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This article concerns StarCraft II gameplay. You may be looking for:
"Who called in the fleet?"

- Battlecruiser(src)

The battlecruiser is the primary Terran capital ship. They require a starport with a tech lab attachment as well as a fusion core constructed.

Overview[]

Battlecruisers fire rapid low damage shots from laser batteries, with the anti-ground attack being more powerful than the anti-air attack. This makes them better able at handling groups of weaker, low armor, units. Battlecruisers are heavily armored. This makes them good against marines, liberators, phoenixes, carriers, hydralisks, mutalisks, and sentries. However, they are weaker against vikings, corruptors, tempests and void rays. Like in the original StarCraft, battlecruisers can withstand a single nuclear missile strike. They can shoot while moving. Terran players often use battlecruisers to draw fire from weaker units allowing those weaker units to survive longer to destroy the threat.

Yamato Cannon

The Yamato cannon out ranges defensive structures and may be used to clear out defenses. It may also be used to soften up tougher units or thin enemy ranks quickly. This is especially useful in numbers against void rays, potentially eliminating several before they can charge up.

Tactical Jump

The tactical jump allows for tactical flexibility and to travel great distances quickly:

  1. Immediately counter-attack unprotected areas anywhere on the map after winning an engagement at your base
  2. Immediately reinforce troops in remote location across the map right after a BC is created (with energy start upgrade)
  3. Retreat for repairs or when losing the engagement, instead of losing a costly unit
  4. Do a bunch of damage in a "base trade" only to come back to your base in time to defend against the enemy army

Game Unit[]

Versus[]

Upgrades and Abilities[]

Blasts a target with a devastating plasma cannon, causing 240 damage.

Usage
Hotkey Y
Cost 3 seconds
Range 10
Cooldown 71 seconds
Acquisition
Required Weapons Refit upgrade from the fusion core
ve
JumpHyperion SC2 Icon1
Tactical Jump

The user warps to the target location. Vanishes from the map, but has a 1 second vulnerably phase before warping.

Usage
Hotkey T
Cost 4 seconds
Cooldown 71 seconds
ve

Enables use of the Battlecruiser Yamato Cannon, dealing 240 damage to a target.

Acquisition
Purchased from Fusion core
Hotkey R
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 100seconds
ve
  • +1 damage for banshees and battlecruisers
  • +1 air damage,+1 base ground damage and +1 bonus damage for vikings
  • +1 air damage,+5 ground damage for liberators
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey S
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 campaign[]

Battlecruisers are unlocked by playing the "Maw of the Void" mission.[2]

Upgrades and Abilities[]
BattlecruiserDefensiveMatrix SC2 Rend2

The defensive matrix

Increases the armor of all terran air units.

Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey P
Level 1
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 160seconds
Level 2
Cost 225 Minerals 225 Vespene gas 190seconds
Level 3
Cost 300 Minerals 300 Vespene gas 220seconds
ve
  • +1 damage for banshees and battlecruisers
  • +1 air damage,+1 base ground damage and +1 bonus damage for vikings
  • +1 air damage,+5 ground damage for liberators
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey S
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

Grants the battlecruiser the Missile Pods ability. Missile Pods deals 40 splash damage (+50 damage to light units) to air units over an area of effect.

Laser batteries are fearsome weapons across wide stretches of space, but they leave a battlecruiser vulnerable to small interceptors. The ATVX Missile Pod can show up this weakness by instantly bombarding an area with a massive barrage of anti-air missiles.

Usage
Hotkey E
Cost 125 Energy
Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Hyperion armory for $140,000
ve

The battlecruiser produces a shield which absorbs 200 damage. The ability is not smartcast.

The defensive matrix is a temporary deflection field that helped save countless assets from a premature death during the original Brood War. Now the minds at LarsCorp have adapted this technological marvel to protect the massive hull of the Minotaur-class battlecruiser.

Usage
Hotkey D
Cost 100 Energy
Duration 20 seconds
Cooldown 20 seconds
Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Hyperion armory for $150,000
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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[4]

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[]

All player Co-op battlecruisers can shoot while moving, the only exception being the Sovereign Battlecruisers if outfited with the Mini Yamato Gun upgrade (even after the upgrade the weapon can betoggled off to go back to regular battery attack).

