War Chests are a seasonal feature[1] in StarCraft II. 25% of proceeds will go toward the prize pool of WCS, and after $200,000 any further funds will go to operating costs on the tournament.
Overview
For each War Chest, players will do a one-time[2] nominal[1] payment, and receive a "treasure map" that they will level up by playing the game's multiplayer and/or Co-op Missions. Every time they level up the war chest, they will receive prizes. The prizes will not be random, and will be predetermined. Loot from these chests include skins, emoticons, decals, and issues of the in-client comic series StarCraft II: Shadow Wars. Automatic rewards are given upon purchase of the War Chest, and at the end of a season, players will receive rewards just for participating. The War Chest loot works on a tiered system. Each tier unlocks more rewards than the preceding tier. There will be three tiers.
There will be one war chest per race, each having its own set of rewards. Unlocking one then purchasing another race's War Chest will give the player they made with that race. Exp gain for the war chests will be doubled int the last month to help players catch up.[3]
The seasons themselves are not tied to ladder seasons, but rather to WCS events. Alerts will be generated on the web and in the game's client to let them know when a war chest season has begun. All rewards for the War Chest will be purchasable after the event ends, but the War Chest will provide a large discount.
A portion of the proceeds from war chests will go toward StarCraft e-sports events and tournaments.[2]
War chests currently receive the most attention from a development perspective, alongside Co-op Missions.[4]
War Chest Seasons
Season 1: BlizzCon 2017
- War Chest blurb(src)
The first War Chest released July 19th, 2017.[3] As of October 5, the War Chest was no longer be available to purchase. From this point to November 4 (when the chest closes), experience gains will be doubled. War Chest features will be available for individual sale from January 2018, though the emoticons, decals, sprays, and portraits will remain exclusive for those who purchased the War Chest.[5]
The following features are available from the War Chest:[3]
- Terran
Tier | Reward |
Initially Unlocked | Special Forces SCV |
Tier 1 | Special Forces Marine |
Tier 2 | Special Forces Marauder |
Tier 3 | Special Forces Ghost |
Tier 4 | Special Forces Reaper |
Tier 5 | Special Forces Medivac Fist Bump Emoticon |
Tier 6 | Special Forces Hellion |
Tier 7 | Special Forces Cyclone |
Tier 8 | Special Forces Widow Mine |
Tier 9 | Special Forces Siege Tank |
Tier 10 | Special Forces Thor Baited Emoticon |
Tier 11 | Special Forces Banshee |
Tier 12 | Special Forces Viking |
Tier 13 | Special Forces Liberator |
Tier 14 | Special Forces Raven |
Tier 15 | Special Forces Battlecruiser ??? Emoticon |
- Zerg
Tier | Reward |
Initially Unlocked | Leviathan Drone |
Tier 1 | Leviathan Zergling |
Tier 2 | Leviathan Hydralisk |
Tier 3 | Leviathan Roach |
Tier 4 | Leviathan Baneling RIP Emoticon |
Tier 5 | Leviathan Queen Stinky, Stinky Tofu Emoticon |
Tier 6 | Leviathan Ravager |
Tier 7 | Leviathan Swarm Host |
Tier 8 | Leviathan Infestor |
Tier 9 | Leviathan Lurker Kappa Emoticon |
Tier 10 | Leviathan Ultralisk Tea Time Emoticon |
Tier 11 | Leviathan Overlord |
Tier 12 | Leviathan Mutalisk |
Tier 13 | Leviathan Corruptor |
Tier 14 | Leviathan Viper |
Tier 15 | Leviathan Brood Lord |
- Protoss
Tier | Reward |
Initially Unlocked | Forged Probe |
Tier 1 | Forged Zealot |
Tier 2 | Forged Adept |
Tier 3 | Forged Stalker |
Tier 4 | Forged Dark Templar Gift Emoticon |
Tier 5 | Forged High Templar Cheese Emoticon |
Tier 6 | Forged Sentry |
Tier 7 | Forged Immortal |
Tier 8 | Forged Oracle |
Tier 9 | Forged Disruptor |
Tier 10 | Forged Colossus |
Tier 11 | Forged Phoenix |
Tier 12 | Forged Void Ray |
Tier 13 | Forged Warp Prism |
Tier 14 | Forged Mothership |
Tier 15 | Forged Carrier Forged Tempest |
- Other Rewards
The following rewards are given upon the first purchase of any War Chest:
- Tal'darim Probe pet in Diablo III
- One classic card pack in Hearthstone
- One rare loot chest in Heroes of the Storm
- Portraits of "Shadow Wars" characters and WCS 2017 finalists.
