hellbats, Vikings, and Thors to transform quickly between combat modes.

Acquisition
Purchased from Tech lab attached to factory
Hotkey S
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 79seconds
Required Armory
ve
  • +1 damage for cyclones
  • +1 base damage and +1 bonus damage for hellions
  • +2 damage for hellbats
  • +2 base damage and +1 bonus damage for siege tanks (tank mode)
  • +4 base damage and +1 bonus damage for siege tanks (siege mode)
  • +3 ground damage,+1/+3 air base damage and +1 bonus damage for thors (AoE/single-target)
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey E
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
ve
SC2 TerrVehArm
Terran Vehicle and Ship Plating

Increases the armor of terran vehicles and spacecraft.

Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey V
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
ve

Wings of Liberty[]

The thor can be unlocked after playing the mission "Media Blitz." It can be upgraded with Immortality Protocol to revive itself after being defeated for a gas cost, as well as the 330mm Cannon to stun and deal heavy damage to targets in an area.[3]

Upgrades and Abilities[]
SC2ParticleCannon
250mm Cannons

The thor attacks an enemy ground unit or structure using the cannons on its back. The target unit is stunned for the duration and takes 500 damage. The thor cannot move or attack when using the ability.

This ability was removed in Heart of The Swarm.

Usage
Hotkey C
Cost 100 Energy 6 seconds
Duration 6 seconds
Acquisition
Purchased from Tech lab attached to factory
Hotkey C
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 110seconds
ve
  • +1 damage for cyclones
  • +1 base damage and +1 bonus damage for hellions
  • +2 damage for hellbats
  • +2 base damage and +1 bonus damage for siege tanks (tank mode)
  • +4 base damage and +1 bonus damage for siege tanks (siege mode)
  • +3 ground damage,+1/+3 air base damage and +1 bonus damage for thors (AoE/single-target)
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey E
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
ve

Increases the armor of terran vehicles

Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey V
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
ve
ImmortalityProtocol SC2 Icon1
Immortality Protocol

A "destroyed" thor becomes a structure with 400 hit points and 1 armor. The structure may be restored into a functional thor if not destroyed. The restored thor returns with the structure's remaining hit points.

ATVX now offers an updated thor model that can repair itself to full working condition if the hull remains intact. This repair process is a fraction of the cost of building a new thor, and it allows you to quickly reactivate a thor that is destroyed in the field.[2]

Usage
Hotkey I
Cost 200 Vespene gas 12 seconds
Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Hyperion armory for $140,000
ve

Upgrade's thor's strike cannons to deal 500 splash damage over a large area. Stuns targets in center of blast.

The 330mm Barrage Cannon is the final word in siege-walker technology. This massive battery of dorsal cannons can lay down a sustained barrage that will pulverize most defenses and annihilate all ground targets in the area. [2]

Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Hyperion armory for $130,000
ve

Attack upgrades improve attack cooldown of affected units by 5% per level.

These self-replicating ultra capacitors reduce the reload time of weapons and systems. Now each of the weapon upgrades at the armory and engineering bay increases attack speed by 5% in addition to increasing damage.

Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Hyperion laboratory for 5 protoss research points
ve
SC2 Lab VanPlating Icon
Vanadium Plating

Armor upgrades increase health of affected units by 5% per level.[17]

We have created a new lightweight alloy called vanadium. Vanadium diffuses weapon impacts much more efficiently than traditional armor plating, and it better preserves the life of our units. Now each of the armor upgrades in the armory and engineering bay increases unit life by 5% in addition to increasing armor.

Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Hyperion laboratory for 5 protoss research points
ve

Damaged mechanical units recover hit points when out of combat, at a rate of 0.6015 each second.[18]

Our ship and vehicle hulls are now made from a material called Regenerative Bio-Steel. This material uses internal nanobots to slowly repair any damage the hull sustains. While this regeneration process is much slower than conventional SCV repairs, it can be the difference between life and death if no SCVs are available.

Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Hyperion laboratory for 20 zerg research points
ve

Increase starting energy of all units by 100. Increase maximum energy of all units by 100.[18]

This reactor has a larger energy reserve on startup and can hold a much larger charge. Now our specialist units can use their abilities the moment they hit the battlefield, and they can store more energy when idle for long periods of time. All "Specialists units" use energy: such as the medic, ghost, spectre, thor, wraith, banshee, raven, science vessel and battlecruiser.

Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Hyperion laboratory for 20 zerg research points
ve

Co-op Missions[]

Thors are exclusive to Swann in Co-op Missions, unlocked once he reaches Level 6.[19]

Tychus can call down the elite thor progenitor, the Odin, into battle for a limited time.[20]

Mengsk has access to an elite Royal Guard thor named the Blackhammer, which specializes at destroying air units and protecting allies around it.[21]

Upgrades and Abilities[]
SC2ParticleCannon
330mm Cannons

Allows thors to use the 330mm Cannons ability, stunning all units in a small area and dealing 500 damage in a larger area over time.

Usage
Hotkey C
Range 10
Duration 3 seconds
Cooldown 60 seconds
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Swann Level 7
Acquisition
Purchased from Tech lab/tech reactor attached to factory
Hotkey C
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 60seconds
Required Armory
ve
ImmortalityProtocol SC2 Icon1
Immortality Protocol

Allows destroyed thors to be rebuilt in the field when destroyed. The wreckage of the units can be attacked and destroyed.