Regular Battlecruisers are exclusive to Raynor once he reaches Level 6. They are sightly slower than those from multiplayer but compensate with a superior Tactical Jump. Raynor can also call down the hero battlecruiser Hyperion to the field temporarily.

Stukov can call down infested hero battlecruiser Aleksander to the field temporarily.

Han and Horner have access to the advanced Sovereign battlecruisers and Mengsk can deploy Pride of Augustgrad Battlecruisers. Both of these are elite Battlecruisers with vastly higher stats and abilities, albeit much higher costs as well.

Enemy Battlecruisers appear in a few enemy compositions, notably on Dominion Battlegroup, where they appear in sidable numbers starting on Tech level 6. Classic Mech and Shadow Tech compositions also possess Battlecruisers, but in much lower numbers. The Raiding Party composition also has Battlecruisers, but they are a rare sight as they only appear on waves of Tech 7 and on low numbers.

Enemy Battlecruisers are a unique variant that mixes different elements of Battlecruiser stats and abilities from the multiplayer build of Heart of the Swarm and early Legacy of the Void. They are unable to fire while moving, their Yamato Cannon deals 300 damage and costs energy (which also notably renders them vulnerable to energy destruction from Special Ops Ghosts, High Templars, High Archons and Emperor's Shadows), and has a cooldown of 1.5 seconds. Their spell logic is coded to immediately fire upon any unit with 225 vitality or more (including buildings and non combat units), which makes them very dangerous to commanders whose playstyle includes small numbers of elite units, like Mengsk, Zeratul or Nova, as the the enemy Battlecruisers will immediately focus fire several rounds of Yamato, which is deadly even to incredibly durable units such as Tyranosours. However, they are coded to not fire their Yamato on heroic units at all. They are also capable of using Tactical Jump, and albeit their AI is not coded to utilize the ability, the player can it if they are mind controlled with Dark Archons, Energizers, Vega or the Aleksander

Enemy Lokis appear on on the final shuttle wave on Void Launch, on Hard and Brutal. Unlike regular Battlecruisers, Lokis will fire Yamatos onto Heroic units and also possess and will use Missile Pods ability.


Upgrades and Abilities[]

Blasts a target with a devastating plasma cannon, causing 300 damage.

Usage
Hotkey Y
Cost 1.5 seconds
Range 10
Cooldown 60 seconds
Acquisition
Required Weapons Refit upgrade from the fusion core
ve
JumpHyperion SC2 Icon1
Tactical Jump

The user warps to the target location. Vanishes from the map and is invincible while warping. Does not require vision of the target area.

Usage
Hotkey T
Cost 4 seconds
Cooldown 60 seconds
ve
IgniteAfterburners SC2 Icon
Afterburners

Increases this unit's movement speed by 100% for 8 seconds.

Rough Rider: Increases this unit's movement speed by 50% and attack speed by 100% for 8 seconds.

Usage
Hotkey B
Cost 10 (with Rough Rider) HP
Duration 8 seconds
Cooldown 60seconds
30 (with Rough Rider) seconds
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Raynor Level 11
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey B
Cost 100 Minerals
Mastery: -2 Minerals per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 40 Minerals
100 TerranVespene SC2 Game1
Mastery: -2 TerranVespene SC2 Game1 per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 40 Vespene gas
60seconds
Effect Basic

Movement Speed: 3.76
With Rough Rider
Movement Speed: 2.82
Attack Speed: 0.12
0.1 (with Mercenary Munitions)

Mastery: +1% per Mech Attack Speed mastery point. Up to a maximum 0.08
ve
AdvancedOptics SC2 Icon
Advanced Optics

All vehicles and ships gain +1 attack range.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Raynor Level 11
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey B
Cost 200 Minerals
Mastery: -4 Minerals per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 80 Minerals
200 TerranVespene SC2 Game1
Mastery: -4 TerranVespene SC2 Game1 per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 80 Vespene gas
120seconds
Effect Range: 7
ve
MercMunitions SC2 Coop Icon
Mercenary Munitions

Increases the attack speed of Raynor's combat units and calldowns by 15%.

Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Reach Raynor 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
Mastery: -2 Minerals per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 40 Minerals
100 TerranVespene SC2 Game1
Mastery: -2 TerranVespene SC2 Game1 per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 40 Vespene gas
160seconds
Effect Damage vs Ground: 9
Damage vs Air: 7
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals
Mastery: -3.5 Minerals per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 70 Minerals
175 TerranVespene SC2 Game1
Mastery: -3.5 TerranVespene SC2 Game1 per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 70 Vespene gas
190seconds
Effect Damage vs Ground: 10
Damage vs Air: 8
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals
Mastery: -5 Minerals per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 100 Minerals
250 TerranVespene SC2 Game1
Mastery: -5 TerranVespene SC2 Game1 per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 100 Vespene gas
220seconds
Effect Damage vs Ground: 11
Damage vs Air: 9
ve
SC2 TerrVehArm
Terran Vehicle and Ship Plating

Increases the armor of terran vehicles and spacecraft.

Vanadium Plating: increases the life of terran vehicles and spacecraft by 10% per level.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Unlock Initially available.
Acquisition
Purchased from Armory
Hotkey V
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals
Mastery: -2 Minerals per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 40 Minerals
100 TerranVespene SC2 Game1
Mastery: -2 TerranVespene SC2 Game1 per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 40 Vespene gas
160seconds
Effect Hit points: 495
Armor: 4
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals
Mastery: -3.5 Minerals per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 70 Minerals
175 TerranVespene SC2 Game1
Mastery: -3.5 TerranVespene SC2 Game1 per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 70 Vespene gas
190seconds
Effect Hit points: 540
Armor: 5
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals
Mastery: -5 Minerals per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 100 Minerals
250 TerranVespene SC2 Game1
Mastery: -5 TerranVespene SC2 Game1 per Research Resource Cost mastery point. Down to a minimum 100 Vespene gas
220seconds
Effect Hit points: 585
Armor: 6
ve

Nova Covert Ops[]

Battlecruisers are available for use by Nova starting from the mission "Dark Skies." They possess the Yamato Cannon and tactical jump abilities.[5] They can attack while moving.

Upgrades and Abilities[]
InternalTech SC2-NCO Icon1
Internal Tech Module

Unit no longer needs an attached tech lab to be built by production facilities.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Complete "Sudden Strike"
ve
SC2BansheeCloak
Advanced Cloaking Field

Allows battlecruisers to cloak.

Usage
Hotkey C
Cost 1.5 per second Energy
Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Complete "In the Enemy's Shadow"
ve

Equipped mechanical unit regenerates 10 HP a second when out of combat.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Destroy all zerg hatcheries in "Trouble in Paradise."
ve
SpecialOrdiance SC2NCO1
Special Ordnance

Replaces the battlecruiser's standard weaponry with ATX laser batteries, which can target and attack multiple enemy units at once.

Usage
Passive
Campaign Acquisition
Acquired from Obtain the special weaponry in "In the Enemy's Shadow."
ve
JumpHyperion SC2 Icon1
Tactical Jump

The user warps to the target location. Vanishes from the map and is invincible while warping.

Usage
Hotkey T
Cost 4 seconds
Cooldown 71 seconds
ve

Blasts a target with a devastating plasma cannon, causing 300 damage.

Usage
Hotkey Y
Cost 3 seconds
Range 10
Cooldown 60 seconds
ve

Development[]

Battlecruiser SC2 HeadAnim1

Unit profile

Achievements[]

Yamato master blaster Yamato Master Blaster
Points

10 Achievement SC2 Game1

Criteria

Destroy 20 units with Yamato blasts in a single Unranked or Ranked game.

Edit

Quotations[]

See: StarCraft II Battlecruiser Quotations

The quotes and voice can be compared to Captain Henry Gloval of Robotech.

Notes[]

Warfield Ghost Game1

Horace Warfield in StarCraft: Ghost, very similar to the StarCraft II battlecruiser portrait

  • In Wings of Liberty, battlecruisers appear as level 3 mini-bosses in the Lost Viking arcade game.[6] They use the Jackson's Revenge model, but with extra cannons. Their Yamato cannons are replaced with ports capable of launching seeker missiles.

Gallery[]

Skins
Portraits

References[]

  1. Battlecruiser-StarCraft II. Accessed on 2008-02-12.
  2. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Wings of Liberty, Maw of the Void (in English). 2010-07-27.
  3. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Protoss research (in English). 2010.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Zerg research (in English). 2010.
  5. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Nova Covert Ops, Dark Skies (in English). 2016-11-22.
  6. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Lost Viking (in English). 2010.
  7. 2014-18-12, StarCraft: Ghost Demo Build. Dropbox.com, accessed on 2020-02-16.
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