Season 2: Katowice 2018
- War Chest blurb(src)
A second War Chest was released on December 9th. A portion of the funds go towards the Intel Extreme Masters 2018 Katowice tournament. This war chest introduced customizable consoles, as well as exp boosts for Co-op Missions. $150,000 of the proceeds will go to the tournament's prize pool. Phase 2 will unlock January 5th, and Phase 3 will unlock February 2nd. Purchases will end March 2nd, after which players will get double exp until the War Chest closes March 30th. Issues 4-6 of StarCraft II: Shadow Wars will be released, one issue with each phase.[6]
- Terran
Tier | Reward |
Initially Unlocked | Mira's Marauders SCV |
Tier 1 | Mira's Marauders Marine |
Tier 2 | Mira's Marauders Marauder |
Tier 3 | Mira's Marauders Ghost |
Tier 4 | Mira's Marauders Reaper Lying Emoticon |
Tier 5 | Mira's Marauders Medivac Sick Emoticon |
Tier 6 | Mira's Marauders Hellion |
Tier 7 | Mira's Marauders Cyclone |
Tier 8 | Mira's Marauders Widow Mine |
Tier 9 | Mira's Marauders Siege Tank |
Tier 10 | Mira's Marauders Thor Joker Emoticon |
Tier 11 | Mira's Marauders Banshee |
Tier 12 | Mira's Marauders Viking |
Tier 13 | Mira's Marauders Liberator |
Tier 14 | Mira's Marauders Raven |
Tier 15 | Mira's Marauders Battlecruiser Skull Emoticon |
- Zerg
Tier | Reward |
Initially Unlocked | Primal Drone |
Tier 1 | Primal Zergling |
Tier 2 | Primal Hydralisk |
Tier 3 | Primal Roach |
Tier 4 | Primal Baneling |
Tier 5 | Primal Queen Drool Emoticon |
Tier 6 | Primal Ravager |
Tier 7 | Primal Swarm Host |
Tier 8 | Primal Infestor |
Tier 9 | Primal Lurker Scream Emoticon |
Tier 10 | Primal Ultralisk Creep Emoticon |
Tier 11 | Primal Overlord |
Tier 12 | Primal Mutalisk |
Tier 13 | Primal Corruptor |
Tier 14 | Primal Viper |
Tier 15 | Primal Brood Lord |
- Protoss
Tier | Reward |
Initially Unlocked | Purifier Probe |
Tier 1 | Purifier Zealot |
Tier 2 | Purifier Adept |
Tier 3 | Purifier Stalker |
Tier 4 | Purifier Dark Templar Hear No Evil Emoticon |
Tier 5 | Purifier High Templar Speak No Evil Emoticon |
Tier 6 | Purifier Sentry |
Tier 7 | Purifier Immortal |
Tier 8 | Purifier Oracle |
Tier 9 | Purifier Disruptor See No Evil Emoticon |
Tier 10 | Purifier Colossus |
Tier 11 | Purifier Phoenix |
Tier 12 | Purifier Void Ray |
Tier 13 | Purifier Warp Prism |
Tier 14 | Purifier Mothership |
Tier 15 | Purifier Carrier |
- Other Rewards
The following rewards are given upon the first purchase of any War Chest:
- Tal'darim Probe pet in Diablo III (for those who have not earned it before)
- One classic card pack in Hearthstone
- One rare loot chest in Heroes of the Storm
- A 30-day Co-op Missions 100% exp boost (only boosts base experience)
Season 3: BlizzCon 2018