Usage
Hotkey R
Cost 200 TerranVespene SC2 Game1
Mastery: -4 TerranVespene SC2 Game1 per Immortality Protocol Cost and Cooldown Duration mastery point. Down to a minimum 80 Vespene gas
12seconds
Mastery: -0.24seconds per Immortality Protocol Cost and Cooldown Duration mastery point. Down to a minimum 5 seconds
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Swann Level 12
ve
SC2 Lab BioSteel Icon
Regenerative Bio-Steel

All vehicles and ships regenerate health over time at a rate of 2 health per second.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Swann Level 9
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey B
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 90seconds
ve
AdvancedOptics SC2 Icon
Advanced Optics

All vehicles and ships gain +1 attack range.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Swann Level 9
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey B
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 120seconds
Effect Range vs Ground: 8
Range vs Air: 11
ve
SC2 Swann AC - MechnicalKnowhow
Mechnical Know-how

Increases the life of Swann's SCV's, vehicles and starships by 20%.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Swann Level 15.
ve
SC2 TerrVehWeap
Terran Vehicle and Ship Weapons

Increases the attack damage of terran vehicles and spacecraft.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey E
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Effect Damage vs Ground: 33
Damage vs Air: 7 (+7 vs Light)
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Effect Damage vs Ground: 36
Damage vs Air: 8 (+8 vs Light)
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Effect Damage vs Ground: 39
Damage vs Air: 9 (+9 vs Light)
ve
SC2 TerrVehArm
Terran Vehicle and Ship Plating

Increases the armor of terran vehicles and spacecraft.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey V
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Effect Armor: 2
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Effect Armor: 3
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Effect Armor: 4
ve

Quotations[]

Thor SC2 Cncpt3

Thor conceptual stages

See: StarCraft II Thor Quotations

Development[]

Main article: Thor/Development

Known Thor Pilots[]

Known Thor Variants[]

Notes[]

ThorCE SC2 Rend1

Collector's Edition Thor

  • Walter Simonson is a comic book writer and artist who famously worked on the Marvel Comics title The Mighty Thor. It appears the Simonson Munitions Factory was named after him.[22] Simonson is also one of the authors of the World of Warcraft comic series.
Thor WoW Game1

Thor pet in World of Warcraft

  • A new version of thor, named the "Super Thor," appears instead of the standard version in the Collector's Edition of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. It is identical in terms of gameplay. The Collector's Edition also offers a mini-thor pet for World of Warcraft that is capable of flight.[23] The "Super Thor" was reused in Heart of the Swarm for the Blackhammer.
  • In the game files the thor can be found dancing. He seems to be an expert at "doing the Robot."
  • In Norse mythology, Thor is the son of Odin. This is reflected in the StarCraft lore where the thor is derived from the Odin prototype, and is a smaller version of the Odin.
  • The thor, within the scope of Wings of Liberty, is supposed to have been developed by Swann.[14] This contradicts Thundergod, and Wings of Liberty.[1][11] Blizzard has acknowledged the error as the result of two internal teams working on the same piece of lore.[14]
  • Amon's thors inflict more damage than Swann's in Co-op Missions.

Images[]

Skins
Portraits

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Knaak, Richard A. and Naohiro Washio. "Thundergod." In StarCraft: Frontline: Volume 1, pp. 48–93. Tokyopop, August 1, 2008. ISBN 1427-80721-3.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Armory upgrades (in English). 2010.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Media Blitz (in English). 2010-07-27.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 2014-18-12, Thor Science. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2014-12-21
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. Collections Tab: Skins. October 17, 2016
  6. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Nova Covert Ops. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: In the Enemy's Shadow (in English). 2016-11-22.
  7. Blizzard Entertainment. Co-op Missions. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Part and Parcel (in English). 2018.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 StarCraft II Units: Thor. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2010-08-15
  9. Barba, Rick. StarCraft Field Manual (hardcover). Insight Editions, November 17, 2015.
  10. April 6, 2010. "Timeline." StarCraft II: Heaven's Devils. Simon & Schuster (Pocket Star). pp. 311 - 323. ISBN 978-1416-55084-6.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Breakout (in English). 2010-07-27.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Burns, Matt. "Collateral Damage." (May 13, 2010). Blizzard Entertainment. Collateral Damage Accessed 2010-05-16.
  13. September 27, 2011. "Timeline". StarCraft: Ghost: Spectres. Simon & Schuster (Pocket Star). pp. 393-416. ISBN 978-1439-10938-0.
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 Blizzard Entertainment. 2012-11-26. StarCraft II Creative Development Q&A - Part 6. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2012-11-26.
  15. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Conversations after Media Blitz (in English). 2010
  16. Karune. 2007-10-05. StarCraft II Q&A - Batch 16. Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2007-10-05.
  17. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Protoss research (in English). 2010.
  18. 18.0 18.1 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Zerg research (in English). 2010.
  19. Blizzard Entertainment. Co-op Missions. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Rory Swann (in English). 2018.
  20. Blizzard Entertainment. Co-op Missions. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Tychus Findlay (in English). 2018.
  21. Blizzard Entertainment. Co-op Missions. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Arcturus Mengsk (in English). 2019.
  22. Profile. Sons of the Storm. Accessed 2008-03-05.
  23. Business Wire staff. 2010-04-08. StarCraft® II: Wings of Liberty™ Collector's Edition Announced. Business Wire. Accessed 2010-04-08.
  24. 2014-05-21, Blizzard set out to make a StarCraft mod, and instead reinvented gaming's most popular genre. Polygon, accessed on 2014-05-22
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