The third War Chest was revealed in GSL vs. the World, and was available for purchase on August 9, 2018. It will give players access to Golden Age protoss, Umojan Protectorate terrans, and simulant zerg. This season also introduces banners. Along with all these items, the War Chest also includes a 50% boost to experience earned when playing Co-op. Unlike previous War Chests, this boost will not be limited to 30 days—it will be active for the entire duration of the War Chest event (August 9 to December 6).[7]
- Terran
Tier | Reward |
Initially Unlocked | Umojan SCV |
Tier 1 | Umojan Marine |
Tier 2 | Umojan Marauder |
Tier 3 | Umojan Ghost |
Tier 4 | Umojan Reaper |
Tier 5 | Umojan Medivac Dead Emoticon |
Tier 6 | Umojan Hellion |
Tier 7 | Umojan Cyclone |
Tier 8 | Umojan Widow Mine |
Tier 9 | Umojan Siege Tank Can't Look Emoticon |
Tier 10 | Umojan Thor |
Tier 11 | Umojan Banshee |
Tier 12 | Umojan Viking |
Tier 13 | Umojan Liberator |
Tier 14 | Umojan Raven |
Tier 15 | Umojan Battlecruiser Skeleton Emoticon |
- Zerg
Tier | Reward |
Initially Unlocked | Simulant Drone |
Tier 1 | Simulant Zergling |
Tier 2 | Simulant Hydralisk |
Tier 3 | Simulant Roach |
Tier 4 | Simulant Baneling |
Tier 5 | Simulant Queen Pineapple Emoticon |
Tier 6 | Simulant Ravager |
Tier 7 | Simulant Swarm Host |
Tier 8 | Simulant Infestor |
Tier 9 | Simulant Lurker |
Tier 10 | Simulant Ultralisk Brood War Hydralisk Emoticon |
Tier 11 | Simulant Overlord |
Tier 12 | Simulant Mutalisk |
Tier 13 | Simulant Corruptor |
Tier 14 | Simulant Viper |
Tier 15 | Simulant Brood Lord |
- Protoss
Tier | Reward |
Initially Unlocked | Golden Age Probe |
Tier 1 | Golden Age Zealot |
Tier 2 | Golden Age Adept |
Tier 3 | Golden Age Stalker |
Tier 4 | Golden Age Dark Templar |
Tier 5 | Golden Age High Templar Warp In Emoticon |
Tier 6 | Golden Age Sentry |
Tier 7 | Golden Age Immortal |
Tier 8 | Golden Age Oracle |
Tier 9 | Golden Age Disruptor Double Proxy Emoticon |
Tier 10 | Golden Age Colossus Golden Age Observer |
Tier 11 | Golden Age Phoenix |
Tier 12 | Golden Age Void Ray |
Tier 13 | Golden Age Warp Prism |
Tier 14 | Golden Age Mothership |
Tier 15 | Golden Age Carrier |
- All Races
The following rewards are available to those who purchase all three race War Chests for the BlizzCon 2018.
Tier | Reward |
Initially Unlocked | Fringe World Banner |
- Other Rewards
The following rewards are given upon the first purchase of any War Chest:
- Tal'darim Probe pet in Diablo III (for those who have not earned it before)
- One classic card pack in Hearthstone
- One rare loot chest in Heroes of the Storm
- A 30-day Co-op Missions 100% exp boost (only boosts base experience)
Season 4: Katowice 2019
The fourth war chest integrated directly with Twitch to reward players who watch StarCraft II on Twitch, earning XP towards unlocking rewards, just as if they were playing the game. Rewards for WC4 are themed after the Dominion Special Forces, simulant zerg, and Tal'darim protoss.
Each race set in the fourth war chest can be bought for $9.99 USD for each race or $24.99 USD for all the races, with 25% of profits going towards the 2019 IEM Katowice tournament.[8]
- Terran
Tier | Reward |
Initially Unlocked | Special Forces Console Command Center Banner |
Tier 1 | Special Forces Command Center |
Tier 2 | Special Forces Refinery |
Tier 3 | Special Forces Supply Depot |
Tier 4 | Special Forces Barracks |
Tier 5 | Special Forces Engineering Bay Koi Emoticon |
Tier 6 | Special Forces Bunker |
Tier 7 | Special Forces Missile Turret |
Tier 8 | Special Forces Reactor |
Tier 9 | Special Forces Factory |
Tier 10 | Special Forces Armory |
Tier 11 | Special Forces Tech Lab |
Tier 12 | Special Forces Starport |
Tier 13 | Special Forces Sensor Tower |
Tier 14 | Special Forces Ghost Academy ? Spray |
Tier 15 | Special Forces Fusion Core Good Luck Terran Emoticon |
- Zerg
Tier | Reward |
Initially Unlocked | Simulant Console |
Tier 1 | Simulant Hatchery |
Tier 2 | Simulant Extractor |
Tier 3 | Simulant Larva |
Tier 4 | Simulant Spawning Pool |
Tier 5 | Simulant Evolution Chamber Shark Emoticon |
Tier 6 | Simulant Spine Crawler |
Tier 7 | Simulant Spore Crawler |
Tier 8 | Simulant Baneling Nest |
Tier 9 | Simulant Roach Warren |
Tier 10 | Simulant Hydralisk Den |
Tier 11 | Simulant Lurker Den |
Tier 12 | Simulant Spire |
Tier 13 | Simulant Nydus Network |
Tier 14 | Simulant Infestation Pit Jolly Roger Spray |
Tier 15 | Simulant Ultralisk Cavern Good Luck Zerg Emoticon |
- Protoss
Tier | Reward |
Initially Unlocked | Forged Console Seat of the Highlord Banner |
Tier 1 | Forged Nexus |
Tier 2 | Forged Assimilator |
Tier 3 | Forged Pylon |
Tier 4 | Forged Gateway |
Tier 5 | Forged Forge Tancho Emoticon |
Tier 6 | Forged Photon Cannon |
Tier 7 | Forged Shield Battery |
Tier 8 | Forged Cybernetics Core |
Tier 9 | Forged Robotics Facility |
Tier 10 | Forged Robotics Bay |
Tier 11 | Forged Twilight Council |
Tier 12 | Forged Stargate |
Tier 13 | Forged Dark Shrine |
Tier 14 | Forged Templar Archives No Spray |
Tier 15 | Forged Fleet Beacon Good Luck Zerg Emoticon |
- All Races
The following rewards are available to those who purchase all three race War Chests for the BlizzCon 2018.
Tier | Reward |
Initially Unlocked | Chasm Banner |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 BlizzCon 2016 Press Kit: StarCraft II Updates, Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed on 2016-11-11
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2016-11-05. BlizzCon 2016: Foundations for the Future. Youtube. Accessed 2016-11-05.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 2017-07-15. War Chests Page. Battle.net. Accessed 2017-07-15.
- ↑ 2017-11-04, BlizzCon 2017: Developer Interview StarCraft 2 Game Producer Tim Ismay. YouTube, accessed on 2017-11-06
- ↑ 2017-09-13, War Chest Final Phase Live. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2017-09-15
- ↑ 12-08-2017 IEM Katowice 2018 War Chest. Battle.net 12-08-2017
- ↑ 2018-08-02, WAR CHEST SEASON 3 PREVIEW. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2018-08-05
- ↑ 2018-11-06, NEW STARCRAFT 2 CO-OP COMMANDER ZERATUL, WAR CHEST 4 ANNOUNCED, BLIZZCON 2018. Blizzpro, accessed on 2018-11-13